Our Visit to the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show

The time had finally arrived:  The 2012 Demo Day at the Orange County National Golf Center and the 59^th Annual PGA Merchandise Show at the Orange County Convention Center were up and running in Orlando, Florida.

Events kicked off on Wednesday the 25^th with a jam-packed demo day at the Orange County National Golf Center featuring products from more than 100 different companies, ranging from grips to training aids and nearly anything you can imagine designed to improve your golf game. This was the 10^th anniversary for the demo day and was highlighted with the presence of industry professionals such as Nick Faldo, Lexi Thompson, Suzann Pettersen, and great industry teaching professionals such as Hank Haney, Jim Flick, Michael Breed, and Bob Toski. I even had the pleasure on the flight back from Orlando to Fort Worth, Texas, of sitting next to Rick Smith, a very well known industry teaching professional. The demo day had more than 5000 attendees, which is a truly amazing turnout. All major companies were there and gave attendees the opportunity to feel and hit all of the newest and greatest clubs that will be out for the 2012 season.

On Thursday the 26th thru Saturday the 28th, all other events for the merchandise show began at the Orange County Convention Center, which is more than one million square feet in size.

More than 40,000 industry professionals, representing 75 different countries, attended the merchandise show. More than one thousand of the best companies in golf were there to flaunt the newest and greatest for 2012.

The show also highlighted pointers for Golf 2.0, which was hosted by golf great Jack Nicklaus, the designer of another Sunrise Company property, Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells, California. Golf 2.0 is a new program designed to help grow the game golf and to bring passion and players back who have left the game. I was fortunate enough to sneak away for a one-hour seminar at the main golf stage, which was hosted by Ted Bishop and Jennifer Mills from The Golf Channel. This new PGA of America program is meant to retain existing players, reclaim former players, and attract new ones.

It was another great year for the  merchandise show, and I invite you to stay tuned for next week’s blog, when Jeanne, our merchandising manager, will share with you about several of the “soft” goods, such as golf clothing and accessories, that were featured during the 2012 merchandise show.

Cory