COVID causes smaller-scale event that still drives big business for those who attend
ORLANDO, Fla. (January 31, 2022) – The 69th PGA Show reunited the global golf industry in person for the first time in two years, Jan. 25-28, in Orlando, Florida. Nearly 15,000 PGA Professionals, golf leaders, industry executives and retailers sourced new products from more than 600 participating brands, attended high-level industry presentations, learned timely business solutions and connected in person with peers and golf leaders to drive forward participation and the business of the sport. The 2022 PGA Show began with Demo & Fitting Day at Orange County National Golf Center (OCN) on Jan. 25 and continued at Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), Jan. 26-28.
Organized in partnership by PGA Golf Exhibitions and the PGA of America, the PGA Show implemented robust health and safety standards to support a responsible industry gathering during ongoing pandemic challenges. While smaller in scale than traditional PGA Shows, the event attracted influential industry executives focused on engaging with manufacturers and one another during a time of strong growth for the sport. Annually the largest annual gathering of the PGA Membership, the PGA Show remains an important connection for PGA Professionals to the golf industry where they can source new products, learn new business strategies and build relationships with peers, manufacturers and other industry leaders.
“It’s incredible to think that we haven’t been together as an industry for two years,” said PGA President Jim Richerson. “With what is going on in the golf world, as well as the world itself, for all of us to be back together in Orlando, driving the business of golf forward, is significant. It is a pleasure to have been here promoting not just the PGA of America and PGA Golf Professionals, but also the game of golf.”
PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh added, “”It was great to be back in person at the PGA Show. The energy was great and a real platform to showcase innovative ideas and products, as well as countless learning opportunities for the many PGA Professionals who were able to be here. It made for a very collaborative, social environment and a great reminder of the importance of the golf industry getting together and connecting through an in-person Show.”
The 19th PGA Show Demo & Fitting Day, produced in partnership between the PGA Show and PGA Magazine, began PGA Show Week at OCN in cool temperatures and a light drizzle but didn’t deter industry professionals from experiencing new golf innovations in outdoor golf conditions, while also learning from experts in coaching, clubfitting, fitness and range operations.
The 69th PGA Show opened at OCCC with a special ceremony by the PGA of America, featuring musician Sam Harrop; and an announcement of the Association’s national award recipients, highlighted by PGA Golf Professional of the Year Tom Wildenhaus, PGA Teacher & Coach of the Year Jamie Mulligan and PGA Golf Executive of Year Joe Assell. Following the brief ceremony, attendees entered a reimagined Show floor featuring new products from more than 600 participating brands and multiple new experiential elements. The new PGA Hub, located at the main entrance and center of the Show floor, became a popular meeting spot where PGA Professionals could attend industry presentations, participate in golf coaching demonstrations and contests, see the PGA premier championships trophies up close and connect directly with PGA partners and Association departments. The new Equipment Test Center, featuring a relocated putting green near the indoor driving range and anchored by the Golf Channel broadcast stage, became a popular product testing and networking location at the south end of the exhibit hall. The Fashion Buyer Lounge, home to the annual live fashion show, anchored the north end of the exhibit hall and popular exhibitor pavilions stretched the expanse between the ends, including the New Product Zone, Inventor’s Spotlight Pavilion, Golf Fitness, Wellness & Instruction Pavilion and Stage, Golf Travel Pavilion and Adaptive Golf Center.
More than 600 exhibitors showcased thousands of products and services to attending PGA Professionals and golf buyers resulting in new business and new customers (exhibitor reactions below). Many new innovations caught the interest of reporting media including:
Bridgestone – new Tour B line of golf balls and OTTO the new automated golf ball fitting cart
Sportsbox AI – A 3D motion analysis studio in the palm of your hand
Makefield Putters – driver weighted technology in a flatstick
Shot Scope – PRO LX+ rangefinder with GPS distance and performance tracking technology
Golfzon – new TwoVision simulator
FlightScope – new Mevo+ Pro Package that adds Fusion Tracking
E-Z-GO – new carts using advanced Samsung SDi lithium technology this week.
Motocaddy – new M7 GPS model, the world’s first remote controlled touchscreen caddy
Pub Og – custom-built, mini-Irish pub for golf courses or backyards
Lyle & Scott – new men’s High Summer 22 collection
Kinona – new women’s 2022 Fall and Resort collection
Sunday Golf Bags – short course golf bags
Anatomie – introduced first menswear collection
The 2022 PGA Show also shined a spotlight on new products and talented inventors in the New Product Zone and Inventor’s Spotlight Pavilion. New Product Zone innovations were displayed and judged by a panel of award-winning PGA Professionals and golf buyers. The judging panel selected three overall “Best New Product” Award winners – Alignment Ball Mark, Fireside Tumblers and Oars + Alps.
The Inventors Spotlight pavilion, organized in partnership with the United Inventors Association (UIA), showcased new golf products developed by independent inventors. Products were reviewed by UIA experts and top inventions were presented with one of three awards: Best Marketing to Kelken Enterprises – Incinerator Golf Ball; Best Innovation to Stance Caddy Training Aid; and Best in Show to The RUNNER Putter.
“It was especially gratifying to bring the golf community back together, to see important business taking place on the Show Floor and to feel first-hand the positive energy that came from the reunion,” said PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President Marc Simon. “The cross-industry collaboration on programming resulted in tremendous resources for PGA Professionals to adapt, learn and grow through the increasing demands and rising popularity of the sport. While the PGA Show transformed this year under the challenges of COVID, it became a bridge to help many in the industry drive their business forward in 2022 and beyond.”
A heightened focus on providing solutions to the current business climate was evident through extensive education and industry program opportunities. PGA Show Week included the National Golf Course Owners Association Golf Business Conference, AGM Golf Retail Conference, PGA Education Conference, PGA Hub Industry Stage presentations, PGA Member Business Center workshops, Golf Fitness, Wellness & Instruction Stage sessions, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum, and the National Alliance for Accessible Golf Conference.
More than 500 media professionals attended and reported from the 2022 PGA Show, including several media outlets with studios on the Show floor. Golf Channel interviewed industry leaders and covered more than 60 product innovations during live Golf Today programming. CBS Sports HQ interviewed industry leaders and shared dozens of product innovations during multiple live features each day and SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio network broadcast more than 15 hours from the event. Additionally, SI Golf, PGA.com and Fairways of Life produced extensive content from the Show Floor to share with their engaged golf audiences.
