Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States: The 68th edition of the PGA Merchandise Show (January 26-29) transitions to a virtual event to connect the international golf industry online, allowing PGA Professionals, golf buyers, manufacturers and industry leaders to drive forward the business of the game from the safety of their homes, facilities and workplaces during the on-going global pandemic.
“Golf, proven to be a safe form of much needed recreation throughout the pandemic, successfully responded to provide responsible venues that welcomed record numbers of new and existing players this past year,” said John Easterbrook, Chief Membership Officer, PGA of America, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
He added: “The 2021 Virtual PGA Merchandise Show is another example of golf responding in these times to help our industry maximise this surging interest, introduce new game-enhancing products and share important industry initiatives that will retain and grow participation for generations to come.”
The PGA Show, organised by Reed Exhibitions in partnership with the PGA of America, remains an industry-only event with complimentary industry registration and event details available at www.PGAShow.com.
Nearly 300 participating golf companies and brands are staging robust exhibitor showrooms; presenting merchandise education sessions and video demonstrations; and hosting group and one-to-one buyer meetings.
The virtual PGA Show marketplace features vetted new companies, as well as traditional market leaders and established manufacturers, including some of the most well-known brands in golf, such as Callaway Golf, FootJoy, Titleist, Cobra PUMA Golf, Bridgestone Golf, Cleveland/Srixon/XXIO and Mizuno.
The 2021 Virtual PGA Show Week begins on Tuesday (January 26) with a special Product Preview & Launch Day to spotlight the latest merchandise and services of participating golf manufacturers.
A compelling schedule of live and on-demand industry presentations and valuable educational sessions also will be available to golf industry professionals, from Wednesday to Friday (January 27-29). All programming presented live during PGA Show Week will be made available on-demand beginning the next day, allowing attendees to view content and participate during times most convenient to their schedules.
Phil Mickelson, 2020 Ryder Cup captains Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington, PGA champion Collin Morikawa and CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz are among the speakers in the PGA of America Industry Presentations. The PGA of America, PGA Tour, LPGA, NGCOA and additional industry leaders will present sessions on growth initiatives and pressing industry matters.
Influential, national-level experts from the world of business, golf operations, teaching and coaching and retail will lead succinct sessions tailored to deliver key tools, insights and valuable takeaways in the low-cost PGA Show Education Conference.
PGA Professionals will have numerous MSR education credit opportunities through daily event participation and additional credits for each educational session. While access to the virtual marketplace and industry presentations are free of charge, the full PGA Show Education Conference of more than 30 live and on-demand virtual sessions is available to PGA and LPGA Professionals for US$95, and all other industry professionals for US$125.
Many exhibitors are hosting special demonstrations, presentations and Q&A sessions in the Exhibitor Track of events, while others are providing exclusive golf merchandise and service solution educational sessions for participating industry professionals.
The latest golf, resort and sportswear collections will be in the spotlight of the PGA Show Trend Panel & Virtual Fashion Show on Wednesday (January 27).
Also, the NGCOA’s Golf Business Conference continues its strategic alliance with the PGA Merchandise Show and will be delivered on the PGA Show virtual platform. Registration for the virtual GBC21 is available online when registering for the PGA Show.
PGA Show programming will be available on demand for an extended period of time after the PGA Show concludes. PGA Show exhibitor showrooms will remain open on an on-going basis to help exhibiting companies and buyers drive commerce throughout 2021.