Orlando, Florida, United States: More than 31,000 golf industry professionals from 89 countries and 50 US States came together to meet with more than 1,000 golf companies and brands at the 71st PGA Show.
With the continued upswing in consumer golf participation, last week’s PGA Show signalled a bullish year ahead for the US$102 billion golf industry.
While the PGA Show began in the trunks of cars during a 1954 golf tournament, it has grown into golf’s longest running and largest global business gathering, covering 1.1 million square feet of exhibit, demonstration and meeting space within the Orange County Convention Centre.
Golf’s most recognisable brands and veteran manufacturers, along with more than 350 exhibitors new to the PGA Show, created an unparalleled marketplace to showcase the latest innovations that will enhance the golf experience and drive the business of the sport.
Among the attendees were more than 7,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, LPGA and international PGA Professionals, representing widespread professional positions in the global industry and driving grass-roots participation in the game by millions worldwide.
More than 1,000 VIP buyers from 775 golf facilities and mass merchandisers sourced new products and services, bringing approximately US$900 million in purchasing power and nearly US$2.9 billion in retail sales to the event.
Additionally, more than 900 media from 22 countries reported from the trade-only PGA Show, offering an exclusive inside look to the game’s newest innovations for millions of consumers around the world.
Industry professional attendance came from 89 countries with Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Japan, China and Ireland topping the list of international attendees and New York, Texas, Georgia, California, and Pennsylvania representing top US States, outside of the host State of Florida.
Thousands of products and services were introduced among the nearly 10 miles of Show aisles.
“As someone who has attended the PGA Show for over 30 years, this one certainly had an added excitement around it,” said John Lindert, President of the PGA of America, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
“The golf industry is in a great place and that was very evident this year. The Show is annually the largest gathering of PGA of America Golf Professionals and industry leaders and is the epicentre of golf business. It is also the largest stage in golf for education, career development and professional networking. As an industry, we are better equipped to drive continued growth of this game we all love by coming together annually at the PGA Show,” added Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing in Michigan.
“The 2024 PGA Show overflowed with more exhibitors, more floor space, more attendees and an amazing energy that will surely drive the business of golf ahead in the upcoming year,” said PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President Marc Simon.
“We are especially thrilled with the positive response to the inaugural PGA Show Winter Jam featuring country music star Jake Owen, and many other new experiential events that gave our attendees and exhibitors a chance to connect in fresh and exciting ways. We can’t wait to build off these successes in 2025,” he added.