THE PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW
“The greatest global golf get-together is where everyone in the equipment industry shows up to either promote or peruse the latest in golf gear. ”
I need to lose some weight!
At least that is what they seem to be telling me at the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida.
Set in the Orange County Convention Centre on International Drive, the main artery to the heart of Orlando, 40,000 assorted golf pros, media professionals and general golf groupies show up to see what's new, what's hot and what's going to be finding its way into our bags, our feet or onto backs each year.
My general impression from this year’s show was that it’s a lot about ‘slimming down’ or at least redistributing weight in a way that's going to make our golfing life a whole lot sleeker. As a self-confessed 'golf-glutton' when it comes to gear; I eat up everything that the PGA Merchandise Show throws at me and this year’s Aladdin's Cave of golfing delights was no disappointment.
Media Day
Quick pic - Top teaching pro, Roberto Borgatti and me outside Henrik Stenson’s pad.
For me, the show starts on Monday with Media Day, this year held at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club at the heart of a 17-square-mile gated community in Southeast Orlando where several of the Tour’s top players such as Annika Sörenstam, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson have palatial homes.
This is a chance for a select group of companies to convince a not-so-select group of journalists that their products are worthy of column inches. We also get treated to breakfast, lunch, dinner, a few glasses of wine and a game of golf so it’s not such a hard day’s work.
Demo Day
Golf equipment companies showcase their newest clubs, golf balls, grips, scoring clinics, club fitting best practices, instructional aids, and much more during Demo Day.
All the balls are sorted and returned to their respective companies by a dedicated team.
The real work starts on Tuesday at Demo Day, held at the Orange County National Golf Center on surely what must be the largest golf driving range on the planet.
Arranged in a gigantic square, the club manufacturers line this impressive plot to give us a taste and chance to test out their newest technology. I tried this time to pace my way around, sampling mainly the latest irons and drivers - a tough job I know, but somebody has to do it.
Demo Day is a huge operation and a credit to the team that sets it up and runs it.
On Wednesday and for the rest of the week, we descend on the Orange County Convention Centre on Orlando’s International Drive for a further 3-days of indoor introspection. You have to love golf to do this job but again, for you, dear readers I will endure.
