PGAMERCHANDISESHOW
nice lady from Massachusetts who was displaying her golf towels from the smallest possible unit in the apparel section – a 10ſt by 20ſt space. Out of idle curiosity (not really), I asked her how much her stand cost and she replied: “The space was $12,000 on its own and I had to pay another $5,000 to have it kitted out. On top of that I’ve had to meet flight, meal, car rental, accommodation and staff costs.” Her estimate of the cost was around $25,000. “I really can’t afford it,” she said. “I certainly won’t recoup that in orders, nothing like, but from a PR point of view I have to be here. I have to write it off as a loss leader.”
Not every potential exhibitor took that view (evidence the shoals of manufacturers’ representatives driſting about with no fixed abode apart from, perhaps, a seat in the lobby of the Hyatt hotel over the road). Indeed, no one could blame this lady if she changed her mind as well before next year. At a time when the game is fighting for its life in the face of dwindling participants, the last thing it needs is for humble exhibitors to be priced out of showcasing their products. Let’s be frank, this is money going out of the game and one has to
big names to Florida – Cleveland Golf/Srixon were the only notable absentee – but he assembled an impressive cast of celebrities to keep the wheels in motion.
In the VIP lounge, we had Annika Sorenstam, receiving the 2013 PGA First Lady of Golf award and hitting the ceremonial first shot to open the show. Also on the cast list were Donald Trump, Graeme McDowell, juggling duties between Game Golf and ECCO, Greg Norman, returning to the Cobra fold aſter a hiatus of 18 years, David Feherty, hosting two live shows for the Golf Channel, Lee Trevino, Nancy Lopez, Doug Sanders and Tony Jacklin, plus a school of top teachers
ask whether a fledgling Callaway or PING, who once caught the eye while occupying these self-same single-unit booths in their infancy, could ever crack it now.
Still, when it comes to razzmatazz you can’t fault the PGA of America. Constantly aware that not only must the show go on but be brighter, sharper, more innovative and more inclusive than before, Ed Several, the PGA’s senior VP of show management, continues to do a sterling job.
Not only did he entice all but one of the really
like Butch Harmon, Hank Haney, Stan Utley and David Leadbetter. Significantly in its 61st year, the show has become a weekday-only event, starting on Tuesday (January 21) with the Demo Day at the Orange County
National Golf Center and Lodge. The show itself teed off for the first time this year on Wednesday and ended on Friday aſternoon. As ever on the final day, the personnel dismantling the stands long before close of business comfortably outnumbered the visitors still scurrying about in the hope of catching contacts that eluded them in the hurly burly of days one and two before they escaped to the airport.
My week actually began the day before Demo Day at Tour Edge’s superbly hosted golf market at The Legacy of Alaqua Lakes, home to an entertaining Tom Fazio course, where a number of other companies, including the admirable Golf Buddy, participated in a mini- exhibition.
Following the Demo Day, which was disrupted by squalls and heavy rain, TaylorMade-adidas Golf CEO Mark King hosted a bash on Tuesday evening to introduce his
that were promoted by a real-life tank (Desert Storm vintage, I believe). Then, at the other end of the scale, we had Tru-Roll Putters. Based in Calgary, Canada, this company has only existed for a year and yet its round-faced putters – it doesn’t matter how you grip them, they will only impart top-spin – won a ‘best new product’ award in the equipment/products and services category. Now they’re looking for a UK distributor and can be checked out on tru-
rollputters.com.
Indeed, nowhere is golf’s potential for ‘leſt field’ thinking well demonstrated than at the show where, year aſter year, we are swamped with innovation. Despite my misgivings about costs, the traditional framework of the event is dependable.
Personally, I can’t wait for next year’s version (January 21-23). In the meantime, keep abreast on
pgashow.com
SGBGOLF 5
new concept – Hack Golf. Presented in typically evangelical style, King’s message was that golf needs a massive brainstorm of new ideas if its decade-long decline in participation is to be arrested. He also believes that PGA professionals are the key figures in this process, ahead of the R&A and USGA. But he does not want to slam the door in the face of the old guard, and insisted that “tradition and innovation can coexist”.
Certainly there’s no shortage of new ideas and products on offer in Orlando. Take, at random, the modified Odyssey Tank putters
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