The PGA Merchandise Show Held Annually in Orlando Brings together the Golf Merchandise World
It’s only January but the biggest event in the Golf Industry has already come and gone. The 64th edition of the PGA Merchandise Show, the golf industry’s annual “MAJOR of Golf Business,” came to a close Jan. 27, in Orlando Florida. This year’s show welcomed more than 40,000 golf industry professionals from all 50 U.S. states and 84 countries around the world. The show featured many exciting product and industry announcements highlighted by TaylorMade’s announcement introducing Tiger Woods as its newest staff professional. The 1 million square feet of exhibit hall space featured products from more than 1,000 golf companies and brands. The show had plenty of new blood which included 271 companies exhibiting at the PGA Show for the first time.
Club Car CEO and President Marc Dufour did an amazing job giving us a first hand look at the Onward
We absolutely love scouring the exhibit hall looking for the best products to highlight. The first stop at the show was with Club Car, and it was one of our favorites. Marc Dufour, Club Car’s CEO and President was at the booth to walk us around and tell us more about Club Car’s newest offering, Onward. Onward just started to roll off the assembly line and Club Car couldn’t be happier with the results. The Onward is Club Car’s latest Personal Transport Vehicle (PTV) and comes available in a variety of configuration options. Some of those options including both a 2 and 4-person configuration and a vehicle lift option. The new PTV is packed with the latest in technology and is sure to match any active lifestyle. With Onward in your garage you’re sure to be king of the community and golf club, I’m sure you’ll see and hear more about Onward throughout the course of 2017.
BIION Footwear is sure to turn heads on and off the golf course
Biion Footwear, one of the stars of last year’s show was once again front and center in 2017 this year with an expanded line. I couldn’t resist, I picked up a pair of shoes from Biion and I have to admit I turned more heads than I ever imagined. Not only was I turning heads and finding myself in more conversations than I ever imagined but I was actually comfortable. After all, if you walk up and down every isle of the exhibit hall you’ll have walked over 10 miles. I’d say I was able to put Biion to the test and I couldn’t have been happier with the fit, feel, and performance of my Biion Brights. At this year’s show Biion Footwear showcased their new rich and luxurious line, the LUX Series. The LUX collection features lush yet bold colors that together make a statement of confidence. In 2017 you’ll continue to see Biion on more feet, it’s time to jump on the band wagon!
As far as golf equipment there was a lot of buzz around Cobra and their new one length irons, inspired by the recent success of Bryson Dechambeau. I think the golf industry in general is curious to see if the one length irons are a fad or here to stay. I had the opportunity to test out the new irons during the demo day portion of the PGA Show and was really impressed. Having a chance to spend time with Tom Olsavsky, head of Cobra’s R&D program it’s impressive to learn about all the technology and design that goes into making Cobra’s one length irons. We’ve all been taught that a consistent swing is a must, and the fact that you’re swinging irons all of the same length, you would hope that improves swing consistency.
John Daly now playing the Vertical Groove Driver on the Champions Tour Goes into Detail on how much it’s reduced is ball spin
For the big stick in your golf bag, a new driver was on the scene this year stealing attention away from the big boys. Vertical Groove Golf hosted a private demo session for the media featuring none other than notorious long ball hitter John Daly. Daly loves the new Vertical Groove driver so much that he’s signed on with Vertical Groove and is now playing the driver on the Champions Tour. The Vertical Groove Driver is basically what the name says, it’s a driver with vertical grooves versus the traditional horizontal grooves. After watching John Daly crushing the ball during the demo it was my turn. While I couldn’t compare with Daly, I was crushing the ball in my own right down the middle of the range. The vertical grooves not only provided for a sweet sound at impact that disperses away from the golfer but drastically reduced spin which led to more forgiving shots that seemed to reduce my left to right fade. Look to see and hear more from Vertical Groove Golf as Daly and Rocco Mediate are both putting it into play on the Champions Tour.
Last but not least, I couldn’t resist including Bugle Tee. After all, they represent everything that’s great about the PGA Merchandise Show. I was first introduced to Bugle Tee a few years ago, during a round at Torrey Pines. My playing partner was using this curious looking tee, and when I asked he was more than willing to tell me the background story on the tee and how much he loved using it. Bugle Tee was created by Dave Crivelli, a retired Sherriff’s Deputy who decided to make a better golf tee. Dave’s grown his business from making tees out of his garage and selling them around town to being in every PGA Tour Superstore around the country. Bugle Tee’s lifetime guarantee and the fact that they donate a portion of each sale to a charity continues to be a big draw for golfers across the country.
That’s a wrap for the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show. As you can see, for the golf industry Christmas really does come in January. As the year moves along and the warmer weather arrives across the country we’re sure you’ll see several of the products we’ve highlighted on your local course.