January 28th 2011, Orlando, U.S.A.: Bigger. Busier. More optimism. More buzz. These were the words that attendees and exhibitors alike used repeatedly to describe the mood and the level of activity during the first day of the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show. With more companies exhibiting, and more PGA Professionals and golf shop merchandisers shopping, the Orange County Convention Center was abuzz with hope for a bounceback season.
"We are definitely seeing some optimism building at our club - play has picked up, members are spending more, and that seems to be the buzz here at the Show as well," said Walter Newell, PGA head professional at Dunes Golf Club in Brookesville, Fla. "The Show is a lot busier than last year, and you can see all the important companies are here. Hopefully this energy and progress can keep growing through the year."
The energy on the floor of the 58th PGA Merchandise Show was apparent from the beginning of the day, when Grammy award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis (pictured) treated attendees to a jazz set prior to the official opening of the Show. Following a heartfelt rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" from Marsalis and a ceremonial tee shot from 2010 Vardon Trophy winner Matt Kuchar, PGA President Allen Wronowski proclaimed, "The 58th PGA Merchandise Show is officially open for the business of golf."
The businesses of golf were well represented among the nearly 1,000 plus exhibitors at this year's Show.
Nearly every significant name in the equipment, apparel and products and services segments greeted steady streams of foot traffic throughout the day. From the Equipment Test Center to the New Product Center and the Fashion Gallery, the length of the Show floor was filled with attendees who came ready to place orders.
"This is my fourth Show, and this is busier than I've ever seen the traffic on the first day," said James Thompson, director of marketing for Pukka Headwear. "We've tracked our booth traffic as being 25 percent higher than last year, and people aren't just looking; they're here to buy. There's a real buzz this year."
Added Tom Preece, director of Cobra research and development for Cobra-Puma Golf: "The Show is off to a really impressive start. It's great to see the excitement in the aisles this year."
In addition to writing orders, the business of golf was also brisk in terms of major announcements on the first day of the PGA Merchandise Show. PGA CEO Joe Steranka and a group of industry leaders unveiled a new partnership between the PGA World Alliance, China Golf Association and PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions to produce the China Golf Show and a new Asia Golf Show in southern China with PGA Merchandise Show branding. The new PGA Merchandise Show-China will be held March 18-20 in Beijing, while the PGA Merchandise Show-Asia will be held Oct. 20-22 in Guangzhou.
Throughout the day, dozens of PGA Professionals offered instruction tips over the phone and Internet for the PGA/USA Today Golf Tips Hotline 2.0, using Facebook, Twitter and Skype to communicate with golfers around the world. The busy first day of the Show concluded with the annual PGA Awards ceremony in the Linda W. Chapin Theater, as The PGA of America paid tribute to the winners of the Association's 2010 national awards.
