Nearly 30,000 PGA Professionals, golf leaders, industry executives and retailers from more than 86 countries came together to meet with more than 800 golf companies at the 70th PGA Show in Orlando, Florida, January 24-27, 2023. Following two years of business disruptions by the global pandemic, the PGA Show was a clear sign of a bullish year ahead for the continued growth of the sport and the $84 billion golf industry.
The PGA Show, organized by PGA Golf Exhibitions and the PGA of America, began in the trunks of cars at a winter golf tournament in 1954 and has grown into golf’s longest running and largest global business gathering. Among the tens of thousands of attendees were nearly 7,000 PGA, LPGA and international PGA Professionals and more than 800 media reporting from the annual event.
“The PGA Show is annually the largest gathering of PGA Professionals and industry leaders, and it has certainly lived up to that billing this year,” said PGA president John Lindert. “It was the epicenter of golf business with more than 800 companies conducting business and remains the largest stage in golf for networking, education and career development. We met with innumerable allied golf associations and organisations to develop strategies to grow participation in the game and business strategies for the months and years to come.”
“The energy on the PGA Show floor was fantastic,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “I grew up on a trading floor (on the New York Stock Exchange) and this reminds me of the energy and enthusiasm of a busy trading day. It is reflective of the (golf) industry, basically booming. We played defense for a couple of years during the pandemic, but we’re on the verge of being all the way back now. If the PGA Show is a barometer, 2023 is going to be a great year for golf.”
“An expansive mix of companies combined with strong participation across the international golf business community at this year’s PGA Show created an industry reunion unlike any other in recent years,” said PGA Golf exhibitions vice-president Marc Simon. “The in-person connections and vibrant business on the Show Floor resulted in an optimistic outlook that has momentum to drive the golf industry to new heights in 2023.”
PGA Show Week officially began with the golf industry’s annual professional demo day, the PGA Show Demo & Fitting Day, returning to the massive circular range of Orange County National Golf Center (OCN) in Winter Garden, Florida, on January 24. The sunshine-filled, day-long Demo & Fitting Day, produced in partnership by the PGA Show and PGA Magazine, provided important education and product testing of the latest equipment and technology, and opportunities for PGA Professionals to learn from experts in coaching, clubfitting and range operations.
“The gates opened at 9:00., and our bays were full by 9:05 and stayed that way all day,” said Alex Goodman, national sales director, Toptracer. “Coaches are especially excited to see what we’re doing with our new software. Having the chance to show it to them in person is the perfect way for them to learn about it. We’re excited by what’s going on today.”
“Demo & Fitting Day is a great way to see how OEMs are using their new fitting technologies and how we, as PGA Professionals, can use them to better fit our players,” said Paul Ferrone, PGA Owner, Downtown Golf, Stamford, Connecticut.
“There’s really great energy this year, a real buzz out here. Our tee sheet is full of appointments, and we have all our fitters out here helping attendees see our full line of equipment. There’s no replacement for swinging it and seeing it when it comes to golf clubs,” said Tom Olsavsky, Vice President of R&D, Cobra Puma Golf.
