The Golf Trade Show, which has been Europe’s largest golf retail and education event for the last six years, will not take place in 2016.
The show has been held at the Harrogate International Centre in October since the inaugural event was staged in 2010.
John Davis, The Golf Show Manager, said: “When the show was first conceived back in 2009 it was in response to an industry that felt it needed this kind of event – a place for PGA Professionals to come together, see the latest products from manufactures, place orders while also furthering their knowledge through the PGA’s education programme.
“However, over the last six years the market place has changed dramatically with a number of factors rendering the show, in its present format less desirable.
“Retailers are buying little and often over the course of the year, while brands are no longer taking large pre-book orders, they’re keeping retailers up to speed with their latest products through digital communication and diarising product launches so they are no longer reliant upon trade events.
“With the huge swing to custom fitting PGA Professionals no longer need to pre-book large amounts of hardware, they simply place orders when needed.”
This shift in the trade has had a positive effect for the green grass professional with the on-course market out growing its off-course counterparts in recent years as more and more people head back to the Pro Shop for their golfing requirements.
“Taking all this into consideration and gauging feedback from exhibitors and delegates it has become clear there is no appetite for the show at this time,” added Davis.
“There has been real growth in the retail and teaching side of the industry, so this decision is a response to the way business is conducted today, rather than a response to a non-existent downturn in the industry.”
The PGA Teaching & Coaching Conference, which was introduced to the event in 2012, will still go ahead this year, however, dates and a venue have yet to be finalised.
Davis said: “Giving the success of the Teaching and Coaching Conference and the continuing demand for the event the PGA is keen to find a solution and will be making an announcement in the coming months.”