With Jack Nicklaus joining PGA of America and industry leaders to present the Golf 2.0 Strategic Plan designed to grow global participation in the game, the 59th PGA Merchandise Show opened its three-day business, education, marketing, merchandising and networking forum today with an ambitious schedule of product presentations, special events and seminars at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
More than 40,000 industry leaders, PGA Professionals and retailers from 75 countries are joining more than 1,000 of golf’s premier companies and brands, an all-star cast of celebrities, and hundreds of the industry’s leading educators to launch a litany of new products and grow the business and participation side of golf at the 2012 PGA Merchandise Show, 26-28 January.
Every major golf manufacturer is represented this year on the Show floor making this year’s Show the industry’s most comprehensive collection of manufacturers, industry leaders, influential executives and programs for professional development, trend spotting, product testing and peer networking.
Jack Nicklaus launched the Golf 2.0 Strategic Plan, which promotes programs and initiatives to grow golf by retaining present players, reclaiming former golfers, and attracting new ones.
“I love this game, and our industry is at a crossroads. The Golf 2.0 plan of action promotes out-of-the box thinking and details how we need to change to grow the game,” says Nicklaus.
The goals of Golf 2.0 are to increase participation from 27.1 million golfers generating $33 billion in annual consumer revenues today to 32 million golfers and $35 billion in consumer revenues by 2016. By 2020, the goal is to have 40 million golfers generating $40 billion in annual revenues.
“As a business professional and player, Jack has had his finger on the pulse of the golf industry for many years, and he shares our determination to grow participation and grow the business side of golf,” adds PGA of America President Allen Wronowski.
The 2012 PGA Merchandise Show brings back the brightest brands in golf, including FootJoy, Oakley and Ogio – plus some 300 new companies – and a medley of favorite features, such as the PGA Education Conference, Indoor Demo Days, PGA Section Short Game Challenge, the Inventor’s Spotlight Pavilion, the PGA Fashion E-Studio, the prestigious PGA Awards, the New Product Zone, the PGA Travel Pavilion, the Teaching, Training Aids & Fitness Pavilion, multiple international pavilions and numerous networking events.
PGA Show www.pgashow.com