70th PGA Show Closes and Signals a Big Year Ahead for Golf

Golf’s longest running and largest global gathering reunites the industry and drives business, Jan. 24-27, in Orlando

ORLANDO, Florida (January 29, 2023) – 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, Jan. 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.

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 Jan. 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.

PGA of America President John Lindert and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh opened the 70th PGA Show on Jan. 25 with welcome remarks to a crowded lobby packed with PGA Professionals and golf buyers ready to take their first step onto the massive Show Floor, full of the newest golf innovations. Following the ceremony, the doors opened to more than 800 companies, from emerging ventures and veteran manufacturers to the games’ most recognizable brands, to create the world’s largest business-to-business golf event. Golf’s top companies and market-leading brands, along with more than 250 exhibitors new to the PGA Show, introduced thousands of new products and services to drive golf retail in 2023.

Callaway Golf’s new Paradym clubs, PING’s G435 clubs and Cobra Golf’s new Aerojet clubs attracted attention, similar to the new Titliest ProV1 and ProV1x golf balls, Scotty Cameron putters and Mizuno ST230 drivers and the Club Car CRU golf cart. Bushnell Wingman and Full Swing KIT launch monitor, among thousands of exciting products were also among products that can positively impact the game experience. Fashion companies such as KJUS, Dunning, Peter Millar, FootJoy, PUMA Golf, Ralph Lauren and some 300 additional apparel and accessory companies introduced their newest collections for Fall 2023.

The Inventors Spotlight pavilion, organized in partnership with the United Inventors Association (UIA), showcased new golf products developed by independent inventors within 53 inventor exhibits. Products were reviewed by UIA experts and top inventions were presented with one of three awards: Best Marketing to Mach One Golf Balls; Best Innovation to Vippy Golf height-adjustable tees; and the Pinnacle Award – Best in Show to Paradax Golf all-in-one cartbag.

A dynamic 2023 PGA Show Floor featured interactive destinations including the PGA Professional Hub where Members could centrally access Association and partner benefits and programming while showcasing PGA Frisco, the new home of the PGA; the Equipment Test Center, sponsored by Clubhouse Events, featured 44 testing bays and a 3,750 square-foot putting green; the Golf Fitness, Wellness & Instruction area; an Adaptive Golf Center; Club Amenities Pavilion and Golf Travel Pavilion.

Golf customers have been waiting for the last two years because of COVID-19. Golf-related consumers who participated were excited by the joy of meeting new products, and the producers’ passion to consult at least one person for a short period of time was combined.

The show was an event where many golf equipment companies were eager to promote their products, especially digital-related products.

The Korean Pavilion, which had been located in a side corner as a Korean public relations center, disappeared, and each company displayed a line that fits the product with major companies, making it more effective in promoting it to consumers.

In particular, while the Korean product line was difficult to achieve with small companies participating in the past, the exhibition attracted a lot of attention to K-Golf by participating in a larger booth with a more sophisticated scale and format.