PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – New business resources are being added to the 2012 PGA Expo, where more than 250 top golf brands and companies will showcase the latest equipment, training aids, fashions and accessories in the spotlight of the Las Vegas Strip at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Aug. 20-22, 2012. More than 4,000 attending PGA Professionals, golf retailers, apparel buyers and golf executives will be able to take advantage of a multitude of new product introductions, demonstrations, equipment testing opportunities, featured speakers, fashion programs, education seminars, professional networking events and business resources to create an industry environment that is a sure bet investment in building business for the upcoming golf season.
“The PGA Expo show floor in 2012 is packed full of new merchandise and business resources that will payout immediately for PGA Professionals and buyers at their facilities back home,” said PGA Golf Exhibitions Industry Vice President John McGeary. “This year’s programming is resulting in a nice uptick in advance registration and we look forward to an energetic business atmosphere at our PGA Expo events next month.”
Exhibits
More than 250 golf companies and brands will showcase the newest equipment, training aids, fashions, accessories and services in upscale, all-inclusive exhibits in the Venetian Ballroom including top names in golf such as adidas Ashworth Golf, AHEAD, Antigua, Callaway, Cobra Puma Golf, Cutter & Buck, Fairway & Greene, Flightscope, FootJoy, Foresight Sports, Full Swing Golf, Greg Norman Collection, PGA Authentics, PING, Polara Golf, Pukka Headwear, Straight Down, Summit Brands, Tour Edge, Yamaha, Yonex and many more. View the full exhibitor list here.
Main Stage Presentations
»Hank Haney – Excel Through Golf – 8/21, 9:00 a.m.
Achieve & Maintain Instruction Excellence
Growing the Game
Successful Business Motivators
»Fashion Designer Panel – 8/21, 10:00 a.m.
John Ashworth of LinkSoul
Billy Draddy of Fairway & Greene/Zero Restriction
Mike Rowley of Straight Down.
Moderators: Golf Digest Fashion Director Marty Hackel and Win McMurry, Golf Channel reporter and resident fashion expert
»Jim Fannin – Maximize Your Golf Instruction and Business Performance – 8/22, 9:00 a.m.
Adapting to Changing Consumer Behaviors
Maximizing Customer Experience
Tools to Enhance Learning and Increase Frequency of Play
Equipment & Instruction Section
The PGA Expo floor will also welcome a new equipment and instruction section, which will showcase the latest equipment, ball-flight monitors, simulators, clubfitting systems, and teaching and training aids. The “practice” area is anchored by an expanded putting green with turnkey kiosks for putter companies as well as the new Performance and Club Testing Center, which will allow hands-on testing of the latest equipment and training aids. Callaway Golf, Cobra Puma Golf, Ping, Tour Edge, Yonex and others will anchor the equipment and instruction section, with several companies offering clubfitting services for PGA Professionals.
Fashion Row, Las Vegas Fashion Week & Apparel Companies
The 2012 PGA Expo will again focus on fashion, conveniently positioned among five trade shows during Las Vegas “Fashion Week,” including MAGIC, MODA, MRket and Accessories: The Show, to allow PGA Professionals and buyers to take advantage of multiple business and networking events among the fashion shows. A new “Fashion Row,” complete with mannequins displaying the latest golf apparel, will greet PGA Expo attendees in the hallway of the Venetian ballroom as they register and prepare to enter the exhibition hall each day.
Some of the brightest brands in apparel will be showing off their newest designs at the 2012 PGA Expo, including Abacus, adidas Golf, Ahead, Antigua, Ashworth, Bobby Jones, Callaway, Carnoustie, Cobra Puma Golf, Cutter & Buck, Donald Ross Sportswear, Dunning Golf, Ecco, EP Pro, Fairway & Greene, FootJoy, Gear for Sports, Greg Norman Collection, Imperial Headwear, J. Lindeberg, Kentwool, Linksoul, Maui Jim, Nivo, PGA Authentic, Page & Tuttle, Ping Apparel, Pukka Headwear, Sport Haley, Straight Down, Sunice, Tommy Hilfiger, Travis Mathew, Under Armour, Zero Restriction and many others.
New Product Zone
The New Product Zone is one of the most popular areas on the Show Floor because it is the best place to see all the newest merchandise in one location. In 2012, the New Product Zone is being expanded to accommodate growing interest by exhibitors and attendees and will be segmented by equipment, apparel and accessories.
New Professional Networking Lounge
A new PGA Professional and buyer networking lounge has been added to the PGA Expo show floor to facilitate conversations on trends, new products and best practices. Each day the main stage area will host a featured speaker and following the presentation, the area will be converted into a lounge with seating, tables and light food and beverage service.
PGA Golf Shop
The PGA Golf Shop moves to the show floor adjacent to the main stage in booth #735. The PGA Golf Shop is open to all Expo attendees and will feature PGA Authentic apparel, outerwear and headwear, along with a selection of PGA-logoed ladies apparel, junior & children’s apparel, luggage, leather goods, money clips, jewelry and much more.
About the PGA Expo
The 2012 PGA Expo, Aug. 20-22 in Las Vegas, begins with an all-new Demo Night featuring product testing, instruction workshops, professional networking and a social golf outing at the Callaway Golf Center, just off the Las Vegas Strip, on Monday, Aug. 20.
More than 250 golf companies and brands will present and demonstrate their latest merchandise in upscale, exhibit displays in the Venetian Ballroom on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 9 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Attendees can test equipment on the show floor at the expanded Golf Performance & Training Center; uncover the newest merchandise at the New Product Zone; and network with colleagues among displays of the latest golf fashion lines in the new attendee networking lounge.
Each morning begins with a new keynote industry presentation and attendees can participate in a comprehensive education conference. Additionally, the popular PGA Expo Industry Reception will be held Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the Lagasse Stadium in the Palazzo Las Vegas Resort.
The PGA Expo is held at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in the heart of the apparel industry’s “Fashion Week” and the MAGIC™*, MODA™*, MRket®*, and ACCESSORIES: The Show®* events. It is an industry-only event and is not open to the public. Buyers, exhibitors and PGA Professionals can register and learn more information about the 2012 PGA Expo in Las Vegas online at www.pgaexpo.com.
