The global golf gathering began on Jan. 26, with
a special PGA of America Centennial Tee Shot to
open the 14th Annual PGA Show Outdoor Demo
Day. Covered live by Golf Channel on “Morning
Drive,” the opening ceremony featured PGA of
America officers and representatives from the PGA’s
41 Sections, along with 41 PGA Junior League Golf
participants from Greater Orlando. Thousands
of PGA Professionals and invited golf retailers
then previewed and personally tested the newest
equipment, training aids and accessories from more
than 100 top golf companies at the 42-acre practice
facility, to create the world’s largest professional golf
demo event.
On Jan. 27, PGA of America Hall of Famer
Lee Trevino was joined by his longtime mentor,
instructor and friend, PGA Master Professional
Bill Eschenbrenner, as they shined a spotlight on
the century-long impact of PGA Professionals
and helped open the PGA Merchandise Show, the
world’s largest gathering of PGA Professionals,
live on Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive.” Trevino
was among a long list of celebrities, renowned
golf instructors and specials guests, such as Lexi
Thompson, Bubba Watson, Jesper Parnevik, Lydia
Ko, Blair O’Neal, Ian Poulter, Greg Norman, Chi
Chi Rodriguez, Troy Merritt, Annika Sorenstam,
Johnny Miller, Hal Sutton, Justin Thomas, Nancy
Lopez, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney, Michael
Breed, Mike Malaska, Cameron McCormick, Jim
McLean, Claude Harmon, Lynn Swann, Lou Holtz
and many more who participated in the 2016 PGA
Merchandise Show.
In addition to the busy marketplace among nearly
10 miles of exhibit aisles, PGA Show days were full of
professional learning opportunities during industry
presentations. The PGA Forum Stage, presented by
OMEGA, was a popular destination on the PGA
Show floor, with a compelling schedule of focused
programming on emerging technology, employment
initiatives, and instruction best practices, plus
multiple presentations with celebrities and industry
leaders, which both enlightened and entertained the
audience.
Also, the comprehensive PGA Education
Conference, PGA Youth & Family Golf Summit,
Outdoor Instructional Workshops, the FIT to
W.I.N. stage, sponsored by TPI, and the new
Textile Sourcing Pavilion offered many educational
programs on a diverse spectrum of golf, retailing,
fitness and business topics.
Attendees experienced a dynamic PGA Show
floor, featuring PGA Centennial programs,
interactive exhibits, hundreds of vendor show
Lexi Thompson takes a selfie with Junior League Golfers at Demo Day during the PGA Merchandise Show
held at Orange County National Golf Center on Jan. 26 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/
The PGA of America).
Attendees at the Opening Ceremony during the PGA Merchandise Show held at Orange County
Convention Center on Jan. 27 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/The PGA of America).
33