2021 PGA Show Virtual Experience & Marketplace
January 26-29, 2021
It was a rare business that found advantage in 2020, but it's to no golfer's surprise that, despite a dismal second quarter, once courses began to reopen across the US there was an increase in play. Actually, 2020 saw an increase of 14% in rounds played over 2019 which translates into an astounding 60,000,000 additional rounds played, according to the National Golf Foundation.
Early to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, the PGA of America, USGA and other golf industry stakeholders developed the Back2Golf Operations Playbook, a best-practices document that they presented the CDC in March 2020, enabling the industry to quickly get back on its feet. With a few adjustments to accommodate safety protocols, golf offered escape, exercise, entertainment, or was just plain essential. And golfers were reminded what a refuge golf can be. We could play alone, with family, with friends, with total strangers, just as we always have.
And so how strange it was to hear that the year's most well-attended golf get-together would go virtual. But the 2021 PGA Show Virtual Experience & Marketplace was a remarkable production. Combining with the PGA of America and the National Golf Course Owners of America (NCGOA), the 2021 PGA Show Virtual Experience & Marketplace provided a full slate of industry and educational sessions as well as a platform where nearly 400 merchandisers could present new products, merchandise education, video demos and buyer/exhibitor connections within virtual showrooms that industry professionals will be able to access throughout 2021 at Virtual.PGAShow.com.
More than 11,000 attendees included PGA and LPGA Professionals, course owners, retailers, industry leaders, manufacturers and members of the media from around the globe who connected online during 192 live and on-demand presentations and, thanks to the digital magic of this year's PGA Merchandise Show, those connections will continue to have a platform throughout 2021.
Some Fascinating Take-Aways Included ~
"So You Want To Own A Golf Course" presented by NGCOA, during which current golf course owner and PGA/LPGA Member Cathy Harbin and former golf course owner Chuck Bennell illuminated the realistic questions all potential golf course buyers should ask before they sign away. A well-attended session because, let's face it, we all dream about it!
Golf Ireland put out their welcome mat with a warm video invitation for post-pandemic travel. Worth a look because, let's face it, we all dream about that, too!
2020 Ryder Cup Update - On hold until September 2021 Interviewed by Golf Channel's Mark Rolfing, you could tell that Ryder Cup Captains Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington can't wait to have their teams tee it up at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin to resume what has become the world's favorite international golf competition!
The PGA Town Hall - Hosted by Golf Channel's Damon Hack, a panel that included Jay Monahan, Commissioner of the PGA Tour, Seth Waugh, CEO of PGA of America and Mike Whan, Commissioner of the LPGA addressed important issues both behind and ahead of the industry and game - diversity, inclusivity, innovation and, most importantly, how continued collaboration and programs like Back2Golf and PGA Works can sow the seeds of new players, returning players and retaining players for life.
A Mizuno R & D Deep Dive with Q & As proved that there's nothing better than having a nuclear engineer-slash-golfer like David Llewellyn as your Director of R & D who can actually explain the new SAT2041 Beta Titanium face and complex carbon construction of their STX and STZ drivers so that you can understand it!
27th Annual ING Media Awards - Even members of the media can be caught up in technological tremors but when uplink troubles required that their awards presentation be moved to another day, the intrepid members of ING, the International Network of Golf, found a way to turn the time into an impromptu Happy Hour, adding an enjoyable amount of spontaneity to the session's ingredients!
Eye-Catching Product Previews Included ~
FootJoy - Perhaps it's been an introspective year, a year of reflection and appreciation for the past that moved FootJoy and brand ambassador Adam Scott to develop the very classic Premier Series, but they are loaded with futuristic features that your feet will appreciate.
True Score Golf creates performance-driven wellness products with golfers in mind, with golfers' approval and with a catchy video promo that will get you "Swingin' Down The Lane with True Score!"
Swingin' Down The Lane With True Score Golf
And keep your eye on these Australian companies that are making their way to the US shores ~
Golf Skate Caddy has drawn on years of experience building electric skateboards and shared scooters to create The Tourer - a fun, stable, single-rider alternative electric cart.
Golf Surprize - Leave it to the Aussies to come up with this one-of-a-kind tool for instant feedback and database info that's also fun to use!
Look for the 2022 PGA Merchandise Show, a trade-only event not open to the public, to combine the best of both in-person and virtual participation when it returns to Orlando, FL January 25-28, 2022. Learn more at PGAShow.com.
Stock photos and video are courtesy of participating manufacturers and organizations.
