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| Tuesday Jan 21, 2025 |
The PGA Show, which began in the trunks of cars at a winter golf tournament in 1954, has grown into the longest running and largest business gathering of the $102 billion golf industry.
How big has it become? Here are a few numbers based on data from the 2024 Show at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida:
> 1000-plus exhibiting golf companies and brands
> 1.1 million square feet of of exhibit, demonstration and meeting space
> 30,000-plus attending industry professionals
> 1,000 VIP buyers from 775 golf facilities and mass merchandisers
> $900 million in VIP buyer purchasing power and nearly $2.9 billion in retail sales
IN THIS ISSUE
> Design Notes: Fazio Design’s Tom Marzolf reopens Sabal at Bonita Bay | Read
> TFC Inbox: Is the game of golf really growing? | Read
POLL
> Does LIV Golf's new media rights deal with Fox Sports give the 3-year-old league more legitimacy? | Vote
> Previous: Do you believe golf’s leaders have done well in growing the game? | Results
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
What are your thoughts on LIV Golf's new media rights deal with Fox Sports?
Send replies on this question or other topics and questions you would like to have asked to shall@buffalogroupe.com. For a response to be published, you must include your first and last name, along with the city and state of residence.
> Responses to the previous question: Have golf industry leaders done a good job "growing the game" of golf, and in what ways would you expand the sport? | Read
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Olazabal Design charts a new course for coastal Bahrain; Craig & Coyne get to work on South Dakota’s Lazy J.
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While participation is up, readers of The First Call offer their opinions on what industry leaders have done and what they should be doing
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Swing Control: To debut its autumn / winter 2025 apparel collection at the 2025 PGA Show. Signature themes include the polished contrast side stripes of the After Hours collection and the ethereal, underwater-inspired prints of Mystic Marine.
Women’s Golf Day: Location registration for Women’s Golf Day 2025, which will take place May 27 – June 3, is currently open. Registration online at WomensGolfDay.com starts at $159, and gives clubs access to a range of benefits year round. Registration is open to all organizations and individuals affiliated with the golf industry.
Primo: Announces a partnership with HyFlyers GC, the LIV Golf team captained by Phil Mickelson. The company is designated as the official golf apparel sponsor of HyFlyers GC, which will see Mickelson and his teammates wearing Primo’s products in all competitive rounds at LIV events and major championships. Primo’s product line includes joggers, traditional pants, quarter zips, vests and traditional polos.
Golf as Life: Launches as the vision of golf photographer Mike Klemme. With over 40 years of experience photographing more than 1,800 courses, Klemme will offer a curated collection of large-format wall art, available for purchase at GolfasLife.com. Also, Golf as Life will expand into a coffee table book, blending Klemme’s photography with inspiring and humorous stories from golfers of all walks of life.
Duca del Cosma: To continue as a Gold Vendor Partner with the Association of Golf Merchandisers through 2026. The partnership includes onsite sponsorship of the Afternoon Refreshment Break at the 2025 AGM Retail Conference, Jan. 21 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The footwear brand will also exhibit its 2025 collections at the PGA Show, Jan. 22-24 in Orlando.
Golf Channel: Expanding its relationship with Good Good Golf in 2025, beginning with the Good Good GolfNow Desert Knockout at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills in Tempe, Arizona. The event will air live on Golf Channel Feb. 5, at 8 p.m. ET. This year’s Good Good GolfNow Desert Knockout will feature members of the Good Good Golf crew, along with golf content creators and current and former players, competing in Good Good’s knockout competition. The group plays successive holes and eliminates the worst score until a winner is determined.
Play Golf Myrtle Beach: Partners with Aaron Chewning, co-founder of St. Andre Golf, to launch the "Course Cases with Aaron Chewning" video series that will debut Jan. 22. The series combines Chewning’s comedy with seven premier Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, golf courses and will showcase the appeal of a Myrtle Beach golf trip. The video release dates on YouTube are Jan. 22 (Thistle Golf Club), Feb. (Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links), March 5 (Pine Lakes Country Club), March 26 (Man O’ War Golf Course), April 16 (True Blue Golf Club), May 7(Heritage Club), and May 28 (Arrowhead Country Club).
SkyGolf: To showcase its SwingTraX 360, powered by SuperTags, in the Zen Golf booth at the PGA Show. The booth will showcase Zen Golf’s moving floor putting and hitting stages, and attendees will be able to hit shots and see how the data from SkyGolf SuperTags changes along with the Zen gradients – creating wide opportunities for learning and game-improvement. Golf industry content creator and social media personality Chris Trott will be on the Swing Stage in the Zen Golf booth giving lessons and demoing the SwingTraX 360 on Jan. 22-23. GameTraX 360 also uses SuperTags to automatically capture shot and swing data for every shot both on and off the course.
LPGA: Announces the formation of its search committee to lead the process of identifying the LPGA’s next commissioner. The committee is composed of LPGA player directors and independent directors, along with the selection of Elevate Talent as the executive search firm to lead the process. The committee’s eight members are Ashleigh Buhai (board member, player director), Stephanie Meadow (board member, player director), Stacy Lewis (LET joint venture board member, player), Vicki Goetze-Ackerman (board member, LPGA Player president), Louise Ball (board member, LPGA Professionals president), Michele Meyer-Shipp (board member, chair of the Human Resources Committee), Madi Kleiner (vice chair, board of directors) and John Veihmeyer (chair, board of directors).
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"You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way."
VIDEOS
THE COACH MO GOLF SHOW
Merchandising mastery and mentorship
Grace Hurley, vice president of brand and national sales at Catapult, joins 'The Coach Mo Golf Show' to discuss leadership, branding and navigating a career in golf
[Watch | More "The Coach Mo Golf Show" episodes]
THE MODGOLF PODCAST
5 tips to help women get into golf
Birdies Babes Golf founder Courtney Campbell joins host Colin Weston to discuss ways in which the first-timer's intimidation factor can be mitigated
[Watch | More "The ModGolf Podcast" edpisodes]
PODCASTS
GOLF INNERVIEW WITH ANN LIGUORI
The rise of Concert Golf Partners
Guest: Jordan Peace, Concert Golf Partners senior vice president of corporate development
[Listen | More "Golf Innerview with Ann Liguori" episodes]
Korn Ferry Tour: The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic
Site: The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, Great Abaco, Bahamas.
Television [ET]: Today, 2-5 p.m. (Golf Channel); Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. (Golf Channel).
GCSAA Fact Sheet
JANUARY
21-22: NGCOA Golf Business Conference, Orlando, Florida | Info
21-24: PGA Show, Orlando, Florida | Info
FEBRUARY
3-6: GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, San Diego, California | Info
5-9: Club Management Association of America World Conference and Club Business Expo, Tampa, Florida | Info
To submit events for the calendar, please include the event name, date, location and informational link to info@firstcallgolf.com.
