The 2023 PGA Buying & Education Summit doubled in size since last year’s edition in Las Vegas, welcoming more than 1,000 golf industry professionals from 44 states and eight countries to preview and source Spring 2024 apparel collections, and the latest accessories, equipment and technology from 166 participating golf brands in the sold-out exhibit spaces of the Omni PGA Frisco Resort and Monument Realty PGA District, in Frisco, Texas, July 31 – Aug. 2.
The Summit, serving the $102 billion golf industry, was filled with valuable mid-season business opportunities, including product sourcing, national level education and buying appointments by day; and a Live Fashion Show, Demo Night and experiential networking events at night. Vendors in the One2One buying appointments were capped; both exhibit ballrooms were sold out; education sessions were at full capacity and the PGA Coaching Center activation spaces were maximized to accommodate equipment and technology companies for Demo Night.
“The PGA Buying & Education Summit served this week as an exciting destination for both PGA Professionals and industry buyers to make valuable connections at the new Home of the PGA of America and Omni PGA Frisco Resort,” said PGA President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at The Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan. “While meeting with some of the leading golf, technology and fashion brands, PGA Members also enhanced their professional development in sold-out educational seminars. To top it off, PGA Master Professionals from across the nation gathered to create new ways to mentor the PGA of America’s next generation. We were very pleased with the turnout from both an industry and educational perspective, as it shows that the game of golf is continuing to attract new players.”
“We are so pleased with the amazing energy, positive feedback and excitement for the new event format and the extraordinary new destination for the PGA Buying & Education Summit,” said PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President Marc Simon. “The new Home of the PGA of America, the Omni PGA Frisco Resort and the Monument Realty PGA District seem like they are custom built for a golf industry event like this. The days were filled with significant business opportunities, and the nights with networking and enjoyment for all that PGA Frisco has to offer.”
Event Recap:
The new Home of the PGA of America hosted PGA Master Professionals from across the U.S. to kick off the PGA Buying & Education Summit week with the 2023 PGA of America Master Professional Summit, July 30-31, and some 75 PGA Professionals participated in six full-capacity PGA of America Education sessions, July 31, at the state-of-the-art PGA Professional Development Center.
“I took 17 pages of notes between the PGA Master Professional discussions and the PGA education seminars,” said PGA Master Professional Andy Weissinger of Eaglewood Golf Club in Langley, Virginia. “The education seminars were very informative and really inspiring. I knew I was going to be able to accomplish a lot in three days, but it exceeded my expectations. I knew the Omni PGA Frisco Resort and all of the PGA Frisco facilities were going to be good, but they were all great. It’s a tremendous facility from A to Z.”
Select VIP buyers from top clubs, resorts, off-course retailers and golf management companies – representing more than $200 million in retail sales – sourced the newest merchandise and Spring 2024 apparel collections during preset, One2One VIP Buying Appointments in the Wanamaker Ballroom of the Omni PGA Frisco Resort on July 31.
“I’m very happy to be here, and the way the One2One is organized is fantastic for vendors,” said Georg Roth, Founder, Designer and CEO of Georg Roth Los Angeles. “The first day was organized to the tee with my first customer beginning at 9 a.m. and every half-hour another new customer came. I’m relatively new in the golf business, so many people came to me by chance, and I ended up opening quite a few important new accounts.”
“Being in this environment is just great for us, and having some eye-catching products like our laser customization station created a lot of buzz with buyers who shared it with each other,” said JD Rastovski, Sales Director for TRUE linkswear. “The One2One Summit was especially important for us to connect with buyers, and it was exciting how engaging buyers have been. We’re blown away, it’s been very, very beneficial.”
The first day concluded with a Welcome Reception and was highlighted by a Live Fashion Show, sponsored by RepSpark, where the latest fashions from 17 emerging and established golf lifestyle brands were showcased in an exciting, live runway event. Afterwards, Fore All women’s apparel was voted as the “2023 People’s Choice: Best in Fashion Show” award winner by attendees.
“I would give the Fashion Show five stars – it was top notch all the way,” said Domenic Provenzano, PGA, Membership Director at The Club at PGA West in La Quinta, California. “The models, the color and variety of fashions and the presentation were all exceptional. It was a touch of genius to have the models come out with the QR codes for each company after the Fashion Show. I scanned in the four or five I liked best for easy access to their websites and clothing lines.”
Open ballroom exhibits in the resort’s sold-out Wanamaker and Ryder Cup Ballrooms opened to all attendees on Aug. 1-2, featuring 150 top and emerging golf and golf lifestyle brands. PGA Professionals and golf buyers previewed Spring 2024 apparel collections, and the newest innovations in golf accessories and resort merchandise, which will appeal to consumers across the country and be available in golf shops next season.
“On a scale of 1 to 10, I would say the PGA Buying Summit was a 12 for us,” said Sara Gilmore, Product Manager, GoodGood Golf. “We accomplished everything we hoped to and more. We are relatively new to the industry but made many new connections. Our hats, apparel and accessory items were very well received. It was a great show for us.”
“We came to do all of our buying for next spring and were able to connect with a lot of companies and vendors we haven’t seen before,” said Jett Johnson, PGA Head Professional, Quail Creek Golf & Country Club, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “There were a lot of great soft goods companies, and the new PGA Frisco campus was awesome. We never went to the Las Vegas show, but this was very convenient and productive. The special events in the evening, especially the Demo Night and putting contest, were sensational. Really a lot of fun.”
“We’re here to meet new people as well as deepen our relationships,” said Weston Mallon, Founder of Harlestons. “If you’re going to be a contender in the golf space, you need to be here – in front of the right people.”
“This was my first time at this show, and it was exceptional as far as meeting new potential clients and introducing our products to a variety of golf buyers,” said Christina Oh, CEO of Boulevard. “We were able to demonstrate our deep line of tee gifts, which were very well received. All-in-all, we were able to make new friends and sign up new accounts, so it was highly beneficial.”
More than 20 golf equipment and technology companies shared their latest developments with PGA Professionals and buyers at Demo Night, Aug. 1, across the expanse of the PGA Coaching Center range and on the massive practice putting green of The Dance Floor. In addition, multiple equipment and technology companies offered educational workshops on product advancements and club fitting strategies earlier that day during sessions in the soon-to-open PGA Coaching Center, a 12,000 square-foot dedicated facility offering coaching, club fitting and fitness elements to golfers from PGA Professionals.
“I have been in the golf business for 25 years, and this is the best all-purpose show I have attended,” said Sally Kay, PGA/LPGA, Hot 4 Golf, Grapevine, Texas. “I wanted to see all the new PGA Frisco facilities, which were phenomenal, and then I spent all day Tuesday and Wednesday looking at apparel and accessory brands. The Demo Night was a great way to unwind after networking during the day. The entire experience was fabulous.”
Each evening of the Summit, PGA Professionals, buyers and vendors enjoyed a chance to unwind and stay connected at the Monument Realty PGA District, including complimentary tee times on The Swing, a 10-hole, lighted par-3 short course; a putting contest and friendly play on The Dance Floor, a lighted 2-acre putting course; and continued networking opportunities into the night at the Ice House with six live hitting bays; Lounge by Topgolf; and additional retail and dining destinations in the expansive PGA District.
“It’s been a brilliant show and more than we expected,” said Roy Macfadyen, owner, Reflo. “We’ve met some amazing buyers and companies. We’ve made new sales and built long-term relationships. The facility is second-to-none. It takes your breath away when you walk into the hotel reception, it’s really something special. We’ve played the par-3 and the putting challenge on The Dance Floor and experienced the restaurants – it’s a golfer’s dream. It’s the perfect place for us to be.”
Multiple exhibitors connected with influential PGA Professionals and buyers through elevated participation and sponsorships including: Dunning Golf (staff apparel), lululemon (staff apparel), Johnston & Murphy (staff shoes), 7Diamonds (lanyard sponsor), LA Golf (ball sponsor), Mizzen+Main (bag sponsor), Renegade Golf (ball sponsor) and TeeTimeTees (tee sponsor).
The Home of the PGA of America debuted in August 2022, and the Omni PGA Frisco Resort and Monument Realty PGA District opened in May 2023. PGA Professionals enjoyed walk-up tours of the new Home of the PGA of America throughout the Summit.
About PGA Golf Exhibitions
The PGA Show, PGA Buying & Education Summit and PGA Show Connects are organized by PGA Golf Exhibitions (part of RX) and the PGA of America. Since its inception in 1954, the PGA Show has grown into the largest annual business event for the global golf industry. The mid-season PGA Show Buying & Education Summit and the PGA Show Connects digital platform connect the industry year-round and drive business leading up to the annual PGA Show. Learn more at PGAShow.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals who work daily to grow interest and inclusion in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
About RX (Reed Exhibitions) & RELX
RX is in the business of building businesses for individuals, communities and organisations. We elevate the power of face-to-face events by combining data and digital products to help customers learn about markets, source products and complete transactions at approximately 400 events in 22 countries across 42 industry sectors. RX is passionate about making a positive impact on society and is fully committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. www.rxglobal.com
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 35,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
