The Phoenix-Scottsdale metropolitan area is sending a “supersized’’ contingent of 58 local golf companies to the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., which takes place Jan. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center.
According to a release from the PGA of America, the organization that sponsors the event, Phoenix-Scottsdale “will be among the country’s top-10 business markets in attendance.”
In all, more than 1,200 exhibitors will take part in the world’s largest golf trade show that represents the $75 billion industry.
Dominic Cirone, the president of Scottsdale-based Iron Gloves, a manufacturer of Neoprene golf accessories, is a PGA Merchandise Show veteran with 16 past appearances.
“Orlando is one of those 'You have to be there’ shows, because if you’re not chances are your competition will be,” Cirone said. “Where else can you see everything in the golf world all at once? It’s the only place.”
Cirone said when Iron Gloves first went to the PGA show in Florida in 1992 “it was much cozier.’’
“There were two venues — the convention center and the Peabody Hotel’s main ballroom — and the new vendors were in the Peabody and everybody else was across the street at the convention center,” Cirone said. “Today, it’s just supersized. They expanded the convention center by about 50 percent — it’s now 500,000 square feet of exhibition space — and it takes about three days to view.”
There are 125 aisles approximately 100 yards long that stretch for more than 10 miles. The show’s three-day run will attract roughly 45,000 people.
All the major golf companies such as Callaway, Nike, PING, TaylorMade and Titlelist will be there with celebrated guests such as Jim Furyk, Greg Norman, Justin Rose, Charles Howell III, Annika Sorenstam, Paula Creamer and Fuzzy Zoeller. Noted instructors Butch Harmon, Rick Smith and Jim McLean also will be on this year’s marquee.
But a lot of the “small players’’ in the golf world like East Valley entries Butthead Covers, Speed Stick and Magique Golf will take part, too.
Local flavor
Phoenix-Scottsdale companies participating in PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.
American Bodyworks
Antigua Sportswear Inc.
Appointment Plus
Arizona Manufacturing & Embroidering
Arizona State University East
Association of Golf Merchandisers
Aussie Chiller
Best Approach/The Holeview
Brian Morgan Golf USA
Butthead Covers Inc.
Caddy Daddy Golf
Chadsworth & Haig
CMC Golf INC.
Composite-America & Body Shop
Coolwell
Cutters Gloves
Cylex Inc.
Daphne’s Headcovers
Desert Sunglass of Scottsdale
Doctor Hoy’s
eSoles
Fore Cosmetics
Glove It
GolfLogix
Golf Switch
Golf Tournament Assn. of America
Great Golf USA
Great Little Golf Games
GreenFix Golf Inc.
Heritage Cross Apparel
Hybrex Golf
In Flamme
Instant Grip
Iron Gloves Inc.
JSM Golf
LINKSource Corporation
Magique Golf
McArthur Towel & Sports
Mobile Shoe Shine
Moore’s Golf Carts
Moseau
Palm West Inc.
PING
ProLink Solutions
Range Automation Systems LLC
San Diego Golf Academy
Southwest Putting Greens
Speed Stik
Star Resorts
Swing Jacket
Sunshine Golf
TeeBox International
Teeze Golf Products
Tournament Concepts
Vantage/19th Hole Marketing Inc.
Vyatek Sports
Zebra Golf Mats
Zelocity
