THE PGA FAll Expo: The Future is Wow

Sept. 1, 2009 -- LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Deep within the convention halls of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, sales pitches, seminars and hallway conversations are having huge impacts on what the short-term and long-term futures of golf will look like.

The PGA Fall Expo is the annual golf industry tradeshow that gives PGA Professionals, golf manufacturers and other industry leaders a chance to display to, educate and learn from other golf industry leaders.

From product testing to education seminars to a PGA Professionals town hall with PGA of America President Jim Remy and PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka to golf tournaments and industry workshops, every aspect of the industry was covered by one of the hundreds of exhibitors or the PGA Professionals who flocked to see the latest and greatest of what's on the golf market.

PGA President Jim Remy (left) talks with PGA CEO Joe Steranka (center) and PGA Vice President Allen Wronowski (right) prior the the members' townhall meeting. (Photo: PGA.com)

"What happens here matters a great deal to the golfing population because each PGA Professional in attendance will take away better practices, better insights and hopefully some better products to their customers back home," said PGA Vice President Allen Wronowski. "The networking, the sharing and the support you get from your fellow professionals is part of what makes this association so unique and special."

The plethora of workshops and seminars were a great appeal to the registrants, but seeing new and innovative products always creates a tremendous buzz throughout the crowd.

One vendor, Garia (pronounced like "Maria" but with a "G") Golf Cars, turned many heads with their latest offering: a high-end custom golf car for the most discerning and extravagant golfer. The golf cars, complete with sunroofs, air-conditioned coolers, digital speedometers and adjustable seats, are not designed to take over your local municipal course -- but are obviously for a more targeted demographic.

"We are trying to give consumers the same options that they have in the car industry," stated Jesper Lovendahl, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Garia. "Hondas are great cars, but some people want the Mercedes-Benz or Lexus.

By coming to this show," Lovendahl added, "we are hoping to develop a network of potential dealers that can introduce this car to the proper audience."

By the level of interest and enthusiasm around their display area, get used to the name Garia. The cars will first be on the market in October.

But it wasn't just PGA Professionals and product developers who were hoping to make an impact by their presence. Golf courses, such as the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Ind., had a booth here to discuss their involvement in raising funds for this weekend's Patriot Golf Day as well as to promote their venue as the host course for the 2010 PGA Professional National Championship.

"We want to show as many PGA Professionals as possible, particular those that out West that may not have had much exposure to us, what a great resort we have and why they should consider bringing their members to our course on their next golf trip," reasoned Brendan Sweeney, the Director of Golf Sales for French Lick Resort.

"It's about 'who is the best person to get the message out to the golf audience for us?'" Sweeney said. "We feel it is the PGA Professionals who are the most effective in reaching that audience."

And judging from the excitement on the convention floor from everyone involved, apparently it is.