Callaway Golf: 26 straight years at PGA Merchandise Show

Golf companies have come, and golf companies have gone during the past 25 years of the PGA Merchandise Show. But Callaway Golf has always been there, and at the end of January in Orlando the golf equipment giant will celebrate 26 consecutive years of attending and supporting the world's largest gathering of the game's biggest and best companies.

The PGA Merchandise Show has seen numerous trends in equipment, apparel, accessories and services come and go during the past 25 years. The Show also has seen a lengthy list of companies, a veritable Who's Who of the golf industry, grace the 10 miles of exhibition space during the past two-plus decades.

But, through 25 years of evolution and perpetual change at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, there has been one constant in the golf equipment sector -- Callaway Golf.

Through economic peaks and valleys, through good times and better times for the golf industry, Callaway Golf has never missed a roll call at the PGA Merchandise Show since founder Ely Callaway brought his "hickory sticks" to the Show in the early 1980s. The Callaway tradition continues in 2009, with Callaway Golf serving as an anchor of the PGA Equipment Forum to show off its latest equipment lines and clubfitting technologies in its large booth on the Show floor from Jan. 29-31. Callaway also invites PGA Professionals to test its new equipment at the PGA Merchandise Show Demo Day on Wed., Jan. 28, at Orange County National Golf Center.

Saluting Callaway Golf's commitment to the PGA Merchandise Show and to PGA Professionals nationally, then-PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb surprised Callaway Golf President and CEO George Fellows with a beautiful vase commemorating Callaway's 25-year Show record and its "perpetuation of golf and commitment to PGA Professionals across the country" at the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show last January.

Fellows thanked Whitcomb on behalf of the 3,500 Callaway employees and credited Callaway Golf founder Ely Callaway with building a strong bond between the company and PGA members while introducing a strong line of innovative products such as the Big Bertha line of drivers and metal woods.

"Ely Callaway was a true visionary who changed the paradigm of golf," Fellows said. "He recognized the importance of The PGA and the PGA Professionals and made a commitment to both early in the history of Callaway Golf."

Callaway unveiled its I-MIX technology, which gives golfers 1,600 interchangeable shaft-head combinations, at the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show. "Our I-MIX technology gives everyone the ability to quickly and easily customize
their equipment every time they play," said Jeff Colton, senior vice president of research and development for Callaway Golf.

For 2009, Callaway Golf will continue its launch of the new FT-IQ driver line and a medley of innovation new fairway woods, hybrids and irons.

"Looking forward, the initial feedback on our new 2009 products has been very positive," Fellow told shareholders recently. "We feel the whole (2009) product line is stronger than our record 2007 line. We feel that this product lineup, along with strategic and operational progress to date, positions Callaway Golf for solid growth when the global economy begins to recover."

One thing is certain: Callaway Golf will be front and center for the 26th straight year when the 2009 PGA Merchandise Show opens.