NEWS

Historic debut for Asia Golf Show /PGA Merchandise Show in China

By The PGA of America
Published on
Historic debut for Asia Golf Show /PGA Merchandise Show in China

Global industry leaders, including top PGA Professionals from around the world, have gathered at the 2011 Asia Golf Show/PGA Merchandise Show-Asia, Oct. 20–22, at the Guangzhou Jinhan Exhibition Center. The event -- the largest golf exhibition to ever be held in southern China -- is organized by the China Golf Association, PGA World Alliance, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), and supported by Reed Guanghe Exhibitions, an affiliate of PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions.

The show includes more than 100 exhibitors across 7,000 square meters of exhibition space (75,345 square feet) and the first-ever PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit-Asia. More than 7,500 attendees are expected during the three-day event, which concludes on Saturday.

The Asia Golf Show/PGA Merchandise Show-Asia kicked off with an impressive Opening Ceremony and ribbon cutting that featured several key global golf leaders, including PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka; Rhett Evans, CEO, GCSAA; Sandy Jones, Chief Executive, PGA of Great Britain & Ireland; Brian Thorburn, CEO, PGA of Australia; Justin Apel, Executive Director, GCBAA; China Golf Association Vice Chairman and Secretary General Zhang Xiaoning; and Reed Exhibitions Greater China President Preecha S. Chen.

"Golf is a global sport that enjoys participation in 189 territories and countries at approximately 33,000 facilities worldwide by 40 million people,” said Steranka. “The PGA of America, as part of the PGA World Alliance, is proud to take our expertise and share it with the rest of the world. We are focused on setting professional standards in order for people worldwide to serve as caretakers of the values of the sport and nurture people playing the game for the very first time.”

The first-ever PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit-Asia, presented by OMEGA, featured keynote speaker Hank Haney, the 1993 PGA Teacher of the Year, and a former instructor of Tiger Woods.  Based on the successful biannual PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit conducted by The PGA of America, the Summit also highlighted acclaimed Australian PGA Professionals Steve Bann, instructor for K.J. Choi; and Alan Huang, a teacher of many of China’s rising golf stars; as well as PGA Professionals Billy “William” Martin, who has worked with Jack Nicklaus; and JC Video President Mark Connell.

PING is exhibiting on the show floor, along with top equipment companies and exhibitors, such as OMEGA, Jacobsen, Toro, Club Car and SkyCaddie. On Oct. 20, Demo Night attendees were able to try out the latest products being offered on the market from Callaway, PING, TaylorMade, Titleist and other leading golf companies at the spectacular Jingye Golf Club, which features 110 hitting bays and three putting greens.

The entire show is a showcase of the latest innovations in the game to the worldwide golf industry. With the expansion of golf on a global scale, the PGA World Alliance will collaborate, support, assist and share expertise with new regions and emerging markets in the development of the game and business of golf, as well as help develop players to compete in the Olympic Games.

The Asia Golf Show/PGA Merchandise Show-Asia will be held each fall in a rotating location in Southern China.

About the Asia Golf Show/PGA Merchandise Show-Asia
Asia Golf Show/PGA Merchandise Show Asia is an international learning, networking and trading platform held in the south China region where global, regional and local suppliers can effectively network with general managers, superintendents and top industry buyers from all of Asia in a highly interactive and business-conducive environment. Tied to a concurrent conference schedule supported by the PGA World Alliance the week of events brings the market leaders together to share market insights. It is simply the best place to learn, network and do business effectively with the right people in Asia’s most dynamic markets.  Asia Golf Show/PGA Merchandise Show will take place Oct. 20-22, 2011, at Guangzhou Jinhan Exhibition Center.

About The PGA of America
Celebrating its 95th year, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission of its founders: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in a multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.