Packed calendar of special events and industry programs fill PGA Expo

The PGA of America and PGA Golf Exhibitions announced today the 2011 PGA Expo schedule of events that offers PGA Professionals and buyers access to a diverse menu of industry programs to build their businesses while sourcing a multitude of new merchandise from more than 200 top golf vendors, August 23-24, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“This year’s PGA Expo is packed full of programs to enhance partnerships, forge new relationships, identify trends, source merchandise, test the latest equipment and learn new business strategies,” said PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions Industry Vice President John McGeary.  “Additionally, more vendors with new products representing all sectors of the industry create a marketplace infused with a vitality that will surely build business for 2012.”

In addition to sourcing vendors among the aisles of the Venetian Ballroom, PGA Expo attendees can network among colleagues and test the latest equipment outdoors at Demo Night and on the show floor at the Golf Performance & Training Center.  They can participate in the comprehensive education conference; attend numerous main stage industry presentations; uncover the latest merchandise at the New Product Zone; and discover the newest designers and fashion trends in the Fashion FOREward Spotlight.  Plus, networking opportunities are abundant within the PGA Expo Career Center, the popular Elations Industry Reception at TAO and the new LAVO After-Party.

Currently, the event schedule includes (updated daily at //www.pgaexpo.com/)

Monday, August 22, 2011
5:00-9:00 p.m.: Demo Night, Callaway Golf Center
5:30-7:40 p.m.: Divine-Nine Industry Golf Outing, Callaway Golf Center
5:00-9:00 p.m.: Big Break Challenges/Contests, Callaway Golf Center
5:00-9:00 p.m.: PGA Sports Academy Skills Testing, Callaway Golf Center
5:00-8:00 p.m.: SCOR Golf Media Contest, Callaway Golf Center
 
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
9:00 a.m.: Grand Opening, Venetian Ballroom
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: Exhibits, Fashion FOREward Spotlight, New Product Zone Indoor Golf & Performance Center, Career Center Venetian Ballroom
9:30-10:30 a.m.: Butch Harmon – Coaching the World's Best Players, Main Stage
10:45-11:45 a.m.: A Long-Term Player Development Plan, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2102-2103
10:45-11:45 a.m.: Green Golfer Initiative, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2104-2105
10:45-11:45 a.m.: Develop Your Unique Selling Proposition, Educ. Conf. Bellini 2002-2003
10:45-11:45 a.m.: Southwest PGA Section/Best Practices in Growing the Game in Southern Nevada, Main Stage
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: What Your Employer Wants Connecting Through Golf 2.0, PGA Member Business Center
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Take the Game to the Customer, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2102-2103
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Clever Approach to Develop and Sustain Your Customer Base, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2104-2105
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Knowing Your Customer and Deepening the Engagement with Women, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2002-2003
12:00-1:00 p.m.; Mastering Magical Persuasion, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2004-2005
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Forward Spin with Annmarie Dodd & The Association of Golf Merchandisers, Main Stage
1:15-2:00 p.m.: Clubfitting Means Business – PING, Main Stage
1:15-2:15 p.m.: Develop and Implement Your Player Development Program for Your Customers, Educ. Conf, Bellini 2102-2103
1:15-2:15 p.m.: Successful Financial Planning, Educ. Conf.,  Bellini 2002-2003
1:15-2:15 p.m.: Know the Customer: Using Social Networking to Make a Stronger Connection, Educ. Conf., Bellini, 2104-2105
1:15-2:15 p.m.: Pricing - Are You Short-Changing Your Shop?, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2004-2005
2:15-3:15 p.m.: Learn to Manage & Balance Your Inventory in Less Than an Hour, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2004-2005
2:15-3:00 p.m.: Mark Rolfing –Turning the Table on 20 Years of Interviewing Golf's Top Players, Main Stage
3:00-4:00 p.m.: PGA of America Town Hall, PGA Member Business Center
5:00: PGA Expo Show Floor Closes 
5:30-7:30 p.m.: Elations Industry Reception, TAO Nightclub
11:30 p.m.-12:00 a.m.: LAVO After-Party,  LAVO Nightclub 
 
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
9:00 a.m.: Expo Show Floor Opens, Venetian Ballroom
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: Exhibits, Fashion FOREward Spotlight, New Product Zone Indoor Golf & Performance Center, Career Center, Venetian Ballroom
9:30-10:30 a.m.: GOLF 2.0 - Your Future, Educ. Conf, Bellini 2002-2003
9:30-10:30 a.m.: Develop an Effective Plan to Grow Business and Manage Price Perception, Educ. Conf. Bellini 2104-2105
9:30-10:30 a.m.: Golf Course Ownership Perspective – dding Value & Building Business, Main Stage
10:45-11:45 a.m.: Peak Performance Coaching, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2102-2103
10:45-11:45 a.m.: Inside the Championship Mind, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2002-2003
10:45-11:45 a.m.: Amplify Your Revenue with Social Marketing, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2104-2105
10:45-11:45 a.m.: Team Building for Five-Star Service, Educ. Conf. Bellini, 2004-2005
10:45-11:45 a.m.: "Know Your Customer" - PGA Merchandisers of the Year Best Practices, presented by PGA Magazine, Main Stage
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Grow Your Value Starting NOW - The Strategy of Golf 2.0, PGA Member Business Center
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Peak Performance Practice for Skill Development, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2102-2103
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Create and Deliver the Welcoming Service Model, Educ. Conf.,  Bellini 2004-2005
12:00-1:00 p.m.: PGA Sports Academy- Developing Lifetime Players, Main Stage
12:00-1:00 p.m.: Making Your Voice Heard on Issues Affecting the Golf Industry, Bellini, TBA
1:00-2:00 p.m.: Visual Merchandising Tour & Ideas from the 100 Best Shops, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2004-2005
1:15-2:00 p.m.; Jim Huber – "Four Days In July" & Twenty Years in Golf Journalism, Main Stage
2:00-3:00 p.m.: What Are You Communicating to Your Players, Educ. Conf., Bellini 2004-2005
3:00 p.m.: PGA Expo Show Floor Closes 

About the 2011 PGA Expo
The 2011 PGA Expo begins with a new Demo Night and industry networking party at the Callaway Golf Center, just off the Las Vegas Strip, on Monday, August 22.  PGA Professionals, buyers and industry leaders attending the PGA Expo will be able to field test the newest equipment, training aids and accessories first hand, 5:00-9:00 p.m., at the Center’s two-tiered 113-stall lighted driving range, plus the putting and chipping greens. The Center’s Divine Nine, a nine-hole lighted par-3 course, will be the site of a social golf outing and a Demo Night networking party will be offered throughout the facility.

More than 200 golf companies and brands will present and demonstrate their latest merchandise in the Venetian Ballroom on Tuesday, August 23, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., and on Wednesday, August 24, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Attendees can participate in the comprehensive education conference; test equipment right at the Golf Performance & Training Center; uncover the newest merchandise at the New Product Zone; and network with colleagues among displays of the latest golf fashion lines in the new Fashion FOREward Spotlight. 

Each Show day, the energy on the Show floor will be infused by numerous main stage presentations by industry leaders, golf fashion designers and PGA Professional instructors.  Well-known golf instructor Butch Harmon, veteran NBC/Golf Channel broadcaster Mark Rolfing and TNT Broadcaster Jim Huber are among main stage presenters.  PGA Professionals can earn nearly 20 MSR credits through participation in education seminars, main stage programs,  PGA Town Hall, Demo Night and PGA Expo events.

Also, the popular Elations Industry Reception will return the first night of exhibition events, Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the TAO Las Vegas in the Grand Canal Shoppes of the Venetian, with a new, complimentary Opening Night After-Party at LAVO in the Palazzo Las Vegas Resort.

Returning to the apparel industry’s “Fashion Week” and the Venetian ballroom, the PGA Expo is positioned at the center of the MAGIC, MODA, MRket and ACCESSORIES: The Show events.