Golf Industry Gathers at 2004 PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 29

ORLANDO, Fla.--Jan. 26, 2004--For the past 50 years, the PGA Merchandise Show has been golf's most important business gathering and today is the world's most influential golf trade show. The 2004 PGA Merchandise Show will welcome more than 40,000 PGA Professionals, international retailers and industry leaders, Jan. 29-Feb. 1, to preview products and services of nearly 1,200 exhibitors within approximately 500,000 net square feet of exhibit space in the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla.

Advance registration, representing all 50 states and 68 countries, is up 21% and surpasses last year's total on site attendance of 42,809.

2004 PGA Show Highlights:

The second annual Golf Demo Day will be staged Jan. 28, 10a-5p at the Orange County National Golf Center. Some 3,000 invited PGA Professionals, key buyers and select media will test first-hand the equipment, products, and services of nearly 60 companies filling over 120 hitting bays, two putting greens and a short game area at the Center's 42-acre practice facility.

The ETC - Equipment Testing Center - will debut as an indoor driving range featuring 45 hitting bays for attendees to personally test a variety of equipment and range products.

For the first time, all PGA of America national award winners will be honored in a single program on Friday evening at the OCCC's Grand Auditorium. Veteran golf announcer Jim Huber will be master of ceremonies for the premier PGA Awards Night.

Chief golf executives will provide their outlook on technology, growth of the game and golf real estate and travel at the second annual PGA Business of Golf Conference, Jan. 31, 1-4p in the OCCC auditorium.

In partnership with The PGA of America, the Association of Golf Merchandisers and other leading allied associations, PGA Golf Exhibitions will present an expansive education conference schedule featuring 57 seminars, Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 2004 at the OCCC.

Golf's leading designers will reveal the latest golf, resort and casual wear during live fashion shows within the Fashion Fairway of the apparel section on the show floor. The Fashion Fairway also features the first New Apparel Showcase and a charity-putting tournament that benefits The PGA Foundation.

PGA Professionals will play in five competitive tournaments during Show week at premier golf destinations in Orlando as part of the first annual Pro-Pro Series. Each of the five sold-out, 18-hole tournaments features 50 two-person teams in a Pro-Pro best-ball format with a purse of $4,000.