ORLANDO, Fla.—The kick-off for the 2025 golf year is officially underway with the annual PGA Show, running Jan. 21–24. The event showcases the merchandising arm in the sport, and this year’s event marks a significant rise.
The total of 1,071 exhibitors significantly exceeds all previous years since 2009—a 32 percent increase. In addition, booth space is at record levels, and the PGA show is using the greatest amount of convention center space for the show in 15 years, with a total of 1.1 million square feet.
Registrants hail from all parts of the globe, with 30-plus countries participating. Projected estimates for attendees are tracking ahead, with the total likely to exceed 40,000. Visit Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) estimate the local economic impact will be just over $81 million.
“As we come together for the largest PGA Show in over 15 years, this global event stands as a grand gathering of PGA of America Golf Professionals and industry leaders, signaling the exciting start of the new golf season,” said PGA of America President Don Rea Jr., PGA Master Professional and owner-operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club in Arizona.
“It’s an opportunity for us to unite, embrace the latest innovations and reignite our collective passion for the game. For me, the PGA Show is like a family reunion. Our Association unites the professional golf community at the PGA Show to drive the continued growth of recreational golf, which has never been healthier than it is today.”
The PGA Show commenced Tuesday with soggy and unseasonably cold temperatures for the Demo Day program. That event is held at Orange County National Golf Course and provides attendees the opportunity to test various products from the participating companies.
The PGA Merchandise Show, now the world’s largest and most influential golf business event, grew from humble beginnings in Dunedin, Florida, in 1954, when a handful of golf merchandisers assembled in the PGA National Golf Club parking lot during a series of PGA winter tournaments.
By 1957, the number of manufacturers’ representatives had become so large that PGA officials leased a tent.
The PGA Merchandise Show moved when the association’s winter tournaments relocated to Florida’s East Coast. In 1963, the show was held at the Port St. Lucie Country Club; from 1964 to 1973, at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens (now BallenIsles Country Club); and in 1974, back in Port St. Lucie, still under a circus-sized tent.
The PGA Merchandise Show and winter tournaments moved to Orlando, in 1975, where the show was held indoors for the first time, at the Disney Contemporary Resort. In 1982, the PGA of America relocated to the new PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, a mile from its former headquarters. The PGA Merchandise Show was subsequently moved to the Miami Beach Convention Center, where it remained for three years.
Due to the continuing demand for increased space capacity, the PGA then moved the show to the new OCCC in 1985 and again the show was quickly filled to capacity. As the PGA Merchandise Show grew, so did the West Building of the Convention Center, which added 200,000 gross square feet in 1989 and nearly doubled in size to 1.1 million gross square feet in 1996.
In 1998, the PGA of America sold an equity share of its golf shows to Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading trade show organizer. In partnership, the PGA and Reed, under the umbrella of PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions, produce and manage the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando and the PGA Fashion and Demo Experience in Las Vegas.
Since the PGA–Reed partnership, the PGA Merchandise Show has evolved to become an all-encompassing global platform for the introduction of new products, indoor and outdoor product testing, wide-ranging education seminars, industry symposiums right on the show floor, national awards presentations, fashion features, player development programs, professional networking events, and more.
“The enthusiasm and energy level from exhibitors and buyers alike is unmatched, and we are excited to be kicking off the new season in such a positive way,” PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President Marc Simon said.
“The PGA Show plays such an integral part in the lives of people in the golf industry and the larger scale of the event overall points to an exciting outlook for the continued growth of the sport and the business of golf. A packed lineup of exhibits, product testing, demonstrations, special events, experiences, education and networking opportunities await our PGA Show community.”
The global pandemic meant the 2021 show was only held virtually. In 2022, the show resumed its gathering in Orlando at OCCC.
