Since its inception as a golf tournament car trunk show in 1954, the PGA Show has certainly come a long way. Considered the $102 billion global recreational golf industry’s longest running and largest annual B2B event, the expansive trade show and conference recently pulled off its largest edition since 2009.  

Held January 21-24 for the 39th time at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Fla., the 72nd annual event expanded in multiple categories, attracting 33,000 golf industry professionals from 94 countries and 1,040 exhibiting companies spanning 371,403 square feet of total event space. 

In 2024, the show drew in 30,832 attendees and 975 exhibitors across 342,635 square feet, according to PGA officials. 

“We are thrilled to have just hosted the largest PGA Show in 15 years,” said Marc Simon, vice president of PGA Golf Exhibitions, which is part of RX and organizes the show alongside PGA of America. “Recreational golf is experiencing record levels of participation, and the PGA Show team has been focused on capitalizing on industry growth sectors, building new ways to interact onsite and organizing attendance details for a seamless, enjoyable, and productive PGA Show.” 

This year, more than 1,300 VIP buyers representing 840 golf facilities and retailers sourced new products and services, bringing approximately $885 million in purchasing power and nearly $2.2 billion in retail sales to the event, according to show officials. Additionally, more than 7,300 PGA of America Golf Professionals, Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), and international PGA Professionals participated in the event.  

“Every year the PGA Show leaves us energized and inspired, setting a positive tone for the new golf season,” said PGA of America President Don Rea Jr., who is owner/operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club. “With more than 33,000 in attendance, including over 6,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, this is our ‘Member’s Major.’ The show offered a wealth of business opportunities, but equally important were the mentoring, networking, and career development moments.” 

Kicking off PGA Show Week, PGA Show Demo Day gathered thousands of PGA of America Golf Professionals to test the latest equipment and technology from more than 70 top golf companies at the 42-acre practice facility at the Orange County National Golf Center. Produced in partnership by the PGA Show and PGA Magazine, the immersive day-long event also featured extensive product education, coaching workshops, golf fitness presentations, a club fitting genius bar, programming on golf range strategies, demonstrations by PGA & LPGA TOUR professionals, and opportunities to meet with industry leaders.  

A Dynamic Show Floor 

On the second day, Rea and PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague officially opened the show’s massive expo showcasing the latest innovations from the golf industry’s most recognizable brands, emerging ventures, and veteran manufacturers. Products and services ranged from golf balls, drivers, hybrids, and irons, to forged wedges, fairway woods, golf bags, and apparel. Nearly 400 new exhibitors made their debut on a show floor spanning approximately 10 miles of aisles. Many exhibiting companies also hosted renowned PGA Coaches, as well as PGA and LPGA touring professionals and celebrities.  

The bustling marketplace featured interactive destinations where attendees could engage with products and services, including:  

• PGA of America Hub, where members accessed association and partner benefits and programming 
• Equipment Test Center, featuring 44 testing bays and a 3,750-square-foot putting green 
• Innovation District, featuring the New Product Zone for one-stop shopping of the newest golf merchandise and the Inventors Spotlight exhibitor pavilion for patented products not yet available at retail 
• Golf Fitness, Health & Wellness area 
• Adaptive Golf Center, Career Zone, Golf Travel Pavilion, and The Clubhouse, which doubled in size this year and featured with two Pickleball Courts for racquet demonstrations 
• THE | RETREAT, a new premium brand and event experience space where evening events took place 

“This year’s exceptional quality and quantity of exhibitors, along with enhanced experiential areas throughout the Show Floor, attracted a remarkable industry audience that included a significant rise in participation by VIP Buyers, PGA of America Golf Professionals, Education Conferees, and media members,” Simon explained. “Exciting synergies across the show floor truly elevated the event experience.” 

Hands-On Learning Opportunities 

Featuring a comprehensive schedule of education sessions across a wide range of professional development topics presented by the industry’s foremost experts, PGA Show education programming offered more than 70 sessions on teaching and coaching, executive management, and golf operations, led by expert PGA of America golf professionals, PGA master professionals, and top PGA coaches. Additional sessions focused on relevant topics including technology solutions, food and beverage operations, retail strategies, marketing practices, facility branding, and public relations. 

Several golf organization education programs were collocated with the 2025 PGA Show, including the PGA of America Teaching & Coaching Summit, the National Golf Course Owners Association Golf Business Conference, and the AGM Golf Retail Conference.  

Professional learning opportunities also extended to exhibitor and industry presentations across six show floor stages, including the PGA Industry Stage, offering a full schedule of diverse programming from PGA of America in collaboration with leading golf organizations, expert business leaders, and top coaches; the Golf Fitness, Health & Wellness stage featuring complimentary education sessions presented by TPI and the Golf Fitness Association of America; and the Inventors Spotlight stage offering entrepreneur and inventor education sessions and product pitch panels.  

Meanwhile, PGA of America golf professionals, college students, and second-career professionals connected with employers in the Career Zone, which offered company recruiting activations, networking events, and a stage for golf career programming, while the Clubhouse stage featured a full schedule of industry programming by golf development and racquet sports experts.  

Special Events and Awards  

PGA Show Week offered a full schedule of special events designed to foster networking and community engagement, as well as various award recognition programs by the PGA of America, LPGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, and the Association of Golf Merchandisers. Evening networking receptions and happy hours at a variety of show floor pavilions and exhibits, as well as multiple exhibitor events, were also available on the expo floor and throughout Orlando. 

The PGA Show also shined a spotlight on new products and talented inventors in the New Product Zone and Inventor’s Spotlight Pavilion. Innovations in the New Product Zone, which showcased the latest golf merchandise, were judged by a panel of award-winning PGA professionals and golf buyers, and in the Inventors Spotlight Pavilion, new products developed by independent inventors were reviewed and given awards for innovation, marketing, product pitch, and overall achievement. 

Evening events included the Industry Welcome Reception and the live Fashion Show, where attendees could vote for the “People’s Choice Awards” in three categories, and the after-hours PGA Show Winter Jam concert, which featured 90s rock band Third Eye Blind and supported PGA HOPE, the PGA of America Reach Foundation’s flagship military rehabilitative golf program. 

“We had a feeling heading into the PGA Show that this year’s event was going to be special, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the overwhelmingly positive response from attending golf industry professionals and exhibiting brands, many who called it the ‘best show ever’,” Simon said. “The largest PGA Show in 15 years, combined with really strong industry attendance, is a tremendous start to the new year for the golf industry. Our global golf community relishes the opportunity to connect in person and we leave the PGA Show with renewed friendships, new business opportunities, and a recharged outlook moving into 2025.” 

Up Next 

The PGA Show will return to the OCCC Jan. 20-23, 2026.  

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