The PGA Show welcomed almost 400 new exhibitors this year – a significant increase from 2023 – including men’s and women’s apparel companies, technology specialists and a range of accessory vendors selling hats, gloves, bags, insulated drinkware and dozens of other products.
One of the first-timers was Billy Reid, a 20-year-old upscale men’s and women’s lifestyle brand whose customers are also golfers, according to Head of Sales Ryan Holderbaum. “We’ve already developed a nice business at high-end resorts, and we look at this Show as the best way to say we’re reaching out to our customers where they are,” he said. “We know our customer, and our customer lives in this space.”
KUHL, an outdoor apparel company that originated in 1983, was also at the PGA Show introducing its line of men’s and women’s apparel with a focus on fit, technical performance and casual styling. Though not golf specific, the line works for golf shops looking for outdoor lifestyle/athleisure products, said Sales Director Tyler Jackson.
“We see a lot of opportunity in this market, which has become more casual and lifestyle driven,” explains Jackson. “It’s a newer market for us and gives us a chance to introduce our brand to a younger consumer.”
Coconads also made its debut this year, introducing a line of women’s polos and skorts featuring clean, bright colors, washable silk sleeves and print accents. “We’re big fans of the PGA Show, and this is a huge milestone for us,” said Nadia O’Connor, who founded the company with her husband, Colin. “Our brand is unapologetically feminine and makes women feel beautiful and empowered on or off the course.”
Also new to the show is Birdie Bottle, which is introducing stainless customizable leather insulated drinkware with four metal shot glasses stacked within the lid. The company, whose product comes in both 8-ounce and 12-ounce sizes, is already in about 50 golf shops, according to new owner Ryan Ostrander. “We’re really just hoping to network and get immersed in the golf industry, and we’ve had a great response,” he explained.
One of the most unique new lines at the show is Featherie, a junior girls line started by 14-year-old golfer Kate Korngold, who says she is filling a niche in the marketplace. “She was frustrated she couldn’t find product for junior girls, so she worked with a designer and came up with pieces that are fitted but not too tight and are eco-friendly,” said Kate’s mother Kristy Korngold. “We’d love to get the message out that female golfers are here to stay and it’s about time they’re given a spot at the table.”