Ten specialty pavilions – hot spots on the PGA Show floor at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) – are providing a leaderboard of learning, interaction and networking opportunities for PGA Golf Professionals, retailers and golf business leaders from around the world this week at the 71st PGA Show.
The upgraded specialty pavilions, spread across more than 1 million square feet of exhibit and demonstration space, are making it easy for PGA Show attendees to connect with more than 1,000 leading golf companies and focus on industry presentations at various points on the PGA Show floor.
The popular specialty pavilions include the indoor Equipment Test Center and adjacent practice putting green; Golf Fitness, Wellness & Instruction pavilion and stage; New Product Zone; Inventors Spotlight pavilion; PGA of America Hub; Career Zone; Golf Travel pavilion; new PGA HOPE activation; the new concert lounge in Hall E; and a new Clubhouse pavilion.
“The participation of top brands, veteran manufacturers and emerging companies on the Show floor is enticing on its own,” said PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President Marc Simon. “Enhancing specialty pavilions, supporting emerging growth sectors with new activations and adding new special events like the Winter Jam concert build on this exciting marketplace and increase opportunities for our PGA Show community to interact.”
The PGA Show floor features have each become convenient meeting places at different locations throughout the OCCC’s expansive exhibition space. Here is a look at each specialty pavilion/meeting place:
Equipment Test Center (ETC) & Putting Green – The indoor golf equipment testing & experiential space features 44 indoor hitting bays and a 3,750 square foot putting green for hands-on testing of the newest equipment. ETC sponsors include Synthetic Turf International (putting green and mats), Real Feel Golf Mats, Back Nine Greens (targets) and Korechi Innovations (range picker).
Golf Fitness, Wellness & Instruction Pavilion & Stage – The Golf Fitness, Wellness & Instruction area, presented by TPI and the Golf Fitness Association of America and supported by Life Fitness, focuses on health benefits of golf along with the stage presentations and products that aid in increasing performance. The Adaptive Golf Center, located within this pavilion, features manufacturers and associations devoted to providing cognitive and physical therapy through Adaptive Golf.
New Product Zone, sponsored by The Net Return – The popular New Product Zone, with an enhanced look this year, is sponsored by The Net Return in 2024 and showcases hundreds of the newest equipment, apparel, products and accessories in one convenient Show floor setting. Inventors Spotlight – In cooperation with the United Inventors Association, the PGA Show presents the Inventors Spotlight exhibitor pavilion, a specialty area for innovative new products or services not yet available in the marketplace. The Inventors Spotlight pavilion also features the UIA Inventors Spotlight stage where participating inventors share invention pitch presentations.
PGA of America Hub – Located at the Show floor main entrance, the PGA of America Hub features Association and partner benefits and programming, providing PGA of America Golf Professionals easy access to exclusive Member resources and a networking space special to Members.
PGA Industry Stage presented by CapTech – PGA of America and industry leaders address the industry’s most pressing topics, game development initiatives, golf industry innovations and golf business subjects on the Show’s main stage, located in the PGA of America Hub at the center of the Show Floor.
Career Zone – PGA Professionals, college students and second career professionals can connect with employers in the Golf Industry Career Zone right on the Show floor. In addition to company recruiting activations, the Career Zone will host employer-led panel presentations and networking events. Make Golf Your Career will sponsor a complimentary professional headshot studio open to all attendees.
Golf Travel Pavilion – This year’s Golf Travel Pavilion features a variety of golf travel services and top golf destinations from around the world such as the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Los Cabos, Scotland, Spain and South Africa.
New PGA HOPE activation – PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) has a new dedicated activation at the ETC Putting Green area and multiple program touch points across the Show Floor. Recruitment, training, recognition and fundraising programs will take place throughout PGA Show Week with special emphasis during Thursday’s “PGA HOPE Day.”
New Clubhouse Pavilion – Facilities are investing in enhancements ranging from clubhouse improvements, upgraded practice facilities and fitness centers to Pickleball and other racquet sports, and many other capital investments. This new area focuses on facility member engagement and provides a home for brand discovery, education, networking and product testing on the Pickleball Court sponsored by Imperial Headwear with the court provided by Acrytech.
Clubhouse and Pickleball Court sponsors include: Acrytech (pickleball court), Imperial Headwear (pickleball court), Skechers (Beat the Pro session, court barrier, court programming), Selkirk (court programming, pickleball equipment) JOOLA (court programming), Gama Sports (pickleball equipment), Holbrook Pickleball (pickleball equipment), NGCOA (Clubhouse programming) and Clubessential (Clubhouse programming).
New Concert Lounge – Hall E of the convention center will now feature a new concert lounge for the inaugural PGA Show Winter Jam, an after-hours concert experience on Thursday, and the stage will be customized for a live runway fashion show on Wednesday evening, when the PGA Show Live Fashion Show & Industry Reception moves into the new space.