2020 PGA Show LIVE Update: Day 4
24 Jan 2020
by Chris Brauner of AmateurGolf.com
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The 2020 PGA Show wrapped up at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Friday, with one last round of selling, dealing, and presenting.
Compared to the first three days of the show, there was a different feel across the floor for the final day. It had the feel of a walk through a Las Vegas casino on a Monday morning -- there were still people going through the motions, but the attendance and energy were WAY down.
Sure, the Golf Channel was broadcasting live, as was PGA Tour satellite radio, and there were still plenty of programs, presenters and contests, but it was a quiet day with a lot of tired faces (or maybe I'm just projecting).
Related:
2020 PGA Show LIVE Update: Day 2Jan 22, 2020 - The show moved indoors for day two, where all of the senses were assaulted in a swirling mass of products and promotion
2020 PGA Show LIVE Update: Day 1Jan 21, 2020 - The 2020 PGA Show is underway in Orlando, and day 1 got off to a fast (but cold!) start at Orange County National
The Ryder Cup was on display (guarded by a policeman; on loan from the Europeans I presume), and one of the contests was a chance to win tickets to the matches at Whistling Straits this fall.
Coaching was the theme at the PGA Forum stage, with former NFL head coach Jim Caldwell and former NFL player Tracy Porter speaking about motivating athletes at all levels. This was followed by a pair of college golf town halls, with a panel of men's college coaches followed by a women's golf panel.
The indoor hitting range still had a buzz to it, with all of the various equipment mad scientists fitting players, switching out heads and shafts, and adjusting weights, lofts, and lies amid the sounds of golf balls being struck and hitting the net.
The simulators were also busy, with a couple of long drive guys having a contest, which drew a decent crowd, and others playing a variety of golf-themed games including darts and a balloon-pop game (my favorite). There was a very athletic, left-footed striker playing simulated footgolf as well.
The loudest microphone belonged to the golf fitness and wellness speakers who were booming out talks about getting fit and about the various training aids that might build fitter golfers.
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AGC founder Pete Wlodkowski
with Kyle Rector at Callaway
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With more room to maneuver, there were more opportunities to get manufacturers on camera to talk about their brands.
AmateurGolf.com had extended conversations with FootJoy (footwear), FlightScope (portable launch monitors), and OBAN (golf shafts) -- look for those videos, plus all of our other video coverage from a busy week at the PGA Show, on the
AGC website,
Facebook,
Twitter, and
Instagram.