IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jamie Carbone

January 19, 2010 561/624-8446

Sherry Major, PGA Golf Exhibitions

716/662-3855

BUSY PGA EQUIPMENT FORUM AGENDA TO SPOTLIGHT INDUSTRY

INITIATIVES, NEW EQUIPMENT AND BEST PRACTICE PRESENTATIONS

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The PGA Equipment Forum, which takes place on the main stage at the 57th PGA Merchandise Show, will be a one-of-a kind opportunity for attendees to review vital industry information featuring WE ARE GOLF, a new coalition to face our nation’s lawmakers, the latest equipment, women’s golf initiatives, employment programs and best business practices.

The PGA Equipment Forum will be conducted Jan. 28-30, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Organized by The PGA of America, a leader in the international growth of the game and organizing partner of the PGA Merchandise Show, the PGA Equipment Forum stage was introduced in 2007 to provide the game’s leaders with an unprecedented stage to reach some 40,000 attending industry professionals with pressing matters impacting the business of golf.

“The platform of the PGA Merchandise Show is like no other in our global industry and represents a prime opportunity to join with leaders across many sectors to shine a spotlight on how we can collectively grow the game and the business of golf not just in 2010, but with a long-term, larger scale vision,” said PGA of America President Jim Remy. “It is our hope that the PGA Equipment Forum provides the backdrop to address some of the challenges, as well as opportunities, that we face.”

WE ARE GOLF was formed as a means for the industry to change the perceptions and biases of the game of golf among the nation’s legislators in Washington, D.C.

The PGA Equipment Forum provides attendees with the latest research on the state of the industry, including presentations by PGA Research, Golf Datatech, Sports & Leisure Research Group and the National Golf Foundation. This research will address facility performance, merchandising trends and consumer behaviors.

Other presentations cover PGA PerformanceTrak rounds and revenue figures, a consumer segmentation study recap, a report on the impact of golf in the State of Florida; retail merchandise sales research results and golf employment.

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The game’s most influential leaders, including executives from worldwide PGAs, global golf companies and national golf organizations, join grassroots PGA Professionals and retailers to amass nearly 40,000 attendees focused on growing the business of golf.

2010 PGA Equipment Forum Schedule

(As of 1/19/ 2010)

Thursday, January 28

10:00 – 10:05 a.m. Welcome - Jim Remy, President, PGA of America

10:05 – 10:45 a.m. WE ARE GOLF – Chief executives from the industry’s leading golf associations unite to promote a new coalition aimed at more accurately and comprehensively representing the industry of golf in Washington, D.C. Presentation made by The PGA of America Chief Executive Officer, Joe Steranka, and joined by Mark Woodward, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America; Jim Singerling, Club Managers Association of America; and Mike Hughes, National Golf Course Owners Association

10:50 – 11:50 a.m. PGA Consumer Segmentation Study, GDT Merchandising Trends and PGA Performance Trak

Moderator: Jim Huber, Turner Sports

Guests: Jon Colclasure, Consultant, Business Solutions, PGA of America;

Tom Stine, Golf Datatech; Jon Last, President, Sports & Leisure Research Group

12:00 – 12:50 p.m. PGA Teaching Best Practices – How to develop a “talent assessment” for each student. Improving your customers’ games and generating new customers: Joe Hallett, PGA General Manager, The PGA Golf Center for Learning & Performance.

Guests: Mike Bender, 2009 PGA Teacher of the Year; Todd Anderson, 2009 Georgia PGA Teacher of the Year; Michael Breed, 2009 Metropolitan PGA Teacher of the Year; Danny Caverly, 2009 New England PGA Teacher of the Year

1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Callaway Golf Presentation

3:00 – 3:50 p.m. SkyGolf Presentation: Featuring Hank Haney and Peter Jacobsen

Friday, January 29

8:30 – 10:00 a.m. 2009 PGA of America Awards Review

10:00 – 10:50 a.m. Titleist Performance Institute Presentation – Three Keys to increasing your Power, for golfers of all ages.

11:00 – 11:50 p.m. PING Presentation

12:00 – 12:50 p.m. Women’s Golf Forum – “A Fresh Approach to Women’s Golf” -

Prominent Industry executives discuss research on women’s attitudes and behaviors; marketing health, fitness and equipment production for women. American Express Women’s Golf Month format unveiled.

·  Moderator: Sue Fiscoe, PGA, LPGA, PGA District 11 Director

·  Jon Last, President, Sports & Leisure Research Group

·  Merle Marting, Vice President, US Marketing, Callaway Golf

·  Raquel Huslig, PGA, LPGA

·  Donna Richardson-Joyner, Fitness Expert

1:15 – 1:50 p.m. Florida State Economic Impact Study – Overview – More than any other state, Florida has the largest direct economic impact from golf. Featuring remarks by The PGA of America Chief Executive Officer, Joe Steranka, this presentation is a discussionamongthe state'sgolf industry leaders on the vast impact of the golf industry on Florida's economy and jobs.

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2:00 – 2:50 p.m. Play Golf America Conference – Analysis of successes and challenges ahead;

and the role of Get Golf Ready.

Guest Panelists: PGA Past President M.G. Orender, co-chair of Player Golf America

Bob Baldassari, PGA, 2006 PGA President’s Plaque recipient

Will Reilly, PGA, 2007 PGA President’s Plaque recipient

Bob Collins, PGA, 2008 PGA President’s Plaque recipient

Kyle Heyen, PGA, 2009 PGA President’s Plaque recipient

Cathy Harbin, PGA, Director, GOLF 20/20

3:00 – 3:50 p.m. PGA Merchandising Best Practices on how to maximizing merchandising/marketing opportunities for guest play and outside play at your facility?

1.  Value added offerings

2.  Pre-paid and/or discounted guest play

3.  Inducements for members/customers who generate outside/guest rounds

4.  Creative marketing initiatives

Moderator: Jim Vincent, 2000 PGA Ernie Sabayrac Award recipient

Guest Panelists: Nevin Phillips, PGA, 2009 PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Public)

Caroline Basarab-Dennison, PGA, 2009 PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Resort)

Jim Morrison, PGA, 2009 PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Private)

Dick Stewart, PGA, 2006 PGA Merchandiser of the Year (Private)

Jim Ward, President, Premier Golf

Saturday, January 30

11:00 – 11:50 a.m. PGA Employment Presentation – Moderator: Dick Bradow, PGA

Employment Consultant

Topic: How PGA Professionals can be Key for Employers in

Generating New Rounds and Retaining Members

12:00 – 12:50 p.m. PGA Teaching Best Practices – Some of the best and brightest golf instructors in the game discuss how to successfully integrating new methods at their facility.

Moderator: Dawes Marlatt Jr., PGA. PGA Director of Education

Guests: Charlie Epps, 2009 Southern Texas PGA Teacher of the Year

John Hughes, 2009 North Florida PGA Teacher of the Year

Sandy Lemon, 2009 Sun Country PGA Teacher of the Year

Steve Parker, 2009 Northern Ohio PGA Teacher of the Year

Nearly 1,000 top golf brands create the world’s largest business-to-business golf event within some 10 miles of Show aisles at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Participating exhibitors include industry leaders such as Callaway Golf, Titleist, PING, Cleveland Golf/Srixon, Cobra Golf, Fairway & Greene, E.P. Pro, Zero Restriction, Greg Norman Collection, Under Armour, Gear for Sports, Callaway Apparel, Ahead, Club Car, Wilson Golf, Mizuno, Bridgestone Golf, Imperial Headwear, Antigua, E-Z Go, Cutter & Buck, Polo/Ralph Lauren, Divots Apparel, Yamaha, Peter Millar, Adams Golf, Yonex, Byron Nelson, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, SkyGolf, Dynamic Brands, Ben Hogan/Sport Haley, Sunice ~ plus hundreds of companies new to the Show.

Interactive exhibits, product testing at the Indoor Demo Day, education seminars, a new Career Fair, industry awards, trend reports, professional networking, social media workshops, celebrity appearances, Best Practices presentations and more pack unprecedented value into the daily schedule of the industry’s biggest week of golf business. The Outdoor Demo Day, Jan. 27, tees off the Show for PGA Professionals, media and invited guests to test equipment outdoors at the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Fla.

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The PGA Merchandise Show is a trade-only event and will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Jan. 28-29, and 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Jan. 30. For more information or to register for the 57th PGA Merchandise Show, visit www.pgashow.com.

The PGA Merchandise Show, organized in partnership with The PGA of America, is one of three leading golf trade shows in PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions’ golf portfolio including the PGA Fall Expo in Las Vegas and the Ontario PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Toronto, Canada.

About The PGA of America

Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

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The PGA of America, 100 Avenue of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418