2019 PGA Show Demo Day

The 17th annual PGA Show Demo Day took place on Tuesday on a clear and breezy Tuesday at the 42-acre, circular practice facility at Orange County National Golf Center in Winter Garden, Florida.

More than 100 golf companies rolled out their latest equipment, training aids, performance wear and golf accessories for hands-on testing on more than 200 hitting bays, multiple range-side practice greens, on the golf car test track and in the Demo Day vendor village at Orange County National. The tent booths of several golf associations, mixed with numerous food and beverage stations and myriad testing opportunities, transformed the 2019 PGA Show Demo Day into a highly successful golf extravaganza.

“Demo Day is probably my favorite part of the PGA Merchandise Show every year, and it seems to be bigger and better than ever this year,” says Linda Campbell, PGA Director of Instruction at The Peninsula Club in Cornelius, North Carolina. “The huge turnout today proves golf is alive and well.”

Adds Mark Sheftic, PGA Director of Instruction at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania: “We carry Callaway, Titleist and Ping equipment at our club, and this is the best way for me to personally test everything that’s new in one place and then report back to our membership. They always have a lot of questions about new equipment.

“Demo Day is a golden opportunity for club testing.”

In addition to product testing, tour professionals and golf personalities such as Lexi Thompson, Karrie Webb, Blair O’Neal, Stan Utley, Jamie Sadlowski, Troy Mullins, Martin Hall and others shared their expertise. Golf Channel beamed portions of its “Morning Drive” show live from the Demo Day Tuesday morning.

A blue-ribbon cast of teachers offered instructional workshops during the day-long Demo Day, including 2011 PGA Teacher of the Year Mike Malaska, Titleist Performance Institute Fitness Advisory Board Performance Co-Director Lance Gill; Mark Blackburn, PGA, Director of Instruction, Greystone Golf & Country Club; Sean Hogan, Director of Instruction, Leadbetter Golf Academy; Brett Meyer, Leadbetter Master Club Fitter & Certified Coach, Leadbetter Golf Academy; and David Donatucci, M.ED. C.S.C.S., Owner, Florida Institute of Performance.

“Demo Day is my first stop of the week every year and has been for the past 17 years,” explains James Bishop, PGA Professional for Coral Management Company in Naples, Florida. “Our business is growing rounds, growing revenue and growing members at our clubs, and Demo Day always gives us some new and exciting ideas.”

Leading equipment brands such as Bridgestone Golf, Callaway Golf, Cobra Puma Golf, Mizuno USA, Miura Golf, Ping, Srixon/Cleveland/XXIO, Titleist, Tour Edge, Wilson Golf and Yonex Golf were joined by Aerotech, Big Max Golf, Blast Motion, Bushnell Golf, Clicgear USA, Club Car, Inc., Double Eagle/Players Turf, Ernest Sports, Fiberbuilt Manufacturing, Fujikura Composites, Garmin USA, Golf Pride grips, Eaton, GolfStix, Knuth Golf, Lynx Golf, Maui Jim, Nikon Inc., Nippon Shaft, SKYiGOLF, Sun Mountain Motor, SuperStroke Golf, SwingU, Switch Grips, Phat Scooters, PrideSports, Pukka, Pure Grips, Sacks Parente Putters, Topgolf International, Under Armour, Wittek Golf Supply, Yamaha Golf-Car Company, U.S. Kids Golf and numerous other top companies to give the 2019 Demo Day a great mix of participants.

“It’s paramount for us to get our equipment in the hands of PGA Professionals and industry leaders at Demo Day, so they can experience the performance characteristics of our new product introductions for themselves,” says Cory Newman, Manager of Fitting for Callaway Golf. “It’s a great opportunity for us to interact with PGA Professionals.”