PGA Merchandise Show: Programs for PGA Forum Stage, presented by OMEGA, announced

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.  – The PGA Forum Stage presented by OMEGA at the 63rd PGA Merchandise Show will offer a compelling schedule of focused programming on emerging technology on Wednesday, Jan. 27; PGA employment initiatives on Thursday, Jan. 28; and instruction best practices on Friday, Jan. 29.  Additionally, top instructors and special guests, such as Lee Trevino, Annika Sorenstam, Bubba Watson, Hal Sutton and Lou Holtz, will provide engaging programs to enlighten and entertain attending PGA Professionals and industry leaders at the annual “Major of Golf Business” in Orlando, Fla.

 

“The PGA Forum Stage at the PGA Merchandise Show provides a platform where we can communicate the importance of leveraging today’s emerging technology, while adapting to current market conditions,” said PGA of America President Derek Sprague. “We are excited to introduce new resources designed to equip our members with more knowledge, highlighted by the new PGA Verified Program.  Multiple PGA programs are being shared on the PGA Forum stage, to share how we are working to educate, empower and elevate the stature of the PGA Professional across all spectrums of the game.  

 

"It is essential that we stay at the forefront in all facets – teaching, managing the business, and marketing our services and programs – and we are committed to providing additional resources, so PGA members can acquire the skills, competencies and job requirements demanded by employers and customers throughout the golf industry today. The PGA Merchandise Show and the PGA Forum Stage will serve as a launching pad for educating our members on these new developments.”

 

Leading off the Wednesday technology presentations is a keynote address and panel discussion featuring futurist Jim Carroll.  In addition to the technology and education-based programming, the PGA Forum Stage, presented by OMEGA, also will feature many of the game’s best instructors, including Michael Breed, Hank Haney Claude Harmon, David Leadbetter, Cameron McCormick and Jim McLean. Lee Trevino and PGA Master Professional Bill Eschenbrenner will open the PGA Forum Stage programming with a special #ThxPGAPro presentation at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27, where they will discuss their work together at El Paso Country Club. 

 

The student-teacher relationship also will be discussed on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. when Hal Sutton will sit down with PGA of America Centennial book author Billy Dettlaff and Global Golf Post journalist and Centennial book editor John Steinbreder.  Bubba Watson will share his 2016 golf plans and charitable initiatives with a question and answer session moderated by Golf Channel’s George Savaricas at 3 p.m., on Jan. 27.

 

Organized by the PGA of America, the PGA Forum Stage was introduced in 2007, to provide the game’s leaders with an unprecedented opportunity to reach the more than 40,000 attending international industry professionals with pressing matters impacting the business of golf. Those in attendance will roam nearly 10 miles of PGA Show aisles, featuring more than 1,000 exhibiting brands displaying a wide range of products and services.

 

2016 Schedule – PGA Forum Stage, presented by OMEGA

(subject to change, schedule as of 1/19/16)

 

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Theme:  Technology

 

10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.             #ThxPGAPro Featuring Lee Trevino and Bill Eschenbrenner, PGA

Moderated by Matt Adams

 

10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.             Anticipating the Future – What You Should Know        

Keynote Speaker Jim Carroll 

 

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.             The Innovators – Using Technology to Reach Consumers

Panel Participants – TopGolf – Andrew Macaulay, Chief Information Officer, Golf Tec – Joe Assell, CEO, NextGenGolf – Kris Hart, CEO, Game Golf – Jaehee Lee, VP of Product, Randy Marquardt, VP of Connectivity, Club Car.  Moderated by Jim Carroll 

 

12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.             The Launch of PGA Verified

Presented by PGA Director of Digital Strategy, Joni Lockridge

 

12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.               Using Social Media & Technology to Drive Your Business  

• Michael Breed, PGA, Q&A.  Moderated by PGA Chief Commercial Officer, Jeff Price 

• Utilizing Social Media to Connect with Customers and Generate New Revenue.  Panel Participants – Annika Sorenstam, PGA; Mike Fay, PGA; Todd Firestone, PGA.   Moderated by PGA Director of Digital Strategy, Joni Lockridge.

 

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.                5 New Digital Tools for PGA Professionals

Presented by PGA Director of Digital Strategy, Joni Lockridge

 

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.                SiriusXM Teachers Town Hall – Technology & Instruction

Featuring:  David Leadbetter, Hank Haney, Michael Breed, Jim McLean, Claude Harmon

 

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.                A Conversation with Bubba Watson

                                                Moderated by Golf Channel’s George Savaricas

 

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.                The History of the PGA Golf Professional Featuring Hal Sutton

Past PGA Champion and Ryder Cup Captain, Hal Sutton is joined by Billy Dettlaff, author of the official PGA of America Centennial book and John Steinbreder of Global Golf Post.  Moderated by Matt Adams.

 

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Theme - Employment

 

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.             Employment Opportunities – Utilizing PGA Resources to Get Your Next Job

PGA President Derek Sprague, PGA Vice President Paul Levy,

and Dan Pasternak, PGA, Employment Committee Chairman

 

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.             The Value of a PGA Professional – What Employers Look for in Hiring Golf Professionals

Dana Garmany CEO of Troon Golf & MG Orender, PGA, CEO of Hampton Golf, Jeff Holzschuh, Chairman of Institutional Securities Group at Morgan Stanley and Del Ratcliffe, PGA, President of Ratcliffe Golf Services  

 

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.               SiriusXM Town Hall – The State of the Game

PGA CEO Pete Bevacqua and Special Co-Host Lou Holtz.  Live interviews with 2015 PGA Teacher of the Year, Cameron McCormick, PGA, and Tommy Roy, Executive Producer, NBC Golf

 

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.                PING Putting Challenge Finals

 

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.                A New Context for Business Golf

Featuring Suzy Whaley, PGA; Dana Garmany, CEO of Troon Golf; Deb O’Connor of Whirlpool Corporation, Laura Gentile, SVP of espnW.  Moderator: Jon Last, President Sports and Leisure Research Group

 

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.                U.S. Kids Golf – Top 50 Kids Teachers Awards Presentation

 

 

Friday, January 29, 2016

Theme - Instruction

 

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.             PGA Teacher of the Year Panel Presentation

                                                Details to be announced.

 

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.             PGA Teacher of the Year Panel Presentation

                                                Details to be announced.

 

 

About the PGA Merchandise Show

The 63rd PGA Merchandise Show, held Jan. 26-29, 2016, in Orlando, will welcome some 1,000 top golf companies and brands and more than 40,000 industry professionals from around the world to the industry’s annual global summit for the business of golf. The PGA Show Outdoor Demo Day, the world’s largest professional golf testing event, will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at the Orange County National Golf Center. During PGA Show days, Jan. 27-29, at the Orange County Convention Center, PGA Professionals, retailers and industry leaders will uncover the latest trends, source the newest golf merchandise, test the latest equipment, learn proven business best practices, network among peers and move forward the business of the game. In 2016, the annual international gathering of the golf industry will celebrate the Centennial of the PGA of America, founder and organizing partner of the PGA Merchandise Show.  The PGA Merchandise Show is a trade-only event and is not open to the public.