2015 PGA Show Demo Day 1: 360-Degree Full View!!!

The PGA Merchandise Show is truly “the MAJOR of the golf business” and “the global gathering of the golf of the golf industry and the kickoff to the 2015 season!” Demo Day, the outside version in its 13th year, is what kicks off the modern version of the PGA Show and is held at the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge. The mammoth show itself, a three-day spectacular extravaganza, is held in the cavernous Orange County Convention Center. In its 62nd year it has come a long way from the group of like-minded golf businessmen who first met in a parking lot near Tamps in a place called Dunedin in 1952 some 100 miles away from Orlando.

This was my first Demo Day and it was memorable to say the least.  The driving range, a 360-degree brilliant design, is known as the largest and the best golf driving range in America. My personal opinion, with a diameter of 400 yards, is that it is unmatched anywhere in the world. Even with golf clubs of the latest technology, some virtual professional models, I was hard pressed to carry my golf ball to the center of the range let alone anywhere near the fellow drivers opposite me.

Arriving around 1 pm and approaching the circular trunk show and party from almost due south, my goal was to walk around the entire circle of vendors in a clockwise motion. Four and a half hours later I did come back to my starting point as the Demo Day concluded but only because about half way around most companies had already begun to tear down their camps. I started the day by hoping into a picker cart with Grant a wide-eyed youngster that turned out to be wise beyond his years. I wanted him to drive me out to the center of the range where I would get out and sho0t a 360-degree video of the driving range encircled by vendors. Luckily Grant was experienced and able to convince me not to do such a ridiculous maneuver. Balls were bouncing around all over the place and several squarely hit the caged picker cart. With a million balls being hit in an eight hour time period the math came out to about 10,000 in the five minutes it took to drive out and back. All by well-skilled club professionals of the PGA of America. Fun but silly idea there to start the day!

CLICK here for 360-degree VIDEO from the center of the OCN driving range from mostly inside the cage!

My afternoon around the circle included a FlightScope fitting at Taylormade. The new R15 driver with an XS shaft worked well for me. At Titleist the D3 driver with an 8.5 degree face on the C1 setting with a silver Aldila X-flex shaft made me feel like the old Tiger in me was driving the ball. I tested two amazing creations—a metal driver and hybrid with a hole in them and loved the feel, sound and result. I hope to win the raffle by AmazingCre!

I rode a GolfBoard and found it to be more fun than a golf cart though not as much exercise as walking and carrying my bag. Surfing on the golf course may turn out to be more than a fad as it feels better than riding in a golf cart.

As I hurried to complete the circuit of golf innovations I came across the new Ben Hogan Golf Equipment Company. This was a full circle experience for me as my first set of clubs, a used set, were Ben Hogan APEX irons. I remember the Equalizer wedge very fondly. I hit the new FT. WORTH 15 irons and TK 15 wedges. No iron numbers, only degrees of loft. As the website says, “the precision is back,” and I like it a lot!

It was a great first day to the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show. Now a good night’s rest and the opening ceremony at the Orange County Convention Center and another three days of golf passion, madness and excitement!