GolfSpy Tim’s – 1st PGA Show Experience

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RED EYE FROM CA + 36 HOLES + SHOW = NO SLEEP

Flying out to Orlando for my first PGA Merchandise Show, I really didn’t have a clue what to expect. I’ve seen coverage from previous years, but parking alone proved to open my eyes even more to the monstrosity that is PGMA.

What originally promised to be a quick hop skip and a jump to Orlando from Santa Barbara quickly turned into a mini vacation at LAX as my flights were quickly botched by the airlines from step one, and what was supposed to be a 1 hour layover in Los Angeles turned into an 8 hour+ layover, a redeye into Orlando, less than an hour of spotty sleep on the plane induced by a guy next to me with happy elbows and the cat behind me to felt the need to use the back of my seat as a punching bag.

Thankfully, I arrived to Orlando by 6 a.m. and was in a car with GolfSpy_T and headed to OC National Golf Center and Lodge where Tony had scored a full night’s sleep. A quick change of clothes and we were off to the club house to scarf down some food and then head out for 36 holes of golf.

NOT YOUR TYPICAL DRIVING RANGE

At the driving range we warmed up and Tony described the chaos that would be this same driving range the very next morning as the PGA Show Demo day would take over.

After a short but solid night’s sleep, we were up early (by California time clocks) and headed to Demo Day. Now, I’ve been to demo days at our local golf courses, a rep dressed nice shows up with a few bags full of clubs…. But, let’s just say, Demo Day is not your standard rep with a bag, we’re talking the biggest driving range I’ve ever seen, designed in a circle, and entirely covered by tents from any golf manufacturer who is somebody.

I’d been told about this setup, and assumed the balls you’d hit then would be limited flight range balls – not the case! Drive a regulation ball as far as your dare, unless you’re super human, you’re not going to hit anyone on the other side!

Ever wanted to hit every club under the sun in one day and walk away with a better idea of what fit your eye and your swing better? Look no farther, Demo Day allows just that and more. With Cobra-Puma bumping the beats, TaylorMade handing out hot dogs and beer, and all other companies spread in between, Demo Day is a feast for your eyes, your swing, and for a good neck/face sunburn (just ask GolfSpy X).

OVER WHELMED & UNDER WHELMED

At the end of the day, I was both completely over whelmed and UNDER WHELMED… I know, dumb statement right? Well, there was soooo much to take in, but at the same time, there was nothing new. I’d already seen everything in photos or videos, so it was underwhelming in the sense that I didn’t get to be wowed by any crazy unexpected release.

But, on the other hand, I did walk out of Demo Day dead set on getting a set of Scor wedges and an Axis1 putter into my bag ASAP – not new companies, not new products, but after trying these in person at Demo Day, I suddenly saw two voids in my bag that needed filling.

UPLOADING PHOTOS – THANK GOD FOR COLD BEER

For most, after Demo Day they probably headed to a fancy restaurant or a nice bar to relax for the evening, but as a GolfSpy, your job must go on. We headed back to the hotel to start processing and uploading photos. You’d think hit a few buttons and voila, done – NOT the case… we’re talking hours sitting in front of computers, ordering take out, drinking a beer and then going to bed closer to 2 or 3 a.m….

Then, up and at them early again (I say early, mind you, I tend to sleep in until 10 a.m. most days by California time, so getting up at 8 a.m. Florida time = getting up 5 hours early for me!)

Arriving at the Orange County Convention Center, at first I felt like it was just like any other I’d been to. Some parking, a convention hall, and you’re in. Not the case with OCCC – After finding some absurd parking area, instead of walking in, we hopped on a bus and were shuttled for what seemed like at least a mile into the actual convention hall (not the one we parked by)

THE SHOW FLOOR

Walking into the tradeshow I was making comparisons in my head to photographer trade shows I’ve been to, and a quick glance told me this was MUCH MUCH bigger. We entered by walking a tunnel that crosses OVER the tradeshow floor, giving you a view both directions, into the apparel section, and into the product section.

At over 10 miles (yes, 10 MILES) of show Aisles, and 1 million square feet of exhibit hall space, this show is BIG.

I had made notes before the show of “must see” booths, but upon entering, all bets were off, I was underwater and swimming for the top, and looking every direction seeing something that I should take a picture of, and dodging the guy who sees me take a photo of his product and wants to talk my ear off about his is plastic stretchy band watch has interchangeable faces and how cool their neon colors are, and how they just came out with a new product, and it’s bigger than the previous plastic stretchy band watch…. YIKES!!!!

This is the show where if you’ve come out with an idea and you want to sell it to the golf industry, you’re there! My job isn’t to tell someone I don’t think they have chance in the world of making a living selling their silly watches, I’m there to take pictures and show people what they’ve made, so I take the photo, and explain that I’m in a hurry, I’ve gotta go.

Onto the next booth, and the next, and the next.

DISCOVERING THE NEXT BIG THING!

For the first couple of hours, I just KNOW I’m going to discover the next amazing golf product that NO ONE has ever heard of. I’m going to break a HUGE story, I just have to keep my eyes pealed.

It’s not long before I begin to realize, there might not be a huge story to break here, and it’s about the same time that I realize, wow… dinner from last night isn’t sitting well. I begin crop dusting some strange patterns across the trade show floor as I duck into a booth to take photos, run out of the booth the other direction, dust a few other booths, and then head back to keep taking photos of the next line of booths.

Thankfully, I wasn’t required to cover 10 miles of aisle, we had split up and I was responsible for about 2.5 miles of that area. (between this and our strange eating habits, I managed to lose weight this trip!)

VIP PARTIES

After a solid day of coverage and crop dusting, we regrouped and headed to the COBRA-PUMA booth for a quick VIP party, some free beers, pictures with Blaire O’Neal, and just a little relaxing before a LONG walk to the TaylorMade booth for their VIP party. (oh yeah… TaylorMade has this undying need to stand out – so their booth is on the OTHER end of the convention center from everyone else, ie: the other end of those 10 miles of aisles)

So we walk down to TaylorMade, look for some free beer (there is none, and the bar is cash only… COME ON, who carries cash these days!!!???) And we cop a seat and wait for the big surprise! Knowing TaylorMade, they wouldn’t of held back – GolfSpy_T already got a sneak peak of the space, and sure enough, we’re soon let in and we see the stage, there’s going to be a concert, and there’s a HUGE open bar.

This is getting good. Really good. Free drinks, free concert, you can’t mess this one up.

Well… give it a few minutes and what do you know, TaylorMade did… they messed it up – the headline for the night…. Drum roll please………… George Thorogood….

YAWN………………….. (worth noting though, TaylorMade may know their demographic better than myself – the show as a whole is geared toward clubs and golf pros purchasing gear to resell, which = a bit of an older crowd….)

THE UNFORTUNATE CAB RIDE

We were soon headed out of the building, looking for a poor un-expecting cab driver, and we finally found one. What originally I thought was a 1 mile ride turned out to be over a two mile ride back to our car. Before getting into the cab, my crop dusting had been put on hold, and I figured for a mile we were safe, but as a mile grew to two, I began to worry for my fellow passengers. No need to worry, our car was in sight. We parked, doors opened, I relaxed, and WHAM – one giant plum of gas was released just as the last of us was stepping out of the taxi – but unfortunately for our friendly driver, he was still stuck inside.

Now, if I was still in high school, I would be PETRIFIED by this moment, but instead, as a married 30 something, I found the situation to be rather hilarious.

ENDING THE 2012 PGA SHOW

Ending the evening on an “up note” from the unfortunate concert, we headed back to the hotel for another evening of order out food, a beer, and image editing and uploading.

Friday, a little more of the same, but a bit more of tinkering around, just taking it all in, and winding down before heading home on Saturday.