For the second time since 2010, TaylorMade Golf will be conspicuously absent from the biggest gathering of club professionals, golf retailers and industry executives: the PGA Merchandise Show.
Held every January in Orlando, Florida, more than 40,000 of golf’s most influential people congregate at Orange County National Golf Center and the Orange County Convention Center to share and launch new products, network and do business.
TaylorMade to skip the upcoming PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando; Callaway, Titleist, Ping, Cleveland/Srixon, Mizuno, Bridgestone, Cobra, Wilson say they'll be there. https://t.co/6Vl0yGdMGE via @GolfDigest
— Mike Stachura (@MikeStachura) October 24, 2018
Opting to put their marketing dollars elsewhere, TaylorMade Golf CEO David Abeles said that the decision was made to better fund relationships with their club pro staff.
“In the coming years, TaylorMade plans to broaden its investment in the PGA of America, pursuing growth initiatives we believe create even greater value for the game of golf,” Abeles said, according to GolfDigest.com. “As a result of the additional spend and following significant discussions with key stakeholders, including many of our TaylorMade PGA staff professionals, the decision was made to not attend the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show.”
PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions event vice president Marc Simon said that while TaylorMade will be missed, the PGA Merchandise show appreciates the commitment the company has made to the event in the past.
“We appreciate TaylorMade Golf’s past support of the PGA Merchandise Show and have worked closely with them through the years to create valuable event activations to meet their business objectives and foster face-to-face connections with PGA professionals and industry leaders,” Simon said. “They are a valued partner, and we will continue to work diligently with them to create participation programs for future shows that meet their business needs while underscoring their support of PGA professionals.”
