Latest golf equipment shown off at Las Vegas expo
Teaching pros, club owners and upcoming players alike came out swinging in Las Vegas this week, seeking the latest in golf technology and training at the annual PGA Expo.
“Golf is not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle and it’s a business,” said Ed Several, senior vice president of Reed Exhibitions, who organizes the event. “When you can turn a passion into a business and make that a career, we encourage that.”
After spending 18 of the last 20 years in Las Vegas since 1995, the annual PGA Show returned to the valley with nearly 200 exhibitors and 4,000 participants. The three-day industry trade show, which started Monday at Cascata Golf Course and concluded Wednesday at The Venetian, also welcomed about 400 international participants from 30 countries.
On Monday, about 40 golf manufacturers, including TaylorMade, Callaway and Ping, offered participants the chance to swing their newest clubs on the Cascata driving range — including the R15, XR Pro and G30 drivers.
“Serious golfers always want the latest and greatest,” said Jack Lomento, a Las Vegas-based TaylorMade representative. “And the clubs are getting that much better. It works when you put in the time, engineering and technology.”
Golf generates $68.8 billion annually in goods and services in the United States, contributing to a total economic impact of about $176.8 billion, according to the latest study published by SRI International, a California-based research institute.
Comparatively speaking, spectator sports such as baseball, basketball, football and hockey generated a combined revenue of $33.1 billion, the study said.
The study, published in 2011 and backed by the World Golf Foundation, estimated that 25.7 million Americans played at least one round of golf that year, spending an average of $137 on golf equipment, like bags, clubs and balls, $62 on apparel and $20 on golf media, like magazines, video games and instructional DVDs.
Philipp Urasch, 20, is among those 25.7 million players. A former college golfer for Bethune Cookman in Daytona Beach, Fla., Urasch registered for this week’s show in hopes of showcasing his talent to potential sponsors and networking with professionals from some of golf’s biggest brands.
While most rising amateurs mail their resume and videos to companies, Urasch said he attended the show to make personal connections.
“Coming out and showing what I can do helps make an impression,” Urasch said. “Anything you can do to build those relationships is always helpful.”
Contact Chris Kudialis at ckudialis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Find him on Twitter: @kudialisrj
