Business solutions promise to be the focus of more than 44,000 attendees, 1,200 exhibitors and 1,000 media members as the 2006 PGA Merchandise Show & Convention rolls out the green carpet for the opening day of golf's global reunion at the spacious Orange County Convention Center (OCCC).

The 53rd PGA Merchandise Show & Convention - which begins today and continues through Sunday at 3 p.m.- will feature the traditional buying, selling, education, networking and social components associated with golf's annual gala. But the 2006 Show is dedicated to, as Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) would sing it, "Taking Care of Business."

"The 2006 PGA Merchandise Show & Convention combines the great tradition of our annual industry gathering with an interactive education component and a strong business element designed to make us all more effective at what we do," says PGA of America President Roger Warren.

Adds Ed Several, PGA Golf Exhibitions vice president and Show manager: "The 2006 Show is all about business and providing business solutions."

A medley of fresh seminars, programs and activities have been added to the 2006 PGA Merchandise Show & Convention schedule to help attendees "learn, grow, test and find" solutions, best practices, products, and strategies that will directly impact their business. In essence, the objective of the 2006 Show - telecast live on The Golf Channel from 1-3 p.m., ET, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday - is to help industry professionals grow their careers while growing the game.

The learning component begins with an expanded Education Conference that will feature 100-plus seminars throughout the week.

On the Show floor, the new PGA Experience is an interactive pavilion providing access to PGA Partners, the PGA Employment Center, PGM universities, and allied golf organizations.

Show attendees can learn about booking and coordinating golf travel at worldwide destinations at the inaugural PGA Magazine Travel Pavilion, a 5,000-square-foot area which will include a performance stage and learning lab.

The expanded Dream Golf Shop presented by Bauer International is dedicated to helping attendees learn to be better merchandisers, with merchandising expert Willy Choma conducting "clinics." The Fashion Spotlight Fashion Shows - presented four times daily today, Friday and Saturday - will showcase the latest fashion trends.

Industry professionals will learn to be better teachers through new "Teaching-the-Teacher" clinics hosted by PGA Director of Instruction Rick Martino at the new PGA Experience interactive pavilion, and by renowned instructor Butch Harmon at the indoor Equipment Test Center (ETC).

The 2006 Show will help attendees grow the game, their careers, profits and rounds played by attending the inaugural Play Golf America Conference on Friday from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in Room 414D of the OCCC.

When it comes to testing the latest equipment, the annual Demo Day presented by Sprint - and sponsored by Aldila and Yamaha - kicked off the week yesterday, and the expanded ETC in Hall A of the OCCC is open during normal Show hours.