NORWALK, Conn. – Oct. 30, 2004 – PGA Golf Exhibitions and The PGA of America have announced new and enhanced programs for the 52nd PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 27-30, 2005, in Orlando, Fla.

The programs, which include unprecedented live coverage from the Show floor by The Golf Channel, are intended to build on the growing participation of PGA Professionals and retailers and to maximize value as a year-round marketing tool for golf manufacturers.

"The golf industry has embraced programs such as Demo Day, the Equipment Test Center and Fashion Fairway -- all resulting in improved buyer participation and a meaningful impact on the way business is being conducted at the Show," said PGA Golf Exhibitions Vice President and Show Manager Ed Several. "This response has opened the door to new thinking, more creative planning and a renewed devotion to finding valuable, effective tools for manufacturers and buyers to reach their business objectives."

"The depth of PGA Member events along with new and established programs create more reasons than ever before for PGA Professionals to attend our industry's most important business gathering," said PGA of America President M.G. Orender. "While the PGA Merchandise Show has a long-standing tradition among our membership, it is the innovative programming that is increasing this institution's influence on stimulating the business of golf."

2005 PGA Merchandise Show Highlights Include:

The Golf Channel Live from the Show floor

In 2005, The Golf Channel becomes a media partner and will bring golfers inside the annual golf industry marketplace with extended live television coverage from the Show floor for the first time in the 51-year history of the event. The Golf Channel will broadcast live from a new 15-foot tall broadcast tower on the Show floor within the Orange County Convention Center, 1:00-3:00 p.m. EST, Jan. 27-29 and then conclude coverage with a marathon replay of those six hours of programming on Sunday, Jan. 30. Additionally, Show programming will air during prime time and be repeated late night for a total of 24 hours of live and taped coverage.

Enhanced Equipment Test Center -- ETC

Building on a successful launch last year, the ETC -- a 200,000-plus square-foot indoor driving range in Hall A of the Orange County Convention Center -- will now include a new ETC Stadium (featuring grandstands and a live demonstration area), two putting greens, an elevated chipping green and dedicated hitting bays for PGA Professionals and journalists. Supported by top industry equipment manufacturers, the ETC will feature 40 hitting bays to provide attendees with the valuable opportunity for extensive hands-on and practical testing of equipment and range products.

Clinics added to Golf Demo Day 2005 (Jan. 26)

Always popular with PGA Professionals and Key Buyers, this year's Golf Demo Day, presented in partnership with PGA Magazine, will add a demonstration area for clinics and seminars led by top PGA of America teaching professionals. The 2005 Demo Day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Jan. 26, will feature hands-on testing of more than 50 equipment companies and 15 ancillary companies within the 42-acre practice facility of the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Fla.

The PGA Business of Golf Conference

The PGA of America will present the third annual PGA Business of Golf Conference during the 2005 PGA Merchandise Show. This year's panel discussion with top executives will cover a wide range of topics that are of importance to the golf industry.

Expanded Education Conference (Jan. 27-30)

The 2005 Education Conference at the PGA Merchandise Show will grow to some 75 seminars organized into eight professional topic tracks featuring additional PGA of America programming and teaching & training sessions at the new ETC Stadium.

Fashion Shows & new Dream Pro Shop in the spotlight at the Fashion Fairway

The PGA Magazine Fashion Fairway, presented by The Golf Channel, features the return of the daily fashion shows that resulted in standing-room only attendance last year. Three times daily, during the first three days, attendees will be able to see the latest apparel in action on the runway. New to the Fashion Fairway is the Dream Pro Shop, a replica of a high-end pro shop featuring the latest golf fashions, top merchandising concepts and recognition of The PGA of America's Merchandisers of the Year.

More Pro-Pro Tournaments (Jan. 25-27)

Building on the successful launch and sold-out response last year, the PGA Merchandise Show official Pro-Pro tournaments, produced in partnership with PGA Magazine, will grow from five to seven tournaments, (Jan. 25-27) at top Orlando golf courses. Each tournament will feature 90 players and a purse of $4,000. Tournaments are open to PGA Members and Apprentices only.

Improved New Product Center

The third rendition of the New Product Center will now organize some 300 new products by category, improve the presentation of new product displays and offer awards to best new products within each category.

New Exhibitor Pavilion

Specialty exhibitor pavilions have grown in popularity as an efficient way to match product and service clusters addressing the needs of specific buyers. A new teaching & training aids exhibitor pavilion will join the existing specialty pavilions of club & resort, golf travel, and several international pavilions.

PGA of America Awards Night (Friday, Jan. 28, 5:00- 7:30 p.m.)

The PGA of America will present their most prestigious national awards in one setting at the 2005 PGA Merchandise Show. In addition to honoring an industry leader with the annual Ernie Sabayrac Award and honoring Merchandisers of the Year, The PGA of America will recognize outstanding leaders among its membership including PGA Golf Professional of the Year. Several hundred industry guests will be invited Friday, Jan. 28, to the evening presentation at the Orange County Convention Center's Grand Auditorium.

PGA Employment Center

The PGA Employment Center, a golf industry hiring resource, has expanded its capabilities and is growing in services offered at the 2005 Show. Designed as a clearinghouse for all golf industry positions, the PGA Employment Center is an online job posting center that is free of charge to all golf exhibitors, employers, attendees and job seekers who are interested in working in the golf industry. The PGA Employment Center will add career counselors, resume workshops and employer programs to the on-site center located on the Show floor just inside the central lobby entrance.

Organized in partnership with The PGA of America, the 2005 PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 27-30, will host more than 45,000 PGA Professionals, retailers and industry leaders to preview the products and services of more than 1,100 golf-related exhibitors within 500,000 net square feet of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Some 4,000 PGA Professionals, invited key buyers and media will kick off the industry gathering by field-testing products of some 60 exhibitors at the annual Golf Demo Day, Jan. 26, at the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge.

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to attend the annual expansive education conference offering more than 75 industry seminars. An unparalleled industry gathering, the PGA Merchandise Show also offers daily fashion shows, the world's largest indoor equipment test center, The PGA Business of Golf Conference, New Product Centers, a Golf Memorabilia Display and Appraisal area, specialty exhibitor pavilions, The PGA Employment Center, a Pro-Pro Tournament Series, and the annual PGA Awards Night.

For more information or to register, please call 1.800.PGA.EXPO or visit www.pgaexpo.com.

The PGA Merchandise Show, organized in partnership with The PGA of America, is one of four leading golf trade shows in PGA Worldwide Golf Exhibitions' global golf portfolio including the PGA Fall Expo in Las Vegas; the Ontario PGA Golf Merchandise Show in Toronto, Canada; and the PGA Merchandise Show of Australia in Queensland.