The 2025 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida, has been the industry’s premier exhibition since its inception. This annual event draws professionals and enthusiasts alike, providing a comprehensive platform to explore the latest innovations, trends, and developments in golf.
From cutting-edge equipment and technology to apparel and accessories, the show is a cornerstone of the golfing calendar. This year’s PGA Show saw over 1,000 exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees from around the globe, cementing its reputation as the “Major of Golf Business.”
Why attend?
The primary reason for Worldwide Golf attending this year was to witness the latest technological advancements from leading manufacturers and to keep a close watch on the start-up businesses that might challenge the establishment with innovative ideas.
Guess which big name was missing?
It has been close to ten years since we last attended, and the change in exhibitors was very noticeable. At the far end: Callaway; Titleist; FootJoy; PING; Cobra, and Mizuno dominated the vast Orlando Conference Centre. The big player missing, though, was TaylorMade. Considering their Qi35 is all the talk right now, it was a shock to see them miss the opportunity to showcase it. Perhaps they are concerned about questions from the press regarding why key players like Rory have not immediately put it into play.
Golf Cart Overkill
The centre of the show was overrun by golf cart manufacturers, and Club Car had invested heavily in securing the most prominent stand. Perfectly located, they displayed a wide range of high-end utility carts that were more suited to life inside a gated community than on a golf course. This is where we uncovered some interesting statistics.
In 2024, the U.S. golf cart market was valued at approximately $812.1 million and is projected to reach $1.23 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 4.3% during this period.
Additionally, the market for customised golf carts is expanding by at least 40,000 per year. These figures suggest a robust and growing market for new golf carts in the U.S., driven by factors such as increased popularity of golf, urbanisation, and the adoption of golf carts in various sectors beyond golf courses.
Though the entire market in America is becoming increasingly political. The accessory-heavy Chinese models are about a third cheaper or less and come packed with technology. It will be fascinating to see how the current government addresses this issue, as American manufacturers like Club Car are under significant pressure from imported carts.
Simulators
Whether it’s due to the TGL effect or not, we’ve never seen so many simulator manufacturers gathered in one place. Top Tracer had the most impressive display, showcasing their driving range configuration to golf club owners and managers. Meanwhile, companies like Uneekor focused on affluent home users seeking to upgrade their man caves.
The most popular exhibit was PuttView, which demonstrated its ability to display the line of your putt and live-track your actual attempt. Their active line goggles were truly mind-blowing, projecting putting lines directly onto real greens. This technology is phenomenal, but its true value shines if you have a stroke that can fully take advantage of it.
Forgotten Brand Comeback
It was wonderful to see a stand dedicated to iconic brands like MacGregor, RAM, Hogan, and others. These storied names may not showcase the latest advancements in A.I. design or cutting-edge technology, but they carry a rich legacy and evoke a sense of nostalgia for golf enthusiasts.
MacGregor, one of the oldest golf equipment brands, was famously associated with legendary players like Jack Nicklaus, who used their clubs during his early career. RAM, once a powerhouse in the golf world, was a favorite of players like Tom Watson, who won numerous tournaments with their equipment. Ben Hogan founded his brand in 1953, and it became a symbol of quality, trusted by pros such as Ben Crenshaw.
Billion Dollar Clothing Battle
Golf apparel is a cornerstone of the golf retail industry, dominating as the largest segment. The global golf clothing market, valued at $7.13 billion in 2024, is expected to grow at a rate of 6.1% from 2025 to 2030, driven by the rising number of brands, innovative fabrics and sustainability trends.
Prominent brands like RLX and Shark were highly visible, but Malbon and True stood out for their subtle innovation. Delivering unique designs without resorting to gimmicks. Golf apparel brands that have accelerating sales figure have lines that can be worn both on and off the course.
In the Wings
If you deviated from the central displays and headed down the side aisles, you could find everything from tee sign builders to the latest gadgets and rangefinders. The standout in this category was JumboMax grips. Their grips are impressive, which is more than we could say for their stand — until you noticed that their representative talking to attendees was none other than two-time Major winner Retief Goosen. It was amusing to watch the youngsters walk past, oblivious to who he was.
Club Testing
The demo day took place the days before the Conference Centre opened, but it was a washout. I suppose global warming is having an effect in Orlando. It even snowed in Milton, Florida, where 9.8 inches of snow were recorded, setting a new record for the Sunshine State. As a result, we missed out on trying the latest PING G440 and Cobra DS-ADAPT.
At the exhibition, you could hit balls into a net, but these were indoor balls, and there was no Trackman set up to assess performance. So, it was pretty much a waste of time if you were looking for a true indication of a product’s performance.
Summary
The PGA hosted an excellent event, though unfortunately, they couldn’t control the weather on demo day. While it was disappointing not to see TaylorMade present, we left with a wealth of new contacts and interviews lined up for upcoming issues of Worldwide Golf
