From the golworks:

THE LATEST GOLF NEWS


A REALLY (NOT SO) BIG SHOW

From the aisles of the PGA Merchandise Show:

The most prevalent topic of conversation at this year's PGA Show was the show itself, or rather the sparse attendance and vendor participation in it. According to Reed Exhibitions, which manages the annual golf equipment extravaganza in Orlando each January, the number of exhibiting companies dropped by 200 from 2002 to 2003. Leading the absentee list were Titleist/Cobra/ Foot-Joy and Ping, which both skipped the show for the first time in decades.


The number of visitors to the show also was down sharply, which led to some exhibitors sending staff home early. Rumors are now circulating that the PGA Show may soon alter its trade-only format and go with a split schedule in the future – two days for those in the golf trade and two days for the general public.


In terms of equipment, there were a few notable introductions. Ben Hogan debuted its new alliance with Bettinardi putters; Slazenger Golf made an appearance under new ownership and offering a new line of golf balls; a new company named Mac unveiled its unusual Powersphere metal woods; Grafalloy/True Temper drew considerable attention to its new Blue shaft; Nike Golf introduced a new line of CPR trouble clubs; and UST's Harmon line was promoted on-site by the Harmon brothers themselves.
PGA SAYS GOLF NEEDS PLAYERS - NOW!

PGA of America Executive Director Jim Awtrey told Golfweek magazine that his organization plans to launch a campaign this spring to jump-start the number of new golfers entering the game. The need, said Awtrey, is immediate. "We talk a lot about the future of golf and nurturing players down the road, but the fact is, we need them now," he said. "We have millions in this country playing less golf than they did in the past, and it has become an immediate issue for the sport. And if we concentrated on that segment while we continued to work on getting new players, if we got, say, 10 million golfers to each play just three more times in a year, it would make a big difference."