I attended the PGA show for about the 10th time. THE SHOW IS THE SAME OLD WITH A NEW WRAPPER. IT HAS THE SAME OLD FUDDY DUDDIES RUNNING THE SHOW, NO NEW BLOOD TO CATAPULT THIS DYING SPORT TO A NEW LEVEL. (HOPEFULLY, SUSAN WHALEY CAN BRING IN FRESH IDEAS). ONE HAS SUGGESTED THAT A HYBRID BETWEEN TOP GOLF AND THE TRADITIONAL GOLF COURSE IS THE ANSWER! THE PROBLEM LIES IS THAT YOU CANT JUST PICK UP A GOLF CLUB AND GO TO THE COURSE AND HAVE FUN. ANOTHER STRUCKING FEATURE OF THE PGA SHOW, IS THAT IT IS MADE UP OF A MAJORITY OF CAUCASIAN MALES FROM THE PGA PROFESSIONALS TO THE VENDORS.

LASTLY, ANOTHER STRIKING FEATURE OF THE SHOW IS THE PARTICIPATION "GOLF INSTAGRAM SENSATIONS" THESE GIRLS WALKING AROUND HALF DRESSED WITH THEIR BREASTS HANGING OUT. THESE WOMEN HAVE 250K TO 1 MILLION FOLLOWERS COMPARED TO LPGA PLAYERS WHO HAVE 20K FOLLOWERS. THE INDUSTRY VENDORS WERE USING THESE INSTRAGRAM SENSATIONS RATHER THAN LPGA PLAYERS. YES THERE WAS LEXI WITH A SHORT LINE BROOKE HENDERSON HAD 5 PEOPLE TALKING TO HER BUT THE TALK WAS ALL ABOUT THE INSTAGRAM SENSATION I THINK A BLOW TO THE LPGA. POOR TASTE AT THE SHOW.

Whaaattt? Matt Ginella supporting an affordable round of golf for the average player? He must be getting comped rounds or writing them off on his expense report. He and Joe Passov are two reasons why people have such a skewed view of the game. The only places that they ever give top reviews to are all priced well over $100.00 dollars per round, and of course MUST include a full staff of people unloading your clubs, cleaning your clubs, taking your clubs back to the car while you feast on lobster and filet while paying upwards of $60.00 per ounce for single-malt scotch. All while they NEVER actually PAY out-of-pocket (again, comped rounds, or expense report reimbursement). And if your course wasn't designed by a "Brand-Name" architect, you'll be lucky to get a two-star review (even though there are probably a thousand - 420 yard, downhill, slight dogleg right with a trap at the corner and an approach to an elevated, two-tier green, fronted by a bunker - holes on the planet - the one at your course sucks because it wasn't designed by someone famous and you don't charge $145.00 per round). These two guys (and a few dozen others) literally try to take a dump on your golfing joy, by cheapening your course, and your experience, because you can't just hop a flight to spend a weekend playing "Teeth of the Dog", or "Castle Stuart" whenever the mood strikes. They create an unrealistic premise of what a "Real Golfer" should be expecting every time they tee it up.

I can understand that the PGA show is closed to the public - after-all, it really is an industry trade show. Unfortunately, the "traveling merchandise shows" in the midwest and northeast that follow in February, have lost their luster. I discovered those "shows" are nothing more than booth after booth of Myrtle Beach golf holiday promotions. No thanks. As for the current and future state of the game, maybe it's a regional thing. I live in the mid-atlantic area, and most good public golf courses are jammed on the weekends - with 5 hour rounds the norm. Again, no thanks, and I sure as heck am not a millenial.
Lastly, while some may disagree, "corporate golf" has also lost its luster -even at private clubs. Sadly, in some industries, the "optics" of being out on a golf course with vendors, customers, or business associates, is frowned upon and in some cases, forbidden. In my dad's time -- from the 60s through the 80s, it was something to be envied or sought after. Again, there are exceptions, but the trend seems to going the other way.

What's new in putter shafts?

For sure golf, at the moment, is in decline. But the future could be bright. Most sports are learned early and then given up later in life. Golf may well be the opposite. Given that it is not too intimating to the beginner, people may start playing later in life believing they would enjoy time outdoors in a pleasant setting along for many years. The key here is no intimidation. Either by excessive cost to get started or by rules and other players. For example, the push to speed up the game (in a somewhat misguided attempt to attract and retain) can place a lot of unpleasant pressure on the beginner and, thusly, drive them away. One suggestion: if the course is being under utilized, spread apart the tee times.

In our area of Northern Indiana courses are closing right and left - mostly going to housing developments or other uses. Leagues are scrambling to find places to play on late weekday afternoons, but it is still easy to get weekend tee times. While it helps the surviving courses, it is no panacea. One owner told me that the year after a nearby course closed, his business was still down just a bit. The industry needs more players, but then everybody knows this.

Would be nice if we could see the merchandise at the show. VISUAL work!

From this article and some of the segments I watched on the Golf Channel, this show seems really interesting to the average golfer like me who likes to learn about "what's new" in the golf industry. But I have to say, it's sort of offensive that on some level this show is not open to the general public. I know logistically and for many other reasons this would be difficult but it would be nice if the average consumer of all this great stuff could see it all in one place. Instead, all of you "media types" have the front row seats.

I am surprised that these years later after to downfall of Golf Smith not more news is made about how the bankruptcy has effected to industry. One things is that I see now those places that are internet only golf are now picking up on sales and having ads on national TV.
In the DC area we used to have 4 Golf Smiths and 2 Golf Galaxy stores. NOW, we have one Golf Galaxy and a few Dicks Sporting Good that’s the more serious golfers do not go to because they just dont have the same services or products.
In this area we one very old public course and range in downtown DC that has not made improvement in 20 years. WHY, because it is not the place the rich in the area go. It could be a real good place for golf and to promote golf for the industry but no one wants the hassle of dealing with DC and Fed governments. MORE than anything because the people that use it just aren’t the rich important crowd the Golf Industry is after.