It's the world's largest golf equipment testing event, and it's the unofficial opening day of the 2013 PGA Merchandise show, but it's also fun and a lot of hard work depending on who you talk to.
"I love to be here, and we really have to with my golf academy and the new line of wedges I have with Edel," states golf legend, and six-time major champion Nick Faldo. "It's a great event and there are always a great number of people to see."
A great number of people indeed, as the show will attract 41,000 attendees this year, and many where on the grounds of Orange County National for Demo Day.
The annual PGA Merchandise Show Outdoor Demo Day brings in thousands of PGA Professionals and invited retailers for this day of hands-on testing of the latest in golf equipment. It really is a showcase of golf, sports, and fitness technology.
The 60th PGA Merchandise Show will run Jan. 24-26, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
All the big names in golf were present. That means Nike, Adams, Wilson, Cobra/Puma, Taylor Made, Srixon, and all the rest, but it also means the little guy can come out and show off his latest invention or golf product.
Little guys can mean one-man operations or small startup companies looking to make their mark in the world of golf.
Companies also can trot out celebrities, PGA, and LPGA pros to show off their equipment to the attendees.
Cobra/Puma brought out actor John O'Hurley, best known as "J. Peterman" on "Seinfeld" as he is a celebrity golfer and plays represents Cobra/Puma at events.
O'Hurley has a special relationship with golf and he really loves the sport.
"I come to the this show every year," stated O'Hurley. "I love the sport, my wife was a college golfer, and my six-year old has taken up the sport."
O'Hurley added he would come to this show even if he wasn't working for one of the companies exhibiting.
Demo Day is huge. It features 200-plus hitting bays, a circular range, practice greens, a New Product Preview area and the vendor village on the 42-acre, Orange County National practice facility. It's a massive spectacle.
There will be more hitting bays once the show opens at the convention center on Thursday, but the 70 degree weather and light winds made Wednesday special for all that turned out.
If you are interested in Demo Day or the PGA Merchandise Show, a one-hour, prime-time Golf Channel television special will capture all the news and those making news at the 2013 PGA Show on Sunday, Jan. 27, in prime time, and re-air on Monday, Jan. 28.
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