Convention Insider (Conventions.net)

I worked in the golf industry for about 10 years and was very tuned in to the latest in equipment and services and followed along in that trade for a while.  One of the most exciting things about being part of that industry was the PGA golf expo and other trade shows and conventions.  The trade show is usually held each year in a place where they have plenty of golf opportunities as well.  Many of the manufacturers and people involved as exhibitors love to wine and dine retailers and golf shop owners to play golf and try out the latest in equipment.

As many golfers out there know, golf can be a very expensive sport, and buying things like golf balls can set a guy back each game as much as a tank of gas these days.  I for one don’t remember ever having to pay for a golf ball in that entire span of time I was in the business.  The reason was the great stuff given away at conventions and trade shows such as these.  It was nothing to walk out of a convention with a box of balls and a handful of tees to go with that golf glove and cool new spikes to fit in your golf shoes.  In order to be an expert about the equipment, you had to be an expert user of the equipment.  Many a Driver and iron have I used that never had me reaching for my wallet.  It was a great perk being in the business.

I see this year that the PGA Expo is going to be in Las Vegas in August 2008, and the PGA Merchandise Show that is the big kahuna convention of the golf world is going to be in sunny Orlando, Florida in January 2008 at the Orange County Convention Center.  There are more reasons to have these events at these locations than just good weather that time of year, they are a couple of the best places to play golf on the planet.  I miss the days when I reached into my golf bag and pulled out a freebie golf ball.  Now when I hit a tee shot into the water it has a little more hurt behind it knowing that I actually paid real money for that ball.