
ORLANDO, Florida – The PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando is both a catalyst that officially starts the golf year and a harbinger that enthusiastically foreshadows the aspirations for that new golf year. As a golf writer, I enjoy that one week because of all the opportunities in the various formats that it provides. This column will highlight those opportunities I pursued and will present the links that might entice your game and your proclivities as well.
GWAA Championship at Mission Resort & Club
The precursor to The PGA Show is the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA) annual championship at nearby Mission Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, one of Florida’s most popular and respected vacation destinations. We all stayed at the resort, and we all played both championship courses, the iconic El Campeon (The Champion) on Sunday, January 19, and then Las Colinas on Monday.

Recently purchased by MMI Hospitality Group, this historic and venerable venue has undergone extensive renovations throughout and offers not only superior golf but also world-class accommodations, dining, and amenities. Mission Resort is a memorable experience for all the right reasons. Read my review from last year’s championship for more details: Mission Resort + Club is Historic & Still Popular | New England dot Golf.https://newengland.golf/mission-resort-club-is-historic-still-popular/
‘Golf Inspired’ Reunion
On Tuesday, I played at Orange Tree Golf Club in an outing sponsored by Sean Winton, founder of Golf Inspired, a company that showcases the world’s premier golf destinations. Sean and I had a most pleasant reunion at this lovely private club in Orlando. Last August, my wife Vicky, my boss and editor Tom Gorman and his wife Janet, and I joined Sean and his team for an incomparable golf sojourn to Scotland and Trump Turnberry. For insight into what Golf Inspired offers and how Sean organizes the complete trip, read my story: My “Golf Inspired” Scotland Diary | New England dot Golf. https://newengland.golf/my-golf-inspired-scotland-diary/

This year Sean has arranged equally inspiring itineraries with the slogan, “Imagine a World Where the Sun Never Sets on the Game.” He has scheduled a mid-September trip to one of Europe’s premier travel, leisure, and golf destinations, Costa Navarino, located off the Peloponnese Peninsula of the Ionian Sea in Greece. Visit Sean’s website for all the particulars of this trip and others: Home – Golf Inspired https://golfinspired.com/
Show Time
Wednesday through Friday was the PGA Merchandise Show at the 1.1 million square-feet Orange County Convention Center. And this year, more than 33,000 golf industry professionals from 94 countries and 50 U.S. states came together to meet with more than 1,100 participating brands at the 72nd annual event. The PGA Show reached its largest size since 2009, pointing to a highly optimistic outlook for the $102 billion golf industry in 2025. I won’t add any more facts here, but for an in-depth analysis of the event, click on this link: PGA Show: 2025 event is largest in 15 years. https://www.pgashow.com/

What I will add here are the companies and products that caught my attention. I have two methods to address the madness that encompasses the cavernous concourse of booths and populace. First, I confirm appointments in advance with selected vendors, knowing I will get personal, uninterrupted attention; second, I simply carouse around the expanse, drinking in the atmosphere and stopping at booths that cannot be denied.
Three All-Time Favorites
Without exception, I always return to these three companies because I have used their equipment in the past, and I want to see what they have created for my future use.
Shot Scope (Shot Scope US | Golf Improvement Technology | Official Website) is my go-to brand for high quality, reasonable prices in laser rangefinders, golf watches, and performance tracking devices. “Know your game” is the motto, and the high-end watches and range finders record each shot with the tracking tags, allowing for a performance review with the free Shot Scope app and dashboard. My favorite laser rangefinder is the Pro L2 for its effectiveness and its affordability. Read my story for more information: Shot Scope’s PRO L2 Laser Rangefinder | New England dot Golf.https://newengland.golf/shot-scopes-pro-l2-laser-rangefinder/

SuperStroke (Putter Grips | Club Grips | SuperStroke Golf), the #1 putter grip in golf, is the fittingly named company that revolutionized putter feel in 2009 with its radically different line of grips. SuperStroke leads the league in swing and putter grips with its new shapes, sizes, materials, and technologies. The website displays the current line of grips and emphasizes the new line of “Pineapple Putter” grips. Be on the lookout this spring for the new family of REVL grips.
I used the Grip Selector Tool on the website to order my New England Patriots licensed (NFL, NHL, NCAA, Military) grip, and I can unpretentiously quip that my amateur putting has easily outperformed my professional team’s efforts. SuperStroke has just announced that Michael Breed, the 2012 PGA Professional of the Year and year-in, year-out member of America’s Top 100 Instructors, is its newest brand ambassador. https://superstrokeusa.com/

Zero Friction (Zero Friction: Official Site of Zero Friction Golf Products) debuted in 2005 with one product—its performance tee—and, today, with its 3-, 4- and 5-prong tee varieties, the Zero Friction advantage remains the #1 tee on the PGA Tour. Founder and president John Iacono, whom I have known for 15 years, is one of the most innovative executives in the golf world, and he has expanded Zero Friction from one-product into three more performance driven creations with many options—gloves, bags, and balls—which fit John’s strategy to a, well, a “T.”
I am a big fan of both the synthetic and cabretta leather one-size-fits-all gloves, the only options being for men, ladies, or youth. Zero Friction’s patented compression-fit technology delivers precision, flexibility, and comfort as the gloves mold and stretch to fit each individual golfer’s hand. Johnny Miller was so taken by the idea that he became an initial investor in the glove because it was unique and because it worked so well. The gloves sell for around $20. Zero Friction’s premium Tour Spin balls sell for $27 a dozen, and the Tru Roll (with enlarged stripe alignment system) and Distance balls sell for $22 a dozen. https://zerofriction.com/

Zero Friction has a variety of quality golf bags from pencil to airlite to stand to its award-winning Wheel Pro Trek pushcart bag. John Iacono was especially proud of his newest innovation, the STRIDE electric bag trolley, an autonomous electric golf bag with “smartfollow” remote technology that makes it your personal caddie. Unlike other golf trolleys on the market, the STRIDE is an all-in-one bag and trolley. The wheels can be easily removed in seconds, allowing the bag to fit nicely on the back of a golf cart. Peruse the website for more information about STRIDE.
Here endeth my Diary’s first lesson. A new testament will followeth soon!
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