Golf Blog by The Orlando Golf Blogger

Day two of the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show was just as action packed as Day One. As I sit here reflecting on my two days at the show, it blows my mind how fast the time went and how many companies and people I didn’t have time to see.

I spent a solid 16 hours at the show and I can name at least ten companies off the top of my head that I had on the “to visit” list and never made it.

Ah well… no use crying over a spilled Arnold Palmer… Same deal as before, I’m going to be writing up some in depth posts over the next two weeks about the products I covered, but here’s a quick rundown of what’s on tap.

FIT For Golf – Fitness Illustrated Training

I picked up a product for the Golf Fitness Series, it’s the FIT for Golf medicine ball.

STX ProFit 5 Putter

While still drooling over my awesome 2010 BB1 Bettinardi Putter, I stumbled upon the STX (pronounced S T X not sticks ) ProFit Puttter with an interchangeable face plate.

Met DURHAMED Futures Tour Pro Lindsey Bergeon at the LPGA Booth

Had the very cool opportunity to meet an up and coming player who’s going to be playing in the Future Star Foundation Pro-Am on February 20th.

Odyssey Backstryke Marxman

New for 2010, I spend a good bit of time knocking around the new Odyssey Backstryke.

Met LPGA Pro Paula Creamer

… Awesome, need I say more? She was over at the Sundog booth, I’m sure they have great sunglasses… but I wouldn’t know..

Sumi-G Headcovers, Belt Buckles & More…

Spent some time with Tony K aka MediaGuru from HOG and The Golf Space and he gave me a good rundown of the Sumi-G Product Line. Pretty Awesome..

Flair Hair

If they were selling these at the show, I’d have a whole new line of headwear! There’s something totally awesome about donning a Flair Hair helm..

Met PGA Pro Brian Gay at the Bettinardi Booth

Brian Gay signed a sponsorship deal with Bettinardi and was at the booth signing autographs. I almost had an interview for all you awesome readers.. but he was gone by the time I came back to the booth.

FINALLY met LPGA Pro, twitterholic and Lidgurt aficionado Christina Kim

Call me crazy, but I was more exited about meeting CK than I was meeting Paula. Yeah, it was totally cool..

Also on tap, but yet to be photographed;

• Winn Lite Grips
• Cleatskins Golf
• Spotless Swing Golf Towel
• Cleveland Classic & Classic BRZ Putters
• Srixon Z-Star X Tour Yellow Golf Ball

I’m pretty certain there’s some I’ve missed, but as you can see.. I’ve got my work cut out for me over the next few weeks!

I wish there was a PGA Merchandise show every week…

-Dave

Wooooooowwwww… What an awesome day! I’m pretty whooped, I never thought that a day walking back and forth all over a convention center could be so tiring!

Day one at the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show was awesome! Well, day one for me, I wasn’t able to attend the demo day yesterday. The show is the Disneyland for golfers, the excitement you feel as you’re checking in and walking through the foyer is reminiscent of the feelings I felt when I was a kid visiting Mickey’s home for the first time.

There’s actually a few similarities between the two places, you’ve got a bunch of strangers from all over the globe attending, parking was $11.00 for the day, unless you’re extremely lucky, you have to take a shuttle to get to the building and a pulled pork sandwich with a Pepsi will run you $13.00.

I’ll be writing more in depth posts next week, but today, I met a ton of great folks, started out visiting Bettinardi, then headed over to the range and took a couple swings with the Cleveland Launcher DST, which felt really good. After that, I stopped by the Full Swing Golf booth and watched long drive hitters Brooks Brady & Mike Dobbyn go head to head on the simulator.

Mike Dobbyn is the current World’s Longest Drive record holder, cranking it a lengthy 551 yards. After getting my photo taken with the world’s largest man, I ventured over to the first ever PGA Merchandise show tweetup where I met a bunch of fellow golf bloggers.

After that I ventured over to the Littlest Golfer booth and watched a fashion show with a bunch of little golfers

Spent a little time perusing the show, hit a couple more balls and then stopped by another simulator and watched golf trick shot artist David Edwards hit a golf ball out of a Korean Gentleman’s mouth..

A little more time on the floor and caught a sneak preview of the new David Leadbetter “My Personal Golf Trainer” Wii game.

The old adage “time flies when you’re having fun” has never been more truer than it was today. I couldn’t believe it, I received a phone call from Mrs. OGB and checked the time, was almost 6pm! Insane!  I did one more circuit and then packed it in for the day.

Can’t wait for tomorrow!

Dallas News reported this morning that a Southern Methodist University student found dead in his dorm room last Friday, is Joseph Hunter Green, son of Pro Golfer Kenny Green.

The details surround the untimely death are still unclear, but investigators have ruled out homicide. Officials have refused to discuss the details of the investigation at the request of family members.

This news is especially tragic for Kenny, for less than a year ago, he was involved in a tragic RV crash that cost him his lower right leg and took the lives of his brother William Green, long time girlfriend Jeannie Hodgin and his German Shepard, Nip.

Over on his blog, Ken Green expresses his feelings about the tragedy saying,

“Well, today is another sad day.  I’m sorry to say that my youngest son Hunter has passed. His journey in life has ended and i can’t tell you how difficult understanding this is.

Jeanne and Billy will meet him and they will watch over all. I’m also baffled at the fact that his Mother elected not to tell me about his passing.  I can only hope the anger his family as will end and they can continue their journey in life without such anger.

I fought hard for my son and lost the battle. We had a stranded relationship but my love for him never diminished once. All parents know what I’m speaking of.  I’m not really sure what to say but thank you all for all the support and love you have shown me.”

I don’t typically write about the tragedy of others, but this news deeply saddened me. Just a few months ago, I saw Ken Green at one of the WPCC’s Lecture Series and he seemed to be struggling with the loss, taking it one day at a time. I was inspired by his determination to push past it all, not to lose himself, wallowing in self pity and make a go at the Champions Tour in 2010.

Having to cope with all that and then add another layer to the burden he already carries, I fear it might be too much to bear. Really seems unfair that the powers that be, would make a man suffer so much in such a short period of time. But we won’t go down that road..

This is another example of why we should not take anything or anyone for granted and how each moment with each other should be cherished. After reading this story, I began thinking of my own family, especially my two sons (and the third on the way) and how sometimes I get so busy with “other” things that I’ll end up not spending enough time with them. Reflecting on that, the “other” things, in the grand scheme are of little significance when compared to spending time with the ones you love and the ones who love you.

Just something to think about.

Kenny Green, I’m sorry for your loss, you’re an inspiration to many of us and we wish you well.

A while back I had the opportunity to review the TaylorMade Penta TP and I loved it.

Just received word yesterday that Golfsmith now has them available on their website. Before, you could only find them in select retail stores in the sunbelt.

They’re supposed to be release on March 1st, 2010, glad to see they were able to get them out sooner.

I was checking out some of the affiliate programs I’m a part of and I found this.

Extra 10% Off Single Item – Golfsmith Winter Sale & Clearance. Use Code: TENFST

I was able to apply it to the TaylorMade Penta TP’s and it discounted it 10%.

The discount is only good until 1/31/2010, so if you’re looking to try them out, now’s a good time to do so!