PGA Show

[bluetees1999]

I'll be attending for the first time this year. I would appreciate any recommendations on what to do, not miss, etc.

Thanks in advance.

[kmdut]

Make sure to go to demo day on Tuesday at OCN. That is about my only suggestion....

[jpthreesticks]

A lot depends on why you are going down. Are you going for work purposes/network/do actual business or are you just going for fun?

[sunbeltgolfer]

If you're not staying within walking distance of the convention center you may want to entertain taking a taxi to drop you off and pick you up. On my trip last year it took forever to find a place to park. We were stuck in a perpetual loop that was reminiscent of the Big Ben/Parliament scene from European Vacation.

[jschwarb]

I went a few years for work and wish I could go back! Yeah, Demo Day is amazing. Be there as early as your credential allows, the lines to hit some stuff will get long.

 

At Demo Day and the show itself, take a backpack or something to carry all the swag people will hand you. And wear good walking shoes.

 

I always wondered if I had gone in the last hour on the last day if I could have scored some really cheap gear from vendors who didn't want to lug it back home. Couldn't have done that on my media pass, though.

[bluetees1999]

This trip is just for fun, no work involved. Thanks for the tip about getting the the convention center sunbeltgolfer.

[golfandfishing]

Rachel’s. Bring ones and twenties.

[ajs72287]

Rachel's. Bring ones and twenties.

And eat the steak...SERIOUSLY

[RichieHunt]

Make sure to have comfortable shoes. You’ll be doing a lot of walking. Make sure you hit demo day. If you have a rental car, I would suggest taking the car to OCN and parking there. They’ll have you park in the middle of nowhere and you’ll be in for a good walk to the range, but it’s better than getting on the shuttle (particularly if it rains).

 

I actually take the time to go on the PGA Show Web site and go thru the exhibitor list. I will open links to exhibitors that I may be interested in and then the plan the show from there. No need to look for OEM’s like Titleist or Callaway as their exhibits will be the biggest ones there and will be impossible to miss. But if you have interest in smaller companies or ideas I’ll add them to my favorites and plan the show from there. This will get you to see the exhibitors you want to see and save your feet from walking.

 

Obviously, the earlier you show up the better your parking will be. You have to show up pretty much before the show opens to get parking at the wing of the convention center where the show will be. The Orange County Convention Center is the largest in the world and the show, as big as it is, only takes up a small portion of the OCCC. Most people end up parking at a different wing where it’s still paid parking and then they take a shuttle about a ½ mile to the wing where the show is located.

 

Pace yourself because at night if you go on International Drive there are tons of people in the industry out having a good time. Tuesday night is usually when people go out with their own group of friends. Wednesday is when everybody goes out and mingles. There’s a Top Golf now over by Universal. It just opened about 2 months ago and I don’t know what that will be like during the Show.

 

After Wednesday everybody pretty much goes back home. As far as seeing the exhibitors, the best day is really to go on Thursday. Friday even some of the exhibitors go home early, so you may not get to see some of the stuff. But Thursday is the best because people flee the area like a nuclear reactor exploded, but the exhibitors are still there.

 

Most of your tourist attractions are on I-Drive. Plenty of restaurants as well. If you’re looking for golf, just go on GolfNow and you’ll find plenty of courses. Tee times won’t be cheap. Most people stay for too long than they actually wanted to because they don’t realize how the show drops off in attendance from Wednesday to Thursday and how bored they can get looking at the same product. I would suggest going to Demo Day on Tuesday, play a round on Wednesday…hang out on I-Drive Wed. night and then going to the show on Thursday when it’s not so crowded.

 

 

 

 

RH

[fsutanker]

I went to that convention center for a different conference and found it to be very Uber friendly. The charge was about $5 each way from a hotel in the area and drop off pick up was very easy.

[bluetees1999]

I really appreciate everyones input about the show.

It sounds like the demo day is a must, plan carefully how to get to the convention center and be prepared to go home with some goodies are recurring topics.

Thanks again for all the advice.