Despite the challenging weather conditions, with chilly temperatures and rain falling in variable degrees throughout the day, the world’s largest outdoor professional Demo Day – organized by PGA Golf Exhibitions and PGA Magazine – delivered a full lineup of activities. There were new product launches, high-level coaching workshops, new event programming in health-wellness, club fitting and golf range operations, while providing the perfect platform for testing the latest equipment and technology from an all-star cast of leading golf brands.
“What’s a little rain when you’re having so much fun and testing all the new clubs?” asked Megan Leineweber, PGA, Head Professional at Stonewall Links in Elverson, Pennsylvania. “There was great energy at Demo Day this year.”
Never Misses Demo Day
“PGA Show Demo Day is something we never miss,” noted James Hilton, PGA, Head Golf Professional at Ould Newbury Golf Club in Newbury, Massachusetts. “This is my 38th PGA Show and Demo Day is always my first stop of the week.
“There was rain, but what is golf without rain and wind? This was still a pretty nice day, if we were in Ireland!”
Quipped Ron Margeson, PGA, General Manager at Ould Newbury Golf Club, who was waiting out a downpour in the large Cobra Golf complex at Demo Day: “We took 16 members of our club to Ireland last September and the weather wasn’t this good for three of the seven days. Considering the rain and such, I would say the turnout at Demo Day is very good. Like they say, if you don’t like the weather in Florida, wait 10 minutes and it will change.”
Indeed, despite the weather, hitting areas were crowded with PGA of America Golf Professionals testing the latest equipment at Toptracer/Callaway, Cobra Puma, Ping, Mizuno, Cleveland/Srixon, Yonex and many other areas.
Companies such as Toptracer, Club Car, VertaCat (all-terrain mobility rider for mobility challenged golfers), Bushnell Golf, Nippon Shafts, FlightScope, Foresight Golf, Full Swing Golf, U.S. Kids Golf, Makefield Putters, Motocaddy Inc., Newton Golf, Puttview, iXi self-driving trolleys (carts), and others truly benefited from the hands-on testing and demonstration opportunities at PGA Show Demo Day.
GolfNow powered by NBC Sports was quite possibly the most popular booth for the first 30 minutes at Demo Day – until it ran out of complimentary umbrellas, while German-based Vice Golf was late setting up but rallied in the rain by staging a popular long-drive contest with winners receiving a new Vice driver.
Aussie Enjoys First Demo Day
PGA Show Demo Day has built a strong reputation over the past two decades while becoming the world’s largest professional outdoor Demo Day. It’s a reputation that brought International PGA Professional Joanne Mills all the way from Australia to test-drive Demo Day’s many offerings.
“This is my first PGA Show in the states and my first Demo Day – I’m somewhat overwhelmed,” observed the Club Manager at Goulburn (Australia) Golf Club. “This is an absolutely fabulous opportunity to see and hit so many high-tech clubs in one place. We don’t really have anything of this nature back home.
“I’ll tell you, honestly, we would welcome this rain in Australia.”
The 2025 PGA Show Demo Day also served as a launching pad to unveil offerings from many of the biggest brands in the business, with the new product launches continuing at the Orange County Convention Center at the Equipment Test Center on the PGA Show floor.
“I don’t remember so many different companies launching new products at the same time; wherever you stopped, there was something brand new to try, which made this an exceptional Demo Day,” said Rich Bartley, PGA, Head Professional at Janesville Country Club in Janesville, Wisconsin.
The PGA Show Demo Day was a success thanks to fresh features such as a large vendor village called the Discovery Zone and The Turn presented by Bar Convent Brooklyn — a new range-side terrace for industry networking with live music, local breweries, food trucks and ample seating to meet with friends and colleagues before returning to Demo Day experiences.
Several special events and appearances by tour professionals and personalities also highlighted the 22nd annual PGA Show Demo Day presented by Antigua, Clubhouse Events, E-Z-GO, FlagD, Oakley, Uneekor and Wittek Golf Supply, with Registration partners FlightScope and Shade Headwear.
Cobra Puma Golf again had a DJ booming out music at its large Demo Day complex to lift the spirits of attendees, with LPGA Tour standout Lexi Thompson, former LPGA Tour player and model Blair O’Neal and two-time World Long Drive champion Kyle Berkshire staging special demonstrations and clinics while signing autographs and promoting the new Cobra DS-Adapt clubs.
“We love Demo Day because we get to connect with so many PGA Professionals, tell the Cobra story and show in-person all the research and development that has gone into our new products,” noted Doug Roberts, Senior Director, Club Design and R&D for Cobra Puma Golf. “It’s rare that we get to discuss details of our new equipment one-on-one or with small groups, and the interaction has been priceless.
“We have had a lot of people hitting balls and literally seeing how our clubs perform for themselves.”
Leading PGA of America club fitting experts were busy Tuesday at the “Club Fitting Genius Bar” to share best practices on ball and club fitting with practical applications demonstrated at hitting bays throughout the PGA Show Demo Day demonstration and testing area. The Golf Range Association of America also shared best practices on range operations and new entertainment activations for range operators while having GRAA award winners present to answer range-related questions throughout the day.
New to PGA Show Demo Day this year was the PGA Show Women of Impact Experience, which offered a dynamic blend of education, networking and hands-on experiences, including a breakfast with Olympic athlete Hazel Clark and LPGA star Stacy Lewis.
Numerous PGA of America Coaching Workshops were a big hit at Orange County National as part of the PGA Show Education program, with an all-star lineup of PGA Master Professionals sharing their expertise.
PGA Master Professional Joe Hallett, the 2024 PGA of America Teacher & Coach of the Year, and PGA Director of Instruction at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Tennessee kicked off the coaching sessions with “Match Play Practice for Stroke Play Success.” Then, PGA Master Professional Joe Plecker, PGA, Director of Instruction at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club in Savannah, Georgia, presented “Live Lessons with PGA Master Professional Joe Plecker.”
Todd Sones, PGA Master Professional and owner of Impact Golf, led off the afternoon workshops at Demo Day Tuesday with “Control the Low Point for Solid Pitching and Chipping,” while PGA and LPGA Master Professional Dr. Alison Curdt, Director of Instruction at Wood Ranch Golf Club in California, presented “Applied Golf Psychology Tools for Building a Better Mental Game.”
The Golf Fitness Association of America provided complimentary health and wellness sessions to enhance and extend the golfer’s overall well-being and performance at the Health & Wellness Center Outdoor Stage at PGA Show Demo Day.
—Roger Graves
