Hot Items from the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show
Several emerging categories were well represented at the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando last month – none more than the rapidly expanding CBD category, as a record number of brands were on hand to show off their stuff to the golf industry. Here are 10 emerging products from the show that caught our attention.
One CBD brand which made quite the impression during its launch at the Show was High Falls Hemp N.Y., a company that produces CBD tinctures, lotions and softgels that golfers can use for a variety of reasons including reducing inflammation, workout recovery, sleep, stress and overall wellness. Their products are made from 100-percent natural hemp and are vegan, gluten-free, cruelty-free and non-GMO. Each batch of products is lab tested, and products feature a QR code which, when scanned with a mobile phone, leads to the lab reports page on the company’s website.
For players looking to use a CBD product that will last all day while they play 36, the Hath 24-Hour Patch delivers 35mg of CBD-rich hemp extract, bringing the nonstop recovery required to perform optimally from the first tee to the 36th green. As the days get longer, golfers want to be playing as much as absolutely possible. This product seems ideal for those who want to maximize their time on the links and not be slowed down by nagging aches and pains.
When it comes to new technology in 2020, one product had the Show floor abuzz: The Mevo+ by FlightScope, a personal launch monitor and simulator that, while costing $2,000, is still an exceptional value for all the data it provides, especially when compared to some of the more expensive systems on the market. With the app downloaded on the player’s phone or iPad, Mevo+ sits behind the ball and measures things like carry distance, clubhead speed, ball speed, smash factor, angle of attack, shot shape, launch angle and more. With that level of feedback, it really turns every range session into a valuable experience.
One common trend in the clothing space this year: Sustainability, and category juggernaut Ralph Lauren is leading the charge with its debut of golf polos made from recycled polyester. Each Golf Polo is made from an average of seven post-consumer-use recycled plastic bottles that could otherwise end up in landfills or oceans, while maintaining the quality and performance attributes of the original and iconic Golf Polo shirt. This means a shirt that’s good for the environment and good for the player. What could be better than that?
Another clothing company that has people talking is Birds of Condor, an Australia-based outfit focused on curating a unique “urban golf” look. With a style that is funky, flashy and fit for both the course and the city, BOC is connecting with and inspiring golfers to look their best and play even better. They specialize in shirts and headwear, so those who are tired of rocking the same old polo and hat round after round can see their style take flight with the Condor!
If a new pair of high-performing, high-fashion golf shoes is a priority, legendary Spanish-based leather shoemaker Lottusse is breaking into golf with a line of stylish and surprisingly light footwear that yields some of the best-looking, best-performing golf shoes ever made. The look comes from the company’s 140-plus years of experience making shoes that are visually perfect. The performance, most notably, comes from a unique waterproofing technology that the company boasts is completely impermeable. Sick and tired of wet golf shoes or shoes that look dirty after just one round? Lottusse looks to change that perception in a hurry.
Two companies represented at this year’s show sit right at the intersection of the clothing and golf equipment categories. The first is Palm Golf and its ultra-creative line of golf gloves, which perform very well and also feature creative design patterns that break the mold of the traditional, boring, white golf glove. With designs from the tropical to stars & stripes to four-leaf clovers, a Palm Golf glove is a fun way to make a style statement on the course.
Perhaps the most highly functional item at this year’s show, The Tee Band is a lifesaver for players who hate having to dig through their pockets throughout a round. The Tee Band is a comfortable elastic strap that wraps around the wrist and holds a ball marker, tees and a divot tool. All players understand how frustrating it can be to get into a good rhythm only to have it stymied on the tee box or green when a marker or tee is required but cannot be summoned. This product takes care of this issue once and for all, all without looking out of place or affecting the player’s ability to swing.
Of course, no category is ever as well represented at the Show as golf equipment, and some new and impressive companies came to the forefront this year. For those who enjoy walking the course when they play, former Apple exec Brad Payne has launched Walker Trolleys, the first premium push cart pairing classic features with a modern design that is both functional and stylish. It is seriously impressive how easily these carts can be pushed, even with a bag that is overly weighty riding on it. They also look incredibly slick and are sure to turn heads out on the course.
The final item on this list is the Bunker Wizard, a newly designed type of rake that perfectly smooths over sand in one fell swoop and has been described as “ingenious.” Why such high praise? The rake’s head is cylindrical and rolls the sand as opposed to a traditional model, which simply pushes the sand back and forth. They are lightweight and easy to use and will surely begin popping up at courses all over the country in 2020.
