Happy days here again at the PGA Show
January 31, 2025
Opening day crowd at 2025 PGA Show
A heightened sense of excitement and optimism ran through every day of the recently concluded 2025 PGA Show in Orlando, FL.
Held at the West Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center, this year’s Show filled over 1.1 million square feet. Over 33,000 PGA professionals, golf industry leaders, media types, and social influencers joined over eleven hundred exhibitors in filling the halls.
According to a piece in Forbes, the number of attendants and businesses there to promote their goods and services rose to totals not seen since 2009.
In chats with several companies and in snippets of overheard conversation, there was a palpable sense of relief and anticipation of good fortune.
The credentialing process for the Show, which is not open to the public, included a specific category for social media influencers. This is an increasingly important element in marketing the sport, and the Forbes piece mentioned over 200 came to the Show. With their portable camera/light set-ups they were a constant presence throughout.
The kickoff event of the Show, Demo Day, took place as usual at the Orange County National Golf Center in Winter Garden, about a 15-mile drive from the convention center.
This part of the Show experience had seen a significant drop in exhibitors and attendance in recent year, but the exhibitor count rose for the 2025 edition to over 73. However, cold weather with frequent intermittent showers kept the crowd size down to prior year levels, an unavoidable risk for an outdoor event during Florida winters.
On the other hand, the week’s foul weather boosted attendance at the convention center. It is an open secret that club pros from points north often take advantage of the Florida trip to take in a round or two during Show week, but not when it is a windy 50 degrees with a steady rain. The crowds were enormous on Wednesday and Thursday, at levels I had not experienced at the Show since 2015.
I interviewed about 30 companies in three days. As before, these pieces will run in the column throughout the year, often tied to when the products will be available.
Fighting for Grace
During the 2024 ShopRite LGPA Classic last June I had an extended and pleasant conversation with Peter Godfrey, the caddie for Korean golfer Hye Jin Choi, as he watched her go through extended putting drills on the practice green.
Godfrey patiently and amiably explained Choi’s warm-up process, including sessions with a physio, band work, and lots of stretching. For some of us, her pre-round routine would constitute a complete workout, with an immediate nap required thereafter.
We shook hands and I walked into the media room, where I mentioned the conversation to Jeremy Friedman, the tournament’s PR representative. Friedman asked me if I knew that Godfrey was the husband of LPGA golfer Jane Park and the father of their daughter Grace.
I had no idea, and Godfrey never mentioned it.
Born in 2020, Grace became hospitalized the next summer with seizures and brain swelling. She has since been diagnosed with epilepsy and long-term brain damage, requiring specialized care throughout her life. Jane retired from the Tour to care for her daughter.
Christine Thompson
I knew about Grace and her significant medical challenges, but did not make the family connection until Friedman made it for me. He suggested I chat with Christine Thompson, a longtime supporter of the family and an active fundraiser for them.
She and I met the next morning, during the final round.
Thompson is the founder and CEO of Golf4Her, an online women’s golf apparel company headquartered in Denville, NJ. She started her company in 2010 with a goal to support women golfers, especially its rising stars. She started with the Symetra Tour, where she met LPGA star Marina Alex and became friends.
Thompson learned about Grace’s situation from Alex, and quickly decided she needed to help. That led to the creation of the Golf4Her Foundation and a fundraiser event in 2021 at the Cognizant tournament in north Jersey. With the active help of Alex and other LPGA golfers such as Lexi Thompson, Morgan Pressel, and Brittany Lang, the event gives participants a chance to hang out with the golfers. Thompson estimated that each fundraiser has netted about 30 to 40 thousand dollars.
“The players really get it,” Thompson said. “It’s just amazing how they’ve all stepped up to help Grace. It’s really a great community she has around her. At the Mizuho Americas [tournament], Lexi stayed there and signed items in the rain and took pictures with everyone.”
Friendship bracelets and hats for Grace Park fundraiser
The merchandise tent at the ShopRite featured a display with fundraising items and a helpful QR code for additional donations.
The family lives in Woodstock, GA, and Peter remains on Tour. Thompson said, “You look for small wins, one day at a time. The goal is more good days than bad.”
The LPGA community’s support for Grace and her family speaks well for the perspective the players have about using their abilities to help others.
To donate, participate in silent auctions or other events, or for more information, go to golf4herfoundation.org.