The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) announced today legendary golf ambassador, LPGA/PGA Professional and diversity trailblazer Renee Powell as the recipient of its 2026 Award of Merit, the association’s most prestigious honor, which recognizes individuals who have made significant, long-term contributions to the game of golf. Powell’s career is defined by a trailblazing spirit and a lifetime of resiliency. In 1967, she became only the second African-American woman to compete on the LPGA Tour, ultimately participating in over 250 events worldwide. She is a member of 15 different Hall of Fame classes, including her induction into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2017.

IBKUL, the popular athleisure wear for men and women, that features the exclusive patented “ICEFIL” Technology, is pleased to announce that LPGA legend Nancy Lopez has joined the IBKUL team as a Brand Ambassador. Lopez, winner of 48 LPGA Tour events, including three Major Championships, joins LPGA Tour star Madelene Sagstrom and nationally-renown sports broadcaster and author, Ann Liguori, as IBKUL Global Ambassadors. Sagstrom will be at the PGA Merchandise Show in the IBKUL Booth #6243 from 11.30 am- 1pm on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Liguori will be in the IBKUL booth on Thursday, Jan. 22, 11.30am – 1pm.

Golf Live, the market leader in live, virtual coaching, has announced that 2-time Major Champion Dustin Johnson has become an investor in the company. Johnson, a former #1-ranked player in the world, 24-time PGA Tour winner, and Captain of the 4Aces GC on LIV, joins a number of professional golfers, top-ranked coaches, and others as an investor in Golf Live.

Dunlop Sports Americas (DSA) is excited to announce the hiring of Kyle Freeman as its new Retail Brand Marketing Director, a role focused on shaping how golfers experience the company’s brands at retail and driving performance where purchase decisions are made. In this role, Freeman will lead the retail brand marketing strategy across Srixon, Cleveland Golf and XXIO brands, overseeing go-to-market execution, retail merchandising and experience design, key account marketing, and engagement with PGA professionals. 

A former retail unit at Greenwich Peninsula has been transformed into a high-performance, six-bay Inrange® Indoor experience, setting a new benchmark for the commercial viability of indoor golf ranges. The facility’s performance has shattered previous revenue expectations for the space, tripling the annual revenue in the first three months. For Declan Malone, owner of the Just Golf Group, the decision to pivot from traditional retail to an indoor social golf experience was rooted in maximizing ROI.

Catapult Brand Group, a premier sales and marketing agency representing some of the most iconic names in golf and lifestyle, has officially selected RepSpark as its exclusive B2B wholesale e-commerce platform. This strategic partnership unites Catapult’s elite brand portfolio with RepSpark’s industry-leading technology to modernize the ordering experience for golf shops, resorts, and specialty retailers worldwide. The collaboration officially launches this week at the 2026 PGA Show in Orlando, marking a significant leap forward in how golf merchandise is bought and sold.

Future Champions Golf (FCG), one of the world’s fastest-growing and most internationally diverse junior golf tours, is excited to announce the launch of the FCG Japan Tournament Series, officially beginning January 2026 and running through May 2026. This new series expands FCG’s global footprint and offers junior golfers across Japan a premier pathway into the top junior golf championships in the world.The 2026 FCG Japan Tournament Series will feature four total events, with one event held each month from January through May. The season will culminate with the FCG City Japan Championship, serving as both the Tour Championship and the signature event of the series—continuing the tradition established in 2025.

As golf professionals head toward the PGA Show and operators across colder climates begin planning for the season ahead, three recent episodes of the Tech Caddie podcast offer a timely snapshot of where golf technology is evolving — and where meaningful work remains. Guests featured in the recent conversations include Rusty Grimm, Vache Hagopian, Mike Dickoff, and Jason Patronas. Brands and platforms discussed during the episodes include Jonas Synergy, TenFore Golf, Club Caddie, Golf EMS, Lightspeed, foreUP, Chronogolf, GolfNow, Jonas Club Software, Primo Tee Times, ChatGPT, and Apparation. WATCH EPISODES

ORCA Golf today announced its evolution into ORKAI®, marking the brand’s transition from a premium golf bags manufacturer into a modern golf lifestyle platform designed for today’s discerning golfer. The name ORKAI® reflects a commitment to intelligent design, premium craftsmanship, and a sophisticated, global perspective.

Jim Beatty, Founder of the African American Golf EXPO and Forum announced that Jeffrey Lee founder of Rock Bottom University, a new personal development company dedicated to helping individuals rise from adversity and unlock their full potential will deliver a keynote address at the EXPO. Jeff Lee also proudly announces the release of its debut book Welcome To Rock Bottom University, The Ultimate Guide To Rising Up, along with three powerful experiential workshops, design to guide participants from struggle to strength. The book will be available to EXPO attendees.

Turtleson, creators of striking, sophisticated apparel for discerning customers who appreciate exceptional style and wearability, welcomes three industry veterans to its sales team, underscoring its commitment to domestic and international growth. The three new hires – Ryan Clarkin, Bryant Shuford and Helen Miles – will enhance regional coverage and strengthen relationships with pro shops and retailers across the globe.

Battleground Country Club, a 220-acre upscale private club located between New York City and Trenton, New Jersey, has joined the Concert Golf Partners family of premium private clubs as its 40th property, further expanding Concert’s presence across the Philadelphia–New Jersey–New York corridor. Battleground’s owners, the Maschler Family and Michael McCarty, selected Concert Golf Partners to carry forward the club’s legacy. Their decision underscores Concert’s reputation as the preferred successor for thriving, high-end private clubs seeking long-term stewardship, continuity, and a seamless transition for members.

You are cordially invited to join Jim Koppenhaver and cohort-in-crime Stuart Lindsay for our 23^rd consecutive annual “State of the Industry” (SoI) presentation during the 2026 PGA Show in the Orange County Convention Center. This year’s discussion will once again be conducted in the Media Center on the upper level of the OCC. This year’s headline is “New Records but…Slowing Growth” and Jim K. will cover quantitative industry health measures for ’25 focusing on our unique and exclusive 8 KPI industry scorecard (Golf Revenue, Rounds, Rate/Rd, Capacity Rds, GRevpAR, Utilization, Avg. Peak Rate, % Discount) along with the annual golfer base analysis. 

Full Swing, the industry leader in pioneering sports technology, will be showcasing a variety of new and exciting products at the 2026 PGA Merchandise Show. Visit Booth 1543 to learn more about the continuing evolution of the Full Swing brand and the technology trusted by major champions like Tiger Woods, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele.

Toptracer, the world’s number one range technology, is set to launch its most engaging experience ever at the 2026 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida, highlighted by two new products: Toptracer Go and Toptracer IQ. Via one of the largest booths on the show floor, Toptracer has built its own tech-enabled indoor golf range, where PGA professionals, golf club operators, media, and golf enthusiasts alike can demo the beloved Toptracer Range experience that perfectly blends serious golf and entertainment, made for indoor and outdoor use.

Zen Golf will unveil four new core indoor golf technologies including a demonstration of an integration with the Trackman solution at the 2026 PGA Show, marking the most significant product milestones in the company’s history. At the center of Zen Golf’s 2026 product showcase is the company’s pioneering Active Terrain initiative, which aims to set global quality and performance standards for the moving floor technology category.

Flag & Anthem is set to showcase its complete Fall 2026 Golf Collection at the PGA Show. This marks Flag & Anthem’s most expansive golf offering to date, with new collections for men and women that fuse technical performance with everyday versatility. The brand will also showcase its newly launched America 250 capsule collection, official PGA Licensed gear, and the debut of a collegiate golf-inspired program featuring NCAA logos and university colorways across a curated selection of apparel.

Whoosh, Inc., a leading provider of modern operations software for golf, racquet and hospitality facilities, is marking their most successful year to date at this year’s PGA Show. 2025 was defined by numerous strategic partnerships, new product features and groundbreaking accomplishments, as Whoosh continued its progression toward broader exposure and adoption of its software in the golf industry. Whoosh will be available at the upcoming PGA Show (Booth #3828) to discuss all of their current and future endeavors. 

The PGA Show is back in Orlando from January 20 to 23, 2026, and foreUP awaits at Booth 3501. The foreUP Full Swing Golf Suite supports the full operation from booking to checkout, and the foreUP App helps extend that experience to golfers on their phones. The foreUP App now includes built-in tournament and league pages so golfers can view schedules, standings, and results without leaving the foreUP app. At Booth 3501, explore the latest tournament management features and the in-app experience that keeps tournament information in one place.

Alley Group LLC (TAG) today announced the official launch of its TAG Heritage™ program at the 2026 PGA Show in Orlando (Inventors’ Showcase Stand 3904A). TAG Heritage is a boutique restoration and performance-calibration offering focused on one of golf’s most iconic putter designs: the classic Bulls Eye–style blade.

INNOXONE will showcase its all-new Robo Caddy at the 2026 PGA Show, highlighting its dual role as a player-focused autonomous caddy and a compact, efficient alternative to traditional rider carts for golf course operations. Designed to complement the tradition of walking golf, Robo Caddy features autonomous follow technology that allows golfers to walk or ride without pushing, pulling, or carrying a bag—keeping the focus on strategy, pace of play, and the social experience of the game.

The International Network of Golf will once again open the doors to ClubING, the ING Hospitality Room, to members and guests at the PGA Show this week, Jan. 21-23 at the Orange County Convention Center. ClubING returns to Room 312-B in the Media Center. The non-profit International Network of Golf is “where media connects with the golf industry.” Members include golf media of all types and executives from all aspects of the golf industry.

DrinkTanks®, the premium insulated drinkware brand known for combining performance engineering with design-forward innovation, will showcase its advanced full-wrap digital printing capabilities at the 2026 PGA Show. The technology allows for fully customized, top-to-bottom decoration across much of the DrinkTanks product line, offering golfers and golf organizations a new way to express identity, creativity, and craftsmanship through drinkware designed for life on and off the course.

Thor Guard, Inc., the world’s leading lightning warning system, will for the 30th year, exhibit its sophisticated, time-tested and proven lightning prediction and detection technology at the 2026 PGA Merchandise Show. Thor Guard and its management team will be exhibiting its state-of-the-art products line at booth # 3729 where it will welcome golf course owners, administrators, management, PGA professionals and media.