Greg Norman Addresses Crowd At 2011 PGA Merchandise Show

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - The opening morning of the 58th PGA Merchandise Show began with a keynote presentation on the Asian marketplace featuring an address by Greg Norman regarding golf business developments in Asia; a global golf announcement by the PGA World Golf Alliance; and a panel discussion on golf business in Asia among international players, instructors and business executives.

Norman's keynote address kicked off the 2011 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.

The presentation, organized by The PGA of America, took place at 10:00 a.m. on the PGA Equipment Forum stage at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Greg Norman, PGA Professionals Hank Haney and Michael Breed, plus executives from PGA World Golf Alliance organizations participated in the panel discussion.

"I truly believe that the East will overtake the West in 20 to 25 years, both from the number of (elite) players and the quality of players," Norman said at the annual Show.

Partly its a matter of numbers, Norman suggested, referring to a Chinese government minister's comment that the country was looking to build 5,000 courses and to develop 30 million golfers.

Norman and noted U.S. instructor Hank Haney, who joined the Australian on stage for a panel discussion, said golf's return to the Olympics for 2016 and 2020 would spur development of the sport in China and other parts of Asia and the rest of the world.

"Think about the opportunity for the game of golf," said Norman, whose company has established an office in Beijing. "It's tremendous."

Norman also described himself as more optimistic and passionate about the future of the golf industry than ever before, referring to the recent growth in countries as far-flung as Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Jordan and Russia, plus a resurgence in Australia.

The opening global golf announcement is one of many industry presentations that took place on the PGA Equipment Forum stage throughout the golf industry's largest international business gathering at the annual PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 27-29, 2011. Multiple industry leaders, professional golfers, award-winning PGA Professionals and celebrities participated in other PGA Equipment Forum events including PGA teaching best practices, women's golf and participation programs, golf manufacturer industry presentations, youth golf programs and new golf fitness initiatives.

Organized by The PGA of America, the PGA Equipment Forum stage was introduced in 2007 to provide the game's leaders with an unprecedented stage to reach some 40,000 attending industry professionals with pressing matters impacting the business of golf.

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