Headquarters Master Plan Unveiled; Buying Activity Highlights PGA Show
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Klcws TRADE SHOWS Headquarters master plan unveiled; buying activity highlights PGA show A major highlight of the 25th annual 6,000 housing units surrounding 81 preliminary plans estimated the Merchandise Show put on by the holes, and three of the golf courses space at 50,000 square feet. Cox Professional Golfers' Association of would be used for professional said the building would be paid for America actually took place away tournaments and by vacationers. with funds contributed by PGA from the exhibits of playing Homes surrounding the complex pros during their first 5 years of equipment, apparel, and golf would be valued between $45,000 membership. miscellany. While the nation's golf and $75,000, although one cluster Although Eccelstone hopes to Seen at the PGA Show (clockwise professionals roamed the exhibit would include homes worth about have the housing, two golf courses, from lower left): President area of Disney World's $250,000. Plans also call for and the convention center Padgett, developer Ecclestone, Contemporary Tower and the 325,000 square feet to be used as completed by 1980, it is uncertain and Executive Secretary Cox display rooms in the Contemporary an office park, 360,000 square feet where the PGA Merchandise Show admire new resort master plan; North, a small group of men met for light manufacturing plants, and would be held. David Patillo, golf architect Tom Fazio explains with the press on the 15th floor of 150,000 square feet for specialty marketing manager for the project, location of the 81 golf holes; Lee the Tower. shops. said the group is considering using Co.'s Charles Van Dyne and Bob Developer E. Llwyd PGA Executive Secretary Mark an outdoor tent, and possibly an Hornung at the GMDA breakfast Eccelestone presented detailed Cox told GOLF BUSINESS that inflatable building which he said is meeting; GOLF BUSINESS plans for his 2,300-acre residential- officers have hired the architectural often used for large gatherings in founders Joe and Herb Graff is recreational complex to be built in firm of Schwabb and Twitty, the Europe. greeted visitors at the magazine's West Palm Beach that would same firm which designed the Ecclestone also said that the booth (photo courtesy Florida include the PG A's new master plan, to draw up plans for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Golfweek); pro shop buyers got headquarters, championship golf the headquarters building. Cox officials in Miami Beach have down to business at softgoods courses, and other facilities. said he did not know the estimated assured him he will be granted a displays. The community would include cost or size of the building, but permit to build the project, which ITtlM ELOPM IV r lies in some areas considered about 75 percent softgoods and 25 professionals. Asked for an overall organized by Dean Refram, former wetlands. percent equipment. impression of this year's show, PGA Tour player who won the He conceded privately, A PGA/Victor salesman said Boyle replied, "I think we had a National Team Championship with however, he fears the project could that he had written more business happier group of exhibitors and a Jim Colbert in 1976. get bogged down if approval must than at the previous year's show, happier group of visitors than ever The "Tour" was to consist of an be obtained by federal officials in but that more of it was hardgoods before. We had no major 18-hole tournament every Friday, Washington, D.C. than softgoods. "The pros saw that complaints from anyone." beginning February 10, and November/December looked okay The 1979 PGA Merchandise offering $4,000 in cash prizes from and decided to come to the show Show will be held at Disney World $350 down to $50 for both gross At recent PGA Merchandise and order more clubs." under the same arrangements as and net winners. Entry fee was to Shows, the big question seems to The show definitely was not the past few^years, according to be $40, plus $50 in yearly dues. have been not "What's new?" as wanting for equipment on display, Boyle. The association signed a The event was scheduled for much as "How's business?", including some new developments. contract with the Disney Saddlebrook Country Club, Wesley reflecting the somewhat uncertain Wilson, for example, had a room- organization at the end of this Chapel, Fla., of which Refram is state of the golf business. within-a-room devoted solely to its year's show, but the two groups are proprietor. Fortunately, once one strips away new Reflex iron, which boasts a "still negotiating" terms for the 1980 Refram was reported to be the public relations hype and narrow slot behind the face to give show. considering suing the USGA to discounts the salemen's bravado, a "trampoline" effect for longer recover several thousand dollars he the answer in Disney World this distance. spent in advertising and promoting year was "Pretty good." Northwestern showcased the the "Tour." The upswing in business new Power-Kick shaft which is AMATEUR GOLF The USGA stated that during seemed to be especially true at the offered on its top eight or ten lines the reconsideration of the show for those companies of clubs. Although developed by USGA withdraws withdrawn item 3 of the Policy on exhibiting softgoods lines. One Northwestern, the shaft is made in Gambling it will reaffirm that Munsingwear representative told England by Accles & Pollack. With prize money rule appropriate amateur prizes are GOLF BUSINESS that he had sold its single large step about halfway merchandise and trophies worth 32 percent more golfwear than at down its length, the shaft looks Responding to widespread protests not more than $350 (up from last year's PGA show. somewhat strange — but is said to., from the Professional Golfers' $250), and will further reaffirm its On the first day of exhibits, deliver distance without losing Association, its members, amateur determination to "maintain the AMF Ben Hogan Co. seemed to be "head-feel." golf associations, and others, the distinction between the amateur showing the general direction of the There were other things to see United States Golf Association and the professional golfer—a market by previewing the first line at the PGA show besides pro shop decided at its 84th Annual Meeting distinction which is critical to the of ladies golf apparel in its history. merchandise, however. The major in San Francisco to "withdraw and continuing vitality of the game of According to Chuck Malitz, Hogan golf car companies exhibited their reconsider" a portion of its revised golf." product manager for golf apparel, latest models, and three new cars Policy on Gambling with the Its main problem during the the line introduced at the show is were introduced: by Bogue, Davis observation that it was "widely reconsideration appears to be how just a "capsule collection of things 500, and Yamaha. The Bogue car misunderstood and misconstrued." to write a rule to cover, and be to come" later this summer. The is quite different from its The portion being reconsidered limited to, an event where the women's wear emphasizes what predecessor; the one at the PGA is a new item 3 in the third primary purpose is playing the Malitz called the "traditional Hogan display was just a prototype, but paragraph of the Policy on page 75 game for its own sake, with the look of quality of classic elegance," showed the main design features: a of The Rules of Golf which allows money pool only incidental to add represented by soft colors and fiberglass body mounted on a an amateur to win up to $350 in an to the enjoyment—a form of private luxurious fabrics. fiberglass tubular frame, energy- event in which the golfers play for wagering which would not affect Most of the softgoods exhibits absorbing b.umpers, and overall money they alone contribute. amateur status. were continuously crowded, and simplicity of design. General Although the USGA contended Most club events, with prizes most companies said they were Manager Brion Sabbatino told that the revision was intended coming from entry fees, would writing more business than last year GOLF BUSINESS that Bogue merely to clarify the distinction seem to qualify for cash awards — although Charles Van Dyne of H. hoped to have a complete working between playing for prize money, and could present a problem for D. Lee Co. thought that individual car ready for the GCSAA show in which violates the amateur code, the professional at some clubs, orders were not as large. February. and private wagering, which unless a clear rule is written. It was Yamaha, of course, is well doesn't, it was widely construed as Most pros seemed well suggested by Tom Meeks of the known for motorcycles and opening the door to cash prizes for prepared for the PGA show and USGA staff that rulings on cash snowmobiles. Its golf car engine is amateurs and thereby dulling the knew essentially what they were awards be obtained in specific actually a much-detuned version of sharp line which has divided there for. Quin Sullivan, director of situations as did a Minnesota club a snowmobile powerplant; it's a amateur and professional golf. The golf at the Springfield (Va.) Golf in 1965. and Country Club, said, "I come two-cycle, single-cylinder engine PGA and its members felt this here with a buying plan, so I know with automatic oil injection, CDI would undermine golf shop The USGA gave a ruling at that what we need and what we don't. I'll electronic ignition, and "quiet- revenue from the traditional time which seems to present a buy mostly softgoods.