In anticipation of the 46th PGA Merchandise Show in
Orlando this week, BRANDWEEK's Chuck Stogel interviewed a
panel of four industry execs "for a pseudo-roundtable
discussion" on the game and business of golf. Panelists
included Adams Golf President Barney Adams, Taylor Made
President & CEO George Montgomery, Wilson Sporting Goods
Golf Div. VP & GM Barry Ryan and Dunlop Maxfli Sports
Worldwide VP/Marketing Edward Hughes. Looking at the
increasing ad cost for golf companies, Taylor Made's
Montgomery said, "To our benefit, the rising cost structure
has prompted more direct marketing approaches and
alternative marketing vehicles." Dunlop's Hughes, on
"competing" in the golf industry: "What you need to have is
enough budget to play, but the key is having the strategy
and message to break through." For BRANDWEEK's list of the
golf industry's top companies in terms of sales and
advertising spending, see today's Back of the Book (#31)
(BRANDWEEK, 1/25 issue). PGA.com will cybercast the PGA
Merchandise Show from Friday to Monday (USA TODAY, 1/26).
SPONSORSHIP NOTES: GOLF WORLD's Lisa Mickey examines
the lack of sponsorship for many LPGA Tour players. One
LPGA Tour player, who recently lost her club deal and was
"scrambling to buy clothes that didn't bear the name" of her
former sponsor said, "When all the multiyear contracts are
up, that's going to be it. We're going to have to find
sponsorships with [non-golf] corporations because that will
be all there is for us." Mickey: "There is a fair amount of
discomfort on the entire women's tour. ... It seems the LPGA
needs a Robin Hood in the form of corporate America to
emerge and save the day" (GOLF WORLD, 1/22 issue)....Jesper
Parnevik, who is also Chair & Founder of Brause Health,
which distributes LiFizz Effervescent Vitamins, inked a
five-year deal making LiFizz the "official vitamin and
mineral supplement" of the PGA and Senior PGA Tours (USA
TODAY, 1/26)....Bernhard Langer's five-year deal to play
Ping golf equipment has been put "on hold," as the company
said that Langer was "not using enough" of its clubs
(REUTERS, 1/25)....In AZ, Glen Creno writes that GolfWatch
makes its return to the PGA Tour's Phoenix Open this week.
A GolfWatch pass can be purchased for $1,500, and tournament
officials said that 75% of the 1,000 passes offered have
been sold so far (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/26).
