FRONTNINE
by Shane Sharp
Golf-Travel Products Take Center Stage at 2020 PGA Merchandise Show
T
he travel industry is riding the tailwinds of a solid economy, and golf-travel is reaping the benefits. At the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida, the once niche category was well-represented among the behemoth golf club and ball manufacturers. It does help, however, that “golf-travel” spans hard and soft goods, as well as other related accessories and gear. In other words, whatever golfers can reasonably throw in the back of their vehicle or stuff in a travel cover is fair game. After walking the show floor for three straight days (60,000 steps, for those of you scoring at home), we sourced a stable of golf-travel products we can’t do without in 2020. Walker Trolleys Cape Model Pushcart The engineering behind Walker Trolleys’ pushcarts is sophisticated, belying its outwardly streamlined, minimalist
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appearance. However, the mission is simple: make walking golf cool, again. For golfers who like to hit the open road, a convenient one-fold handle makes collapsing and unfolding the trolley easier than any other push cart on the market. A central hub enables the handle and legs to bend on two separate axes for a compact fold. Premium materials – including aluminum, waxed canvas and handcrafted leather – create a unique, elegant appearance that wouldn’t be out of place on the great links courses of Scotland during the time of Old and Young Tom Morris. The storage unit, made of waterresistant waxed canvas, provides an endless number of ways for golfers to customize their trolley. Walker Trolleys Cape model will be available this spring, and a limited number of push carts will be available for preorder for $399 at www.walkertrolleys.com. Peter Millar Crown Sport Fuse Vest, Hyperlight Reflect It would be easy for the leading men’s luxury golf apparel brand to rest on its laurels every year at the PGA Merchandise Show. Its booths are impressive (yes, booths, plural), its apparel lines timeless and its industry relationships are both deep and wide.
Instead, the Raleigh, N.C.-based company has expanded its demographic to appeal and resonate with millennials, Gen-X and Baby Boomers – by no means an easy feat in the apparel world. Case in point, the Crown Sport Fuse Vest. This new lightweight active piece is designed with a hybrid garment construction, combining a windproof, water-resistant stretch front with a stretch interlock knit back panel. The perforated polyester fill inside maintains warmth for weight and improved breathability. While they aren’t golf shoes, per se, Peter Millar’s Hyperlight Glide are perfect for combo business-leisure trips. The continued evolution of our Hyperlight Glide design, the Reflect features the same technical makeup and fit as the 2.0 model but with key updates like reflective detailing featured at top eyelets and logos. An engineered knit texture transitions between the eyeline, toe box and heel counter for added visual appeal. Both the Crown Fuse Sport Vest ($148) and Hyperlight Reflect sneakers ($155) will be available in July. For more details on current offerings visit www.petermillar.com
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