02 February 2010
Golf equipment manufacturers unite to address industry issues
The formation of the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Council (USGMC) was announced at the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show which was held at the Orange County Convention Centre in Orlando.
Golf equipment manufacturers doing business in the United States formed the USGMC to give this constituency a more unified voice to express its views on protecting and promoting the game of golf.
Founding members are The Acushnet Company, Callaway Golf Company, Cleveland Golf Company, Nike Golf, PING, See More Putter Company, and Taylor‐ Made‐adidas Golf Company.
More than 20 industry representatives participated in this first meeting of the USGMC, where BGIA Chair David Wells was invited and asked to address the group outlining how the BGIA currently operates to represent UK Golf Manufacturers and the UK Golf industry.
All golf equipment manufacturers doing business in the United States are invited to join this group. Early initiatives undertaken by the USGMC include formation of a public policy committee chaired by Peter Broome of Acushnet; an equipment rules committee chaired by Rawleigh Grove of PING; and an anti‐counterfeiting task force co-chaired by Joe Nauman of Acushnet and Don Reino of Cleveland.
Other working groups will be formed, based on member demand. Similarly to how the BGIA is an association operating under the umbrella of the FSPA (Federation of Sports and Play Associations) the USGMC is an affiliate of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), a trade association of leading industry sports and fitness brands representing more than 1,000 sporting goods manufacturers, retailers and marketers in the sporting goods industry.