By: Rich Styles

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

In January of every year, 40,000 people within the golf industry gather in Orlando, FL for the PGA Merchandise Show. I was one of those.

It is always amazing to me each year how many companies pay thousands of dollars to set up booths, bring in staff and products to show off what they have that is new for the year.

The audience walks around, when you can get through the crowds and lines, to look at all that is new in equipment, training aids, apparel, golf cars, snacks, etc. All related to golf.  It is quite overwhelming to say the least.

After spending weeks setting appointments for interviews on the back9boys golf show, there are always a a few surprises. Here are a few….

I got to spend a few minutes talking with Sir Nick Faldo, Masters Champion and currently one of the best announcers on the Golf Channel. Sir Nick wanted to talk about a course, Bella Colina, he designed and will not make it easier to play through a renovation. Sir Nick called the course “a brut”.

He talked about the athletes that now play the game. They are all built, in shape, eat right, workout regularly, have great swings and are mentally tough.  By the way, they can hit the ball a mile, sometimes more.

I asked Sir Nick why he wasn’t playing on the Champions Tour, he said he can’t play

like he did years ago, winning tournament on both continents. He would have to put in long hours practicing and basically get in “golf shape”.

He is grateful and blessed to be able to stay close to golf with his gig on the Golf Channel. He was a pleasure to spend a few minutes with but you go away with many more questions that you would have liked to ask. Next time.

Then I had another surprise….John O’Hurley, who played Mr. Peterman on

Seinfeld. Can you believe that was twenty years ago. He loves the game of golf and belongs to two country clubs in LA. He was there with his wife, who works with a travel golf company, Garmany Golf.

John was gracious to spend time with me to talk about his love for golf. He plays in a lot of Pro-Am Tournaments all over the world. He has seen good swings and I am sure not so good swings of the amateurs.

He said the Mr. Peterman role was incredible. He got to work with the staff who all were in their prime and loved being in a show about nothing. Many still call him, Mr. Peterman. He was delight and I hope we cross paths again, this time on a golf course.

Another surprise was having a few minutes with Lexi Thompson.  Winner of many LPGA tournaments. She was much taller than I thought, but I guess that means I am shorter than I thought I was.

She was being asked by many to sign autographs, pose for pictures (yes, even with me) and do interviews. She visited several booths of which she endorses their clubs, apparel, product or service. Very nice lady who can hit the ball a mile.

By the way, now members of her family, now her brother, caddie for her on tour.

Yes, I did my seventeen miles of walking from one end of the convention center to the other doing interviews and taking in all that is new in golf equipment, apparel, golf cars, training aids, energy bars, etc.

Every year I say I will skip next year. But I have gone five years in a row so I guess I will be back in 2020. After all, there will be new stuff to see, feel and touch. Yes, samples are appreciated.