ORLANDO, Fla., – In front of a standing-room only audience of PGA Professionals, golf retailers, media, equipment buyers and international golf business executives, seven of the golf industry’s leading equipment experts gathered today at the 55th PGA Merchandise Show to address an unprecedented 2008 adjustable club equipment ruling that will shape the game for decades.

Highlighting the panel of experts to address the ruling at the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show Equipment Forum were *** Rugge, Technical Director, United States Golf Association (USGA); John K Solheim, Vice President of Engineering, PING Golf Equipment; Jeff Colton, Senior Vice President of Research & Development, Callaway Golf; John Hoeflich, Senior Vice President, Nickent Golf; Graeme Horwood, Vice President, Engineering, Research & Development, True Temper Sports; Ken Morton, Sr., Owner, Haggin Oaks Golf Complex; and Ed Mitchell, President & CEO, Mitchell Golf. This group of experts came together to address how innovative adjustable clubs will impact golf equipment manufacturing, retail sales and the overall golfer experience that will resonate from this landmark ruling.

Based on the new change to the USGA’s Rules of Golf, the governing body of golf now allows for a golf club to be adjustable, beyond traditional weight adjustment. This decision introduces a new dimension to golf club innovation, ranging from diverse club fitting options to interchangeable golf shafts and club matching designed to address different playing conditions.

“The significance of the adjustable club ruling is that it gives the average player the opportunity to enjoy the same benefits as Tour players enjoy,” said the USGA’s *** Rugge.

“I see this ruling as a tremendous benefit,” said Callaway’s Jeff Colton. “It allows the golfer to optimize equipment everytime he sets foot on the golf course. The driver is no longer a static piece of equipment.”

As the global business platform to the golf industry, the game’s most influential leaders, including PGA Professionals, global golf companies, national golf organizations and retailers come together to focus on growing the business of golf at the annual PGA Merchandise Show. The Show features interactive exhibits, product testing, education seminars, fashion shows, industry awards, trend reports, professional networking, merchandising workshops, and much more.

Today, the PGA Merchandise Show has transformed beyond the traditional trade show and now attracts more than 45,000 international industry leaders, and some 1,200 golf vendors who, on an annual basis, come together for golf’s premier business showcase. Today’s adjustable club ruling symposium stands as one of the most important developments coming out of the PGA Show.