The formation of the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Council (USGMC) was announced yesterday at the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show. 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, SeeMore Putter Company, and TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company. More than 20 industry representatives participated in this first meeting of the USGMC.
“Golf equipment manufacturers have a vital stake in the health of the game of golf. The USGMC combines a wealth of information, experience and insight into how the game is played all around the world by golfers of every skill level,” said Steve McCracken, the 2010 Chair of the USGMC and senior executive vice president with Callaway Golf. “Through the USGMC, manufacturers will be more effective in sharing their information, experience and insight with others, for the overall betterment of the game and those associated with it.”
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.
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. For more than 100 years, the SGMA has been instrumental in representing sports and fitness businesses.
“The SGMA is very proud to welcome U.S. golf manufacturers to its membership and is committed to providing the resources needed for this group to accomplish its objectives,” said SGMA President/CEO Tom Cove.
