"Starting My Year at the AGM Retail Conference" by Jodi Gascoigne

Written by Jodi Gascoigne, AGM Member

Golf Merchandise Manager, The Country Club at Mirasol

Every January, I head to Orlando with a clear purpose: reset, refocus, and start the year strong. The AGM Retail Conference has become the way I launch my professional year, and I wouldn’t do it any other way. After many years as an AGM member, I can say the conference consistently delivers—and keeps getting better.

Jodi Gascoigne (The Country Club at Mirasol) and Justin Forcione (Mizner Country Club) at the 2025 AGM Retail Conference.

What stands out to me most is the quality and relevance of the education. One session might challenge the way I think about leadership or guest experience, and the next gives me practical merchandising or operational tools I can put into place as soon as I’m back at the shop. The variety of formats means there’s always something that fits, no matter your background or experience level.

But the real impact comes from the people. Every year, I leave with new connections I wouldn’t have made otherwise—people who become resources, collaborators, and trusted voices. It’s an environment where conversations happen naturally, ideas circulate quickly, and everyone is there with the same goal: to elevate our side of the industry.

There’s something powerful about starting the year surrounded by people who understand exactly what it takes to run a successful golf retail operation. The sessions, the hallway conversations, the new products, and the shared energy all help me re-align my goals and clarify where I want to focus in the year ahead. It’s more than a conference—it’s a reset and a reminder of the impact our work can make.

I always leave feeling ready. Ready with new ideas, ready to motivate my team, and ready to take on the season with a clearer perspective. That’s why I return every year. It remains one of the best investments I make—in myself and in my shop.

If you haven’t attended before, I hope you’ll consider joining us. It might become your starting point, too.

To join a merchandiser community and gain weekly educational opportunities and resources, sign up to become a member of the AGM.