Golf Business Community

Per Lindroth
Director of Golf
Barsebäcks Golf & Country Club AB
Sweden

I can see more Golfers seeking for more than just a round of golf. There is definitely a trend to add on more things in a golf package. It is from just a mutual breakfast buffé in the clubhouse with friends before tee off, to a complete day incl. lunch, dinner, and some time spent by the pool. We also find a trend in having more golfers who prefer to pay for high quality instead of an average course.

As Barsebäck Resort is an awarded top course in Europe, we also have many long distance guests, playing and staying at our resort.
 
 
Greg Magi
General Manager
RACV Royal Pines Resort
Australia

Golf Tourism on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia is very strong. The Gold Coast boasts many championship golf courses and properties by internationally recognised designers,, service and 19th hole experiences that are comparable to any around the world.

Customers are now looking for value and packages. RACV Royal Pines Resort is working with leading Gold Coast and Brisbane courses to create the ultimate golfing holiday (Pamper & Play, Royal Selection and Royal Experience) that includes a variety of golf course experiences over a one to three night stay. The key is value and accessibility, supported by quality and consistent golf course presentation and service.

RACV Royal Pines Resort has hosted the Australian Ladies Masters for the past 20 years. This event is co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour and is a major attraction for the Gold Coast and golf tourism. For more information on RACV Royal Pines Resort, visit www.royalpinesresort.com.au
 

David Clare
Director of Golf Club
Gloria Hotels & Resorts
Turkey

We are in a unique position at the moment here in Belek Turkey and especially The Gloria Hotels and Resort whereas the numbers of tourists both for Golf and general holidays are still on the increase for the year 2010 we are anticipating  nearly a 20% increase on the total number of guests in our Hotels.

One of the main reasons we are experiencing such increases is the all inclusive concept of the Hotels and this is proving very appealing especially to guests who have not taken this type of holiday before, this coupled with the fact we have a 85% repeat client base means we are heading for a record 2010.

From our research with our golfing guests the facts that they are paying an all inclusive price and Turkey is not in the Euro Zone are the main selling factors especially for the UK market.
The Clients are getting far more demanding with the quality of service and the conditions of the golf course and the fact that we are constantly upgrading our facilities and services are of the upmost importance to our guests.

 
Gregg Chapple
General Manager
Kingston Heath Golf Club
Australia

Golf Tourism is seen to be the “untapped’ market in Victoria. The State Government is working with the eight Clubs of the Melbourne Sandbelt to promote Melbourne as a golfing destination and why not ? Two of the top 27 courses in the World’s top 100 courses are on the Sandbelt and so too is the 2011 President’s Cup.

Kingston Heath (Australia’s number one ranked course) has seen an increase in golf tourism since Tiger Woods won the 2009 Australian Masters played at The Heath last November. Customers are looking for the Australian experience, but we have to sharpen our approach which is traditionally a little more laid back than in other parts of the world.


Chris Bentley
Director of Golf
Serengeti Golf & Wildlife Estate
South Africa

Serengeti Golf & Wildlife estate has a unique offering that persuades golfers and family’s to visit and stay on the resort, situated closely to OR Tambo international airport makes this a perfect allocation for a first class golf course and an experience nothing less than “unforgettable”, setting the benchmark in South African Golf, and will soon be a destination in the ranks of pebble beach (USA) Pronghorn (USA), Joondalup (Australia) , Mission Hills (China) to name a few in a golfers handbook of “where to Stay”.

Over the past decade golf has been the birth place of many fantastic golf courses and truly changing no man’s land into a tourist destination, Cape kidnappers (New Zealand), Fancourt (South Africa), Barnbougle Dunes (Tasmania), all the mentioned courses have done an enormous amount to establish golf dedicated tourism to their areas. Before these Golf courses where established golf was not a magnet for these parts of the world.

The expectations and perspectives of customers in today’s economy have certainly pushed golfing destinations to raise the bar, as only a select amount of people will travel solely around the world or country to play golf alone. Although all the above golf destinations have proven themselves as worthy destinations, the customers always looks for more and will not only travel for golf alone. Looking for other activates such as shopping centres, swimming pools, kids centres, casinos, theme parks and the like. A customer will certainly rather travel to a Las Vegas golf Course (USA) which can offer more than just a great golf course but every “good time” experience in entertainment and pleasure.

Serengeti Golf & Wildlife Estate is certainly on its way to offering not only a benchmark in golf but to offer a lifestyle, including schools, healthcare, shopping centres, a hotel and activities for the whole family to enjoy, making this one of the worlds up and coming golfing destinations!


Ng Eu Shen
General Manager
Liberty Golf Services
Malaysia

At Liberty Golf Services, our golf tourism business was resolute to our initiated expectations in the year 2009. Our company which was established in 1976, has rode on many financial crisis and have consistently redevelop models in adapting to the market condition.  Being an active player within the golf travel industry in Malaysia, we have been heavily involved in both inbound & outbound golf travel markets and have also co-organised many local and overseas golfing events. Regular communication with various tourists boards, airlines and hoteliers has propagated successful relations and in delivering the best possible experience to the golf tourists.

In our capacity, we expect the golf tourism trend for inbound to Malaysia to see an upward incline. Firstly, there are more golf courses being built the last 2 years than the last 12 years. These courses built(or in development)  are "export-ready" and will see top class facilities to compliment them. The Malaysia government has also invested to bring PGA and LPGA events into Malaysia with guaranteed title sponsorship for the next 7 years and 3 years respectively. This has drawn considerable interest from the global golf tourism market and will in turn develop more golf tourism products for all across the travel industry. As Malaysia is getting its recognition as a golfing destination, this will also attract foreign investors to build more quality golf resorts and golf academies, which will give Malaysia the spotlight as the Asia hub as a golf destination. More so, key providers like AirAsia (World’s best low cost airlines), has introduced even more exciting new routes out & into Malaysia(roping Asia’s 2 largest golfing nation – Japan & Korea) at tenaciously affordable prices.

As for Malaysian outbound segment, we find that 85% of our golf tourists will travel to the regional market/short hall segment, where air travel is no more than 3 hours away. This applies to both leisure and corporate categories where travel period will be typically 4 days, regardless of holidays or festivities in Malaysia. In last year's economy downturn, the leisure market remained steadfast although the corporate sector saw a declined in many campaigns which required travelling. Meanwhile, corporate golf campaigns were either mostly set in locally and some suspended.

We do expect a spectacular growth for the golf travel demand in the next 5 years. The bar will be raised for the quality of golf courses and services within this region. Also, the number of golf courses will escalate while accessibility will be made easier while pricing modules will see very little increment, if any at all.


Madhav Misra
Director
Golftripz
India

In India, Golf as a sport is growing and this is exactly why Tourism Boards & Inbound Golf Operators are targeting India. All the major golf equipment manufacturers have set up shop in India to target the growing market. However its important to understand how a golfer from India travels, what are his needs etc to tap into the market. Golftripz has been at the forefront of the outbound Golf Tourism market in India and is able to relate to the destination selection process of the Indian Customer, which has a sharp leaning towards evaluation of the price - value equation, done in a context of unique value systems. Tour operators & destination companies will do well to build insights into these aspects, so that they are able to reap the fruits in a country where economic growth is driving increase in disposable income which in turn is allowing more people to take up golf.
 

Gianfranco Lopane
Commercial VP
Dominican Golf Experience by Prieto Tours
Dominican Republic

In Dominican Republic everything is going the same way, because in most of the cases we still have our all inclusive package which is not that expensive, meanwhile, the latest trend of golf buyers that goes to America is to buy the same way they buy in their countries or use to buying. For example, Latin Americans are use to buying Golf Packages with Room & Breakfast on the pre on post. Latin golf aficionados are also spending timing shopping and doing business while traveling for work. The latest trend is to buy a 5 night stay with a 2 night of room & breakfast. In the past this was not the case but due to the economic breakdown American Resorts have taken a different perspective and that is to sell how the buyer is willing to pay for. Modifying packages for internationals in the United States has proving to work; the numbers are up in golf packages and hope that continues to keep the golf industry stable.


Terry Coates
Chairman
CECTA (Central European Countries Travel association)

The growth of golf tourism in Central Europe.

Central Europe has seen a steady growth in golf tourism over recent years and has without doubt benefited from the inflationary price rises seen in other more popular golfing destinations.   Investment in well focused marketing from both the public and private sector by all the countries in Central Europe have also paid off.   Austria in particular where the game has grown dramatically over the past ten years has also seen a rise in golf tourism in the summer season. Poland is another rising golf destination   where golf was virtually unheard of ten years ago and where golf courses are now springing up like mushrooms. Pricing and imaginative  marketing are  paying dividends and despite the overall global downturn in tourism golf has been a very productive niche market in  Austria, Czech  Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.


Brendan Fox
Head of Operations
Sports Tours International
United Kingdom

Along with the impact of the economic situation and relative weakness of Sterling versus other currencies, golf in the UK has generally declined in recent times partly due to the lack of aspirational British golfing heroes for the younger generation.  This has a knock on effect on the total numbers of golfers participating in the sport in the UK – courses are struggling and waiting lists are being reduced to zero in many areas - and therefore this impacts on the number of golfers available to travel to play golf.  

There is fierce price competition amongst specialist golf tour operators, with some operating on uneconomic margin levels, which makes it difficult to compete on a price basis at times, and also it is difficult to compete with the price levels being quoted by golfers arranging their own golf travel using modular components purchased via the internet.  The hidden costs of ATOL liabilities and duty of care under the Package Travel Regulations are often ignored by some operators until it is too late and we have seen UK golf tour operators implode in recent months.  Other factors having an impact are the increased cost of travel, ie, rising cost of air travel and of taking your clubs abroad, plus the high cost of some golf courses in certain destinations.