gmé | issuu 56

GolfManagement Europe

UK £5.00 Eur €7.50US $10.00

Spencer Schaub is the man charged with thetask of running the golf operation at The Grove,

venue of last years American Express WGCpage 27

going green at jacobsenRansomes Jacobsen eclipses the competition with arange of new equipment and environmental initiatives

issue 56september 2007

THE LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE PAN-EUROPEAN GOLF INDUSTRY

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SEPTEMBER 2007 GME 3

publisher’s editorial

Golf Management Europe is publishedsix times per annum by PPC Portman.

PPC PortmanDeben House, Main Road, Martlesham, Woodbridge IP12 4SEUnited Kingdom

T 0870 241 4678 F 01394 380594E [email protected] www.portman.uk.com

Editor John VinicombeNews Editor David BowersContributors Paul Heeney, Ken Moodie,Pete Simm

Publisher Michael LenihanAdministration Sharon O’ConnellPrint Colourspeed

SubscriptionsTo ensure your regular copy of GME, call 0870 241 4678 or subscribe online at www.portman.uk.com

UK 6 Issues £30; 12 Issues £50Europe 6 Issues £36; 12 Issues £60World 6 Issues £42; 12 Issues £70

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any formwithout the prior written permission of the publisher.

Whilst due care to detail is taken toensure that the content of GME is accurate, the publisher cannot acceptliability for errors and omissions.

© Portman Publishing andCommunications Limited 2007

For my tenth birthday I got a Chopperbike, a cake with a rather dubious imageof Kevin Keegan on it and a ‘life-size’effigy of Roland Rat.

Thankfully things have moved on and,here at PPC Portman, to celebrate GolfManagement Europe’s tenth birthdaywe’ve gone all misty eyed over theelegantly framed cover of our very firstissue back in September 1997.

Back then we went head-to-head withthe Teletubbies for your attention – and,we seem to have won. Certainly we’velasted longer in the consciousness of thegolf industry than Tinky-Winky did in thatof the general public.

We’ve also seen off competition fromseveral Johnny-come-lately magazineswho thought they could simply tap intothe reservoir of golf and make a quickbuck, either personally or corporately.

But we don’t want you, for onesecond, to think we’re being smug. Lastyear we celebrated our 50th edition andwe promised we would continue to offeran independent view of the industry andthe marketplace – and we will.

We are not answerable to a corpora-tion with a vested interest – we’reanswerable to you our readers. We tellthe industry about the industry – and wewill continue to do so well into the nextdecade.

Our staff remains largely the same –perhaps that is one of the reasons wehave been able to lay claim to being

the industry’s market-leading trade publi-cation. How many publications canclaim the same team of writers ten yearsfrom launch?

You’ve grown to know them in tenyears; you may not always agree withwhat they have to say – indeed some-times they can’t even agree amongthemselves – but that’s the nature of thebeast.

The likes of John Vinicombe, DavidBowers and Pete Simm might not like toadmit it, hardened hacks as they are,but they have become as familiar as apair of comfy carpet slippers – only theyhaven’t worn quite so well.

Governments will come and go; othergolf mags will fall by the fairway-side;and Noel Edmonds will once again fallout of fashion. But two things are certainfor 2017: cookery programmes will stilldominate the television schedules andGolf Management Europe will still behere to listen, inform and advise.

Many thanks for your continuedsupport, and here’s to a further ten yearsof Golf Management Europe. GME

Ten years on andwe’ve even seenoff Tinky-Winky.

Michael [email protected]

Ransomes Jacobsen eclipsesthe competition with a newrange of initiatives.

5

East Sussex National’s thirdowner, Michael Hunt, talksabout ‘The Belfry of the South’.

15

With so many consumer golfshows these days, do we really need all of them?

20

A look back at the life andtimes of Irish golfer and coursedesigner Christy O’Connor Jnr.

30

PPC

“We are not answerable to a corporation with a vest-ed interest – we’re answerable to you our readers.”

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headline news

4 GME SEPTEMBER 2007

Thomson Perrett and Lobb(TPL), has signed an agree-ment with UAE based AlQudra Real Estate, to designthe company’s first signa-ture golf course in theMiddle East.

TPL will design a tradition-al, classic style champi-onship golf course at Ain AlEmarat, an award-winningresidential and leisure devel-opment being built near AlAin, the second city of theAbu Dhabi Emirate andknown as ‘The Garden Cityof the Gulf.’

Principal, Peter Thomson -five-time Open Champion -said: “The growth of golf inthe Middle East has beenphenomenal and TPL ishonoured to contribute tothe growth of the sport inthe region by creating aunique, traditional stylecourse in a groundbreaking

city, that will set internation-al benchmarks for sustain-ability, healthy living andsporting opportunity.”

Commenting at the sign-ing, CEO and generalmanager of Al Qudra RealEstate, Victor Orth Jr, said:“TPL has a commitment toexcellence in golf coursedesign that mirrors ourcorporate ethos and welook forward to creating agolf course that will thrill theresidents of the UAE and itsinternational golfing visitors.”

TPL has joined forces withglobal architectural prac-tice HOK, creators of thenew Wembley and Emiratesstadia in London, to designthe golf course as part ofthis groundbreaking city.

Plans for the residentialand sporting developmenthave already won a presti-gious award.

HOK won the award for‘Best Masterplan’ at therecent Building ExchangeAwards 2007, held inValencia, Spain in June.

The award recognisedHOK’s success in creating asustainable, innovativedesign in collaboration withkey partners.

The TPL designed coursewill act as a centrepiece forthe development alongsidea landmark 40,000-seatindoor sports and entertain-ment arena, which will bebuilt to the same standardas HOK’s acclaimedEmirates Stadium, home toArsenal Football Club.

TPL set to designfirst course in UAE

The president of AirdrieGolf Club was kicked outof office after he wasjailed for four years for sexoffences with young girls.

Ralph Bryce, 67, subject-ed the girls, including onetwo-year-old, to horrificabuse between 1963 and1982.

The churchgoer andgolf club president wasconvicted of five chargesof lewd, indecent andlibidinous behaviour aftera trial at Airdrie SheriffCourt in June.

Sheriff Petra Collins toldBryce: “A jury found youguilty of the serial sexualabuse of four young girls.

“They have had to sufferthe emotional conse-quences of that abusethroughout their lives. Itmust have been a distress-ing time for them to haveto stand up in court andrecall your abuse of them.”

Bryce showed noemotion as he was ledaway to start his sentence.

Since his conviction hewas driven out of his homein Airdrie and forced intohiding and was alsokicked out of the golf club.

Carnoustie has signed athird, consecutive three-year course machinery dealwith Toro, underlining itscommitment to the compa-ny and its products.

The new deal also sawsome of Toro’s latest turf-care equipment used to

help prepare the course,which received wide praise,for this year’s dramaticOpen Championship.

“We like Toro, and every-thing they do for us,”explained links superinten-dent John Philp. “Themachinery performssuperbly, it’s reliable and wereceive excellent servicefrom Gammies. Under thenew agreement we havetaken delivery of some ofToro’s latest machinery, andit’s very impressive.

“The new Reelmaster 5410fairway mowers are a great

improvement on the previ-ous model. We have four ofthese now.

“Their DPA cutting unitsstay on the cut for longer,and cutting height adjust-ment has been simplified.The operators like thecontrols as well as the seat-ing position, as it givesbetter visibility.”

Philip is also impressedwith the Flex 21 pedestriangreensmower: “Marvellous.We had some on loan forThe Dunhill Cup for the lastfew years and now, at last,we have six of our own!”

Carnoustie continues Toro link

Donald Trumped yet againDonald Trumps plans to

build the ‘best golf course inthe world’ have taken yetanother blow.

Scottish Natural Heritagehas written to AberdeenshireCouncil revealing it plans touphold an objection to theproposed golf development.

The US tycoon plans tocreate a £1bn golf centre atMenie, however SNH claimsit will seriously damage anature site. Its objection -made in May - was met byamendments to the proposal.

It has reiterated concernsthat the developmentwould offer potential threatsto wildlife as part of the landis a Site of Special ScientificInterest (SSSI).

David Bale, SNH’s newarea manager forGrampian, said: “This site atMenie, with its huge wildsand dunes, is part of thelargest dune system inScotland, stretching fromNewburgh to Bridge of Don.

“As the development of agolf course at this location

would cause such signifi-cant damage to the SSSI,we have maintained ourobjection to this part of theproposal.

“We are still clear thatbuilding the championshipgolf course on the SSSI willinevitably damage it.”

It will now be up toAberdeenshire Council toassess the organisation’sadvice alongside otherfactors, including theGrampian economy andpublic services, he added.

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FACTFILE;


on the cover

Ransomes Jacobsen hasonce again demonstratedit’s commitment to environ-mental issues with the intro-duction of an End-of-LifeMower disposal programme.

This new programmecalled ELMO, is the result ofa partnership withAutogreen, one of the UK’sleading compliancescheme operators.

“We have introduced thisprogramme for turf equip-ment, long before legisla-tion demands it, becausewe think it is the right thingto do,” said David Withers,md of Ransomes Jacobsen.

“We are a forward think-ing organisation and recog-nise that we have a moralduty to do all we can toprotect our collective envi-ronment.

“The service we offer willbe identical to the motormanufacturers’ scheme inthat it will be free of chargeto the last owner of themachine.

“Our network of dealerswill be the collection pointfor end-users in their respec-tive territories and they willsimply call Autogreen andrequest collection.

“Autogreen will providetransport at their cost andcollect the product fordisposal at one of the fullycompliant facilities.”

Ransomes Jacobsen hasalso announced the launchof two new machinesincluding the JacobsenEclipse 122F greens mower.

The machine redefinestournament quality of cutthrough a new cutting head

capable of 50 per centmore float than competitormachines.

The Eclipse combines theJacobsen In-Command™control system with an inde-pendently mounted cuttingunit to produce an optimumcut in any conditions.

Benefits of the all-newout-front rotary mower, theRansomes HR 3300T, include

better mowing efficiency,more evenly dispersed grassclippings, the ability to cut awide variety of grass, lowmaintenance, operator stor-age, reduced noise andvibration and better opera-tor ergonomics.

The HR 3300T, which has a33hp Kubota turbo-charged,diesel engine, is also avail-able in orange branded asa Jacobsen machine. GME

“We are a forward thinking organisation and recognisethat we have a moral duty to do all we can”

WEBLINK; RANSOMESJACOBSEN.COM

An industry first once againfor Ransomes Jacobsen

Ransomes JacobsenWest Road

Ransomes EuroparkIpswich IP3 9TT

United Kingdom

TEL; (44) 01473 270000FAX; (44) 01473 276300

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news


Parco di Roma is both thefirst golf course in Italy toinstall the Inforemer GPSsystem, and also the firstcourse to be designed inEurope by Pete Dye.

The club’s owners areinstalling the full manage-ment system version of theInforemer - which has beensupplied by GPSI Europe -with two-way communica-tions capability betweenclub and golfers.

The system will be basedon 65 buggy-mounted unitswith 10.4” screens, and afurther 50 handheld units.

GPSI Europe has alsoannounced that SonMuntaner (pictured right) -part of the ArabellaSheraton Golf Group inMallorca - have installedInforemer GPS units on their35 strong buggy fleet.

Commenting on the deal,golf director James Arnold,was clearly impressed withhis club’s new Inforemersystem: “The Informer is themanagement tool the golf

resort industry has beenwaiting for.

“GPS is a technology thathas promised much, but theInformer is the first systemthat delivers on those prom-ises,” said Arnold. “In fact,it’s better than that; thenew graphics are quitesuperb and golfers aregoing to love each hole’sviews and details as theyconsider the challenges ithas for them.

“The screen’s richness andclarity of detail will also behighly attractive to oursponsors,” continuedArnold.

“The Inforemer looks like atechnology solution thatreally is going to increaseour revenues. And with theexpert support of the teamat GPSI Europe, it’ll help our54-hole resort remain one ofthe most attractive to visit inEurope.”

Royal Dornoch hasbecome the first golfcourse in Europe to bene-fit from Toro’s new GDC-controlled irrigationsystem. The Highlandclub's ChampionshipCourse is now equippedwith a PC-based GDCsystem, which uses Toro’sproven SitePro centralcontrol.

The English Golf Union,English Ladies’ GolfAssociation and the PGAhave announced thatEngland Golf has award-ed the Surrey GolfPartnership £30,000 overthe next three years tosupport the developmentof the sport within thecounty.

Mike Tinkey, the deputychief executive officer ofthe National Golf CourseOwners Association hasconfirmed he will fly infrom the USA forNovember’s EuropeanGolf Business Conferencein Amsterdam.

The organisations behindEurope’s leading golfshows have come togeth-er to ensure customersatisfaction by forming theEuropean Golf ShowsAssociation, which aims topromote the best golfshows across the conti-nent through co-opera-tion between members.

Chris Turner has beenappointed to the role ofgolf sales manager forScotland for MacdonaldHotels. With over ten yearsexperience working in golfand tourism business,Turner was previously thesales and marketingmanger for Griffin GolfTours and European sportsmarketing representativefor Nike Golf.

A ‘double first’ for Parco di Roma,GPSI Europe and the Inforemer

IN BRIEF;

3G Food Service hashelped William Morvan,head chef at Moor ParkGolf Club, Rickmansworth,to develop its wedding andspecial occasion cateringmenus in order to meetrising demand for eventsheld at the club.

Moor Park holds a civilwedding license, and tohelp meet demand, theclub has just finished re-furbishing a new wing of theManor which has providedthe capacity for up to 100additional seats.

When Morvan needed tosource new products for theclub’s wedding and specialoccasion menus, 3G wasable to help as heexplained: “I’ve been acustomer of 3G FoodService for almost ten years,and I know they have areputation for being expertsin sourcing new products.

“I was particularly keen tofeature a range of meatand seafood Asian stylebuffet products for thewedding and special occa-sion menus at the Club.”

Moor Park expands itsmenu with 3G

The Oxfordshire plans are rejectedCountryside campaigners

were celebrating aftercouncillors rejected plansfor a 50-bedroom hotel atThe Oxfordshire Golf club.

Now owner Leaderboardis considering whether toappeal against the decisionby South Oxfordshire DistrictCouncil and ask a govern-ment planning inspector todecide the issue.

Leaderboard applied forboth the hotel and exten-sions to the clubhouse.

The main driving forcebehind it was a bid to hostthe Solheim Cup in 2011, butthat bid failed.

The club has hosted sever-al big European tour events,including the Benson andHedges, between 1996 and1999.

It now wants to get backto those sort of competitionsand said the hotel was animportant step to safe-guarding the financial futureof the club.

But planning officersdisagreed and recommend-ed the application shouldbe refused as it is located ina prominent part of thecountryside.

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news

Troon Golf has beenselected to manage thePearl Valley Signature GolfEstate and Spa in SouthAfrica.

Pearl Valley marks the firstTroon Golf facility in SouthAfrica and is another signifi-cant development in Troon'sexpanding Europe, MiddleEast and Africa portfolio.

“We are excited toannounce Troon Golf’s firstmanagement contract inSouth Africa and believePearl Valley to be one ofthe world’s best golfcommunities,” stated BruceGlasco, Troon Golf’s seniorvice president and manag-ing director of Europe,Middle East and Africa.

Troon sign a real Pearl

Ryder Cup and eighttimes European No.1 ColinMontgomerie, has officiallyopened his first golf coursedesign in the UK -The Montgomerieat Celtic ManorResort,Wales.

Monty workedon the course withEuropean GolfDesign, the jointventure designcompany of TheEuropean Tourand IMG, withwhom heworked most recently atCarton House, Ireland.

The Montgomerie Coursecompletes a trio of coursesat Celtic Manor Resort; theRoman Road Course which

has staged the lastthree CelticManor WalesOpen and therecently openedRyder Cup course,designed byEuropean GolfDesign for the 2010Ryder Cup.

The Montgomeriewill provide a differ-ent challenge to the

other two courses, and atthe official opening, Monty

explained how delighted hewas to be asked to workwith Celtic Manor Resort.

“It was fantastic to begiven the opportunity towork with such a goodpiece of land, which hashelped me create sometruly memorable golf holeswith some stunning views,”he said.

“It was also great to workalongside European GolfDesign whom I am alsoworking with on projects inTurkey, Bahrain, Scotlandand Denmark.”

Whilst playing severalholes on the course Monty

explained the challenges hehas created: “I’m a potbunker fan rather than thebig wide areas of sand thatyou see on so many moderngolf courses.

“They might look spectac-ular, but they’re not really apenalty, particularly to thebetter players.

“A bunker should be ahalf-shot penalty, so I’vemade the bunkers smallerand very much deeper thanyou will see on most newlayouts.

“I believe you should haveto plot your way aroundthem like a game of chess.”

Monty opens his ‘own’ course at Celtic Manor

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A golf course project inSpain designed byMillennium Dome architectSir Richard Rogers (pictured)is in doubt after local coun-cil officials vowed to opposethe scheme.

Both Gojar town hall andthe regional governmentbelieve the €320M Coto dela Macairana leisure andresidential complex is“worrying”.

The news comes after thepublic prosecutorannounced an investigationinto the project, afterreceiving a letter accusingthe former mayor of Gojarof corruption.

When police went to thetown hall to check theproject’s documentation,they were told the paper-work had “vanished”.

Gojar town hall has askedthe Junta de Andalucia foradvice in a bid to stop workon the project, whichincludes a golf course, morethan 3,000 residentialhomes, three hotels andcommercial premises whichwould be built yards fromthe highly-protected SierraNevada National Park.

New town mayor PedroClavero said of the Rogers,Stirk Harbour and Partnersdesigned project: “We aredealing with an extraordi-nary reclassification in landstatus for the Coto de laMaicarana scheme.

“Our intention is not toapprove anything webelieve is outside theboundaries of legality.”

Currently, approaching200 hectares of rustic land

eight kilometres fromGranada has beenearmarked for the macro-project.

However, Gojar’s PSOEmayor claims if the projectgoes ahead it will differ radi-cally from the original plans.

The project has met withfierce criticism from localresidents and environmen-talists since it wasannounced in 2002.

In an open letter sent toRogers, opponents told oneof Britain’s most famousarchitects that the area“does not need anotherMillennium Dome”.

news


A town councillor inLincolnshire has accusedmembers of his own councilof ignoring the views ofmore than 1,000 residentsover plans to extend ForestPines golf course.

Bernard Grainger criti-cised fellow members ofBroughton Town Council fornot listening to its residentsand acting on theirconcerns.

He said: “I am frustrated Iam getting opposition fromBroughton Town Councilbecause I am confident themajority of the people inBroughton want the woodssaved.

“They do not want itturned in to an extension ofa golf course. I am finding itvery difficult to understandwhy the council have noobjections when more than

1,000 people have signed apetition to say they areagainst the plans.”

Cllr Grainger said heencountered only fivepeople who did not want tosign his petition.

Q Hotels, owner of ForestPines Hotel near Broughton,was refused permission byNorth Lincolnshire Council inFebruary to extend golfcourse facilities by nineholes.

The council said the origi-nal plans for the develop-ment could have a nega-tive ecological effect onnearby woodland.

But now the company hassubmitted new plans todevelop the award-winning27-hole course into two 18-hole courses, which includeindependent wildlifesurveys.

Forest Pines plans fornew course extensioncausing political turmoil

A Shropshire golf clubwhich has more than 600members, is drivingforward its ‘green values’by teeing up the installa-tion of a state-of-the-artsolar water heating system.

The eco-friendly solarpanels will be fitted to theclubhouse roof atCleobury Mortimer GolfClub, and have beenfunded by AdvantageWest Midlands’ RuralRegeneration Zone aspart of the Low CarbonCommunities for Businessproject.

Owners at the 200-acreclub, located betweenKidderminster and Ludlow,were awarded a £3,500grant for the scheme aftershowing their commit-ment to the fight againstglobal warming.

The club’s co-ownerGraham Pain said: “Golfhas an image problem inthat some people don’tthink courses are good forthe environment.

“I have strived to gosome way to dispellingthat myth by planting25,000 trees on our courseas well as building waterhazards to encouragewildlife to the area.

“I am running a greencompany looking tohandle itself in a sensibleway.”

Opposition intensifies atCoto de la Macairana

Lawrie to design £115m developmentFormer Open winner Paul

Lawrie will design a golfcourse as part of a £115mdevelopment in his hometown.

The Aberdonian will helpcreate the course at theBlairs Estate near Banchory-Devenick. And the teambehind the developmenthope to bring major golfingevents to the north-east ofScotland.

Lawrie said: “I can see theBlairs Estates from my houseand have long thought thiswould be the perfect site formy first signature golf coursedevelopment.

“The golf course at Blairshas the potential to providea wonderful asset for thenorth-east as well as attract-ing visitors to the area.

“Having played on somany fabulous courses

around the world, I have lotsof ideas and am itching toget started on my firstcourse design project.

European Golf Design willbe working with Lawrie, andJohn Muir, chairman of theMuir Group, said: “Paul is atrue Scottish golfing heroand having his input in thedesign and development ofthe golf course at Blairs willbe invaluable.”

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news


Work on the spectacularDoonbeg golf course hasbeen halted amid uncer-tainty following Aer Lingus’announcement that itwould be scrapping itsShannon-Heathrow service.

It is a massive blow to thearea, where it is alreadyfeared thousands of jobsand millions of euros ininvestment could be threat-ened after the nationalcarrier moved its Heathrowslot from Shannon to Belfast.

The backlash from busi-ness leaders and tourismchiefs in the region hasintensified as more pressureis put on the Government toblock the move.

Designed by GregNorman, Doonbeg GolfClub opened five yearsago, and is situated 45 milesfrom the airport. Its USowners have alreadyploughed €100m into theclub and a housing devel-opment in the area.

But the final €50m invest-ment for a conferencecentre and more housinghas been put on hold.

General manager JoeRussell said open skies – thedeal whereby trans-Atlanticflights no longer have tostopover at Shannon – hadalready raised concerns forthe region.

But he said the Aer Lingusannouncement was off theradar: “Shannon, Aer Lingusand Heathrow are huge in

terms of that hub, both inand out, not just forDoonbeg Golf Club but forthe Shannon region and theentire west coast,” saidRussell.

“Millions are spent market-ing the island of Irelandevery year and it’s like youare teasing people, tellingthem about the beautifulgolf courses and scenery,and they can’t get here.

“The development is nowin jeopardy.”

Future of Doonbeg placed in doubtafter Aer Lingus pulls the plug

Machrihanish Dunes haschosen Barenbrug grassseed for its greens andtees. The new 18-hole linkscourse, currently underconstruction by DMK GolfDesign, is using twomixtures selected for theircompatibility with thenatural surroundings andproven performance inharsh conditions.

Scotland the home of golf,is heading to Mexico laterin the year to the world’sleading golfing exhibition.International Golf TravelMarket draws togetherthe world’s most presti-gious buyers and suppliersfrom the world of golf,and Scottish representa-tives will be reinforcingScotland’s iconic heritageas the home of golf.

360 Golf has startedconstruction work on theworld’s first purpose-built‘PowerPlay Golf’ course -designed by PeterMcEvoy - which will be amain feature of the new£16m Playgolf East Kilbridecentre in Scotland.

Jeff Howes Golf Designhas recently completedwork on an additionalnew Championship stan-dard nine holes and ashort Game Academy atFota Island Golf Resort,Cork. The course is nowopen for play and theOfficial Opening tookplace last month.

Eccleston Park Golf Clubhas joined forces with StHelens Council to developgrass roots golf for localyoungsters - with the aimof becoming a centre ofexcellence in Merseyside. The Rainhill-based club isplaying a key role in thelocal authority’s SchoolSport Partnership.

IN BRIEF;

Crown Golf has beennamed Golf Group of theYear 2007. The accoladecame at the ClubhouseAwards, which recognisedvenue excellence in the golfindustry at a glittering cere-mony at The WarwickshireGolf and Country Club.

Speaking after collectingthe award, chief executivePeter Manby said: “I amproud to have received thisaward, as it is great recogni-

tion for all the teams in ourclubs who strive every day tooffer a great experience toour members and visitors.”

Judges were looking for agolf group which coulddemonstrate an ability tocreate and sustain standardsacross its entire portfolio.

Crown Golf is Europe’slargest golf course ownerwith 32 properties in its port-folio and more than 50courses, including St Mellion.

A real financial crisis for RhylOne of the oldest golf

clubs in Wales wants to selloff land to solve its financialcrisis.

Planning consent is beingsought for a new clubhouseat Rhyl Golf Club whichwould enable the existingpremises to be demolishedand the site sold for housing.

The club was formed in1890 and was one of thefounder members of theWelsh Golfing Union threeyears later.

Some of the land wasacquired by Flintshire

County Council in 1921 forthe new coast road and inthe 1930s it was reducedfrom 18 to nine holes. Thesea also took its toll, the highwater mark moving 550 feetinland between 1911 and1945.

Planning consultantsKenyon and Companyhave lodged plans for 15apartments and fivedetached houses on the siteof the existing clubhouse,with the new clubhouseproposed to be built along-side the coast road.

A firm of local builders hasagreed to pay £750,000 forthe site, in return for whichthey will construct the newclubhouse for £500,000.

In a letter sent toDenbighshire CountyCouncil, Kenyon andCompany stated: “The golfclub is in considerable debtand financial crisis, and is inneed of a significant finan-cial investment in order toprovide additional andmore up-to-date facilitiesand to re-establish itself in acompetitive market.”

Crown Golf named Golf Group of the Year

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September 2007.qxd 23/8/2007 2:48 PM

news


Ransomes Jacobsen’sdistributor for Spain, GreenMowers, has recently deliv-ered a Jacobsen LF3400fairway mower to SaldañaGolf and Resort, which iscurrently under construction8km from Burgos in NorthernSpain.

When complete, theresort will feature 750 resi-

dential homes, an 18-holecourse with clubhouse, anhotel, a small shopping malland even a church.

Head greenkeeper MartínGil, will take delivery of theremaining Jacobsen equip-ment towards the end ofthe year, having signed apreferred supplier agree-ment with Green Mowers.

Saldaña taking shape

The UK’s only PGA residen-tial golf academy is so intenton guaranteeing a top-classexperience for its playersit has launched ClubClass Parking, a valetand pamperingservice for golfclubs.

Formby HallGolf Resortand Spa inMerseyside ispiloting theidea whileits transfor-mation into afour star residential PGAacademy is underway.

Designed totake the strainoff players and

keep golf clubsin tip-top condi-

tion, the service isopen to all profes-sional andamateur golfers atno extra charge.

Staff will relieveplayers of their golfbags as theycome off thecourse and treattheir woods,irons and driv-ers to theirown four-star

stay in the Club ClassParking area.

Trained ‘valeters’ willclean, polish and generallypamper players’ clubs andeven wax the leather on thegolf bags, before storingthem while the owner relax-es after a hard day on thecourse.

The initiative will work onthe same principle as valetparking for luxury vehicles atthe world’s top hotels and isbeing launched to coincidewith the opening of theresort’s 62 bedroom hotel.

Director of marketing,Gaynor Black said the idea

is to take the strain offgolfers and bring an extrafun element to the game.She said: “After a longgame, we want people toenjoy the array of relaxingfacilities Formby Hall GolfResort and Spa has to offerand not worrying aboutcleaning and maintainingtheir clubs.

“We are determined tomake this the premier resortof its kind in Britain, with noluxury spared for our playersand guests.”

Formby Hall Golf Resortand Spa’s 62 bedroom hotelopens this month.

Valet service for golfers introduced at Formby Hall

Construction Remodelling Water Features

Tel: 01604 468908Fax: 01604 474853www.deltagolf2000.co.uk

180 Ruskin Road, Kingsthorpe Northampton NN2 7TA

BAGCC

September 2007.qxd 17/9/2007 11:51 AM


company profile

In golf, as in many indus-tries, phenomenal successcan be built around excep-tional people.

Colt Mackenzie McNair(CMM) has been createdwith the specific intention ofimproving the quality ofexecutive recruitment in theglobal golf industry,because employing ‘best-of-breed’ people is not justimportant, it is fundamental.

Traditionally, when recruit-ing senior executives ormiddle management, golfclubs have relied on person-al networking, contacts orindustry advertising.

But in an increasinglycompetitive golf environ-ment,where theneed to findoutstanding individuals isever more pressing, suchmethods present signifi-cant and unnecessary risks.

Executive search compa-nies are essential in otherareas of commerce, suchas banking or insurance;Colt Mackenzie McNairhas simply adaptedthose highly sophisticat-ed, targeted execu-tive search and selec-tion methods to thedemands of the golf indus-try.

As managing directorStewart McNair explained, alot of planning has gone intoCMM: “We formed thecompany after undertakingextensive research over thelast two years – and we iden-tified that the golf industrydoes not recruit efficiently.

“There appears to be ahistoric reliance on advertis-ing or word of mouth –producing someone whomight be good, but notnecessarily the best. We’veseen numerous examples ofbad appointments with seri-ous consequences.

“The number of golfdevelopments on the draw-ing board, or those which

have been recentlycompleted, runs into severalhundred.

“All are looking to createa competitive edge andsustainable business model.

“And they have to havethe correct people runningthose facilities. Therefore it’sextremely important theytake a different approachto the way they recruit theirkey personnel.

“We are applying theexecutive search modelthat exists within the finan-cial services industry, as thecompetitive nature withingolf is increasing dramati-cally.

“Nothing is left to chance when it comes to identifying

the right people.

“This enables us to find themost appropriate candi-dates from which our clientscan choose the best personfor each individual role.”

The company has beentrading officially since June2007. But it had alreadyestablished its credentialswith one or two high-profileappointments ahead of the‘launch’.

A large part of thecompany’s time is spentkeeping up to date withwhat’s happening within theindustry. So, not surprisingly,much of its initial client inter-est comes from developingareas.

The idea of executivesearch is not a new one todevelopers who are pump-ing millions into develop-ments in Eastern Europe, theMiddle East or Asia.

And the companiescharged with projectmanagement are increas-ingly happy to turn over theresponsibility of finding thewhole management teamto CMM.

CMM’s proven methodol-ogy enables golf businessesto build high-performingteams, ensuring that theright people in the right posi-tions can deliver success.

“Our service is moreexpensive than the golf industry has been used to,”

admitted McNair.

“But can a golffacility afford not

to get it right in such acompetitive environ-

ment? The future of golfrelies on exceptional peopledelivering outstandingperformance. Today’smarketplace demandsoutstanding people – thebar has been raised.

“Identifying them andencouraging them tosustain and develop oursport is paramount to itsongoing global success. Wewant to work in partnershipswith golf facilities to helpthem build a successfulfuture.

“The talent pool is relative-ly shallow so the demand isthere. And it’s about givingour clients the opportunityto choose the ‘best ofbreed’.” GME

“The future of golf relies on exceptional people delivering outstanding performance.”

WEBLINK; COLTMM.COM

Efficient recruitment the key to long-term stability

FACTFILE;

Colt Mackenzie McNairKingswick House

Kingswick Drive, SunninghillBerkshire SL5 7BH

England

TEL; (44) 01344 292299FAX; (44) 01344 626176

[email protected]

September 2007.qxd 18/9/2007 4:50 PM

The Carrick and the intelligent use of water.

Nurturing a fine new course like The Carrick to peakcondition for its opening is a huge responsibility, andonce more a Rain Bird irrigation system has beenselected to help the green keeping team.

Paul McClearn is the Head Greenkeeper at The Carrick:“The Rain Bird irrigation system hasbeen superb. Now fully installed from pumps to sprinklers, it’s a great tool for us to use.

“From the start, it’s given us no problems at all. Setting the programmes with the Stratus IIcontroller for the watering requirements is straightforward, and it’s the ideal way to ensurewe know exactly how much water we’re using at any given point.

“And with the Freedom phone system, we can always make changes as we need when we’reout on the course.”

Paul McClearn, Head Greenkeeper,The Carrick

www.rainbird.eu

September 2007.qxd 03/9/2007 12:33 PM


club focusWEBLINK; EASTSUSSEXNATIONAL.CO.UK

When is a golf club not necessarily anice place just to play golf?

The answer has become increasinglyapparent over the last decade or so inBritain although the concept of the coun-try club and all that goes with it originat-ed in the United States many years ago.Nor is the rest of the world lagging in thisrespect.

Today an up-market address mustcater for a variety of tastes and underly-ing the trend of golf club, resort, spa,

conference centre, gym, banqueting facil-ity and five-star restaurant is East SussexNational.

There is no shortage of multi-purposeestablishments representing massiveinvestment and, in many cases, in hock tothe bank. Inevitably there will be failuresalong the way but East Sussex National,says owner Michael Hunt, may not beshowing a profit at present but talk ofgoing belly-up or crippling shortfall, isnot in his scenario.

East Sussex Nationalappears to have had moreowners than Tiger Woodshas won majors, yet asJohn Vinicombe reports,the current managementteam appear to be on thepath to success.

Mission: Impossible III for Hunt in East Sussex

September 2007.qxd 10/9/2007 2:44 PM


FACTFILE;

East Sussex NationalLittle Horsted, UckfieldEast Sussex TN22 5ES

England

TEL; (44) 01825 880088FAX; (44) 01825 880066

GENERAL MANAGERDerek Howe (above left)

COURSE MANAGER;Scott Litchfield

COURSE STATS;East: Par 72, 7,138 yardsWest: Par 72, 7,154 yards

CLUB FOUNDED;1989

“The hotel here was a huge investmentcosting £24m and amortizing that was aconsiderable sum. Our trading isn’t prof-itable at present. With such a venture youhave to have the initial loss-making yearsuntil you are established and we arepleased to be well within our first three-year business plan.”

When Hunt and Derek Howe, whomanaged Singing Hills, Hunt’s 27-holecomplex at Albourne a dozen milesoutside Brighton, joined forces at EastSussex National, they were in total agree-ment: sticking to the traditional 18-holecourse makes it impossible for an ambi-tious club to exist. Revenue from playingis not nearly enough to stay in business.

At 73 Hunt has enough water underhis bridge in high finance to know thereis no turning back. A chartered account-ant he has considerable investments athome and abroad.

Yet he remains the average happy hack-er and not a suit. The highlight of hisweek is Sunday morning at 9.30 for agame with his pals at West Hove.

Now struggling off a 19 handicap,Hunt bemoans his failure to derive anyhelp from high-tec equipment.The mateshe used to outdrive by 50 yards nowleave him standing.Yet without Hunt andfellow benefactor and former businesscolleague Frank Shannon,West Hovewouldn’t exist.

It was forced to re-locate after a by-pass link road bisected the course andthanks to Shannon buying land for theclub to re-settle West Hove is on the up.

There is a world of difference in theway West Hove, as a members’ club is runand Singing Hills, that Hunt himselfdesigned, and East Sussex National.Explained Hunt: “At Singing Hills we get

people asking if it is different. I say, notreally, except that we don’t have a captainand committees. It is run by manage-ment which, I think, makes for bettercontinuity.

“It is the same at East Sussex National.Our subs are extremely competitive andwe give very good value based on societyincome. At both clubs we achieve a blendof members’ club and proprietory club.”

It was then Derek Howe, 64 andshrewd observer of the golfing scenemade a good point. “I think you’ll findthat members’ clubs are in a minorityregistered with the EGU; more peoplenow belong to a proprietory club andeven more golfers don’t belong to any.”

Singing Hills, Hunt’s first love and thefulfillment of a dream, opened in 1992after he designed the layout and Howelooked after the admin. “It was unique atthe time and I said that this is the wayproprietory clubs are going.” In a matterof months the cuisine was getting ravenotices and Hunt celebrated by playinghis pop-up Wurlitzer organ in the lounge.

Acquiring East Sussex National camelater followed by the addition of the 104bedroom hotel and all the lap of luxurytrimmings. For Hunt it was a boldventure that could have failed but for thehuge investment and confidence. SinceCanadian hotel tycoon Brian Turnercreated ESN in the early 1980s for anestimated £32.5m it became dogged withproblems.

The European Open went there amidfanfares in 1993 and the following yearbut bad weather affected attendances andsome of the players were uncomplimen-tary about the choicest of the two cours-es. Nick Faldo, for one, vowed never toreturn. Mud stuck.

“I think you’ll find that members’ clubs are in aminority registered with the EGU; more people

now belong to a proprietory club and even moregolfers don’t belong to any.”

September 2007.qxd 10/9/2007 2:45 PM


As ESN struggled, joining fees wereabolished and the blue chip image fadedwhen projected revenues nosedived.When the Kuwaiti Investment Officebought it for a reported £8m everythingperked up for a while.

But then the Kuwaiti’s decided to sellbecause it was not a core investment.American Golf were briefly interested butdidn’t follow up when the purchaseconditions included removing an elegantcountry house hotel from the site.

In stepped Hunt but only after a judi-cious toe testing of the water. He andHowe were at The London Club wonder-ing if that was worth buying only for theirattention to waver and start thinkingabout the ornate palace just outsideUckfield.

Let Hunt take up the story of how heresurrected ESN to become a trend-setter.

“I like to make a success of things,”said this self-effacing man who used torun marathons. “My main objective is toachieve customer satisfaction in allrespects and to meet their expectations.

“That is my philosophy. I bought thisplace in March, 2000 because it wasgoing downhill. I was a founder memberand had always been impressed with thestandard of the facilities.

“Two years prior to buying it, theKuwaiti’s lost interest and were notvoting in money. I thought it was a shameand, as it was available at quite an attrac-tive price and because of its loss-makinghistory and condition it was in, I thoughtI would rescue it.

“It was about that time that Derekjoined me and then we talked aboutadding the hotel and everything else.Weare delighted with the progress and onceESN has got the optimum trading posi-

tion it will be a benchmark. I think thereis a requirement for a fully-integratedestablishment like this.

“People are coming back here andhappy to return to the days when it was lacreme de la creme.

“I don’t think I’d ever sell. NeitherESN or Singing Hills is on the marketand they give me a particular pleasureand, at 73, seeing the business plan comeinto fruition is very important to me.

“The future is exciting and, yes, wewould like to have a prestige tournamenthere.We have received approaches andthese are being considered.”

The last word was left to the perceptiveand widely experienced Howe who saidof the East Sussex National: “We are nowregarded as The Belfry of the South... butbetter.” GME

“We are now regarded as The Belfry of theSouth... but better.”

September 2007.qxd 11/9/2007 2:46 PM

advertisement


ProLink Solutions, the world’s leadingprovider of GPS golf course manage-ment systems and on-course advertis-ing – has announced it has acquiredits largest distributor, European-basedElumina Iberica, and all of Elumina’soperating subsidiaries.

Elumina is one of the fastest-growingand most profitable businesses in theinternational golf GPS industry. AsProLink’s distributor in Europe, Eluminahas secured cart-mounted ProLink GPSinstallations at over 150 courses inthese territories.

ProLink and Elumina are endorsed asthe ‘Official GPS of The PGAs ofEurope,’ and ProLink GPS is used at2006 Ryder Cup host The K Club inIreland, Valderrama Golf Club in Spainand at other prestigious golf venuesthroughout Europe.

Commenting on the acquisition,chief executive officer of ProLink, LarryBain, said: “We are delighted to finallyput these two companies together.

“This acquisition establishes ourcompany with the largest footprintmaking Prolink the dominant leadingglobal player in both GPS installationsand golf course advertising.” GME

“We are delighted tofinally put these twocompanies together.This acquisition estab-lishes our company withthe largest footprintmaking Prolink thedominant leading global player in bothGPS installations andgolf course advertising.”

Prolink acquire Eluminato form global alliance

FACTFILE;

Elumina IbericaThe Mansley Centre

Timothy’s Bridge RoadStratford-upon-Avon

Warwickshire CV37 9NQEngland

TEL; (44) 01789 207419FAX; (44) 01789 207420

WEBLINK; ELUMINAIBERICA.COM

For a live demo visit www.eluminaiberica.comor contact [email protected]

or telephone Jeremy Moore on +44 1789 207419

Over 150 Courses Can’t Be Wrong!

September 2007.qxd 18/9/2007 11:14 AM

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September 2007.qxd 21/9/2007 11:19 AM

golf shows


“Golf shows are like buses,” said GolfManagement Europe’s publisher MichaelLenihan on these pages not so long ago.“You wait ages for one and then severalcome along together…”

It wasn’t the most original thing he’dever said but he did improve it by adding:“And now it seems they’re not all goingin the same direction!”

His initial concern was about tradeshows - and it was a worry which wasseemingly in accordance with manyothers within the industry, as severalshows merged to ensure the dilution ofthe market was minimised.

But now that market saturation seemsto be hitting consumer shows as well.

For several years there wasn’t aconsumer show in the UK.That gap in

the market was filled by the launch of theLondon Golf Show in 2005 - and oncethat show had shown a survival instinct

and reappeared again the followingyear, others thought they’d test

the market for themselves.The UK Golf Show waslaunched at the NEC in

November 2006, only forits next incarnation to

be planned foroutdoors atWhittlebury ParkGolf Club, inNorthamptonshire,next April.

Meanwhile, theLondon Golf Show

expanded and, after twomore successful years, the

owners announced itwas launching a sister

show at the NEC aptlycalled,The Golf Show, NECBirmingham.

Organisers were at great pains to pointout that this wasn’t a new UK Golf Show,despite the dates of November 16-18 -but from the NEC’s perspective it wasclearly an opportunity to use an estab-lished company to maintain the presenceof a consumer golf show.

Down at East Sussex National GolfClub, something was stirring as well withthe news that The South-East Golf Showwill take place there from November 6-9.

When you throw into the mix theScottish Golf Show which is staged eachMarch in Edinburgh and consider that,over the course of the next 12 months,

shows will also be held on the continentin Cologne, Amsterdam, Paris andZurich, to name but a few, you begin tosee the growing trend and a market placethat is increasingly overloaded.

So how can all these events survive andcontinue to deliver to an ever-expectantand demanding public?

“We have to be dynamic, forward-thinking and continue to find new prod-ucts and ways of attracting theconsumer’s attention,” said Andy Barwell,marketing manager for the London GolfShow. “It’s important to get products intopeople’s hands and to make the show asinteractive as possible.

“After the success of the London show,we decided to follow it up with a smallerone in Birmingham and I certainlybelieve there is room for two shows ayear. But I don’t think you can have lotsof them as there isn’t the market for it.”

Not surprisingly, the Golf Show’s pred-ecessor at the NEC is not necessarily inagreement. Kevin Blair took the decisionto uproot the UK Golf Show from its basein the Midlands after just one outing andit will make its reappearance 17 monthsdown the line at Whittlebury Park.

It would appear as if theconsumer golf industry hasgone golf show mad. Asnew show, after new showlaunches, Pete Simm takesa look at who might be thewinners and losers in therace for visitors.

“I certainly believe there is room for two shows ayear. But I don’t think you can have lots of them

as there isn’t the market for it”

Have we reached Golf Show Overload?

September 2007.qxd 10/9/2007 2:39 PM


But Blair, the company’s event director,insists the move was made because ofpublic demand and not because of a lackof numbers.

“We had 14,000 people and sevenmajor manufacturers attend the first showwhich we were delighted with,” said Blair.“But we spent quite a bit of money onresearch to see if we were giving theconsumer what they really wanted andthe main feedback we got was they want-ed to hit a ball outside in natural golfcourse conditions.

“We didn’t think keeping the showindoors for a second year was the rightthing to do so we changed it. At the endof the day, people will vote with their feetif they like it or not but I believe all theshows can work alongside each other.

“I will work with anyone and I justwant to be a vessel to promote golf toamateurs in the next few years becauseI’m a golfer like everyone else.”

When measuring how successful ashow is and its longevity, footfall isperhaps the most important thing andBarwell knows that he and his team haveset themselves a tough act to follow afterthe success of the inaugural London GolfShow in April 2005.

While more than 30,000 peopleflocked to London ExCeL the first yearand around the same number attendedthe year after, numbers were down toaround 28,000 this year.

Barwell said: “In some ways, we haveset something of a benchmark because westarted so big.We wanted to make surepeople realised it was not just an exhibi-

tion but a show that was entertaining andinteractive.

“It was all about people trying clubs ona driving range, getting products intopeople’s hands while showing off the newfashions in golf.

“You can’t just do a normal show afterthat and this year we weren’t blessed byglorious weather over the weekend butyou have to hold your nerve and hopethat the industry will support you whichthey have.

“I believe the London Golf Show isnow an established part of the golfingcalendar, not just for the consumer butalso for the industry and is now one of themain events of the year for networking.”

Blair is equally upbeat about theprospects of his UK Golf Show nextApril - Europe’s first outdoor golf show.“We’ve had an absolutely fantastic reac-tion to our decision to change the formatof the show,” he said. “Golf is an outdoorsport, we’re aiming for 30,000 people toattend and the emphasis will be verymuch on audience participation.

“There will be four driving rangesactually on the fairways, the nearest-the-pin competitions will be on real par threeswhile the whole show is set over 700acres. It should be quite something and Ican’t wait.”

The shows are certainly a big hitamong golf ’s leading manufacturers withthe majority anxious to sign up to exhibit.

Ben Davis, Cleveland’s marketingmanager for Europe, said: “We really,really like the shows and intend to contin-ue doing two a year.

“It’s not that costly for us, they allow usto get our products into people’s handswhere they can try them out on the driv-ing range and we can also build productson site which is different than going to aretailer.

“As long as costs remain low, it’s some-thing we intend to keep doing and theshows now realise that they need manu-facturers to give them credibility.”

Only time will tell whether the LondonGolf Show, the UK Golf Show and theother events around the country will be along-standing success. Certainly, theWhittlebury Park event will be prayingfor good weather if their show is not tobecome a damp squib.

One thing does seem certain, though,and that is that golf shows in some formare here to stay in the UK and Europefollowing the formation of the EuropeanGolf Shows Association (EGSA).

The association is the brainchild ofRheingolf ’s Michael Jacoby and EGSAbrings together the leading and estab-lished public golf shows across the conti-nent: Rheingolf (Cologne); AmsterdamGolf 2007; Salon du Golf (Paris) andWorld of Golf (Zurich) as well as the twoLondon Golf Show Co events.

Jacoby said: “This will be a superbdevelopment for both the trade and thevisitors to all our shows. It will ensure thatmembers’ golf shows across the continentare of the highest standard.”

And as long as that continues tohappen, it would appear golf fans canlook forward to being entertained in theyears to come. GME

September 2007.qxd 10/9/2007 2:40 PM


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September 2007.qxd 21/9/2007 1:49 PM


design

In these times of tighter finances, manyclubs are seeking to undertake

course improvement workthemselves.This is often

prompted by a need toupdate the positioning of

hazards to maintain thechallenge of older golf

courses, and to upgrade thecondition of the golfing

features, but it is equally amatter of keeping ahead of the

competition.The benefits of using a recognised

and skilled contractor for golf courseprojects are well documented, but whatabout the role of the design consultant?

Is there a need for design input for golfcourse improvement work?

Too often, when finances are restrictedthe first thing to be cut from the courseimprovement budget is the role of thedesign consultant.Why involve an archi-tect when you have a good contractor onboard, you may ask?

In this article I will try to outline someof the benefits and also the pitfalls of notobtaining specialist design advice from anearly stage, and also throughout the termof the project.

Too often in my professional life as agolf course architect, I have come acrossexamples where course ‘improvements’have been carried out without the involve-ment of an experienced consultant.

In most cases this has lead to lostopportunities and, often, alterationswhich are totally inappropriate which

DIY Design and Build canbe a recipe for disaster

With so many golf clubs going it alone when it comes tocourse modifications, Ken Moodie reflects on what hebelieves clubs should and should not be doing.

September 2007.qxd 13/9/2007 5:27 PM

later need to be reversed. I have seen andheard many disaster stories, and I willgive you a brief summary of some of thepitfalls I have witnessed.

Tee ReconstructionAlthough most reputable golf course

contractors have the ability to build teeswhich should be sound in construction

terms, they will not normallybe familiar with all of thedesign issues which could

affect the size, alignment, tilt orpositioning of the tee, or the waythat the teeing area on a hole

should be divided to suit the rangeof golfers to be accommodated.These various factors are depen-

dant on the strategy of the hole and thelayout of the course, and an overallcourse appraisal should ideally be made

before finalising detailed designproposals.

Often where new tees havebeen added, or tees extended tolengthen the course, they end upin dangerous locations leading to

golfer injury or problems with neigh-bouring residents.

This can have very serious conse-quences and anyone connected with theproject can be found liable for resultinginjuries or damage caused which can leadto civil or even criminal prosecution.

Tee construction work is often done in-house, since it appears to a fairly straight-forward operation, and this can lead toadditional problems. I have seen teeswhich were rebuilt or extended toimprove the overall teeing area that havesettled dramatically to create virtuallyunplayable undulating platforms.

This is often down to using unsuitablemachinery during the constructionprocess, such as JCB’s with tyres, ratherthan proper tracked excavators of suffi-cient size to properly consolidate thesubsoil in layers.

GreensI have witnessed all sorts of problem

greens which have been rebuilt in-house,by inexperienced contractors, or even byquite reputable construction firms.

On one course I visited, all of thegreens had recently been rebuilt toUSGA recommendations and I was beingasked to develop proposals for larger andmore interesting practice facilities.

There was an opportunity to expandthe area available for the practice facilitiesutilising spare space within the layout,but to take advantage of it some holeswould need to be rerouted and a fewgreens moved.

To be frank, building a new green inthe right location does not cost muchmore than rebuilding a green in thewrong location, but if it has to be movedat a later date a lot of money would havebeen wasted. If the club had involved anarchitect from the outset in this particularexample, a great deal of expense couldhave been avoided.

There are many parameters in greendesign and construction to get right. It israre that the existing greens are perfect inevery respect and a very careful assess-ment is needed to determine the best wayto improve them.

In addition, if a green is simply to berebuilt to its current contours it willgenerate a lot of spare soil which willneed to be removed, equivalent to theconstruction materials being installed.

BunkersBunkers are very important elements

of the golf course to get right.Theydictate the strategy of the holes, providevisual composition, and are a key compo-nent in terms of design style. A classicgolf course can be completely spoiled byimposing the wrong type of bunker.

For instance, grass-faced or revettedbunkers would be totally inappropriateon a classic Colt or Mackenzie layoutwhere sand visibility is so important tothe essential character of the design.

An experienced golf course architectwill be able to advise on the historicsignificance of the course and the bestbunker style to adopt, while balancingmaintenance and budget considerations.

Revetted bunkers, in most inland situa-tions, generally look out of place andimpose an immense additional mainte-nance burden in the long-term as therevetted turf degrades and needs to bereplaced every few years.

By the same token, a bunker with asand face will rarely suit a links locationdue to wind erosion, and revetting theface is often the only realistic option.

Strategic AppraisalThe best starting point for any course

improvement is to employ a golf coursearchitect to conduct a full course apprais-al addressing the areas of concern andproviding proposals for improvement ona phased basis. Once agreed, this can bepresented to the members and adopted aspart of a Course Policy Document.

As well as providing a source of expertand technical advice, employing an inde-pendent consultant takes the politics outof changes to the golf course and ensurescontinuity and quality control in the workcarried out.

“The correct choice of architect is crucial and itis worth spending some time researching

suitable candidates”


September 2007.qxd 20/9/2007 10:20 AM


www.swangolfdesigns.comINTERNATIONAL GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS

t f+44 (0) 1277 [email protected]

+44 (0) 1277 896300

A strategic appraisal also enables long-term planning and avoids the haphazardmanner in which many golf coursesevolve due to changes in the compositionof the club committees.

It is evident that involving an Architectat the beginning of a project can be veryvaluable, but what about his input duringthe detailed design stages?

Value for MoneyThere is often a temptation to get some

strategic and expert advice and then dropthe consultant during implementation tosave money.

Although the initial report will indicatewhere new golfing features are to besited, a description of the design intentand perhaps some drawings, the successof the project will ultimately depend onits detailed implementation.

The development of constructiondrawings by the architect adds anotherlayer of refinement to the design process.Having detailed design plans will leavethe contractor in no doubt as to what isrequired of him.

Accurate quantities can be derivedfrom the design drawings which willallow the work to be tendered to obtain acompetitive price on a like for like basis.

Another prerequisite for success will beinvolving the golf course architect duringthe construction period with visits toinspect the work to ensure that the designdrawings are realised correctly and thatthe specification is adhered to.

Although the design fees may amountto 10-15 per cent of the constructionvalue for the full service, it should bemoney well spent considering the muchhigher quality of end product that can becreated and the significantly reduced riskof things going wrong.

Also, with the introduction of theCDM Regulations in the UK in 1994(and similar legislation in other parts ofEurope) clubs doing work without aconsultant risk falling foul of Health andSafety laws since a risk assessment isoften required during the design phase.

Although some construction compa-nies profess to offer design and buildservices, there are none that I am awareof in Europe that has the expertise to doboth properly.

The European Institute of Golf CourseArchitects prohibits its members fromacting in this way since it realises that itcreates a conflict of interests where thearchitect is compromised by his need toobtain a profit from the constructionwork, and this can lead to corners beingcut.The independence of the golf coursearchitect is vital if he is to work in thebest interests of his client.

When considering Design and Build,don’t make the mistake of assuming thatthey are a single process, or that onecompany can do both successfully. Eachelement requires expert and specialistinput but the design objectives mustdictate the construction, not the otherway round. GME

“There is often a temptation to get somestrategic and expertadvice and then dropthe consultant duringimplementation tosave money.”

September 2007.qxd 13/9/2007 5:30 PM

September 2007.qxd 23/8/2007 2:50 PM


in person

When you’re paying £165 for 18 holesof golf, it’s reassuring to know that theman in charge of the host club is deter-mined to provide value for money.

Indeed, spend a little time in thecompany of The Grove’s Spencer Schaubtalking about his role at the Troon Golf-managed venue and you will find hisconversation peppered with references to‘service’.

The 31-year-old American moved toThe Grove in May 2003, five monthsbefore it opened.The departure of direc-tor of golf, Blyth Reid, last Novemberoffered the chance for promotion andSchaub grabbed the opportunity withboth hands.

“When I came in my title was head golfprofessional,” he explained. “But it’s acompletely different role to the norm - it’smuch more operationally focussed.

“You don’t get to play and teach a lot,unlike other positions within our industry.

“We don’t have any members - and wehave a senior instructor who does theinstruction. I looked after the golf opera-tion and golf services: retail, golf services,golf reservations which were all impor-tant to the standards of The Grove.

“Now, as director of golf, that’s beenelevated. It now includes maintenance ofthe golf course, the day-to-day maintain-ing of the course; all the business andrevenue sides of it; the marketing and thesales, where we work closely with thehotel; and in addition - which may beunique for a director of golf - the gardens.

“The maintenance of those falls underthe director of golf as well. So it’s adiverse role with three main areas: golfcourse maintenance; gardens; and golfoperations.

Service theSchaub way

With the majority of his staffaway on summer holidays,publisher Michael Lenihantook the opportunity to hitthe road himself. He wentto Hertfordshire to visit The Grove’s director of golfSpencer Schaub.

WEBLINK; THEGROVE.CO.UK

September 2007.qxd 17/9/2007 9:43 AM


“It was an automatic succession for mewhen Blyth left. I’d been here for three-and-a-half years, and I think everyone feltit was the right thing to do, so it just natu-rally happened.

“Being an American I use a baseballanalogy: you can be a player; you can bea coach and at some point you’d want tobe the manager, that is how I thought andfelt about it.”

Schaub brought with him seven yearsof experience with the Troon Golf ethos.He joined the company - now the world’slargest golf management operation - inJanuary 1999 at Eagle Ridge, a 63-holeresort just outside Chicago.

Then he moved ‘down under’ toBrisbane for two-and-a-half years andspent time in Fiji and parts of south-eastAsia.

“I got to be involved with a lot of thedevelopments right from the beginningand six months to a year before opening,implementing the international operatingand service standards that have madeTroon Golf who they are today,” he said.

“I was involved with seven openings or‘transitions’ during my time in theAustralia - Pacific region.Then this prop-erty opportunity came up with Troon andthey wanted somebody with more of aninternational background - a strong oper-ational and set-up background. So I saidsure - it was a chance to be a little closerto home and gain some additional inter-national experience.

“I’m employed by Troon, but I am aGrove employee in almost all senses. Atthe end of the day I’m no different toanybody else.”

A qualified golf professional - but witha BSc in business studies majoring inmarketing, he looks back on his start inthe industry with some fond memories.

“I was fortunate enough to go throughthe golf management programme, atFerris State University in the US whichtrains students who want to get into golf,but gives them a business background -so it’s not just playing or teaching. It’ssanctioned and certified by the PGA ofAmerica.

“I went through that program for four-and-a-half years to come out with mybachelor of science degree.That back-ground sets the platform to move up andI knew I never wanted to teach all day;and I was never a good enough player toshoot 66 every day, so I saw this as mydirection.

“My first role was as a tournament co-ordinator - here in the UK we will call it acorporate golf manager - running groupgolf and corporate golf for the 63-holecomplex.

“We get into the business becausewe’re passionate about it - it’s not just ajob, it’s your career, your way of life. ButI do miss playing. I like to get in at leastnine holes each week, but reality says it isprobably every two weeks.

“And it’s actually the best way to seethe golf course - throw the bag on yourback and have a bit of a walk. Plus, I takedown a few notes while I’m out there.”

It’s not difficult to imagine Schaubtaking down notes on or off the golfcourse. He seems a very methodical andthorough young man. And that’s intendedas a compliment. He’s certainly notnerdish or without charm. He just has away of saying something and making youbelieve that’s how it will be.

It may be that attention to detail whichsingled him out as one of Troon’s rapid

risers - he’s certainly ethos-centric and itcan lead to a few changes in outlook.

He explained: “With the business strat-egy we have in place you have to be a bitmore pro-active in your pr and marketingprogrammes and manage your revenuesbecause you don’t have the membershipfees coming in to run your business.

“Having spent eight or nine years withTroon that part of my background wasquite strong.When you get into amanagement position with Troon you areexpected to perform.

“People always underestimate the oper-ational side of it.You have to have thedesire to be successful from a servicestandpoint in order to make this tick; tomake people go back to their golf clubsand say ‘actually The Grove was kindafun’.

“I believe it is important to be passion-ate about one particular point in thisindustry. My passion lies with exceedingexpectations. As one of my mentors HudHinton said ‘never over promise andunder deliver.’ I spend a lot of timinglooking at new ways on how we canexceed expectations.

“Internally we had a few changes with-in our staffing structure to ensure webecame more people focussed.That wasa big goal for me.To ensure that ourmanagers are spending more time infront of people than behind a desk:people first, paper last.

“I wanted to see people out in front ofthe guests.”

Schaub’s elevation came at a busy timefor The Grove.The 300-acre resort hadhosted the World Golf Championships,American Express Championship -another success for that Tiger chap - inSeptember and the residual effect wasmore people wanting to tread whereWoods trod.

“Our focus for not having membership was wewanted to give everybody an opportunity to play

this golf course - regardless of their handicap.”

September 2007.qxd 17/9/2007 9:44 AM


Schaub continued: “It was a uniqueyear because we closed for four weeks.But the Amex was very successful for usthere’s no doubt about it. Corporateenquires alone doubled from what theywere last year. Rounds of golf in October,November and December - right afterthe event - were sold out in around 90per cent of our days.

“There’s no doubt that from acommercial standpoint anybody whowould invest in an event like that wouldwant some financial return. And we saw abit of that right after the event and we’reseeing a bit more of it this year as well.

“We don’t want to be the most expen-sive in the market.We want to continue togive good value for money. I’ll get feed-back from guests. I don’t mind askingpeople: ‘Was it worth £165?’

“One person will say yes and anotherwill say no, but that’s a big strategy forme at the end of the year to make surewe’re giving value for money.

“We’ll continue to grow but there arestill some times when the golf course isn’tbusy.There are a few days of the weekwhere the business can grow and I willfocus my attention to driving the rightbusiness to those days.

“Our focus for not having membershipwas we wanted to give everybody anopportunity to play this golf course -regardless of their handicap.”

“We have the ability now for people tohold their handicap at The Grove withoutbeing a member.They buy a packagewhich gives them their three qualifyingrounds and they will be required tocomplete another three rounds a year atThe Grove to maintain their handicap. Ibelieve it’s a unique structure.

Another of The Grove’s marketinginitiatives is also starting to bear fruit.“We’re looking to get more and moreinternational visitors including Americansto come to England to play golf.”

“You could stay at The Grove and playnot only The Grove, but Sunningdale,Walton Heath,Wentworth…

“There are a lot of trophy golf coursesaround this area.With that sort ofsupport from a marketing programme ora sales strategy out of the US… there’s along-term vision for that.”

He’s certainly brought the US vision,drive and service ethos to The Grove butthere is one worrying trend in Americangolf of which he is very wary. Last yearmore golf courses closed in the USA thanthere were new openings - that, heopines, should be a worry for the entireindustry.

“Golf has changed so much over theyears, but at the end of the day we’re allfighting for people’s time. Golf doesn’ttake four hours to play anymore; thecourses are getting longer, and they’regetting harder.

“To play golf they’ll want to get here30-45 minutes before; four-and-a-halfhours to play golf, a half-hour after tohave drink or a bite to eat… that’s sixhours.

“And for someone who has a family it’sa big commitment to give up that amountof time on a Saturday or Sunday.

“With the increased amount of timepeople have to give up to play golf, youfind people are taking days out to playgolf, versus say a half a day.

“I think we may well see similar trendsover here that we’ve seen in the States.It’s not just in the US either, it’s in otherparts of the world - and when I was inAustralia the business was difficult attimes.

“I think the Asian countries are prettysafe as they should see golf continue topopulate there, but we’re fighting for somuch time when there are so many moreoptions as to how you spend your leisuretime.

“You can sometimes go away for theweekend almost for the same price as it isto play golf.The clubs with long-termvision, the private member clubs with agood membership base… those are theclubs which will survive.

“I think the three-star market will betough.The one-star, the £10 or £20, thatwill always be competitive - that’s just aquantity exercise and the ‘quality’ drivenfacilities will always sustain themselves,but it’s the middle ground…”

He tails off with a slight shake of thehead, betraying a magnanimous concernfor his contemporaries. It shouldn’t reallybe a worry at The Grove, however - evenat £165 a round. GME

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“To play golf they’llwant to get here 30-45minutes before; four-and-a-half hours toplay golf, a half-hourafter to have drink or abite to eat… that’s sixhours. And for some-one who has a familyit’s a big commitmentto give up that amountof time on a Saturdayor Sunday.”

September 2007.qxd 17/9/2007 9:45 AM

christy o’connor jnr


Christy O’Connor’s signature is writlarge all over his home country andEurope not to mention the WindwardIslands.The Irish have always beenintrepid travellers and this son of Galway

has the same rovinginstinct that tookearlier generations toall points of thecompass.

His calling, or whatmight be termed a second

career as a course designer, has grownbusier with advancing years. And if that

was only the second string to his bowit would be enough for any man.

However, that is not taking intoaccount a host of other golf-related

enterprises which show no sign of takinga back seat although Christy will be

60 next birthday.No wonder he is regarded as

Ireland’s golfing ambassador and manya politician could take a leaf out of his

book.What you see is what you get withChristy and what you get comes straightnot only from the heart but a lifetime’sexperience in the game and makingfriends.

Golf seems to breed such folk possiblybecause the game itself is based on goodmanners and etiquette. Christy stands forall that is good in golf and if there is anembodiment of job satisfaction it mustsurely be this happy go lucky member ofa large family whose roots are in Galway.

That he is distinguished from his uncleChristy by the appellation of ‘junior’suggests, quite wrongly, that this Christyis the runt of the litter. Not so.

Sean, his oldest brother, has not longretired after 30 years as a professional inthe Bahamas; next comes Frank, a pro inGermany while Eugene runs a golf rangein Marbella followed by amateur siblingsAlbert who lives in Athlone and plays offfive; Pascaul, a nine-handicapper,Vincent(7) and Raymond (8).

WEBLINK; CHRISTYOCONNORJNRLTD.IE

Christy O’Connor Jnr: A true golfing legend

There aren’t many things thatIrishman Christy O’Connor Jnrhasn’t achieved throughout hislong and distinguished career.John Vinicombe spoke to theformer Ryder Cup hero about hispersonal life away from golf, andwhat plans - if any - he has toslow down.

September 2007.qxd 14/9/2007 10:55 AM


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Thousand Words... Words are not enough when it comes tomarketing your golf club. Superb photography is the key, so talk to the golf course experts.



That leaves room for a sister, Maureenwho used to play before starting a family.

And that’s far from all of theO’Connor’s on Christy’s side of the fami-ly. “There are all the nephews and niecescoming at one stage for Christmas.Youmight say we are a very big party family,”laughed Christy who upholds the Irishtradition of always smiling and looking onthe bright side.

Uncle Christy, who played, incidentallyin every Ryder Cup from 1955 to 1973and appeared on an Irish stamp, is in hiseighties now and recalled in a foreword tohis nephew’s book, Golf Masterclass, howit all began.

It was in 1970 that Christy, jnr, turnedpro having started out in Bob Wallace’sshop at Galway. When first spreading hiswings the young O’Connor went to SouthShields and then returned home.Christy’s brother Sean was assistant toChristy, snr, at Royal Dublin and thentook wing for the West Indies.

“It was with great pride that I nurturedand enjoyed the progress of my youngnephew. Now I can look back withimmense pride in the manner in which hehas not only carried the name ofO’Connor but has become Ireland’s golf-ing ambassador to the world.”

When a cut-down club was first putinto Christy’s hands in his birthplace ofSalthill, a small village only yards fromGalway GC, it was because the local ladsdidn’t play soccer or hurley.

Golf was the only game in town andChristy took to it naturally. It was only amatter of time under his uncle’s influencethat he shaped-up as pro material. And hehas never looked back.

His tournament career is well docu-mented. Following uncle into the RyderCup team, Christy’s two appearancescould hardly have been more different.There was dismal defeat at Laurel Valleyin 1975 when he and Eamonn Darcymade no impression on Lou Graham andTom Weiskopf since Tom went to the turn

in 30. But that didn’t stop Christy at thecelebration dinner entertaining everyoneat the request of Lee Trevino by singingDanny Boy.

In 1989 when restored to the team bycaptain Tony Jacklin, Christy and RonanRafferty lost their foursomes to MarkCalcavecchia and Ken Green and thesingles saw him matched against FredCouples.

Level at The Belfry’s 18th tee Christy’stwo iron across the water landed within afew feet of the hole while Couples pushedhis nine iron to the right and took threemore to get down conceding to the jubi-lant O’Connor who wept with joy.

He has dined out on that one shot eversince and who can blame him?

Being Irish it is hardly surprising thatafter-dinner speaking is one of hisfortes. That is when he is notlogging up the air miles goingabout his design business.

“I don’t know how many Ihave travelled but a friend ofmine estimated that my timespent between airports wasequivalent to three years off my lifewhich I regret.What it is now I’ve noidea but there is so much to do.

“I’m busy with Budapest Gate inHungary where work has just begun andI’m always looking at new sites and thelatest is in France near La Rochelle whileI’m involved in Portugal and, of course,back in Ireland at Castleblaney nearDrogheda.There is St Lucia as well.”

The portfolio in Portugal is forOceanico Developments, an Irish compa-ny and the largest and fastest growingdeveloper of luxury leisure and golfresorts in the country. It is reckoned thata £100,000 investment in Portugal couldbe worth £460,000 by 2016.

Christy and Nick Faldo have designedthe two courses on Oceanico’s 640-acrefive-star flagship Amendoeira resort onthe Algarve where full completion isscheduled for 2009/10.

In addition, Oceanico have launched aproject at Obidos, 45 miles north ofLisbon while in the Azores, Oceanico areplanning a stunning location with theappointment of Troon Golf, the leader inupscale course and private club manage-ment.

Oceanico is a rapidly expanding Irishproperty company that has bought thefive famous courses in Vilamoura and nowonder Christy speaks warmly of them.

Christy and wife Ann like Portugal forrelaxing and have a holiday home in themountains at Loule. And when not takingtime off abroad they put their feet up onthe coast at Lahinch in County Clare.

But there is not a great deal of sparetime in Christy’s busy schedule. Asdaughter Ann, who runs the PR side ofthe business from Dublin, explained:

“He never stops, never. He is a greatcharacter and can turn his hand toanything. He loves fishing, horseriding and shooting and is neverin one place for too long.”

Christy used to own seven racehorses when he had a farm inGalway and it was there he used to

get behind a digger. He still rides out andas for fishing he is just as happy on river,lake or sea. “I love fishing for mackereland grilling the catch on the beach.That’show I relax.”

Is Christy a rich man? He laughed.“Yes, I’m a rich man in friends and satis-faction. I still play and enjoy myself withmy friends. As for designing... I’m like achild being re-born.

“As for money... that is secondary. Mywork is the priority. I will do 30-plus visitsper course and on top of that are all theother things like corporate days,commentating, after dinner speaking,Press and TV work. I am enjoying life tothe full and will never retire.”

Christy and Ann O’Connor live atMount Wolsley near Dublin and it ishardly a surprise that the family home ison a course that Christy designed. GME

“I will do 30-plus visits per course and on top of that are all the other thingslike corporate days, commentating, after dinner speaking, press and TV

work. I am enjoying life to the full and will never retire.”

September 2007.qxd 14/9/2007 10:58 AM

my view


I first saw a demonstration of a tee timebooked over the Internet by someonesitting at a computer, ten years ago. Yes,that’s right, 1997.

The company, who were selling theequivalent of the first fax machine, wasonly looking for £8,000 for the basicelectronic tee sheet. I think there were100 people in the UK that had Internetaccess at the time, but this company felt itwas only a matter of time before everygolfer would be booking this way.

They were right - but the matter oftime was about 13 years! Because by2010 I believe most golf bookings will bemade online and both golf clubs andgolfers will be benefiting from the effi-ciencies that can be delivered by theInternet.

Eighteen months ago, you’d have strug-gled to find a tee time booking businessin the UK and now there are five majorplayers in operation, including our owncompany Online Teetimes Ltd (OTL).

A growing number of golfers are usingthe Internet for booking and orderingitems they would normally havepurchased by a different method - airlinetickets and hotels are probably the bestknown examples of this.

Of course it also includesbooks, CDs, DVDs,

tickets for trainsand concerts,

insurance,regular weeklyshopping andcar hire.

This is nothow everybody is

transacting, but thenew consumer is, and the

future for golf clubs is in the newconsumer.

If golf follows other industry trends themajority of green fees will be bookedonline within the next three to five years.And that is a significant new market.

There is plenty of evidence of thissignificant market.This month will seeour company reach a milestone, when wewill have sold €1 million worth of greenfees online. It has taken time, but it’s alandmark nonetheless.

Online tee time booking is still anembryonic market, but it is attractiveenough to tempt one of the UK’s biggestonline equipment retailers, Direct GolfUK, to make a play with their new sitewww.direct-teetimes.co.uk.

With an active and growing database ofcustomers, and stores nationwide, they’reideally-placed to successfully market teetimes to a large, captive audience.

My company is supplying the tee timeinventory on their site in a partnershipagreement we implemented to ensure ourclubs’ tee times are distributed as widelyas possible, because distribution is thereal key to developing the online tee timemarket.

And it is the same issue for golf clubs.Distribution through the various opera-tors will maximise the online revenue fora club, provided the operator has a busi-ness model that makes sense.

Car hire is a great example of how toget it right. Global brands like Hertz andAvis spend millions every year topromote and advertise their own onlinebusinesses, yet they are willing partici-pants in www.travelsupermarket.co.uk,which promotes hire cars deals frommore than 20 other competitors.

These major players understand yieldmanagement better than anyone - a rentalcar sitting empty is generating no cash atall.

Airlines have done it. Car hire companieshave done it. So is golf on the verge ofrevolutionising the way rounds arebooked - by finally coming to terms withonline tee time booking? Paul Heeney,managing director of Online TeetimesLtd, gives his verdict.

Online... or Out of Business

“If golf follows otherindustry trends themajority of green feeswill be booked onlinewithin the next three tofive years.”

WEBLINK; ONLINETEETIMES.CO.UK

September 2007.qxd 14/9/2007 2:22 PM


All-Weather Tees

Tel: 01935 [email protected]

As chosen by St Andrews Linksand The R&A

Avis UK commercial director, DanielMcCarthy, recently launched a £12-a-daypromotion with a simple PR message:“We wanted to make car rental as costeffective and accessible as possible.”

The consumer thinks: “Great value andservice from those nice people at Avis.”Avis thinks: £12 is better than nothing.

Something akin to this thinking withrespect to yield management will seemany golf clubs generate strong onlinerevenues from vacant tee times.

For a long time, discount voucherschemes have effectively set the price fordiscounted golf at 50 per cent and clubsneed to avoid simply moving the two forone principles online because it does notincrease yields or offer thegolfer anythingdifferent from whatthey receivepresently.

The Internet provides clubs with a veryflexible pricing tool and the reality is that20 per cent or 30 per cent off might bejust as attractive to the online golf hunterfor certain off peak times. It is the func-tion of us, the operators, to help clubs tofind these crucial price points.

At a recent meeting with St Margaret’sGolf Club we discussed how the yieldmanagement principles were working.The key points were that their roundsbooked online were up by over 100 percent year on year, and even more interest-ing, was the price per round - the yield -was up by five per cent - quite a result foryear two.

Over the next 12 months I believe clubswill see the online channel move fromthe pioneering phase to the growthphase. Right now there are a lot oftee times on a lot of websites andwhile booking activity is definitelyincreasing, the tipping point forviral growth of bookers has notbeen reached.This shouldoccur sometime in the first half

of 2008.That is when the growthphase will occur.

Much of the responsibility for thedevelopment lays with us, the operators,but clubs can play an important role in acouple of areas.

The main one is that web prices mustnot exceed the price on offer at the club -as this totally undermines the onlinechannel and runs contrary to all otherindustries.

Imagine if an airline ticket was moreexpensive online than if you purchased itover the phone or from a travel agent.Nobody would book online.

There are fees that may be charged bysome companies, but the consumer canchoose whether to pay these booking feesor not. But the price for the tee timeshould never be more expensive online.

The other main area where clubs canaffect change is with their tee sheetproviders. Integrating with tee sheets isvery simple for us, but the clubs need torequest the integration from their teesheet suppliers.

Real-time booking offers clubs the bestpossible opportunity of securing anonline booking because they can offer thesame times to any and all of the operatingcompanies without the admin hassle orthe risk of a double booking.

Clubs should see this as an excitingopportunity - when was the last time fivecompanies rolled up to your golf club andsaid: “We want to sell your tee times foryou,” and then backed it up by develop-ing web sites, informing databases ofgolfers of your inventory and, of course,providing customer support.

Online tee time booking has finally gotout of the starting blocks, but it’s not aquick dash; it’s a concerted and consistenteffort over a long distance.What clubsneed to realise though, is that if they’re notthere to hear the gun in the first place,they’re not even in the race - let alone inwith a chance of winning it. GME

September 2007.qxd 14/9/2007 2:21 PM

the last word


In the last edition of GME, Pete Simmpenned a feature on the future ofladies golf. It was an interesting readon many counts – not least for mepersonally, because I am such a hugefan of ladies professional golf.

It’s sometimes unfashionable to admitto enjoying watching ladies golfbecause… well I’m not quite sure really.

I know the money on the LadiesEuropean Tour pales against that onthe men’s tours – and the players don’thit the ball the same prodigiousdistances. But is that what golf is nowabout? Money and power? Whatabout skill?

I was lucky enough to be working inthe press corps at the Ladies EnglishOpen at Chart Hills, in Kent, during July,and I have to say that it was one ofthe most pleasurable assignments I’dever been given.

Admittedly, I got a Monty-style hardstare from Laura Davies when I askeda question of which she clearly didn’tapprove, but that goes with the territo-ry. She did not hold it against me; shedid not blank me the following day.

The ‘girls’ on the tour – pardon mefor using the term girls but that is invari-ably how they refer to themselves andI am old enough to be the father ofmost of them – are some of the mostunassuming, approachable and affa-ble sports people you could ever hopeto meet.

On course, the players often minglewith the crowds; there are no hugeentourages of security men followingDavies around.

Young children quite oftenapproached her for an autograph asshe made her way to and from thepractice ground.

The analogy which could be madeis that with professional football in theUK. The Premiership players are likeroyalty – you can’t get near them.They earn obscene amounts of money– and in some cases do equallyobscene things to spend it.

Non-League players on the otherhand play for the joy of the game –well most of them anyway. At my twolocal non-League clubs you can simplywalk up to the players or managerand chat to them.

The atmosphere’s friendlier and itdoesn’t require a winning lottery ticketto take the kids to a game.

Admittedly the standard’s not ashigh but it’s a small price to pay. Andthat’s where the analogy falls down.Because take away the power andmoney and the standard of women’sgolf is not that far behind the men’s.

I stood watching the womenapproaching the difficult ninth hole atChart Hills for around 90 minutes on thesecond day – and they fair pepperedthe green. It was stunning to watch.

But still those with a lack of knowl-edge on the subject slate thewomen’s game, without ever seeinghow good it is for themselves.

They might have gained an insightwhile watching the Women’s BritishOpen, at St Andrews, on BBC TV. Butthe BBC in its infinite wisdom cut shortits coverage on a couple of daysbecause their transmission time had‘run out’. Can you imagine the uproarwhich would have ensued had theydone that at Carnoustie?

If the BBC won’t even give the sporta fair crack of the whip – when, let’sface it, our national broadcaster haslittle other sport with which to enthralthe viewing public – what chancehave the girls got? GME

Girls on Tour still lookingfor equal rights

“It’s sometimes unfashionable to admit to enjoyingwatching ladies golf because… well I’m not quite surereally.”


Are you looking for a

Financial Lifeline?If you’re thinking about buying, selling, leasing or managing a golf operation, call us in total confidence for some honest advice.


David [email protected]

September 2007.qxd 14/9/2007 11:11 AM

Mox helps me achieve better returns...“Buggies are one of our major income streams. I’m no golfer - but I certainly am in the business of golf.Besides the buggies, all our turfcare equipment is leased through Mox. And Mox has shown us how tomaximize the buggies’ operational effectiveness with innovations like the Single Point Filling System tohelp ensure batteries are topped up properly. We’ve a pretty good relationship and get very well lookedafter. And we’ll soon be expanding our buggy fleet from forty to fifty.” Heath Harvey, Commercial Director The London Golf Club.

Making the most from your buggies? Wondering about introducing them at your club? If you want a company that’s a partner not just a supplier, then come and talk to us on 08701 646 004, or e-mail us at [email protected]

But don’t just take our word for it...

Heath Harvey (right) with Iain Belton, GM on the leftand Chris Glover, Head of Fleet Sales, in the middle.

September 2007.qxd 11/9/2007 2:51 PM

September 2007.qxd 23/8/2007 2:52 PM

gmé | issuu 56

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