GMé | issuu 59

GolfManagement Europe

UK £5.00 Eur €6.50US $10.00

An artificial six-hole compact golf course atKikuoka Golf and Country Club in Luxembourg

could revolutionise the way we build courses.page 20

A true and trusted partner ProLink Solutions expands its relationship with high-levelEuropean golf clubs and resorts

issue 59march 2008

THE LEADING BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE PAN-EUROPEAN GOLF INDUSTRY

March 2008.qxd 10/3/2008 6:08 PM

March 2008.qxd 18/2/2008 3:13 PM

MARCH 2008 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 Mark Alexander, GaryFirkins, Mark Smith, Pete SimmPublisher 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 2008

When the world number one demandsaction on a facet of golf, it is to behoped the relevant authorities would situp and take notice. Slow play is the issuewhich has ruffled the feathers of thenormally unflappable Tiger Woods.

Woods has called on the golfingauthorities to take action to combat theissue of slow play on the PGA Tour.

He said: “It’s been an ongoing prob-lem on the PGA Tour for some time. Ihonestly believe the pace of play isfaster in Europe and Japan.”

The rules of golf insist on play proceed-ing “without undue delay”, yet in profes-sional events rounds can often take

around five hours to complete and theissue is becoming a major concern forthe game in general.

In a previous issue of GME, Golf 20/20’sRuffin Beckwith spoke of how timeconstraints may impinge on the populari-ty of golf – and the need for the industryto address it.

Recent figures tend to support histheory and if a five-hour round becomesthe norm at professional televisedevents, it’s hardly likely to act as a call toaction for beginners.

The recent decision to allow rangefind-ers to be used in sanctioned competi-tions is a step in the right direction, butit’s no panacea.

It will be some time – if ever – beforewe see such equipment in use at theMasters or the Open but it could be

argued such a sea change is required ifTiger’s wishes are to be fulfiled withoutthe need to hit players with fines andpossibly create some resentment amongthe professional ranks.

But more does need to be done toimprove the pace of play in professionaland top amateur events – and, what’smore, further ideas are needed toincrease participation in shorter, moreimmediate, versions of the game.

The most prominent currently is PeterMcEvoy’s brainchild, Powerplay Golf,which is a nine-hole competition and isbeing touted as golf’s answer toTwenty20 cricket.

That is spreading throughout the plan-et at quite a rate. But the sport cannotrely on one man to be its saviour – if sucha thing is needed.

What is needed is a few fresh ideas toencourage youngsters and beginners, toenable them to play golf by the hour.Golf clubs are empowered to createthese opportunities for themselves, sogolfing entrepreneurs should be rubbingtheir hands with glee. GME

Follow Tiger’slead and let’s allspeed up play.

Michael [email protected]

ProLink reaffirms its position inEurope after terminating itsdeal with Elumina Iberica.

5

Bro Hof Slot is arguably one ofSweden’s finest courses and apotential Ryder Cup venue.

15

CEO of the Club ManagersAssociation of Europe, GMEtalks to Jerry Kilby.

23

Rowallan Castle in Scotland isColin Montgomerie’s firstdesign in his native homeland.

28

PPC

“if a five-hour round becomes the norm... it’s hardlylikely to act as a call to action for beginners.”

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 7:50 AM

headline news

4 GME MARCH 2008

Dubai plans toinvest in Scotland

Dubai is preparing bidsworth at least $795 millionfor three premier Scottishgolf courses, according tothe UK Observer newspaper.

Reports claimed state-owned Dubai World is inadvanced talks to acquirethe Turnberry course(pictured) and adjacentluxury hotel from its USowner, Starwood Hotels andResorts.

It has also shown interestin the Gleneagles and LochLomond courses, the news-paper said.

Turnberry was put up forsale at the end of last year,

under the conditionStarwood retains the right tomanage the resort.

Gleneagles is currentlyowned by drinks giantDiageo, and is due to hostthe Ryder Cup in 2014.Tournaments hosted byLoch Lomond include theBarclays Scottish Open andSolheim Cup.

A source in the Gulf toldthe Observer: “Dubai isseeking trophy sportingassets. It wants to be behindleading golfing tourna-ments, which would help itto promote its own DubaiDesert Classic competition.”

A Scottish club hasbroken with tradition toallow members andguests to wear jeans in theclubhouse.

Members at the 113-year-old Kirkintilloch GolfClub voted at the club’sannual meeting to relaxtheir dress code to allowdenims to be worn.

Club secretary TomCummings said: “This issomething we have beenlooking at for a long time.

“Members bring wivesand girlfriends and wealso host a lot of privatefunctions and it was quitehard to tell visitors to notwear jeans.

“During the AGM wediscussed this and it wasvoted through by a two-thirds majority to start withimmediate effect.

“A few people worejeans over the weekendand I’m pleased to saythe place didn’t falldown.”

A PGA ruling which wascreated 25 years ago toencourage more womenmembers to compete onequal terms in its pro-amevents has been amendedto apply to all members’tournaments and champi-onships.

The ‘ten per cent rule’ asit is known allows courses tobe shortened by up to ten

per cent to give womenprofessionals a more equalopportunity of competing.

When setting the golfcourse tournament directorswill be able to apply therule, which comes intoeffect from April 1, at theirdiscretion taking intoaccount the length andseverity of the course so thatirrespective of gender all

competitors will have anequal competitive chal-lenge.

PGA chief executiveSandy Jones welcomed thedecision: “Hopefully thedecision will encouragemore women members tocompete by setting the golfcourse up in a way thatgives them a chance to playon a level playing field.

“PGA tournaments areintended to be a benefit forall members and an oppor-tunity for them to displayand test their playing skills.

“The move simply recog-nises there is inequality interms of physical strengthand this rule allows allmembers to enjoy playingcompetitive golf with theirfellow PGA professionals.”

Jones backs amended rule for women

Toro recently presentedElmwood College with acheque for $80,000 courtesyof its ‘Giving Program’.

Part of the company’songoing commitment tobenefiting education, theenvironment, the arts, andhealth and human services,the donation was made tothe college, which is locat-ed close to St Andrews GolfClub, at BTME in Harrogate.

Toro’s Brad Hamilton,director of marketing,commercial and irrigationproducts, and Barry Beckett,senior marketing managerof commercial products,both international business,jetted in from the compa-ny’s HQ in the States to pres-ent the cheque toElmwood’s golf coursemanager, Andrew Mellon,who accepted the fundingon behalf of the college.

Thanks to the ‘GivingProgram’, Elmwood will nowbe able to enhance itsonline and distance learningoptions, aiding golf studentsacross Europe and as farafield as China.

As Carol Borthwick, thecollege’s director of golfand international affairs,explains: “This new develop-ment will enable us todevelop our expertise inweb and graphics design,taking the course materials

to a whole new level ofquality while helping torealise the college’s vision tobe a world-class Centre ofExcellence for golf educa-tion.

“This is a fantastic oppor-tunity for both Elmwood andToro to continue to leadand develop new initiativesthat will benefit the wholeindustry.

“We are very grateful forthe support and assistanceThe Toro Company hasgiven Elmwood over theyears.”

Stacy Bogart, director ofthe ‘Giving Program’, adds:“Elmwood is an internationalleader in educatingstudents in the turf industry.

“We are proud to supportthis innovative programme,which will provide a diversegroup of future greenkeep-ers from across the worldwith access to high-qualityturf education.”

Elmwood College collects$80,000 Toro award

March 2008.qxd 12/3/2008 9:07 AM

MARCH 2008 GME 5

FACTFILE;

on the cover

As the world’s largestprovider of GPS golf-coursemanagement systems,ProLink Solutions earns highmarks for reliability and theexceptional support itprovides to customers.

ProLink is actively seekinga new European distributorfollowing the termination ofits distribution agreementwith Elumina Iberica.

The company is support-ing European customersthrough its international callcentre, dispatching techni-cians with the sharp respon-siveness its installed coursesreceive in the US and world-wide.

“We take our brandpromise of being a trustedpartner very seriously,” saidProLink CEO Lawrence Bain.“That means delivering theoutstanding support our

global customers havecome to expect the past 15years.”

Those include WhittleburyPark in Northamptonshire, a36-hole facility with ProLinkGPS installed on its buggies.

“In the time that I’ve dealtwith ProLink, they havebeen great to work with,”said Tom Henner, thecourse’s managementconsultant. “They’ve beenhighly attentive and dealtquickly with any issue thathas come up.”

Founded in 1993, ProLinkboasts approximately twicethe number of worldwideinstallations over other GPScompanies combined.

ProLink’s robust growthcontinued last year, when180 golf courses eitherinstalled, upgraded orrenewed their leases.

Even greater gains areforecast in 2008.

This global platform isbolstered by ProLink’s work-force; half its employees arededicated to service andsupport.

Recently, the companysigned an agreement withABC New Media Sales to sellads on its screens across theUS, and ProLink foresees asimilar partnership on aninternational level.

“There’s a reason we arethe world’s No.1 GPScompany,” Bain said.

“ProLink operates by anunwavering commitment toour brand dimensions -providing genuinely engag-ing experiences for golfers,and serving as enrichingand innovative manage-ment solutions for golf cours-es,” he concluded. GME

WEBLINK; GOPROLINK.COM

ProLink maintains its role asa ‘Trusted Partner’ to golf

ProLink Solutions410 South Benson Lane

ChandlerAZ 85224

USA

TEL; (1) 480 961 8800FAX; (1) 480 782 1559

“We take our brand promise of being a trusted partner very seriously.”

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 7:58 AM

Ernie Els recently unveiledThe Els Club at Dubai SportsCity, the world’s first inte-grated sports city.

The Els Club is the firstsports facility to open inDubai Sports City and will sitalongside other facilitiesincluding the ICC CricketStadium and Global CricketAcademy, The ManchesterUnited Soccer Schools, TheDavid Lloyd Tennis

Academy and NextGeneration Club and theWorld Hockey Academy.

Els was joined for this offi-cial opening in Dubai byEnglish cricketer AndrewFlintoff, South Africa’s WorldCup winning rugby captainJohn Smit, tennis legendMartina Navratilova andManchester United goal-keeping legend, PeterSchmeichel.

The prestigious Els Clubcourse stretches 7,538 yardsfrom the back tees. The“desert links” layoutcombines a traditional clas-sic design with truly immacu-late fairways and greens.

Els is looking to create arelaxed, welcoming atmos-phere at the Els Club with aworldclass service: “The ElsClub will combine the bestof all the great clubs that Ihave played worldwide. Thegolf challenge will besecond to none.

“We’ll have great food inour restaurants, and I partic-ularly want the 19th to bespecial!

“I am really proud of whatwe have achieved here.When I first saw the site, Icould see the potential for agreat Desert Links courseand we’ve achieved justthat.

“Whether you are an 18handicap or a scratchgolfer, it will be a great testof golf. Even if you don’tplay well, we’ll make surethat you have a great timein the clubhouse!”

news

6 GME MARCH 2008

The Ransomes HR 3300Tout-front rotary mowerhas won the TurfProfessional Best NewTurfcare Product Awardfor 2007. The HR 3300T waslaunched at SALTEX inSeptember 2007.

Jack Nicklaus will attendthe fifth annual KPMGGolf Business Forum inperson to receive the GolfBusiness Forum LifetimeAchievement Award atThe Ritz-CarltonPowerscourt Hotel, nearDublin, Ireland in May.

Roy Case has taken officeas president of the EnglishGolf Union at its AnnualGeneral Meeting whichtook place at WoodhallSpa recently. Case, whosucceeds Richard Palmer,has championed juniorgolf within his home coun-ty of Nottinghamshire,with the EGU and the R&Afor three decades.

Rockliffe Hall, the luxuryhotel, spa and golf coursedevelopment, has madeits first senior appointment,placing former Slaley Hallcourse manager, DavyCuthbertson in charge oftheir own golf course.

Blackwood, the popularresort-style complex builtby a marchioness forUlster’s new breed of pay-and-play golfers, is up forsale. The resort, nearBangor, was the brain-child of Lady Dufferin, butit has been forced to lookfor a buyer after being hitby a crippling VAT bill ofover £500,000.

Bradshaw Rental Vehicleshas announced that thecompany has signed athree-year contract tosupply vehicles to theOpen Championship.

IN BRIEF;

Els opens first facility atDubai Sports City

A Lancashire club is beingforced to sell off its club-house to stave off bankrupt-cy. Bolton Open Golf Club,Harwood, is selling the6,500sq ft building to coverhigh running costs.

Its owners say the sale isnecessary to secure thefuture of the 18-hole golfcourse.

Robin Day, principal of thebuilding’s owner The OpenGolf Group, said: “We areselling to salvage the rest ofthe club so we can continueoperating the golf course forthe public.

“If we don’t sell, it willundoubtedly go bankrupt.”

The Open Golf Grouphopes to raise £700,000through the sale, with thebuilding being marketed asa potential house, nursery oroffices.

New changing facilities forthe course, which the grouppart-owns with BoltonCouncil, would be providedat a smaller replacementbuilding at the first tee, saidDay.

He said the clubhousewas no longer viable, withutility bills, staff costs and

insurance to add to businessrates of £23,000. The club’soverall annual running costshad hit £450,000 and itmade a loss of £100,000 lastyear.

“The clubhouse is thelargest overhead and itmakes sense to sell it,” hesaid, adding the sale was alast resort.

“We tried a number ofthings last year, includingtrying to sell off someperimeter land. That failed.We have been supportingthe losses for many yearsnow.”

Clubhouse to stop bankruptcy threat

LPG the best way forwardfor Alnmouth

Alnmouth Golf Club haverecently taken delivery of afleet of eight EZGO TXT golfcars, powered not by petrol,but by LPG.

Managing secretary atthe club, Hamish Sutherland,said: “Our previous golf carswere petrol, in fact we stillhave a few on the fleet, butthese will be phased outover time. I hadn’t consid-ered going down the LPG

route until our local dealer,Rickerbys, proposed theidea.

“This convinced me theidea had some merit, so weexplored the options withincreased interest.

“The difference in fuelcosts is hugely significantand there are the healthand safety issues associatedwith the storage and trans-port of petrol.”

March 2008.qxd 12/3/2008 9:10 AM

MARCH 2008 GME 7

news

Elumina Iberica SA hasannounced that they havesigned anagreement tosupply upwardsof 10,000 screens over thenext five years to prestigiousgolf courses throughoutChina.

This deal is just onein a long line ofsuccess for Eluminaover the years and isquite unique as the equip-ment is being sold to their

advertising partner in Chinawho is, in fact, supplying theequipment free of charge

to the golfcourses.

Already,over 54 per cent of

the advertising spacehas been pre-booked to fund thisroll out of screensacross China. Not only do

Elumina benefit from theinstallation and mainte-

nance of the equipment,but they also retain apercentage of the advertis-ing rights estimated to beworth up to US$15m.

Commenting on the deal,Mark Smart, managingdirector said: “It has takentwelve months to negotiatethe deal which guaranteessignificant revenue year onyear to Elumina.

“There has been a lot ofpublicity recently regardingthe dispute between

Elumina and Prolink which isyesterday’s news as far as Iam concerned.

“There have been a lot ofrumours in the golf industryand I hope that thisannouncement will quashthese rumours once and forall,” added Smart.

“We look forward tocontinuing to grow theElumina brand for manyyears to come and provid-ing excellent service to ourexisting customers.”

Elumina Iberica SA signs $40m China Deal

Troon Golf hasannounced that the AbuDhabi Golf Club and TheMontgomerie, Dubai, bothTroon Golf managed facili-ties, were among the topprize winners at the recentMiddle East Golf Awards.

Abu Dhabi won thecoveted ‘Golf Club of theyear’ as well as the awardfor ‘Best 18 holes.’ The clubhas consistently receivedrich praise for its layout andcourse conditioning fromsome of the world’s finest

players in recent times andis central to the vision ofpromoting the UAE capitalas an international golfdestination.

“These accolades paytribute to the resoundingsuccess we have had atAbu Dhabi Golf Club in thelast year,” said DJ Flanders,general manager.

“We started 2007 aimingto establish the club as theMiddle East’s top course,and this award goes a longway to confirming that.”

Abu Dhabi top course

GolfTech GmbH Golf Course Construction and

Maintenance

MD: Andrew JefferyGolfTech GmbH, PO Box 1106,

25961 Westerland/SyltGermany

+49 (0) 173 571 [email protected]

www.golftech-gmbh.de

Marine Golf Club, Germany

BAGCC

March 2008.qxd 12/3/2008 11:59 AM

news

8 GME MARCH 2008

Council considering scrapping golf

Course upgrade getsBrown’s seal of approval

Ed Combest, retiredprofessor from Lake CityCommunity College in LakeCity, Florida, is the inauguralwinner of the InternationalGolf Course EquipmentManagers Association(IGCEMA) Edwin BuddingAward, sponsored byRansomes Jacobsen.

The Edwin Budding Awardwas created to recognisethose in the turf equipmentsector whose actions havegone above and beyondthe norm to help shape thegolf industry.

Edwin Budding designedthe first cylinder mower,which has shaped golf aswe know it today.

Ed Combest was selectedby a committee of industryprofessionals chosen by theIGCEMA and David Withers,managing director ofRansomes Jacobsen, whosaid: “The IGCEMA wantedto recognise individuals whodemonstrate the same qual-ities as Edwin Budding did;influence significant changein our industry above andbeyond normal day to daywork.

We are delighted that,having just celebrated the175th anniversary ofRansomes building the firstBudding mower, we wereasked to sponsor this superbaward.”

Inaugural Edwin BuddingAward presented

Two Home Counties golfcourses in need of millions ofpounds of investment fromtaxpayers could bescrapped and sold off.

South Bucks DistrictCouncil is looking at itsoptions for the 18-holeFarnham Park Golf Courseas to whether to go aheadwith a £2.6m rebuild of theclubhouse, a new practiceground and academy area– or just get rid of it.

The council is now under-taking a ‘market testing’exercise to find out the truevalue of the pay-as-you-play Farnham Park GolfCourse, in Stoke Poges, and

The Lanes Golf Course, onthe border of South Bucksand Slough.

The issue was discussed ata Farnham Royal ParishCouncil meeting in March.

Chairman Frank Fouldssaid: “The issue is the possi-bility that the municipal golfclub available to the publicat a very cheap basis isgoing to be sold off, topossibly Stoke Park.

“If that is the case it wouldbe members-only and thatwould up the fees.”

In March last year StokePoges parish councillors saidthey feared the Lanes GolfCourse, which is on green-

belt land, would be sold inorder to help financeimprovements at FarnhamPark Golf Course.

Director of services atSouth Bucks District Council,Bob Smith, said: “At thisstage the council has madeno decision as to whether itwill actually sell the golfcourses or alternativelywhether it will redevelop theclubhouse.

“Once the value of thecourses has been firmlyestablished, by the market-testing exercise, councillorswill then consider which ofthe two options is in the bestinterests of the community.”

Ryder Cup star and BBCGolf TV commentator KenBrown recently visitedAldwickbury Park Golf Club,Harpenden, to review theresults of a £750,000 upgradeto the 18-hole golf coursethat he designed in 1993.

Brown, a four-timesEuropean Tour winner whoplayed in five Ryder Cups,and who lives in Harpenden,was particularly impressed

with enhancements to thegreens and fairways on the6,352-yard, par 71 ParkCourse.

Commenting on the workBrown, who co-designedthe course with golf coursearchitect Martin Gillett said:“The course at AldwickburyPark Golf Club has neverlooked better – the teamhas done a great job in thepast 12 months.

“Our design brief atAldwickbury Park was tobuild a top class course, forall to enjoy, constructed toa high specification toproduce premier qualitygreens, tees and fairways.”

As well as the upgrade tothe course, the club’s newowner, Burhill Golf andLeisure, has worked toenhance clubhouse facili-ties to accommodate func-tions and meetings.

General manager, TristanHall, said: “It was a pleasureto welcome Ken back andsee that he was pleasedwith the upgrade.

“The course has been inexcellent condition through-out the winter and webelieve we are on the roadto achieving our goal ofmaking Aldwickbury Parkthe best maintained, qualitycourse in the region.”

Sir John Hall has takenthe first steps towardstransforming a run-downnorth-east estate into ahotel and golf complex.

Hall, life president ofNewcastle United FC, hassubmitted preliminaryideas for the project atWoolsington Hall nearNewcastle Airport withcouncil planners.

Meanwhile, the citycouncil are seeking anagreement on repairsneeded to safeguard thehistoric hall.

The grade II listed build-ing, which dates back tothe 17th century andincludes stables and anorangery, has beenempty since the early1990s and is on EnglishHeritage’s at-risk register.

Hall, the man who builtthe MetroCentre and wasthe majority stakeholder inNewcastle United until hisfamily sold out to MikeAshley, has big plans forthe hall and its 340 acresof parkland.

His family businessbought the estate in 1994with the aim of turning itinto a football academy.

The family, includingHall’s daughter AllisonAntonopoulos, want toconvert the building into aboutique hotel with 40bedrooms, restore thegardens, and build a golfcourse.

March 2008.qxd 12/3/2008 9:19 AM

IT’S THE WORLD’S GREATEST GAME.LET YOUR GUESTS PLAY IT IN STYLE.

Why settle for just any golf car when you can treat your guests to an extraordinary golfexperience? We proudly carry the Club Car line because it’s all about style, performanceand comfort. With industry-leading technology for superior reliability and efficiency, Club Carcontinues to set the standard for technological innovation.

Club Car/Ingersoll Rand Greenbank House, Swan Lane, Hindley Green Wigan WN2 4AR +44 1942 503141 www.clubcar.com

March 2008.qxd 12/3/2008 9:30 AM

The Club Company hascompleted the refurbish-ment of The Essex Golf andCountry Club, just as organ-isers of the Olympics haveacknowledged the venueas a support facility forLondon 2012.

The refurbishment of theclub’s 42-room hotelcompletes the 18-monthproject, which has alsoincluded the upgrading ofthe swimming pool, spa,

member bars and confer-ence and banquetingsuites.

The company has invested£850,000 in the project todate to ensure that visitorsare provided with facilities inkeeping with the leadingfacilities in the region.

As well as providingaccommodation to visitingOlympic and Paralympicteams, the club will offerathletes use of its facilities,

which are located approxten miles from Colchester,Essex, and just 45 miles fromLondon.

The Essex Golf andCountry Club formed part ofthe Braintree District’s PreGames Training CampConsortium, which is alsocelebrating after learningthat three of its facilities willfeature in the officialLondon organising commit-tee pre-games trainingguide.

John Martin, generalmanager of The Essex, saysthat being a support facilityfor London 2012 is importantrecognition for both theclub and its partners in theBraintree District Authority.

“Any official association inthe run up to this once in alifetime occasion can onlybenefit the recognised busi-ness providers and thepeople in their localcommunities.

“As such, we look forwardto accommodating such aprestigious event and thepositive spin offs associatedwith it.”

news

10 GME MARCH 2008

Broadway Golf Club hastaken a pioneeringapproach to managing itssteep banks and previous-ly uncut grassed areas,with the introduction of aRansomes Spider II remotecontrolled mower.

The IOG has called for thecreation of a new ‘nation-al federation’ to speak asone cohesive voice toGovernment, sportsgoverning bodies andemployers to best servethe interests of the 20,000grounds professionalsemployed in the £580million grounds caresector.

The PGA has commis-sioned a silver golf ballperched on a silver teeand plinth as a thank youto the King of Bahrain whohas agreed to open thegates of his private coursein Safriya to stage thismonth’s grand final of theGulf Air International Pro-Captain Challenge,supported by BMW.

Orpington Golf Centre iscarrying out a series ofimprovements to the teesat the four-coursecomplex, at St Paul’s Crayin Kent. Crown Golf,owner of the centre, hasinvested £35,000 in theproject which will comple-ment a new drainagesystem installed last year.

A course replicating someof the world’s best par-three holes is to be built inLiverpool. UK Sports Parkplc has been grantedplanning permission tocreate a £10m familysports park featuringversions of some of theworld’s best holes includ-ing the 12th at Augusta,the eighth at Troon and17th at Sawgrass.

IN BRIEF;

ProLink Holdings Corp hasannounced that it hascommenced litigationagainst Elumina Iberica SA,Elumina Iberica UK Ltd, GPADS SL, and GP Ads Ltd andrelated parties (collectively“Elumina”) as a result ofmultiple breaches, includingnon-payment, under itsdistribution agreement.

ProLink has alsocommenced legal actionagainst Elumina in connec-tion with the previouslyannounced acquisition ofElumina.

Effective February 1, 2008,the Company terminated itsdistribution agreement withElumina Iberica SA, and onJanuary 9, 2008 theCompany terminated itsagreement to acquireElumina.

Pursuant to the terms ofthe acquisition agreement,ProLink is filing claims againstElumina with theInternational Chamber ofCommerce Court ofArbitration, seeking a deter-mination that it properlyterminated the acquisition

and damages for non-payment of $4.5 million inreceivables generated fromProLink’s sales of commer-cial equipment and otherservices to Elumina.

In response, EluminaIberica SA, announced thatit is filing a lawsuit againstProLink Holdings Corp in thecourts of Valencia, Spain,claiming costs anddamages for prejudicial andwrongful termination of theagreement to acquireamongst others, EluminaIberica SA and GP Ads SL.

ProLink and Elumina in legal dispute

Essex G&CC ready for theOlympics in 2012

As the race for places inNick Faldo’s team hots upover the coming months,the Ryder Cup can alreadypoint to several winners thisyear without a single shotbeing hit in anger.

Over the past four years,upwards of £2.2m has beenraised on the back of thebiennial contest’s globalsuccess, all of which hasbeen earmarked for invest-ment back into grassrootsgolfing projects acrossEurope.

The Ryder Cup EuropeanDevelopment Trust, set up in2004 to support the devel-opment of golf across thecontinent, has alreadyhelped introduce the gameto thousands of golfers of allages and abilities.

To date funds have beeninvested in various projectsin Germany, Ireland,England, Czech Republic,Bulgaria, Italy and Polandwith further applications ona wide variety of schemesfrom another 13 countries.

Cash boost for Euro Golf

March 2008.qxd 12/3/2008 9:35 AM

March 2008.qxd 27/2/2008 3:23 PM

Ocmis UK Limited hasbeen awarded the title ofToro Irrigation Contractor ofthe Year 2007.

The Martlock-basedcompany was awarded thisaccolade, which is basedon total sales, after workingclosely with Toro Irrigation forthe past year.

Toro Irrigation’s UK salesmanager, Robert Jackson,and the company's areamanager for northernEurope, Simon Squires,presented the award toOcmis’ managing director,Chris Aplin, at BTME inHarrogate.

Commenting on Ocmis'achievement, RobertJackson said: “Ocmis hasundertaken numerous proj-ects on our behalf in the lastyear, including prestigiousinstallations at Ballyliffin GolfClub in Co. Donegal,Ireland, and Castle Stuart inthe Scottish Highlands.

“It’s a pleasure to work inpartnership with someone atthe top of the irrigationindustry - Ocmis is an excel-lent contractor to workwith.”

Accepting the award onbehalf of his team at Ocmis,Chris Aplin added: “I’mdelighted to receive thisaward.

“We’ve been working withToro for the last 12 monthson some very exciting proj-ects and we hope to contin-ue this successful workingrelationship over the next 12months and beyond,” heconcluded.

Whilst growing up on thelinks courses in Scotland,Colin Montgomerie hasplayed golf’s finest courses,and he is now set on design-ing a few of his own.

In a recent visit to RiffaViews in the Kingdom ofBahrain Montgomeriecarried out an inspection ofthe progress of his desert-course.

Montgomerie’s role is inte-gral to the overall project,and he expressed his delightwith Braemar-Nass and howwell its construction team isprogressing: “Being the firstof its kind in Bahrain, RiffaViews Golf Course will add anew dimension to golf in theMiddle East.

“I am positive it willbecome a popular destina-

tion for the residents of RiffaViews, local players and golftourists. The course is shap-ing up well and I amimpressed by the attentionto detail and expert inputfrom the team on theground.”

The ground team ismanaged by Braemar-Nass’s golf courses directorJonathan Pendry.

Pendry was gratified withColin’s statement of confi-dence saying: “Riffa Views isBraemar-Nass’s first projectin the Middle East, and wehave demonstrated ourunderstanding of Colin’svision and our ability toexecute in this part of theworld.”

During his visit, Monty,along with his chief archi-tect Robin Hiseman,conducted a thoroughinspection of the four newlygrassed holes thatcompletes the front nine.

Montgomerie andHiseman overwhelminglyawarded their stamps ofapproval to Braemar-Nass

and to project managerMartin Champion.

Champion and hisconstruction team don’tplan to rest on their laurelsthough as he explained: “Itwas a real highlight for theteam to receive Colin’spraise, but our focus now isto finish the holes on theback nine with the samedegree of precision.”

Riffa View’s CEO RichardBrowning said: “HavingColin involved in the devel-opment lends integrity tothe golf course and an inter-national appeal to thesignature lifestyle we offer.

“Riffa Views SignatureEstates is a spectacularcommunity in the Kingdomof Bahrain offering luxuryhomes amidst amenitiesthat include an internationalschool, restaurants andshopping.”

At the centre of thedevelopment are 27 holesof Montgomerie-inspiredgolf featuring an 18-holechampionship course and anine-hole executive course.

news

12 GME MARCH 2008

Monty impressed withprogress in Bahrain

The British Association ofGolf Course Constructorshas announced thatGerman companyGolftech GmbH andDutch firm Albatros GolfCourse Construction BVhave been appointed asnew members.

Both companies are thefirst overseas members tojoin the BAGCC, andGolftech md, AndrewJeffrey, was delighted tosign up: “I have beeninvolved in many golfconstruction and renova-tion projects, and since1992 have been workingand living in Germany.

“Golftech GmbH wasformed in February 2004and has experience andits own machinery tocover all areas of golfcourse construction.

“The company hasbeen involved in golfcourse projects all overEurope, and our servicesspan from the completeconstruction of new proj-ects to the renovationand remodeling ofalready established cours-es,” Jeffrey concluded.

Ocmis win Toro Irrigationcontractor of the year

Plans have been unveiledfor a £100 million develop-ment of St Mellion golfcourse, transforming it into aworld-class resort, havebeen approved by localcouncillors.

The revised plan will see anew four-star-standard, 80-bedroom hotel, a refur-bished clubhouse, 265 golfhomes and upgraded andreconfigured golf courses.

The redevelopment wasdesigned to bring EuropeanTour golf competition backto St Mellion and, shortlyafter the plans wereapproved, it wasannounced the EnglishOpen will return to theEuropean Tour schedule atthe Cornish venue next year.

St Mellion last played hostto a Tour event in 1995 whenAustralian Peter O’Malley

captured the Benson andHedges International Openon the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.

Up to £100 million ofprivate investment is beingpoured into the project,which is expected toprovide a huge economicinjection to the area in termsof visitor spending andprocurement of local goods,supplies and services.

St Mellion in £100m re-development

March 2008.qxd 12/3/2008 11:54 AM

Mox UK:No more new business, thank you!Over several years LeasePlan Corporation has been followinga worldwide policy of returning to its core business of vehiclemanagement. Mox in the UK, a wholly owned subsidiary ofLeasePlan Corporation, does not fall within the category ofcore business. Following an unsuccessful attempt to sell MoxUK and its sister company Mox Technology to a third party,LeasePlan has decided to close the Mox leasing book to newand renewing business.

Closing its leasing book does not mean the imminent closure of Mox UK. In fact, this isfar from the case; business will continue as usual with Mox UK honouring all its obliga-tions under the Hire Agreements, and collecting rentals and other payments as due.

Iain Belton, the Mox UK general manager who will manage the run out over the foreseeable future, said: “Our owners, LeasePlan, are a worldwide vehicle managementgroup with a large investment in the UK. They pride themselves in their reputation andwill continue to support Mox until the run out of the business is complete.

“All our activities will continue as normal during the run out, which is expected to takeup to two years. Anyone with any concerns is very welcome to e-mail me [email protected] with their specific questions.”

Iain Belton, General Manager Mox UK.

March 2008.qxd 04/3/2008 8:42 AM

March 2008.qxd 04/3/2008 9:14 AM

MARCH 2008 GME 15

club focusWEBLINK; BROHOFSLOTT.SE

It can only be a matter of time beforethe Ryder Cup is played in Sweden. Atleast that is the pretty strong buzz fromthe land of the Three Crowns and thepeople that know there are not oftenwrong on matters of hard-nosed business.

When the Ryder Cup does go there,possibly in 2018, the choice is likely to beBro Hof Slott that only opened lastSeptember and will not complete the 36-hole complex until the Spring of nextyear.

Already it has been acclaimed as notonly the best course in Sweden but with-out parallel in Europe. Well, the Swedeswould say that, wouldn’t they?

But making all allowances for pardon-able pride it is not only the locals whohave been blowing their trumpet, butothers as well.

Given the huge input of Swedish play-ers into golf it is high time that countrywas given due recognition after Spain.When push comes to shove in the lobby-ing for the prize Bjorn Oras has thenecessary clout.

The multi-millionaire and sole ownerof Bro Hof Slott is used to getting hisown way. There may well be a rival bidfrom a venue at Malmo but speculationis, perhaps, premature.

Certainly Johan Hagenfeldt, managingdirector of Bro Hof Slott hinted as muchwhen we spoke but he preferred not toelaborate at this early stage.

What he did confirm was that around€35m has gone into the project where thesignature of Robert Trent Jones, junior, iswrit large and may possibly have some-thing to do with the fanfares.

Bro Hof Slot...One Man’s vision becomes a reality

When Swedish multi-millionaire Bjorn Oras decided tobuild a course good enough to host the Ryder Cup, hespared no expense as John Vinicombe discovered.

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 12:10 PM

16 GME MARCH 2008

FACTFILE;

Bro Hof Slott Golf ClubSE-197 91 Bro

Sweden

TEL; (46) 08 545 279 90FAX; (46) 08 22 61 21

EMAIL;[email protected]

MANAGING DIRECTOR;Johan Hagenfeldt

COURSE SUPERINTENDENT;Jonas Lindgren

CLUB FOUNDED;2007

Rave notices attend his every produc-tion and for good reason.

His first project in Sweden, however,has had impartial observers jumping upand down. Making allowances for golfmagazines tending to go overboard whena famous architect has put his name tothe work, what has recently been unveiledhardly comes into the category of run-of-the-mill courses.

Befitting one of the big players in worldgolf, Bro Hof Slott is a flagship for whatthe country stands for in the game andhas received deserved recognition.

Tradition in this instance doesn’tcount. Instead, a surge of enthusiasm forwhat has been achieved is fast becominga tidal wave influencing the powerbrokers of world golf.

One claim is that the championshipcourse on a lake-speckled landscape justnorth of Stockholm is that so far, noprevious lay-out has been so well adaptedto the 21st century.

In that respect alone Bro Hof Slott hasa spectacular Victory Valley comprisingthe last two holes with ample room for70,000 people. Land has never beenmuch of a problem in such a big countrybut in practical terms dictated by theclimate, golf course sites have ideally tobe open for play between April andNovember.

That is of passing concern to theprojected 1,100 members who are welladapted to conditions.The big drum isbeing banged for the big picture.

The course has already been selectedfor the Scandinavian Masters next year.That fact alone has shortened the oddsfor hosting the Ryder Cup. It will beunder the closest scrutiny but, inevitably,money will prove the most eloquentlanguage and the attendant hype hasstarted early.

The rave notices started when GolfDigest magazine declared it to be the bestof 150 Swedish courses bearing in mindthere are no shortage of very good ones.

Five years in the building, Bro HofSlott is Europe’s longest course andunsurprisingly needed the largestconstruction budget of any project inSweden.

Bjorn Oras preferred to talk in the thirdperson as it took a team to realise hisdream: “Our goal was to create the bestSwedish course. Reaching that goalduring the first season gives us thesupport to aim even higher. Our next goalis to have the best course in Europe.”

Krister Widstrom, who along withOras, is a major influence in developingBro Hof Slott, said the requirements weredrawn up in 2001 after realising therewas no really good competitive course inSweden combined with a hotel andconference facilities. A water side area 30minutes from Arlanda airport and nearthe centre of Stockholm was chosen.

“Time was right for someone to investin the decaying land which had been amodel agricultural area at the beginningof the last century.You could take asteamer here from the city hall and Browas a big transport hub while the railnetwork was extended,” said Widstrom.

Planning started in January, 2003which caused a few eyebrows to beraised. “People said it was impossible andthat just sets an entrepreneur off.

“Bjorn is a graduate in economics andbusiness administration with a back-ground from SAS and not a man to bethwarted.” Neither Oras or Widstrom hadany previous experience of building golfcourses, so they set about finding theright people.

This led to the creation of an advisoryboard which came into being beforepurchasing the land. The boardcomprised some of the heavyweights inSwedish golf including Mats Enquist,secretary-general of the Swedish GolfFederation, Lars Thonning, CEOScandinavian Masters 1995-2002 andPeter Chamberlain, a course designer of20 years experience.

“It is somethingunique. It wouldsurprise me if Bro doesn’t get its firstMasters in a couple ofyears and the RyderCup after that.”

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 12:13 PM

MARCH 2008 GME 17

Brian D. PiersonTHE GOLF COURSE BUILDER

PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY

44 (0)1425 [email protected]

www.piersongolf.com

Said Enquist: “The course soundedalmost too good to be true. At times I hadmy doubts, but it is true.” Ove Sellberg,another close to the project, hit the nailon the head: “Bjorn had a dream, put hisfoot down and made it real.”

In rather more detail Enquistexplained: “Bjorn doesn’t accept a ‘no’,but just asks what he should do insteadand what could make them re-think. Heis a role model and can provide a showcase for how it is possible to work togeth-er with other interested parties as regardsnature and the environment.”

Once the land was bought Oras andWidstrom travelled the world looking foran architect. They met all the interna-tionally famous and renowned ones.

“Many were a little sceptical initially,but after we presented our project they allactually became very interested. Wechose six and all did a course proposalsketch for free,” said Widstrom.

“The final choice was Robert TrentJones. His team had the reputation, thecompetence and the experience of creat-ing a real championship course.”

The plaudits are loud and clear.Typical of the ringing endorsements isthis from Lars Thonning: “It is somethingunique. It would surprise me if Bro does-n’t get its first Masters in a couple ofyears and the Ryder Cup after that.

“If not, it will not be due to the coursebut to the financing of the competitionand the interest from the Swedish GolfFederation and Swedish business.”

Peter Chamberlain said: “The course isa case study for all course builders. It is amilestone that has set a new standards forhow one goes about creating a profession-al, top class golf club. Sweden doesn’t needso many more courses, just better ones.

“Many courses are built in beautifulsurroundings but built with yesterday’sfinancing and they need to be rebuilt andextended. Bro Hof will raise the level ofwhat is considered to be quality - in everyarea.”

In the middle of last summer when thegrass was not really growing as it should,Bro Hof called in David Duke who hadworked for many years at The Wisley andmet Oras when he visited his homecourse, Seddiner in Berlin.

Duke visited the Bro Hof site especiallyas he is a creeping bentgrass specialistand keen to support club greenkeeperJonas Lindgren. It wasn’t just grass thatinterested Duke: “The entire course iscrowned by the castle on the hill and isfantastic.The course isn’t for making fastmoney, it’s for creating something new.

“It’s like comparing a guest house witha luxury hotel.”

What captivated not only Duke’s eye,but all other visitors, is the clubhousewhich is a converted medieval castleoverlooking what was once a royal farm.

But Bro Hof Slott isn’t a castle in theair. Let Robert Trent Jones have the finalword: “Mother earth must have createdthis area for a golf course.”

He did and he should know. GME

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 12:23 PM

membership schemes

The issue of two-for-one green fees hasbeen one of the most hotly-debatedsubjects in golf in recent years.

While many part-time golfers see themas a Godsend and a way of playing cheapgolf, other groups including golf clubsand their members are not so keen andare wary of what they are doing to thelong term health of the game.

But a revolutionary new concept hasbeen launched in the last few months thatpromises to address some of the imbal-ances in the golf industry and has beendesigned to generate more income forclubs all over Europe - at no cost.

National County Card is free to joinand has been launched with the aim ofmaximising a club’s revenue stream byencouraging members of other courses totake advantage of spare tee times.

The new scheme is available to allprivate member and privately-owned golfclubs and allows their members to playcourses all over Europe at favourablerates, while each club that enrols inNational County Card will be rewardedwith a payment of £5 (or €7) for everyone of their members that buys a card.

Initially launched to clubs in the UK atthe end of last year, the innovative newconcept has now spread its wings and hasrecently signed up courses in Spain,Portugal and Bulgaria while the rest of

Europe beckons - making it theperfect way for clubs to generatemore income and privatemember golfers to playdiscount golf all across thecontinent.

Rob Sutton, managingdirector of National CountyCard, said: “Our objectiveis to address the issue of

club-discounted green fees,to drive fuller member-ships and address someof the imbalances with-in golf and we believeour card can benefitclubs throughout

Europe.

“We believe discount green fee vouch-ers are making a mockery of the dedicat-ed private golf club member whocommits every month to the game only tofind a casual golfer playing the samecourse for a similar rate.

“The card is not restricted to areasand, in time, we expect tens of thousandsof private club members to join thescheme, which will not only reward thegolf clubs but also greatly increasecourse-loading profitability.

“This is one of the main reasons whymany thousands of golf clubs acrossEurope are not at full capacity formembership. If we fill the spare tee timeswith quality, private member golfers, intime the casual golfer will have to consid-er joining a club to get a regular game orpay a higher green fee.

“Our research has shown that there aremany ex-pats that live and are membersof clubs all over Europe but it’s not finan-cially viable for many to be full membersof golf clubs in the UK.

“However, as they invest in the game,National County Card will encouragethem to play more golf when visiting theUK.When club members buy a card toplay in another area, your club getsrewarded whereas currently club receivenothing.

“National County Card will be of hugebenefit to golfers who travel a lot, whetherit be on business or on holiday, and themore members that sign up, the moremoney the clubs receive back. And thebeauty of the concept is that it also guar-antees more quality players visiting, play-ing and spending money at clubs as cardholders have to be members of a club.”

National County Card will be availableto all private golf club members with avalid handicap certificate for the cost ofjust £25 per year, with cards due to go onsale in the Spring.

As well as receiving £5 (or €7) for eachmember that signs up to the newconcept, clubs will also receive a repeatpayment on an annual basis when theperson renews their membership, while

New Card offersway into Europe

18 GME MARCH 2008

WEBLINK; NATIONALCOUNTYCARD.CO.UK

A unique membership scheme that could benefitgolf clubs throughout Europe has been recentlylaunched, as Pete Simm reports.

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 9:42 AM

MARCH 2008 GME 19

all cards are bought online meaning noadministration for any golf club.

Under the terms of the ground-break-ing scheme, clubs will be free to dictatethe green fee rate for National CountyCard holders and the times when the cardcan and cannot be used, ensuring maxi-mum revenue during quiet times withoutinterfering with member and clubrequirements.

In time, Sutton hopes this shouldreduce the tee time availability for otherschemes which offer cheap green fees,ultimately reducing availability which willentice many such golfers into private golfclub membership.

To help raise awareness of the newconcept, National County Card will bebacked in 2008 by a mass targeted adver-tising campaign throughout their golfranges and clubs in the UK as well as anational radio campaign.

And Sutton is so determined tosucceed in his bid to drive moremoney back into the game thatclubs interested in signingup to National CountyCard have been givenan added incentive tojoin the innovative newconcept by beingoffered a free advertis-ing campaign.

Private membersclubs who join NationalCounty Card will receivetheir own tailor-made adver-

tising campaign at a nearby driving rangewith the aim of increasing membershipsand visitor levels.

And, with nearly 400 partner-drivingranges in the UK alone, National CountyCard is hoping to offer an advertisingcampaign within the proximity of mostclubs in a bid to generate more incomefor them - also at no cost to the club.

Sutton added: “The EGU’s websitestates that 87 per cent of clubs need newmembers and it is proven that our drivingrange advertising generates new membersand visitors for golf clubs.

“Through our advertising we can reacharound 1.8 million golfers.There are nocosts to your club and the free advertisingwill enable clubs to reach thousands ofpotential new members and visitors.”

Like most new things, nothing is totallystraightforward and the new scheme hasencountered opposition, with questions

being raised by somegolfing organisations

including the countyunions who are

concerned thatNationalCounty Cardwill take

revenues awayfrom them.Sutton fully

understandstheir concerns

and worries but is quick topoint out that it is his aim that

National County Card works alongsideexisting groups to help build a better,brighter future for golf clubs, theirmembers and golf unions.

And with this in mind, he is offering afurther £5 payment per card sold to eachmember’s relevant County Union if theyendorse the scheme - or a golfing charityif not. Sutton said: “It is important tounderstand that we are not competingwith the County Union card.

“County Union cards are currently agreat way for golf club members to enjoyvisiting other courses in their own andsometimes surrounding counties, and forthose wishing to play closer to homerepresent the best possible value.

“We understand that many golfingorganisations are nervous about what weare trying to do as they have never seenanything like this before.That’s OK asultimately the concept will - as we haveseen with the clubs who have alreadysigned up - be driven by the membersand the clubs themselves.

“For golfers who would like to play golfon business or holiday all over Europe,National County Card can deliverhundreds of courses from members’guest rates or similar.”

Having already brought £300,000 ofnew revenue into golf clubs and rangeslast year via his ‘Get Noticed’ posteradvertising campaign in golf clubs anddriving ranges with his media companyHi-Tech Media, it’s hard to disagree withhim. GME

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 9:44 AM

20 GME MARCH 2008

synthetic courses

Might the shape of things to come ingolf have begun in what was once anorchard in Luxembourg?

Opening mid-May at the Kikuoka Golfand Country club is a six-hole compactcourse. Nothing unusual about that. Butthere is a tradition-breaking difference.The contoured greens are made entirelyof plastic.

And the revolutionary project in thesmall but prosperous Grand Duchy (400banks) that has never had a revolution,could well have repercussions throughoutthe golf industry.

By dispensing with natural grass, archi-tect Steve Marnoch has opened up a newapproach to course construction. If simi-lar projects are adopted it cannot be ruledout that synthetic courses could appearand that would have an appeal in coun-tries afflicted by a chronic water shortage.

Already Golfmarnoch Ltd have hadinquries from Greece and Cyprus.

Up until now golf has been played onturf. Artificial surfaces have been restrict-ed to winter mats and driving ranges.

Anything otherthan grass will beregarded as heresyand yet what is aboutto be unvieled inLuxembourg is notquite unique. A simi-lar experiment hasbeen undertaken at acourse in Madrid butMarnoch’s lay-outdiffers insofar that the

greens look andbehave like any normal

putting surface and are not flat.Plastic has been used for football and

cricket but until now nobody hasemployed it for golf greens in the waythat Marnoch and his team have come upwith. One important aspect is that it savesmoney and that alone could be a majorselling factor.

Steve Marnoch, a 47 year-old seniormember of the European Institute ofGolf Course Architects based at

Bakewell, Derbyshire, was not the origi-nator of the idea.

Credit must go to Richard Barnes,course manager at Kikuoka when he,club manager John Pickford andMarnoch were discussing the creation ofa compact six holes to increase facilitiesat the complex near the city airport.

Explained Barnes: “We started offthinking in terms of a completely naturalcourse.Then I suggested using synthetictees to avoid wear and tear. It then struckme that, in order to save money, why notinclude the greens. Everybody at first wasdead against it.We had seen flat greens inHolland and elsewhere but notcontured.”

Finally the three thought it was worthtrying. Marnoch takes up the story:“John, Richard and I go back a long wayand we decided to do some research onthe best suppliers. So they went toAmerica and back home looking for theproduct to best suit the purpose.

“We settled on materials fromDuragrass Companies Inc. in the Stateswith Supatee, a UK firm, supplying whatwe wanted for the tees. Work began onAugust 1, 2007 and the whole construc-tion was finished in eight weeks.

“From the original plan the area wasreduced from 300 square metres to 180.Had grass been used the process wouldhave been much longer in completion.”

Richard Barnes is in no doubt that thefinished article is as good as grass greens.“There is a constant surface and I think itwill catch on in hotter climates wherewater is a big problem. Also, councils thathave low budgets are always looking tosave on maintenance.”

What has started in Luxembourgcannot be written off as a madcapscheme. Steve Marnoch and RichardBarnes have long experience of golfarchitecture. Marnoch, whose father washead greenkeeper at Coventry Hearsall,qualified as a landscape architect and iscurrently engaged on projects inBelgium, Portugal and Bulgaria afterworking extensively elsewhere in Europe.

When Kikuoka Golf andCountry Club inLuxembourg opens theirnew six-hole compactcourse in May, they will alsobe opening the eyes of anawful lot of owner andoperators to the possibilitiesof synthetic golf courses asJohn Vinicombe reports.

Are synthetic coursesthe way forward?

WEBLINK; KIKUOKA.LU

March 2008.qxd 05/3/2008 10:26 AM

MARCH 2008 GME 21

A former greenkeeper at East SussexNational, Barnes has been at Kikuokafrom the start in 1991 when it wasJapanese-owned and a regular host to theEuropean PGA Challenge Tour. Now thecomplex is in the hands of local backers.

John Pickford, who is also the headPGA professional, used to be an assistantto ex-Ryder Cup player Ralph Moffitt atCoventry Hearsall.

Says Marnoch: “John and Richard tookwhat can only be considered as a bolddecision to create the course in the wayagreed. Even the American firm hadnever installed their surfaces on totallyshaped sand-filled greens before.

“The brief I had from John was tocreate a compact course to be played onas a short course for members, visitorsand also act as an additional practicefacility for the team of resident pros.

“With this in mind the hazards andshaping was formed to offer the full rangeof shots which we would expect whenplaying anywhere. Most of the holes playthrough the former orchard so there aretrees to contend with.

“The greens are contoured offeringfour or five good fixed pin positions andfashioned in the same way as naturalgrass greens in order to provide acompletely realistic playing environment.

“The contouring has been carefullymonitored to make sure that the greensare not too fast. I recommend nothingabove ten on the stimp meter. As to costit worked out at 115 euros per square

metre compared to 65 euros on theUSGA specification.

“While using synthetic is dearer initial-ly there is a big saving on maintenanceand water. On a full course that would bea significant reduction. Yes, it is possibleto produce a complete synthetic course.

“Our experience is that with syntheticyou would think you are on naturalgreens.They look like it and feel like it.”

Will plastic catch on? “I think it issomething that should not be ignored. Iwas sceptical to begin with, but my eyeshave been opened.

“You ask me if this would mean theend of greenkeepers? I think not.Although maintenance is low, the greens

are not maintenance free and there is, ofcourse, still the normal maintenance andnatural upkeep to the natural grass areas.

“I would be interested in producing afully contoured, totally synthetic courseand that would include bunkers now thatI have an excellent team with the under-standing of the specifications and meth-ods for installation, it would be an excit-ing and progressive project.

“I think the idea might appeal for innercity courses as well as those where watersupply is a problem and there have beeninquiries from Greece and Cyprus. I haveheard nothing yet from Australia wherethere is the worst drought for many years.

“I understand a full sized artificialputting green has been put in at theCentenary Park club near Melbourne.With this project of ours in Luxembourgwho knows where the future lies.Thereare so many possibilities.”

One, that Marnoch did not mentionwas that on an all-synthetic course replac-ing divots would be a thing of the past forwhich greenkeepers would be heartilygrateful. GME

“I think the idea might appeal for inner city courses as well as those where water supply is a problem and there have been inquiries from

Greece and Cyprus.”

March 2008.qxd 05/3/2008 10:54 AM

March 2008.qxd 12/3/2008 9:41 AM

MARCH 2008 GME 23

in person

Lawyers have them, accountants havethem, greenkeepers have them and golfprofessionals have them – in fact, virtual-ly all professions have them.Qualifications, that is.

So why haven’t club managers, includ-ing golf club managers, whose work isincreasingly demanding and performanceever more closely scrutinised, had a quali-fication with which to benchmark theirskills, experience and value?

“The world of members’ clubs hasevolved slowly,” says Jerry Kilby, CEO ofthe Club Managers Association ofEurope and himself a former manager ofa golf club in Dubai.

“The biggest challenge the CMAE facesis persuading clubs’ boards and commit-

tees to invest in staff training anddevelopment.The old club

mentality, and the lack ofbusiness professionalism

that accompanies it, stillexists in many quarters.

“Consequently, the importance ofinvesting in one of the most importantassets of any business – people – isignored. No wonder there has been so

little in the way of professional qualifi-cations for club managers.”

This is all changing, however. InNovember 2007, the CMAE

announced the introduction into Europeof an internationally recognised profes-sional qualification for club managers.

The Certified Club Manager (CCM)qualification, the CMAE says, willbecome the global industry benchmark,and is open to experienced managerswho aim to develop their careers andbecome the best in the business.

To become a CMM, candidates have todemonstrate a specified level of profes-

sional qualification and experience,before attending a two-day review andexamination that focuses on ten key clubmanagement disciplines, including finan-cial, leadership, facility, and food andbeverage management.

The Club Managers Association ofAmerica (CMAA), whose own CCMqualification has set the standard in clubmanagement education globally since1965, has endorsed the new, speciallydeveloped European programme, and hasofficially recognised it as an equivalentqualification.

“This is a highly significant and veryexciting development,” continues Kilby.“For club managers who are ambitiousand want to develop their careers, it hasbeen difficult to demonstrate andcommunicate their quality, other thanthrough their experience on their cv.

“Equally, for clubs looking to recruit amanager, there has been no benchmarkagainst which they can measure potentialcandidates. However, the CCM is settingthat standard and will enable managers tomove around, not just within Europe, butfurther afield, wherever the CCM isrecognised.”

What Jerry Kilby and the CMAE hasbeen successful in achieving is Europe-wide support of the new CCM and itsobjectives.

Affiliation agreements with 11 organi-sations were signed in the run-up to, orduring, the Golf Industry Show inOrlando in January, including the nation-al club managers associations of Ireland,Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Finland,Norway, Portugal, Russia, the UnitedArab Emirates, plus the European GolfCourse Owners Association and the ClubManagers Association of America.

The Club Managers Association of Europehas introduced the first internationallyrecognised qualification for clubmanagers in Europe. Gary Firkins talks tochief executive officer, Jerry Kilby.

WEBLINK; CMAEUROPE.ORG

Kilby helping to raiseClub Managers standard

March 2008.qxd 06/3/2008 6:00 PM

24 GME MARCH 2008

In total, the new European CCM isnow available to more than 2,500managers in 17 countries across Europe.

Kilby continued: “These affiliationagreements we have signed with nationalclub managers associations will benefitmanagers by giving them affiliatemembership of the CMAE, enablingthem to earn credits towards CCM byparticipating in education programmes intheir own countries.

“Club managers will be able to learnclose to home and take the CCM exami-nation in their own country and theirown language.”

Kilby has himself worked international-ly in club management as manager of theNad Al Sheba Golf Club and Racecoursein Dubai. He was previously marketingmanager of the British PGA for 14 yearsand also runs his own golf marketingconsultancy, representing Tony Jacklin’sgolf course design business amongothers.

Of course, the CMAE is not just madeup of golf club managers.There areapproximately 10,000 clubs with profes-sional managers in Europe, half of whichare golf clubs, the remainder beingsports, leisure, health and fitness clubs,plus city and dining clubs.

“Getting to know the historical privatemembers’ clubs found on my owndoorstep, in the city of London, hasproved to be an eye-opening andwonderful educational experience,” Kilbyreveals.

“What I have found particularly inter-esting, though, is that no matter themembership, their social standing, thefounding principles of the club or indeedtheir history, these London clubs andtheir managers all face the same chal-lenges that the golf club manager face.

“Clubs are asking more and more fromtheir managers; owners and committeesare always looking for better results;members are demanding higher stan-dards in an increasingly competitive busi-

ness environment, and more complexlegislation from European and nationalgovernments doesn’t make the job anyeasier.”

Ultimately, it is the internationalperspective that is at the core of theCMAE’s activities and its raison d’être.

“My colleagues and I have believed forsome time that it is essential that we worktogether with our European colleagues,which is why it is so pleasing that ourproposal to join together in a ‘family’ ofEuropean club managers’ organisationshas been received positively.

“We believe that the education of clubmanagers in Europe is our top priorityand the CCM is central to this,” Kilbycontinued.

“Together with our partners and affili-ates, we will be embracing a continent ofmore than 40 countries and 600 millionpeople, from Russia in the east, Norwayin the north, the United Arab Emirates inthe south and Portugal and Ireland in thewest.”

Awareness and recognition of theCCM is spreading rapidly and theCMAE is now attracting weighty spon-sors and partners.

Toro, the $1.9 billion irrigation and turfmaintenance giant, has lent its weight tothe CMAE as a Premier CorporatePartner, as has leading club managementsoftware experts Jonas, whose systems areused at more than 1,800 clubs worldwide.

“These companies share our vision fora pan-European educational programmeand we are grateful for their investment,support and expertise,” continued Kilby.“Their significant financial support isenabling us to roll out the CCMprogramme across Europe and satisfy thedemand for this qualification.

“With the Club Managers Associationof America’s backing and similar initia-tives to introduce CCM to the Far Eastand South Africa, we are on the road tocreating a globally recognised profession-al standard for club managers.” GME

“My colleagues and Ihave believed for sometime that it is essentialthat we work togetherwith our Europeancolleagues, which iswhy it is so pleasingthat our proposal to join together in a ‘family’ of Europeanclub managers’ organisations has beenreceived positively.”

March 2008.qxd 06/3/2008 6:01 PM

March 2008.qxd 12/3/2008 9:44 AM

26 GME MARCH 2008

golf cars

It seems incredible to think that it isnow more than 50 years since the firstgolf cars were invented.

There have, of course, been manychanges during that time and the 2008fleet of electric and petrol models will notdisappoint in raising industry standardsand taking golf car technology to a newlevel.

The leading manufacturers includingClub Car, EZGO and Yamaha have been

hard at work over the last 12months coming up with new

ways of using the latest inengineering to ensure themaximum return in

terms of performance, reli-ability, comfort and safety.

Advances in technology nowmean that the golf car experienceequates more to the luxury you

would find travelling in yourfamily saloon on the world’shighways than a stomach-churning ride on some of theroughest roads - while

increased efficiencymeans they’re better forthe environment too.

To the fore in 2008 isClub Car, who unveiledtheir new Precedent i2and i2L models to theworld in February - fouryears after introducing

the most advanced golf carin its history.

Building on the huge success of theoriginal Precedent, the company - whowill be the official supplier of golf carsand utility vehicles at the 2010 RyderCup - believe that their two new modelsrepresent the next generation in golf carinnovation and performance.

At first glance, the Precedent i2 andPrecedent i2L, which includes a numberof upgrades aimed at upscale facilities,look like their namesake with no changeto the exterior styling that set Precedentapart from three decades of angular-shaped golf cars.

But looks can be deceiving. Fitted withthe new Excel™ drive system, the newPrecedent models continue the evolutionof Club Car’s highly-regarded electricplatform with enhanced efficiency, relia-bility and control capabilities.

One of the major plusses of the moresophisticated system is that it increasesthe benefits of Precedent’s motor brakingand regenerative braking features toprovide greater control of the vehicle anda smoother ride.

By lowering the car’s motor-brakingcapability to speeds approaching zero, thedriver gains more control, assurance anda feeling of safety when descending hills,while increased motor braking alsoimproves Precedent i2’s regenerativebraking ability by capturing and return-ing more kinetic energy to the batteries.

Tests have shown that improved regen-erative braking could reduce energy costsby 20 per cent over previous models and,

A road well Driven...

It seems that 2008 is theyear for launching golf carsas both Club Car andEZGO bring out newmodels. Pete Simm takesthem for a test drive.

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 9:13 AM

MARCH 2008 GME 27

with more energy being returned to thebatteries, cars will require less chargingand be able to stay on the course longer.

In addition to the Excel system, a newcharging system, dash design andimproved 360-degree wraparoundbumper have also been added to the new-look Precedent to complete its new look.

Little wonder then, that Club Carchairman and CEO Phil Tralies ispredicting a bright future for the newadditions to its family.

Tralies said: “Precedent i2 builds onwhat made Precedent a revolutionary golfcar and makes it an even more reliable,better performing car for the courseowner/operator and golfer.”

Exciting developments have beentaking place at EZGO too, with thelaunch of their much anticipated new golfcar, the EZGO RXV.

Engineered to deliver reliability, superi-or performance, operating efficiency andsafety through an array of enhancedfeatures and innovations, the RXV repre-sents a major step forward in golf cartechnology from the company that hasbeen making golf cars since 1954.

Available in either electric and petrol,the new vehicle is predicted to deliverexceptional value to golf course operatorsthrough reduced energy and maintenancecosts, and an unsurpassed experience forgolfers through best-in-class power,control, comfort and safety.

“Years of intense work and dedicationby EZGO’s marketing, design and engi-neering teams have produced what webelieve is the finest golf car ever built,”said John L. Garrison, president ofEZGO.

“We consider the RXV to be a ‘gamechanger’ at all levels. Our golf coursepartners will see even quicker fleet turn-around times, lower energy, fuel andmaintenance expenses, and easier upkeep.

“Golfers will discover a vehicle thatrides, handles and stops unlike any golfcar they’ve driven, with many new ridercomforts.The EZGO RXV delivers the

reliability customers expect, the valuetheir operation requires, and the experi-ence their golfers demand.”

Among the exciting new developmentsand unprecedented for an electric golfcar, the RXV’s drive train uses an alter-nating current motor - not the traditionaldirect current motor - generating morepower and longer operating time betweenbattery charges.

Another industry-first is a fail-safe parkbrake which automatically engages whenthe RXV stops - requiring no foot pedalengagement.The auto braking systembrakes automatically on steep slopeswhen needed and can easily hold a 40-percent grade.

And the system supplies recharge tothe batteries whenever brakes are applied,thus enhancing efficiency by up to 30 percent, keeping the vehicle on the courselonger and reducing long-term operatingcosts.

Garrison added: “Our passionate andtalented EZGO team considered everymechanical, ergonomic and safetyelement of the golf car, producing a vehi-cle of exceptional quality. In designing theRXV, we listened to our customers andincorporated their feedback.

“Our goal was to completely re-imag-ine the golf car in a way that producedmeasurable results for course owners,along with performance that trulyenhanced the golf experience. I’m proudto say our team has delivered on allcounts.”

Anyone interested in buying a golf carshould also not forget about the popularYamaha G29 models, which wereunveiled to widespread acclaim last year.

Featuring state-of-the-art internal discbrake technology that you would normal-ly find in sports car and a Tru-Trak IIfully independent front suspensionsystem for smooth and responsivehandling, the G29A petrol version alsohas the industry’s largest and mostpowerful engine capable of producing11.4 in horsepower.

And one of the added advantages withYamaha is that if, as a course owner,operator or golfer, you like the look oftheir golf cars but can’t justify buying oneyourself, you can always take the alterna-tive route and lease one instead.

Brian Swinden, golf car manager forYamaha, said: “The response we’ve hadto the G29 has been excellent.

“It has been very well received, it isindustry-leading with some of the tech-nology that’s on it and has given us theopportunity to speak to different peopleabout new products.”

Of course, buying the latest in golf cartechnology is not cheap and requires acertain degree of financial support -

something that golf courses don’t alwayshave.

But help is at hand in the form of GolfBuggies Ltd, a company based inAbingdon, Oxfordshire, which specialisesin the leasing, hiring and selling of newand re-conditioned buggies to courses inthe south of England.

Paul Male, who runs the company withhis partner Alan Clarke and has workedin the industry for 14 years, said: “We arenot aiming to compete with the big boysbut in certain areas we can be more effi-cient than they can.

“We stock the latest models from thelikes of Club Car and EZGO and offer aservice not just to the higher end of themarket but to the lower end as well.

“Some courses in England haven’t gotthe budget to go buying the flashiestmodels but they can get buggies that lookvirtually new by coming to us, while otherpeople may be buying a car for the firsttime and would prefer to lease or hire it.

“We can also offer attractive flexiblefinance packages through our companywhile we back that up by having a serviceparts business that we operate for thewhole of the country.We are a one-stopbuggy shop.”

With products and services like theseavailable, it appears that the golf carindustry is in safe hands. GME

“Golfers will discover a vehicle that rides, handles and stops unlike any golfcar they’ve driven, with many new rider comforts.”

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 12:30 PM

rowallan castle

28 GME MARCH 2008

According to Dorothy inthe Wizard of Oz, there’s

nowhere like home. And to befair, she’s right.

Like no other place, home is whereyou want to make an impression; to showfolks what you can do. Home is a yard-stick for success and it’s the setting forColin Montgomerie’s first golf course onhome soil.

After plying his skills across the globe,Monty has returned to his familiar

stamping grounds around theAyrshire coast to design his firstcourse in Scotland.Rowallan Castle Golf Club is

the venue for this important chap-ter of the Scot’s blossoming career

in design. It lies just 12 miles northeast of Royal Troon, and is a placeMonty knows well.

Born in Glasgow in 1963, Montygrew up playing golf along the westcoast at links such as Prestwick,

Turnberry and, of course, RoyalTroon.He turned pro in 1987 and has

since made inroads into the world ofdesign with the help of European GolfDesign (EGD); the joint venture betweenthe PGA European Tour and

International Management Design(IMD).

This latest endeavour, and arguablythe most anticipated of his career to date,is a golf, hotel and leisure complex withan anticipated total spend of £70 million.

Set in 600 acres of historic country-side, Rowallan Estate features two beauti-ful and dramatic castles.The earlier of thetwo is a 13th century stronghold with adistinctive stone staircase.

It also happens to be the birthplace ofElizabeth Muir, mother of Robert II thefirst Stewart king of Scotland.Thesecond was added in the late 19th centu-ry and is set to provide the main bulk ofaccommodation for the new resort.

The estate was bought by NiallCampbell 19 years ago from LordRowallan’s Trustees. It was a bold acqui-sition and also heralded a home-comingof sorts for Campbell whose ancestorsowned the estate between 1690 and thelate 19th century but had lost it through“drink and debauchery”.

“It had actually had been sold toDavid Murray and Graeme Souness butthe sale fell through,” says Campbell, “sothe trustees came to us and asked if wewanted to buy our land back. Eventuallya deal was hatched and we took it over.

Monty’s dream home coming

When it opens in 2009, Rowallan Castle is set to become an epic tale of triumph over adversity,

as Mark Alexander reports.

WEBLINK; ROWALLANCASTLE.COM

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 7:53 AM

MARCH 2008 GME 29

“Originally we were simply going toconvert the main house into a boutiquehotel, but the Open was on at Troon in1989 and a friend suggested I shouldspeak to David Sherman who was JackNicklaus’s business partner.

“I met David and Jack and they cameup to look at the place.They were verykeen but when we got down to the nittygritty, he was too expensive. Even inthose days he wanted $1.25 million.”

Campbell remembers as a youngsterplaying in the “secret world” of thecastles’ grounds, so it comes as no shockto hear of his ambition to transform hischildhood retreat into a modern play-ground for private members and theirfamilies.

That said, the route to fulfilling hisdream has been long and arduous, andnot dissimilar to another developer’sordeals. “Because it’s a designed land-scape and all the buildings are listed andwe had 32 consultees, it took us 12 yearsto get planning permission,” saidCampbell.

“Forget Trump, he knows nothing. Itwent to a full public enquiry in 1997 andwe eventually got planning in 2001.”

The report on the public enquiryshows the application was a “change ofuse and refurbishment of existing vacantcastle to form overnight accommodationin conjunction with a hotel.” It goes on tonote: “A number of planning permissionsand listed building consents for hotel andleisure developments on the estate,including a golf course… were grantedbetween 1989 and 1998.

“In 2001, following a public localinquiry… Scottish Ministers grantedoutline planning permission for theconversion… to a hotel and leisure facili-ties; ancillary accommodation in estatebuildings; the erection of 49 houses; an18-hole championship golf course; andlandscaping and road improvements.”

The final spec list looks impressive. Aswell as a 70-room hotel designed underthe supervision of renowned hotelierGordon Campbell Gray, founder andmanaging director of One Aldwychwhich was hailed as the most innovativeluxury hotel in London when it openedin 1998, there will also be a state-of-the-art spa, cinema and nine-hole par-threecourse.

At £15,000 a debenture and £1,500annual subs, membership won’t be cheapbut it will have a family slant (individualmemberships, capped at 600, will includea partner and children up to the age of 21or in full-time education).

“The hotel and golf course go hand inhand,” said Campbell. “One wouldn’twork without the other, especially aswe’re trying to create a family club that’s

not just for the elite.There are plenty ofclubs like that around here.We want it tobe a place where the family can come.We’re very keen on getting kids in tolearn about golf on the nine-hole course.”

This all-encompassing approach is atheme picked up by Ross McMurray,EGD’s designer on the project. “Theywere looking for a golf course that wouldfit into a high-quality private members’club.

“They weren’t particularly looking fora tournament golf course more of anexclusive country house feel.The courseis 7,000 yards, par 71, so it’s not overlylong by modern design standards but it’scertainly long enough for mere mortals.

“And it could be stretched if theywanted to host important events, but it’snot designed as a tournament venue.”

The course is certainly attractive as itweaves its way through wooded enclavescrossing burns and transversing gullies toreach elevated greens. But the mostnoticeable features of the course are thesevere pot bunkers that threaten a sternand punishing test should any waywardshots find them.

“The look of the place is even moreamazing when you consider the appear-ance of the course had been dictated bystrict dictate put in place by ScottishNatural Heritage which included theproviso that no bunker should be visiblefrom the main house.

“It’s very traditional,” said Murray,“which was partly driven by the restric-tions placed on the site and partly byColin’s general concept of golf coursedesign. He likes the traditional style ofpot bunkering and that’s what we’vefollowed here. As result, the design does-n’t jar - you don’t feel that it’s at oddswith the landscape.”

Indeed, the constraints put on thedesign had other benefits including thespace around the course. “I hate feelingthat golf holes are on top of you,” addedMcMurray, “but you don’t get that feel-ing here because the usable space wasrestricted by tree belts that we couldn’ttouch, streams that we couldn’t go nearand areas that we couldn’t do any workon because of the historic landscape.”

Monty once said: “Golf should alwaysbe a challenge, and a golfer, whetheramateur or professional, must be made toachieve every round played.

“Nevertheless, above all else, golfshould be enjoyable… [golfers] shouldleave the course challenged, but satisfied -a total experience.”

Despite its launch being over a yearaway, Rowallan Castle is already chal-lenging those involved in creating it. Let’shope it provides the total experience thatit unquestionably promises. GME

“They were looking for a golf course that would fitinto a high-quality private members’ club.”

March 2008.qxd 11/3/2008 7:55 AM

30 GME MARCH 2008

property matters

Typically over the last decade around15 to 30 golf property transactions takeplace each year in the UK.This is a smallfraction of the total golf market (signifi-cantly less than one per cent) if oneincludes traditional private membershipclubs which rarely get sold.

Taking proprietary and municipalvenues as the core market, the generalannual stock turn is about one to two percent of the existing supply. Arguably thissuggests that around ten per cent of themarket seriously considers a sale or otherform of transaction each year.

Transactions of individual coursescome in various guises: outright sale (ofthe golf asset or associated company),lease or management contract.

The Last Two YearsMost people involved in running a UK

golf venue over the last two years willagree that trading conditions have beenparticularly challenging.

Frustratingly a major contributor hasbeen the erratic weather over the last two

seasons: very hot in the summer of2006, almost to the extent that itwas too hot to play at certain

times; to regular torrentialdownpours last summer which

severely affected the payand play sector.

Golf propertyvalues held up wellover this period

despite a generalsqueeze on profitability.

Values were primarily under-pinned by an ability to

borrow money atfavourably lowinterest rates and a

strong residential

market making golf courses look goodvalue for money by comparison.

Prospects for 2008Let’s hope for kinder weather condi-

tions this year to boost profitability andthe England football team certainly didits bit to help the golf industry thissummer by failing to qualify for Euro2008.

The “US sub-prime market”, a termnot readily known to the general publicbefore the stock market volatility ofrecent months, and with it the associated‘global banking credit crunch’ is from myfirst hand experience already having aknock on effect on some parts of the UKgolf property market.

Bank lending criteria is undoubtedlytightening and it is harder to get substan-tial bank lending for a golf coursepurchase unless the buyer can provide avery significant proportion of equity forthe transaction. More challenging lendingconditions will most likely affect the abili-ty of the profit driven golf operators (asopposed to lifestyle buyers) to aggressive-ly pursue freehold golf course acquisi-tions this year.

The lifestyle buyer market is likely tobe less affected by the current globaleconomic uncertainty since those lookingto buy a golf course on a part lifestylebasis are less concerned with the need forhealthy financial returns in the early yearsof purchase.They are usually more will-ing to tie up a larger proportion of theirown equity in a golf venue in relation tothe long term bank debt secured upon it.

Deal TypesA golf course owner has three main

options: outright sale, lease or manage-ment contract. If selling outright then

It’s fair to say that the golf industry inthe UK has seen better days, andmany clubs are reporting difficult andchallenging trading conditions. In thefirst of a two-part feature, PPC Golfpartner, Mark Smith, offers clubs andoperators some guidance.

Current trends inUK Golf Property

WEBLINK; PPCGOLF.COM

March 2008.qxd 07/3/2008 1:03 PM

MARCH 2008 GME 31

most venders prefer a confidential placingto a select number of potential buyers tosee if the business can be sold withouthaving to ‘go public’.

There is a relatively strong market forconfidential placings and usually about ahalf of all golf courses sold are done so onthis basis.

Leasing is becoming increasingly popu-lar, particularly in respect of municipalgolf courses.Typical lease terms areanything from 15 to 60 years dependingon the capital expenditure demandsimposed on the tenant.

The owner retains the freehold invest-ment and gets paid a rent by the golfoperator tenant.The choice oftenant is crucial for long termsuccess and sometimes therent payable can behigher than the profitthat the owner waspreviously makingsince specialistoperators usuallymake betterfinancial returnscompared tomost individualcourse owners.

This is due totheir wider expe-rience, marketingexpertise and groupeconomies of scale in areas such asadministration and shared use of expen-sive specialist greenkeeping equipment.

Leasing can therefore be a ‘win-win’situation for both parties since the ownermakes more money with less effort andthe chosen golf operator increases itsmarket share without having to raisesubstantial bank funding for an outrightpurchase.

Leases can be structured so that theowner can share in trading performanceby a turnover/profit related rental formulasubject to a minimum guaranteed annualrent.

Management contracts are an alterna-tive option.The key difference between amanagement contract and a lease is thatof financial risk/potential reward.

Typically under a lease arrangementthe majority of the risk/reward balance is

passed by the golf course owner to theincoming tenant.The tenant usually takesfull responsibility for repairs and mainte-nance at its own cost plus paying the rent.

Management contracts by contrastleave the majority of the risk/rewardprofile with the existing course owner.The management contractor gets paid anannual fee for managing the venue andthe owner retains the financial responsi-bility for all costs associated with thebusiness.

The owner is liable for anyfinancial losses but also benefits more

fully in profits made compared to a leasearrangement. Management contracts arenormally shorter than leases and are oftenused as ways to turn around the financialfortunes of an ailing golf course beforepriming it for a sale.

Alternatively they are typically usedwhere an owner wishes to retire from dayto day management and wants key staffmembers to run the business.

Challenging TraditionAs the golf market moves forward I do

believe that we are in an embryonic stagein a possible change of managementstructure for some of the traditional non-profit making private membership clubs.

I have been approached on a handful ofoccasions in respect of private member-ship clubs really struggling to make endsmeet.

In my view some traditional privatemembership clubs are good candidates

for granting leases or managementcontracts to dedicated golf coursemanagement companies to run the clubson behalf of the members.

There are cases where traditionalprivate membership clubs are run by acommittee of volunteers who have neitherthe time nor the commercial managementskills to run a golf course at its optimumlevel.

This, combined with an increasinglycompetitive golf market place

means that some privatemembership clubs will be

consistently loss-making if preventa-

tive action is nottaken.

In additionmemberstaking on

committee rolesor who become

directors of theclub put themselves

at potential personalfinancial risk if the business

should fail.By granting a lease (or possibly a

management contract) to a specialistoperator the club could release itself ofthe burden of day to day managementand financial risk yet would still be able toexercise substantial control to protect theethos and tradition of the club.

Profitable ReshapingIn this article I have not touched on an

important development angle in themarket.This is creating/reshaping golfcourses and practice grounds/drivingranges using inert imported waste fillmaterial (excavated soils).

It can be an excellent way of improvingvenues and whilst the opportunities andfinancial benefits are considerable thereare also some very important pitfalls to beavoided.

I will discuss this topic in greater detailin the May 2008 edition of GolfManagement Europe, but in the meantime,should you wish to contact me to discussany aspect of the above article then youcan do so via the property section atwww.ppcgolf.com. GME

PPC 0870 241 4678www.ppcgolf.com

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.

Scorecards | Course Photography | Marketing and Publicity | Property

March 2008.qxd 07/3/2008 1:06 PM

my view

32 GME MARCH 2008

WEBLINK; PIERSONGOLF.COM

For someone who started out his work-ing life as a cow and pig herdsman, BrianPierson hasn’t done too badly for himself.

A cv that boasts work on six of the nineOpen Championship venues and morethan 260 courses worldwide is testamentto what Pierson has achieved in golfcourse construction, alteration and proj-ect management.

In a career stretching more than 40years, there isn’t much that the likeable67-year-old hasn’t done at the coal faceof the golf industry.

The likes of Turnberry, Muirfield andthe Royals’ Lytham,Troon, St George’sand Birkdale - venue for this year’s Open- have all benefited from his vast course-building knowledge and experience.

But Pierson now has another projecton his radar - to promote and enhancethe reputation of the British Associationof Golf Course Constructors (BAGCC).

A founder member of the body when itwas formed in the early 1970s during aplane ride to America, Pierson hasrecently begun his second year as chair-man of the BAGCC and the signs arealready good, with membership havingrisen by 20 per cent in the last 12months.

“I was a major force in golf for 20years during the golf course buildingboom until 1996,” said Pierson. “Becauseof my long-standing association with theindustry, I’m able to pick up the phoneand say to people ‘Why don’t you comeon board with us?’

“The BAGCC is a contracting bodyand I see us as being part of an integratedteam when it comes to golf projectsincluding the entrepreneurs or golf clubs,

architects and builders through to thegreenkeepers who grow the golf courseand maintain it.

“You can have the finest design in theworld but if you don’t have the bestmaintenance then the whole project willfall apart.We are all part of team whohave to work together.”

After his inauspicious start to workinglife on his family’s farm in the NewForest, Pierson was lucky enough to be inthe right place at the right time as the golfcourse construction business started toflourish in the United Kingdom.

Given the opportunity to move intogolf after joining a landscape mainte-nance company, he quickly learned hisnew trade to help his new employersbecome the largest golf course buildingcompany in the country - and it was atthis time Pierson realised the need for abody like the BAGCC.

He explained: “Our idea was topromote professionalism within theconstruction sector as we were the poorrelations and the tinkers or the gypsies ofthe golf industry at the time.

“Jim Arthur, the legendary agronomist,told me we had to get ourselves profes-sionally organised and then rely on ourreputations so the association was born.And things still work very much the sameway now.

“We said to people that, if you want toknow how good we are check our previ-ous clients, and now new members mustprovide references from three satisfiedclients to join,” continued Pierson.

“Our industry is all about reputationand, after all, anyone can put together afantastic brochure these days.”

The Keeper of Standards

Brian Pierson talks toPete Simm about the

BAGCC, architects andthe future of golf courseconstruction in Europe.

“A lot of architects are now tending to go straight to theshapers which is something we arelooking to address.”

March 2008.qxd 07/3/2008 1:08 PM

MARCH 2008 GME 33

Having spent a lifetime working at thesharp end of the golf industry, Piersonhas witnessed the highs - and lows - ofcourse construction.

But, with renowned architect DonaldSteel among his closest friends, andhaving worked with Sir MichaelBonallack on R&A committees looking atthe future of the game, there aren’t toomany people who are better qualified totalk about the do’s and dont’s of theconstruction business.

“In the late 1980s, the R&A made itknown that Britain needed more golfcourses and that fuelled the golf buildingboom, but what nobody realised was thatthey had to be built in the right place atthe right time,” saidPierson.

“There were alot of badly-builtcourses built inthe wrong areas,while others weregimmicky and hadmoney thrown atthem in a bid to testplayers that were atthe top of the tree atthe time.

“In my opinion, that’s not what a golfcourse is all about. Ninety per cent ofgolfers have a handicap over 18 and don’twant to be punished with huge bunkers,tight fairways and fast greens.”

Pierson also has concerns for the futureabout the decreasing role that construc-

tors have with some architects and this issomething that he is determined toaddress with his role with the BAGCC.

He said: “Unfortunately at themoment, we have too many architectswho are cherry-picking the shapers thatthey want.

“It’s all about shapers now. Normallythey are employed through golf coursebuilders but a lot of architects are nowtending to go straight to the shaperswhich is something we are looking toaddress.

“Most contractors carry insurance inthe region of £10 million nowadays,which they have to do with so manydifferent health and safety regulations to

cover, but a lot ofshapers aren’t as

insured as theyshould be.

“Golf clubsand develop-ers, whetherthey beinvolved in

new-build oralterations, need

to be made aware of the need for thingssuch as a full risk assessment and healthand safety policy and public liabilityinsurance when carrying out work.

“In my view, we are moving away fromthe professionalism of contracting toslightly risky contractors and I think wehave to make everybody aware of theproblem.”

Nowadays with his role with theBAGCC, Pierson prefers to act as a golfconsultant and project manager but hisworkload shows no signs of diminishing,with projects underway in Bulgaria,Spain, Macedonia, Croatia and Romaniato name but five.

Like many of his colleagues, Piersonsees Europe as being the future of golfcourse construction and he is keen tobuild relations for the BAGCC on thecontinent.

“We want to go forward and I want totake the association into Europe,” addedPierson. “There’s a certain resistance insome quarters but a few people havegone across the Channel and that’s whereI see the future of new-build golf courses.

“The golf industry in this country isreally slow at the moment, and we areworking closely with Ken Moodie, presi-dent of the European Instititute of GolfCourse Architects, and trying to move mymembers into talking with the EuropeanGolf Course Owners Association.

“There are projects coming off all overthe world including the Ukraine, Rhodesand Croatia. Donald Trump is inScotland and it will only do them good ifhe wants to invest £25 million up there.

“I’ve even had a very interestingenquiry from Cuba recently about build-ing seven new courses there.”

With such drive and enthusiasm, it’sclear Pierson made the right decision allthose years ago to leave his farmingcareer behind him. GME

www.swangolfdesigns.comINTERNATIONAL GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS

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

+44 (0) 1277 896300

Construction Remodelling Water Features

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

180 Ruskin Road, Kingsthorpe Northampton NN2 7TA

BAGCC

March 2008.qxd 10/3/2008 3:00 PM

the last word

34 GME MARCH 2008

I’m a great one for equality in golf –anybody who knows me wouldconfirm that.

I don’t hold with excluding womenfrom clubhouses whatever the tradi-tion. And I’m a great supporter of theLadies European Tour.

I’m also firmly coming round to theopinion that men should be allowedto have a handicap of 36.Admittedly this is a very person-al, selfish desire; it’s not influ-enced by any enlightened21st century view of the fairersex nor a wish to see menand women competeon an equal footing– though I haveno real issue withthat if that’swhat the ladieswant.

No. This is todo with thefact thatI’mrubbish.Injury haspreventedme fromplaying morethan nine holesin the last year.

I have theknees of a 90-year-old.Unfortunately I alsohave his swing, hisstamina and hispropensity to be

extremely grumpy over absolutelynothing. Other issues which affect mygolfing ability – when I can get out onthe course – include the fact I weighroughly the same as three 90-year-oldsand any semblance of ability I dohave seems to dissipate as soon as I

tee up the ball.I am going throughone of those troughswhich afflict us allfrom time to time.Sadly mine startedjust after I took up

the game and shows nosign of abating. I’m

determined to seeit out, however.

As a youngster I tend-ed to stop doing some-

thing when I realised Iwasn’t very good at it. That

stopped when I realised I wasrunning out of things to actu-

ally try. I found a new determi-nation – one which ultimatelymeant I stayed in journalism asa career when wiser headstold me I would never make afortune out of it.

Not merely because youcan’t make a fortune out ofjournalism – the pay is noto-riously poor – but because I

quite simply shouldn’t try to make it acareer.

Well, despite what some of them stillsay, I have proved them wrong. And,at 44-years-old, the bank managerhasn’t foreclosed on me yet. So I’mgoing to adopt the same attitudetowards my golf despite being facedby the blindingly obvious.

The great thing about this scenario,however, is that unlike the choice of acareer, I can be poor at this and seekadvice on how to improve. That luxuryis unlikely to be afforded if you’re aneurosurgeon.

So it will be off to a pro at a course indeepest Hampshire to seek golfingabsolution. And in the meantime I willpush further for golfing equality in the

quest for a handicap whichenables me to competewith the 12-year-old inmy family.

It’s also been suggest-ed I could do worse than

move to somewhere like Germanywhere they allow handicaps of up to200 or something like that. You neverknow. This new-found determinationwill only last so long... GME

Equality for all, especiallyall the rubbish golfers...

“As a youngster I tended to stop doing something whenI realised I wasn’t very good at it. That stopped when Irealised I was running out of things to actually try.”

David [email protected]

PPC 0870 241 4678www.ppcgolf.com

Would you like to reduce your

Business Rates?You can’t escape them, but we could help reduce them, so let’s talk about helping yourclub recoup some money.

Scorecards | Course Photography | Marketing and Publicity | Property

March 2008.qxd 10/3/2008 3:05 PM

GME 03/08/RXV

March 2008.qxd 27/2/2008 3:43 PM

March 2008.qxd 18/2/2008 3:20 PM

GMé | issuu 59

Documents

Transcript of GMé | issuu 59