The European Institute of Golf Course Architects (the newly formed amalgamation of the British Institute of Golf Course Architects, The European Association of Golf Course Architects and the Association Franà§aise des Architects de Golf) has announced that it will be attending and taking exhibition space at China GILTS 2000.
China GILTS – golf, irrigation, landscaping, turf, sportsgrounds – incorporates the sixth Golf World Asia merchandise show and will feature more than 200 companies from around the world. The dates are 1st-3rd December at Guangzhou International Exhibition & Conference Centre.
“The EIGCA recognises the importance of the emerging and fast developing golf market in China,” said David Williams, newly elected president of the Institute. “We are pleased to participate in China Golf 2000 and to have the opportunity of representing the members of our Institute, now approximately100 in number, at this event.”
The show is run by Golf World Exhibitions of Perth in Western Australia which chief executive Stephen Allen founded after he returned to Australia from Singapore where he ran the Golf Asia merchandise shows. The first show took place in Hong Kong in November 1995. Subsequent venues have been Shanghai and Shenzhen. In 1999 Stephen Allen relocated the exhibition to Guangzhou in the southern provinces of China where golf is a boom sport which has already attracted thousands of new players.
“Many companies recognise the fact that doing business in China represents new challenges for them,” Allen said. “We feel confident that the contacts and expertise which we have built up over the past five years put us in a good position to help our exhibitors and we are very pleased to do so.”
More than 80% of last year’s exhibitors have confirmed their participation in China Golf 2000. The majority of participating companies continues to be largely from the USA and Australian companies are not too far behind this year.
Companies such as John Deere, E-Z-GO/Textron, Forefront Golf International/Steven D Plumer Design, IMG, Graham Marsh Golf Design, Pacific Coast Design, Palmer Course Design, Rainbird, Thompson Golf – Architecture & Planning, Thomson Wolveridge & Perrett and Toro are among a few of the organisations which have been quick to take up the opportunity of exhibiting this year.
There has also been an increase in European interest for this year. Elmwood College (now into its third year of building academic links with Chinese universities) and Range Servant both return. First time exhibitors include the golf course architects Simon Gidman and Martin Hawtree and Carr Golf Services of Dublin.