Poland’s Golf Business Conference was an exceptional opportunity for international golf development specialists to meet with decision makers from Eastern Europe. Over 100 delegates from 16 countries came to Wroclaw and heard top quality presentations provided by renowned and acknowledged experts.
The Conference was focused on three aspects of the golf business:
- Golf marketing & golf business
- Golf & the environment
- Golf development in Eastern European countries
The well-known keynote speakers presenting their expertise about golf development in general were Keith Haslam from PGA Golf Management, the golf course architect Jeremy Pern and Doctor Falk Billion, international golf course valuer.
Someone with immense and recent practical experience of golf course development, Peter Bradburn from Aphrodite Hills Golf Resort, Cyprus, made an excellent presentation about golf course architecture and its impact on future maintenance costs. He gave many examples of the importance of good communication between investor, course architect, contractor and project manager.
Steve Isaac from the R&A described the sustainable future of golf, which is more and more important in all European countries, while enviromental issues were also included in the presentation of Jonathan Smith from Golf Environment Europe who pointed out solutions and proposals which can make golf courses more enviromentally friendly as well as saving money.
Dean Cleaver from the Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Associations (FEGGA) talked about greenkeeping and the education of greenkeepers who play the vital role of providing good quality surfaces and conditions for golfers.
Getting down to the specifics of golf development in Eastern Europe, Libor Jirasek talked about the possibility of European Union funding for golf projects. Representing the PGAs of Europe, Leif Ohlsson and Mikael Sorling described help programs for new, emerging markets in cooperation with the R&A and Marek Podstolski, director of PGA of Poland, pointed out the important role which golf professionals have to play in getting the number of golfers to increase.
Terry Coates of Central European Countries Travel Association (CECTA) drew delegates‘ attention to the importance of the golf travel market and its huge potential in Cental European countries. According to CECTA the value of this market by 2010 will reach US$550 billion.
The conference took place in the 5 star Sofitel Hotel which provided superb sevice to all the delegates. The conference was hosted by Golf Poland Company with Toro as main sponsor, and Syngenta, Club Car, Golfzon, Callaway, V-Motors and Eurobest.pl as supporting sponsors.
All the delegates rated the Conference as well organized, interesting and informative and they also pointed out the great networking opportunities.
Golf Business Conference www.golfconference.eu