European golf legend Colin Montgomerie OBE will be among the speakers at the 10th anniversary KPMG Golf Business Forum at St Andrews, Scotland, June 3-5, 2013.
The 49-year-old Scot, who topped The European Tour’s Order of Merit a record eight times and memorably captained the victorious European Ryder Cup Team in 2010, will join a stellar cast of contributors at golf’s most important annual industry event in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The Forum, hosted at The Fairmont St Andrews Hotel and supported by Visit Scotland, Scottish Development International and Fife Council, with the assistance of Golf Tourism Scotland, will bring together up to 300 delegates including leading brands, developers and world-class golf and leisure operators from more than 40 countries.
Monty, who will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in May, will be joined by a line-up of VIPs and speakers including:
- Martin Gilbert, Chief Executive, Aberdeen Asset Management
- Giles Morgan, Global Head of Sponsorship and Events, HSBC
- Dana Garmany, Chairman and CEO, Troon Golf
- Marc Player, CEO, Black Knight International
- Tim J. Merrett, Vice President, Global Platform – Turf & Utility, John Deere
- Mike Cantlay, Chairman, Visit Scotland
- Hamish Grey, Chief Executive, Scottish Golf Union
- Peter Dawson, Chief Executive, R&A
- Tim Trinka, President, Asian Golf Industry Federation
- Guy Kinnings, Global Co-Managing Director, IMG Golf
Andrea Sartori, Head of KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice, said: “Colin Montgomerie is a giant of world golf and has been a tremendous ambassador for Scotland, so we are honoured he will be joining us at St Andrews. We have a special panel discussion focusing on the golf business in Scotland as it looks forward to The Ryder Cup in 2014, and we look forward to hearing Colin’s thoughts and opinions.”
KPMG will also honour the outstanding achievements of two of golf’s most influential leaders.
George O’Grady CBE, Chief Executive of The European Tour, and Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR Commissioner, will jointly receive the 2013 Golf Business Forum Lifetime Achievement Award.
O’Grady, a former investment analyst in the City of London, joined The European Tour in 1974, while Finchem, a lawyer by profession, served in the White House as Deputy Advisor to The President in the Office of Economic Affairs, 1978-9, before joining The PGA Tour in 1987.
Andrea Sartori said: “George O’Grady and Tim Finchem have made outstanding contributions to the development of golf as a sport and business. Professional tournament golf, and the television and media coverage it generates, has been a critical factor in the development of golf, in both mature and emerging markets, worldwide.”
The agenda of the Golf Business Forum will focus on an evolving golf business, how the industry is facing the future, the changing wants and needs of customers and the globalization of the game.
Hosted by CNN presenter Don Riddell, delegates will benefit from the latest market insight from some of the biggest names and most successful brands in golf, as well as case studies from the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Golf course owners, club managers and course managers will also benefit from a choice of dedicated sessions focused on management and operational issues.
For more information about the Golf Business Forum and to register visit: www.golfbusinessforum.com