Taking the guesswork out of the golf business
Since its introduction in 2006, KPMG’s Golf Benchmark Survey has established itself as the definitive market intelligence study of golf course businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMA).
As Ken Schofield, former Executive Director of the PGA European Tour, has said, “KPMG’s Golf Benchmark Survey takes the guesswork out of the golf business.”
This year, the Golf Benchmark Survey will continue to deliver essential performance data in a new refined format and will, for the first time, include China as well as other dynamic, emerging markets.
KPMG has also announced that a new, updated Golf Course Development Cost Survey, detailing the factors that influence the costs of constructing a golf course and typical development timing, will also be published in 2008.
Initiated and coordinated by KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice in EMA, under the leadership of KPMG Partner Andrea Sartori, the Golf Benchmark Survey (GBS) provides structured information regarding the operational and financial performances of golf courses, enabling individual courses to compare their own performance to the industry high, average and low benchmarks. The GBS is a valuable source of information to golf industry stakeholders, including golf course owners, operators, golf course and real estate developers, as well as suppliers to the golf industry (designers, equipment manufactures, consultants, financial institutions, and professional media representatives).
KPMG targets almost every golf course operator at more than 6,000 courses in the EMA region in order to receive their input for their survey. In 2007, the second year of the research, nearly 1,500 golf courses across 48 countries participated in the Golf Benchmark Survey. Results of the research have been compiled in eight regional reports and one comparative report for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. In addition, the survey covered two emerging markets in 2007: the Caribbean and India. The reports were structured around the following information:
• Market overview
• Membership and round information
• Financial information (pricing, revenues, costs and profitability)
• Other operating characteristics (staffing, outsourcing, etc.)
• Future outlook
In 2008, KPMG is conducting a shorter survey, focusing only on two, essential golf course business performance indicators – round and revenue figures. In addition, EMA region’s pioneering golf advisory practice aims to add new markets to its 2008 study.
KPMG maintains strict confidentiality to golf courses that complete the survey questionnaire, publishing only country and regional averages, not individual course details. If you would like to participate in the 2008 survey and receive a free summary report when it is published, please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire and fax it to KPMG Golf Advisory Practice in EMA at +36 1 887 7333, or participate online through www.golfbenchmark.com. The more participants, the more representative information the survey can provide.
For more details about the Golf Benchmark Survey please contact Zita Valint at KPMG (tel +36 1 887 7264 or via email: zita.valint@kpmg.hu).