The Forum was created as a place for the wider industry to come together to make connections, share ideas, build knowledge and obtain the tools essential to driving successful golf business outcomes. The first event was held in 2016 and attracted 197 delegates. In 2018, 282 delegates were involved, representing a 43% increase in delegate attendance.
Delegates came from all parts of the industry and included Public Golf Courses, Driving Ranges, Golf Resorts, Golf Clubs, Local Government, State Government, Golf Facility Management Companies, Land Development Companies, PGA Professionals, Industry Organisations, Golf Media and Industry Business Partners. Together they serve Australia’s 2.1m golf participants.
“Our purpose for creating the Golf Business Forum was to bring Australia’s diverse golf industry together. Given the growth in attendance and the diversity of delegates, we have certainly achieved our objective. Golf Business Forum is clearly Australia’s most influential golf business event,” enthused Forum Director, Andrew Davies.
The Forum’s success was also evident by the growth and commitment of its commercial partners, particularly its premium partners. “MPower MSL has been the Forum’s Platinum Partner since 2016. We are thrilled with the success of Golf Business Forum 2018. The wide range of delegates, together with great content and networking, provides a valuable and unique opportunity for MPower MSL, and all the event’s commercial partners, to engage with the wider Australian golf industry” raved Nick Thornton, General Manager of MPower Golf.
Other premium partners included Golf Australia (Foundation), Club Car and X-Golf Australasia (Gold Sponsors), and Toro, PGA of Australia, Soniq, Aveo Group and PGA TOUR (Silver Sponsors) whose support contributed to a memorable event.
Golf Business Forum 2018’s education content focused on 3 themes – trends, marketing and
customer experience. Keynote speakers included Matt Connell (MKTG), Kirk Edwards (Village Roadshow/Topgolf), Bec Brideson (The Gender Intelligence Agency), John King (Golf Marketing University), Lodewijk Klootwijk (European Golf Couse Owners Association), Ian James (RetailTribe), and MC Sam Squiers (Sportette).
“Over the next few weeks, we’ll be reviewing feedback from the event’s delegates, commercial partners and industry organisations. Together, we look forward to evolving the Golf Business Forum and delivering a bigger and better event next time,” states Davies.
Relevant education content from Golf Business Forum 2018 will be released over the next few months and will be available via https://www.golfbusinessforum.com.au