The Golf Course Association Europe (GCAE) welcomed 130 golf facility owners and operators from 15 countries, representing around 270 facilities, for its annual Golf Business Conference in Madeira.
With support from CNIG, Madeira Tourism and key industry partners, the event brought together the people who run, invest in and shape the future of golf facilities in Europe.
Owners and operators came to understand how the world around them is shifting and how to turn that into stronger, smarter and more future-fit facilities.
Built around the theme ‘Driving Change’, the conference programme opened that lens wide. In a conversation with The R&A, the focus moved to the future of golf. Jay Karen brought the shifts in the US market to the room, and DJ Flanders, Executive Vice President of Troon International, showed what different generations expect from their golf experience.
Sessions on brains and empathy, sustainability and water, governance, short formats, range technology, new business opportunities for owners and the economics of facilities pointed to the same conclusion: the pace of change is real and owners need both clarity and confidence to act. The mix of practical tools and deeper perspective helped delegates rethink how they run their facilities – from range innovation and academy models to everyday decisions on service, design and operations.
A standout moment was the visit to Ponta do Pargo, where delegates walked the land of the new golf course under development with Sir Nick Faldo and lead architect Paul Jansen. It offered a rare look at how design and landscape come together on Madeira’s dramatic coastline and underscored the broader role golf facilities play in local economies, tourism and nature.
In live feedback delegates described the conference as inspiring, energising and essential, capturing their key takeaways in three words: focus, change, do something.
Renate Roeleveld, CEO of the GCAE: “How cool to have a room full of enthusiastic, forward-thinking owners and operators. People who care deeply about creating great places – facilities that add value to players, to nature and to their communities. In Madeira you could feel both the joy of being together and a real hunger to learn, adapt and embrace change. Seeing that sparkle in so many eyes was truly inspiring.”
Next year will see the GCAE launch a European benchmark for facility data and set the stage for the next edition of the Golf Business Conference, giving owners and policy makers a deeper view of the true scale and impact of golf in Europe.