Golf Course Owners and Operators are being urged to book their place at GolfBIC, which is being held for the first time in conjunction with the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, BTME.
The Golf Business and Industry Convention (GolfBIC) is presented by the UK Golf Course Owners Association (UKGCOA) and the Organisation of Golf & Range Operators (OGRO), in association with BIGGA and is a well-established and popular annual event attracting top presenters and a wide range of delegates from every corner of the golf industry.
The 2016 event will take place on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 January in purpose-built conference space in Hall Q of the Harrogate International Centre. Hall Q is open for the first time in several years to accommodate more and more exhibitors and visitors to the show.
GolfBIC provides an opportunity for golf industry professionals to come together to discuss, share and update their knowledge in all areas of the golf club business.
The event will feature a host of top golf industry speakers including Jay Karen, Chief Executive of the National Golf Course Owners Association in the USA who will discuss the challenges facing the US golf market and how they translate to the UK. Also on the programme will be Lodewijk Klootwijk, EGCOA Chief Executive, who will focus on the progress across Europe since ‘Vision 20/20’ was introduced – a project to encourage fun family engagement in golf clubs.
UKGCOA Chief Executive, Andy Lloyd-Skinner will present a variety of subjects designed to benefit owners and operators, including the VAT equalisation project and their work with England Golf on its Facilities Strategy.
Alongside the plenary conference programme will be a series of workshops aimed at different aspects of the golf club with particular emphasis on improving and diversifying the product.
BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “GolfBIC is one of the major events of the year in terms of attracting delegates from the whole spectrum of the golf industry.
“This event will attract even more key decision makers to BTME, reaffirming how important a week for the entire golf industry the third week of January is. I’m looking forward to sharing the HIC with GolfBIC delegates and presenters and I know all of our exhibitors will be very keen to talk business with them too.
“Decisions concerning on-course spend are high on the list of priorities for golf club operators at present and it’s exciting to host an event which will attract even more of them to BTME. As well as a superb exhibition with five Halls and a first-class greenkeeper education programme, networking is a significant part of BTME’s enduring appeal and success and joining forces with this high profile event will only enhance this.”
Andy Lloyd-Skinner, CEO of UKGCOA, said: “The UKGCOA and OGRO have been delighted with the feedback from attendees to GolfBIC for the past few years, with the benefits of networking and the content of the presentations regularly receiving top marks.
“Despite this, both organisations want to take GolfBIC to the next level and having attended BTME in Harrogate for the past couple of years, I have been impressed with the way BIGGA has organised the educational programmes and improved attendances and the exhibition environment for exhibitors since I originally attended BTME in 2004. I am excited about GolfBIC 2016 at Harrogate in January and expect attendees to both enjoy the event and leave with some new ideas and an increased level of enthusiasm for the 2016 golf season.”
To book your place at GolfBIC please visit www.btme.org.uk/education You can also reserve your spot at any of our hugely varied seminars, conferences and sessions here – please book early to avoid disappointment!
There will also be a dinner on the Wednesday evening in the Royal Hall of the HIC, beginning at 7pm and featuring a three course meal. This is included in the daily delegate rate, additional tickets are available for £65 plus VAT.