The conference will focus on having 45 minute presentations on all sectors of golf, with a Q&A session to conclude. The topics will be addressed by key people in the industry together with experienced business development presenter.
Craig Tracey MP, Chairman All Party Parliamentary Golf Gtoup
Craig Tracey was born in Durham and attended the city’s Framwellgate Moor Comprehensive School. He moved to the Midlands in 1996 and started his own business aged 21, which he ran for 20 years before being elected as Member of Parliament for his now home constituency of North Warwickshire in 2015. In the 2015 election, he was defending the Conservatives’ smallest majority of 54, increasing it to 2,973. In subsequent elections that majority has grown to its current 17,956 – the highest ever recorded in the constituency.
In Parliament Craig has served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to several Ministers, as well as two Secretaries of State – Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt (DFID & Women & Equalities) and Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom. He has chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group on Golf since 2017 and is very proud to have the PGA Headquarters, Belfry Hotel and Forest of Arden golf resorts all based in his constituency.”
Jackie Davidson – R&A – Women in Golf Charter
Jackie joined The R&A as Assistant Director – Golf Development in June 2017, having worked with Scottish Golf, latterly as Head of Development, for 6 years. In addition to supporting the Golf Development team’s work with affiliates and overseeing the University and Scholarship programme, a core responsibility is to manage The R&A’s work in and around women and girls golf, including the Women in Golf Charter, the Women in Golf Leadership Development Programme and the recently launched #FOREeveryone campaign.
Health and fitness and sport have always been a passion of Jackie’s, having previously worked for the Scottish Fire Service as their Senior Occupational Fitness Advisor and in her sporting career, prior to golf, as CEO of Scottish Cycling and President of Triathlon Scotland. Jackie recently stepped down as a Director of the Board of Commonwealth Games Scotland, a post held for over 13 years. She was appointed to the Board of Scottish Swimming in 2018 and still maintains her volunteer role as Chair and Trustee of a 500 member strong football club. In her spare time Jackie ‘enjoys’ completing Ironman events!
Colin Mayes Chief Executive – Burhill Group Limited
With 40 years’ experience within the hotel, leisure, golf, and hospitality industry, his expertise includes managing new start-ups, company turnarounds in both home and international markets and venture capital sponsored businesses. Colin is currently the CEO for Burhill Group Limited a Guinness family-owned business that operates 10 golf courses (pay and play and membership clubs) in England, Adventure Leisure Ltd (indoor & outdoor social entertaining) together with an extensive property portfolio.
Before this he was CEO of Old English Inns PLC, Managing Director of Greene King Pub Company, Managing Director Magic Pub Company and Executive Director at Forte Plc (hotels & catering).
He has also held non-executive board positions at Active Luton Ltd, Charles Wells Limited and Cranfield University. In addition to his role at Burhill he is the current President of the UK Golf Federation that represents the interest of golf course owners and he also acts as an adviser to Active Luton Leisure Trust as part of his community involvement. Colin is also a keen sportsman and family man and enjoys playing golf and competes at national and international level in Masters swimming events.
Tom Brooke – CEO – GCMA
Tom has been involved in the golf industry for 15 years. He spent 8 years as a Golf Club General Manager with Crown Golf, before becoming Managing Director of Glendale Golf, a multi-course operator, in 2013. During this time, Tom also served on the Board of the UK Golf Federation.
In September 2020, Tom joined the Golf Club Managers’ Association as its new CEO and has since been working to progress the strategic direction of the Association, with the priority of enhancing professional and personal development services for its members.
James Wilkinson – Founder and Managing Director – Albatross Digital
With two decades of digital experience working with some of the world’s leading entertainment companies, James switched bands and loud music for greens and fairways in 2014.
For these past 6 years, James has transitioned these skills to helping some of the industry’s leading golf businesses who have been attracted to the Albatross new and dynamic approach to digital marketing.
Richard Haygarth – Chairman UK Golf Federation
Richard got into the golf business in 1999 having spent the 80s and 90s with PricewaterhouseCoopers in London & Toronto. His philosophy is that golf is for everyone and he runs three open access golf facilities where the emphasis is on fun.
He is currently developing a fourth site near Heathrow, which will epitomise his ethos of getting people to have fun learning and playing golf in all its forms. When away from the business Richard enjoys the odd round of golf and cycling.
Doug Poole – CEO, UK Golf Federation
With four decades of experience working in the golf industry Doug’s knowledge covers most areas of the golf business. Initially as a member of the PGA attached or head professional at Coombe Hill and Lindrick Golf Clubs, then many years in golf and corporate travel as Director of Golf for British Airways and then on to owning his own travel company, through to Managing Director & Franchise owner of Golfsmith Europe – owner and distributor for some major brands included Lynx Golf, MacGregor, and Greg Norman Clothing.
Along this journey there have been some key positions held in golf development with Board Member positions for England Golf and the Golf Foundation and a few Chairmanships, British Golf Industry Association and Stonecheck plc. But most exciting is his current position as CEO representing the proprietary and commercial golf facilities where he has seen membership climb in just over two years to 1,000 members plus.
For more details about the full panel of speakers see https://golfbic.online/main-auditorium/
The GolfBIC.online registration form is available HERE. To be sure of receiving a copy of the Exhibitors Prospectus contact GolfBIC@golfbusinesslinks.net