The UK Golf Federation (UKGF) held its GolfBIC event in partnership with Golf Business Expo at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire on October 7, bringing together golf club owners, managers, suppliers and industry leaders for a full day of networking, learning and collaboration.
Golf Business Expo is one of the UK’s leading B2B events for the golf industry. Running GolfBIC alongside it gave UKGF members and Corporate Partners a shared place to meet, compare notes and look at the challenges and opportunities facing golf businesses today.
The day also included a meeting of the UKGF Board. Board members, members and Corporate Partners discussed the current state of the industry, and those conversations carried on across the Expo floor.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors could attend a full day of seminars and panel discussions covering the business of golf from several angles. Experienced club managers spoke about running golf and sports clubs. Leading figures from across the game discussed the professional tour, media coverage and the image of golf. Property specialists covered golf course valuations and sales.
The afternoon looked further ahead. One session explored how promoting the health benefits of golf can also support commercial success. Panels examined the growing role of AI and robotics in golf operations and how the industry can grow its market. Speakers came from organisations including England Golf, WME, JLL, Golf Genius, Golf Monthly and Golf Tourism England.
Doug Poole, CEO of the UK Golf Federation, said: “GolfBIC is about getting the right people in the same room, and partnering with Golf Business Expo has let us do that on a bigger scale. Our members and Corporate Partners face many of the same pressures, from rising costs and recruitment to keeping members and bringing new golfers into the game. Days like this let them share what is working and build relationships that last long after the event.
He added: “The seminar programme was excellent, covering everything from robotics and AI, to the property market and the health benefits of golf. These are exactly the conversations our industry needs to be having. I’d like to thank the Golf Business Expo team, our speakers, our Corporate Partners and everyone who came along and made it such a worthwhile day.”