The event, the second of its type for Golf Accountancy Matters, bought together many of the 50-plus golf clubs that the company work with to discuss best practices in golf club accounting and bookkeeping, and to listen to the four guest speakers invited to talk at the conference.
In the first section, much of the emphasis was on how golf clubs and Golf Accountancy Matters can streamline their processes to reduce workload, increase accuracy and save money in the preparation of the golf club’s accounts. Golf Accountancy Matters adopt modern technologies to greatly assist in this regard, with an end-to-end solution that integrates the accounting software package, Xero, with Intelligent Golf. In addition, Datamolino provides for paperless billing and ApprovalMax for invoice payment authorisation – further adding to the timesaving in accounts preparation.
In the second section, delegates, largely comprising golf club managers, bookkeepers, accountants and treasurers, heard from Ben Hoskin of Regency Purchasing about the modern technologies being used to help supplier management in the food, beverage and hospitality areas.
Sam Hodson, Principle at Hillier Hopkins LLP, spoke next about some of the new accounting guidelines imminently coming into force, as well as valuable information about VAT partial exemption and golf club incorporation – two areas that private-member clubs need to understand in their relationship with taxation as non-profit organisations.
Mike Ramsey and Julian Curtis, from Centennial Investment Management, gave a joint presentation on their recent experience of an attempted bank fraud. It was both fascinating and terrifying in equal measure and opened everyone’s eyes to the high level of sophistication now being adopted by fraudsters. Fortunately, Mike and Julian’s experience of banking helped them recover the temporarily lost funds, but not without considerable stress and sleeplessness.
Finally, as the keynote speaker, Ben Sharpe, Managing Director & President of Callaway Golf, EMEA Division, took to the stage to give an insightful talk on his views of increasing participation in the game. Ben spoke about how we, as an industry, need to move from initiatives to grow the game, to embedding it within our mindset.
Ben spoke of how technology can lead the way and facilitate growth. During his 45-minute presentation, he recalled his own career experiences as an industry leader of the gamification of the golf range through Topgolf and later, Toptracer, and how these new technologies revolutionised even the concept of playing golf and participation.
Paul Mould, Director at Golf Accountancy Matters, commented, “the event went really well, and it was great to see so many of our clients under one roof. It was an invaluable opportunity to not only talk about some of the latest initiatives and technologies we’re adopting, but also to share best practices in golf club bookkeeping and accounts.”
“A big thank you to our guest speakers, who each gave very different, but equally interesting and insightful, information on their areas of expertise. And of course, thank you must also go out to all attendees. They made the event by their enthusiasm and engagement.”
Plans are already in motion of Golf Accountancy Matters 3rd Annual Workshop & Golf Business Conference later in the year. For more details, visit www.golfaccountancymatters.co.uk.