The Golf Quality Survey was launched 1st April 2009 and will be open for entries in April and May 2009. This unique survey studies how various European user groups with relation to golf and the golf industry assess quality of golf facilities. Hopefully the study will confirm and disconfirm some of the rooted beliefs within the industry that for instance most golfers prefer par 72 golf courses or that the golf course, not the club house, is the most important part of a golf facility.
The study is conducted by golf course design student Thomas Jepsen as part of his dissertation project at the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA).
Thomas says, “I’m very proud to have been able to launch this survey and that so many national golf associations and professional organisations across Europe have chosen to support it by promoting it to their members.”
And he continues, “When I first came up with the idea for this study, I was convinced of the many possibilities it could offer. After studying KPMG’s report on the golf economy I realised how much money is actually spend within the business of golf and I came to wonder – are all these money spend the right way? Are people actually getting their money’s worth when they play, run or develop a golf course facility?
“With today’s economic climate these questions have just become even more important since investors especially are looking to optimise the return on their investments. And I think it could be extremely benefiting to the entire industry to carry out the survey and actually see whether or not we are putting our time, effort and money in the right place.”
The user groups studied are:
• European Golf Players
• European Golf Course Architects
• European Golf Course Developers/Investors
• European Golf Course Owners
• European Golf Club Managers and Club Secretaries
• European Golf Course Managers and Greenkeepers
The study will provide all these user groups with a common language and an understanding of each others needs and ideas of the term quality. For golf course architects it will provide a unique frame for future work and it will reveal where to strengthen the designs in relation to meeting the expected quality of the clients.
Please visit the project website at www.thegolfqualitysurvey.com where you can learn more about the project and participate in the survey.