The European Golf Course Owners Association (EGCOA) is a new organisation which has been formed by the national golf course owners associations in Great Britain (AGCO), Holland (NVG), Germany (BVGA) and Ireland (IGCOA). It will come into being on 1st April.
Membership is available to all countries in Europe which have a national association of golf course owners. Proprietary courses in countries where there is no national association can join EGCOA as an associate member. Membership will also be available for regional golf course owner groups who do not have their own national association. Affiliate membership of EGCOA will be automatic for individual golf course owners who are members of their national associations. There will be no additional cost to the course owner.
The aims of the new Association include lobbying for tax and VAT changes across Europe, inter country communication, inter club communication and the development of increased revenues through travel packages. There will be opportunities for reciprocal play for course owners at other member courses. The handicapping system across Europe will also be looked at in depth.
The founding board of directors are Bob Simmons (UK Association of Golf Course Owners), Frank Scheer (Dutch Golf Course Owners Association), Dr Falk Billion (German Golf Course Owners Association) and Donal Flinn (Irish Golf Course Owners Association).
EGCOA believes that it is evident across Europe that golf course owners do not get a fair representation in the industry nor do they get recognition for the important part they play. The development of golf is in the hands of the golf course owners who provide new facilities and make existing facilities available for new golfers. The Association wants golf course owners to be recognised as a group and have a say in the way golf is developed and run.
Initially the European Association will operate from Great Britain. Over 300 proprietary golf courses across Europe will be represented by the new Association which will be launched in Germany next month and in Holland in March.
Further information is available from:
- UK: Bob Simmons Int +44 (0)1702 216733 golfcourseowners@aol.com
- Holland: Frank Scheer Int +31 (306) 97 12 30 info@nvg-golf.nl
- Germany: Dr Frank Billion Int +49 (89) 43 74 96 64 billion@billion.de
- Ireland: Donal Flinn Int +353 (01) 28 73 600 donalflinn@druidsglen.ie