Following the successful bid to bring the 2010 Ryder Cup to Wales, the Wales Tourist Board has wasted little time in commissioning work to ensure that the benefits accruing from the event are felt throughout the country.
Four members of the Golf Consultants Association have been appointed to develop a long term Golf Tourism strategy up to and beyond the international event in 2010.
Commenting on the appointment, Steve Webb, director of strategy at the Tourist Board said, “Raising our profile as a golf tourism destination was a key goal of the Ryder Cup bid and this commitment was made to our partners in the Ryder Cup bid, to the golfing world in Wales and to the tourism economy generally. This commission represents the first stage in delivering on that promise”.
The team, led by Ian Bulleid from Impetus Golf and Leisure will be conducting a review of the current golf product and infrastructure in Wales. Sports Marketing Surveys will be conducting detailed consumer research whilst John Ashworth (John Ashworth Associates) and Russell Bragg (Premier Resorts) will formulate the plan on the basis of the research outputs.
Ian Bulleid was naturally delighted with the appointment. “The GCA has been in existence for a relatively short while but our members have many years of experience working on golf specific projects around the world. Our ability to provide specialists in every aspect of golf development and operations provides a USP few can match. To win the commission to assist in ensuring the greatest possible economic benefit to Wales through golf tourism is a challenge we relish.”
Work starts immediately in close liaison with the Board, with the intention of providing a detailed analysis and recommendations to enable the Board to evaluate the information and instigate appropriate measures to impact on 2003 onwards.
Golf Consultants Association Tel: 02476 414999 gca@sportslife.org.uk