About the Golf Business Forum – and the story behind it

POSTED ON January 21, 2016 @ 7:18 am

The conversation of creating an educational networking forum for the Australian golf industry was started during a trip to San Antonio, Texas, and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) annual conference last year.

The trajectory began in February 2015 when founders Guy Chapple and Andrew Davies, both Melbourne-based golf industry people, brought over a group of golf operators from Australia to the US. Featuring Australian operators of high-volume public-access golf courses and driving ranges, the group shared an interest in identifying trends in golf facility operations, learning more about the industry, and getting ahead of the game by learning from the biggest market in the world.

The trip bolstered the groups’ idea that there is a need for a similar event in the Australian golf industry, where both operators and owners could exchange ideas and challenges among their peers.

To get the ball rolling, Chapple and Davies partnered up with EMG Events and key industry partners Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia. The organisations agreed on the need for an event offering education opportunities for the Australian industry, and also sought an opportunity to connect to facilities serving public golfers. Their support was swift and absolute, and has helped make the Forum happen.

So what is a Forum, and when does it happen?

The Golf Business Forum is Australia’s largest ever gathering of golf facility owners, operators, industry leaders and business partners. In form of a two-day educational event, the Forum is designed to bring together operators and owners in the golf industry that serve the public golfers, whether as the entire focus of their operations or as part of a hybrid member/public facility.

Featuring a mix of education sessions and a key-networking event, along with an exhibition featuring key industry business partners, the inaugural Forum will be held in Melbourne 25-26 July 2016.

So stay in touch! Lock in the dates! And register your interest and join the conversation today!