Melbourne, Australia: The programme for Australia’s largest ever gathering of golf facility owners, operators, industry leaders and business partners – Golf Business Forum 2016 – has been released.
To be held on July 25-26, Golf Business Forum 2016 has attracted some of the best minds in golf business from Australia and beyond.
There will be keynote presentations from the CEOs of the world’s largest golf course owners’ associations, together with content-experts, successful operators, industry leaders and business partners from across Australia.
The two-day event is being held on the doorstep of Melbourne’s CBD at the Melbourne Park Function Centre.
The inaugural event has already attracted registrations from around Australia representing a diverse range of golf businesses – including public golf courses, driving ranges, member-based clubs, golf facility management companies, PGA professionals, local governments and state golf associations.
“We have been delighted with the industry response to registering for the Golf Business Forum 2016,” said event organiser Andrew Davies. “There is clear interest in the idea of driving golf business performance as well as tackling some of the challenges facing the wider industry.”
Along with a focus on golf business performance, the Forum will assist various industry stakeholders to improve their understanding of, and engagement with, the public golfer.
Davies said: “The public golfer is the largest golfer population as it represents around two thirds of Australia’s 1.2 million active golfers, with the remaining third being members of golf clubs.
“Golfers are engaging with the sport in various ways via public golf courses, driving ranges, virtual golf facilities and increasingly through playing golf at member-based clubs. It’s time to bring everyone together to uncover the many opportunities that these golfers represent.”
Featuring a single theatre with a combination of keynote speakers, guest speakers and panel discussions, Golf Business Forum 2016 will deliver relevant and focused educational content in a format not seen before in the industry.
Content will be in accordance with the event’s three main themes:

• Market Dynamics – insights into international and local sports and golf participation trends

• Facility Development and Innovation – showcasing leading Australian golf facilities and how we can learn from them

• Customer Engagement and Experiences– how to harness digital marketing and community relations to engage your customers, build loyalty and deliver memorable experiences (and ultimately drive visitation and revenue).