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France
In the sixth part of SGB Golf’s exclusive
series of country summaries taken from
the BGIA’s report, The European Golf
Apparel and Footwear Market, we take a
glimpse at France.
Roger Sherman,
There was a boom of golf course
managing
development in France in the late 1980s and
director of
early 1990s: in 1980 there were 128 golf
courses in France; in 1990 there were 378 and
Pattern Ltd,
by the end of 2008 there were 567. The
the UK
number of French golfers rose accordingly, to
branch of Golf Europe owners
400,000 registered players last year, but this Messe Munchen International,
still represents only 0.62% of the population looks back at the 2009 edition of
(whereas 44.8% of French people undertake
Europe’s biggest golf trade show
cycling in some form). However, thanks to
successful recruitment by the French Golf
So how was it for you? Always assuming you
Federation, women golfers make up 30% of were at Golf Europe in Munich in September, of
the indigenous golfing population, which course! Now the dust has settled following the
bolsters the domestic apparel market. change of venue, what seems to have been the
With golf course development grinding to a reaction from industry? Pretty good, it appears.
virtual halt in France since the turn of the
The strange thing is that despite a drop in
Millennium, the country’s golf growth has
attendance of around 12% from 2008, none of
slowed, with an inevitable knock-on effect on
the exhibitors seemed to mind. Of course, an
golf retailing. The economic downturn has
exhibition organiser’s line is always “quality, not
made it harder for brands to prosper in France
quantity” when the figures fall, but this time the
and the golf market has become increasingly
claim seems to have been warranted. Just on
price sensitive, a trend that is stimulated by the
4,000 visitors from 48 countries came to the
success of the Decathlon sports retail chain,
MOC this year, with increases from Italy, Spain,
which specialises in providing a wide range of
the UK – yes, at last more pros turned up! – and
sporting goods at discounted prices.
The BGIA’s new three-part study into the
the USA.
European Golf Apparel and Footwear Market
The show too was smaller, partly because of
was launched at Golf Europe and it is available
the economic problems, but also because some
to purchase. Please email info@bgia.org.uk or
perceived the move back to the MOC from the
call 02476 414 999 x207 for full information,
main trade fair centre as retrogressive.
prices and to request executive summaries.
Yet 93% of the exhibitors stated not only that
they would return next year, but that they would
also recommend Golf Europe to other
companies, auguring well for 2010. Exhibitors in
Professional
the BGIA group stand were pleased and a further
Golf Forum
official UK participation is likely next year.
So sometimes it pays to have lower
breaks new
expectations. Certainly the MOC is a popular
venue for a niche event like Golf Europe, and
ground
being held away from Munich’s commercial
property show reduced hotel prices. Several
One of the highlights of the PGAs of Europe’s attendees and exhibitors confirmed that it was
Annual Congress, held in Murcia, Spain from “like coming home”. The traditional Monday
November 10-13, was its Professional Golf Forum, evening get-together was an extremely jolly
which featured presentations on a broad range of occasion with much networking continuing into
subjects from the European Tour, the European the concurrent Oktoberfest (maybe that was why
Golf Association – representing Europe’s amateur there were more pros!).
federations – and the PGAs of Europe. I’ve attended all 17 Golf Europe shows and
“The PGAs of Europe are proud to have hosted this was probably my last, so it’s good to be able
the inaugural Professional Golf Forum, featuring, to anticipate a promising future for it. Next year’s
as it did, a high level of co-operation between show takes place a few days before the Ryder
[the] three representative organisations,” says Ian Cup – the perfect time to talk golf!
Randell, chief executive of the PGAs of Europe. www.golf-europe.com
www.pgae.com
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