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NEWS HERITAGE
EIGCA supports Fife’s bid European course architects back plan to make St Andrews a World Heritage Site.
T
he European Institute of Golf Course Architects has backed
a campaign to have St Andrews and parts of the Old Course designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Te application for St Andrews
Medieval Burgh and Links has been made by Fife Council to the UK’s Department of Culture Media and Sport. Fife Council are now awaiting a decision from the department to see if the bid has made the United Kingdom’s ‘Tentative List’, which comprises sites which may be nominated for inscription over the next 5–10 years. World Heritage Sites must
have outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria based on cultural and natural importance. World Heritage sites include the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, Te Great Pyramids and Te Statue of Liberty.
GBD MARCH/APRIL 2011 ‘Less than
half of courses profitable’
Less than half (49%) of golf courses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa were profitable in 2010, a new KPMG Golf Benchmark Survey states. Te report – free to download
Commenting on the campaign, EIGCA president David Krause said: “Te European Institute of Golf Course Architects is delighted to back the application for St Andrews Medieval Burgh and Links to become a World Heritage Site. “We are all aware of the
importance of St Andrews to
the establishment of golf as a worldwide sport and we would support anything which helps to preserve the historic town and links for future generations. “I am sure that millions of golfers around the world would join us in backing this bid by Fife Council.” • For more information on this, see
www.eigca.org
RAZR Hawk eyes big impact
After two wins in as many weeks on the European Tour, Callaway’s new RAZR Hawk drivers were launched to a buzz in February. Tomas Bjorn’s impressive
victory in Qatar gave the new driver a first title and that was quickly followed by victory in Dubai as Alvaro Quiros – who finished second to Bjorn in Qatar – beat a stellar field that
APPOINTMENTS Starkey rejoins Foremost Golf
Foremost Golf has appointed Graham Starkey as its new business development manager. Starkey will use his considerable experience working in the golf business in both the UK and South Africa to develop Foremost Golf’s new Golf Club Buying Group and oversee the continued expansion of its Email Marketing Programme (EMP). “It’s great to be back at Foremost Golf and a huge honour to be handed such an important role,” said
Starkey.
The appointment comes as Starkey’s second spell with Foremost Golf having originally joined the company in 2000, before moving to South Africa in 2006 to work as a regional development manager for RetailTribe.
Starkey continued: “I’m going to enjoy working closely with my former colleagues at RetailTribe to
improve the functionality and the performance of the EMP and believe that together we can improve the service we offer to existing customers and to attract a large number of new customers as well.”
included the world’s top three players. Quiros, who rises to a career-
high 21st in the world rankings after the win in Dubai, was imperious from the tee all week with his 9.5°RAZR Hawk. Te Spaniard averaged 310 yards for the week, more than 10 yards clear of his nearest rival. Te previous week in Qatar, his 323- yard average was 19 yards ahead of the 2nd longest hitter. •
www.callawaygolf.com
from www.golfbusinesscommunity. com – also shows that rounds and revenues across the region are down amid widespread cost-cutting and price adjustments at clubs. However, the survey of over 350 golf courses also reveals that the business performance of golf courses varies from region to region, with the Middle East performing strongly despite continued fallout from the economic downturn. Notable findings include: • Almost half of all golf facilities reported a drop in the number of rounds played (43%) and revenues (44%) • Courses in Eastern Europe performed poorly (33% made a loss) while those in Middle East & North Africa fared well (73% reported ‘good’ results) • Some 65% of golf facilities have cut costs – 45% reducing staff • Nearly a fifth (18%) of all courses have reduced or withdrawn joining fees. Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s
Golf Advisory Practice, said: “It is clear from the number of loss-making golf facilities that market forces continue to impact on the performance of courses.” See page 36 for details of the KPMG Golf Business Forum in Dubai in April.
Troon Golf award winner
Ken Kosak, general manager at the recently refurbished Abu Dhabi Golf Club, one of Golf World’s Top 100 Golf Courses, has been announced as ‘General Manager of the Year’ by Troon Golf. “It is an honour to receive this
award, ahead of a number of other esteemed colleagues at Troon Golf,” said Kosak.
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