AFTER 12 months at the helm, Tracey-Lea Tiley has settled beautifully in the general manager’s role at Links Hole Island Golf Club on the Gold Coast. As the leader of a multi-million dollar business, she revels in her work and happily puts in 11-hour days to ensure the club runs smoothly. “This is my second […]
WHEN Marcus Sullivan started as a golf shop assistant at Arundel Hills Country Club 20 years ago, not even he could imagine he would return one day as the club’s general manager. It’s been almost a year since Sullivan parked himself behind the GM’s desk and in that time he has overseen a number of […]
The PGA of Australia announced today that Gavin Kirkman has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Peter O’Malley, Chairman of the PGA Board highlighted this appointment as particularly noteworthy as Gavin Kirkman comes from within golfing’s and the organisation’s ranks. Gavin is a long serving PGA employee having been CEO of PGA Queensland from 2002 […]
The R&A and the USGA have published their annual review of driving distance, a research document that reports important findings on driving distance in golf. Introduced last year, the review examines driving distance data from seven of the major professional golf tours, based on approximately 285,000 drives per year. Data from studies of male and […]
Callaway Golf Company has announced that it has acquired OGIO International, Inc. for $75.5 million in an all-cash transaction, subject to a working capital adjustment. The acquisition enhances Callaway’s presence in golf while also providing a platform for future growth in the lifestyle category. Excluding non-recurring transaction and transition expenses, Callaway’s management expects the acquisition […]
Over 200 golf industry leaders gathered in Melbourne in late July 2016 for the inaugural Golf Business Forum, in what became Australia’s largest ever event for golf industry leaders, facility owners and operators, and their business partners. With international and local speakers bringing new perspectives to golf business, attendees were educated and challenged to think […]
Wendy Perry has a lot on her plate as general manager of Byron Bay Golf Club, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Ms Perry, who has been at the helm at Byron Bay Golf Club for two years following a four-year stint as administration manager, has the club industry running through her veins. […]
John Karsten Solheim, the oldest son of John A. Solheim and the grandson of PING Founder Karsten Solheim, was named president of PING today, effective January 1, 2017. He succeeds Doug Hawken as president, who is retiring after a distinguished 45-year career with the company that saw him rise from assistant to the production manager […]
The PGA of Australia announced today that CEO Brian Thorburn would be stepping down, having successfully completed his second three-year contract with the Association when it comes to the end of its natural term in February 2017. Peter O’Malley, Chairman of the PGA Board thanked and praised Thorburn for leading the Association over these important […]
Veteran Golf Promoter Tony Roosenburg has decided to close the doors on his golf promotions business TRP Sports after 36 years. “It has been an amazing run of success since I arrived as an immigrant from the Netherlands in 1981 and started with Tony Charlton in the Golf Industry, ” said to Roosenburg. TRP Sports […]
Peregian Springs Golf Holdings Limited (Holdings) has announced tha tGolf Services Management Pty Ltd (GSM) has been granted a lease to operate the Peregian golf course and clubhouse for 5 years with a further 5 year option. GSM is a golf course management company operating five golf courses in Victoria – Bay Views, Kingston Links, Ranfurlie, […]
CALOUNDRA Golf Club has been one of the Queensland Sunshine Coast’s golfing institutions since 1951 and remains a traditional club with a healthy membership. The club’s general manager Jason Looker has been at Caloundra for a decade and, along with a strong management committee and staff, keeps the operation running like a well-oiled machine. Looker […]
The powers of the Golf NSW Council have been transitioned after an historic vote of Councillors last week. This followed an earlier vote by the member clubs and districts that overwhelmingly voted in favour of the changes. With the support of all parties in place, the Golf NSW Council ceased to exist on 7 October. […]
NATIONAL software developer MiClub recently launched TeeNet, a markedly different tee time booking website. TeeNet offers Australia’s largest tee time range. As a non-commercial initiative, TeeNet has no onsite advertising or contractual pricing arrangements. There is no administration fee for players using the site and no contracts or commission fees for clubs or courses. Aside […]
Western Union Business Solutions has been announced as the Official Foreign Exchange Partner of the PGA of Australia and an Official Partner of the Australian PGA Championship. As one of the world’s leading providers of cross-border business payments, Western Union Business Solutions is transforming how businesses can expand their global reach through one of the […]
After over 50 years in golf course design, Thomson Perrett founder Peter Thomson has announced his formal retirement from golf course architecture. Peter established the company in 1965 after winning his fifth British Open and has since worked on over 250 projects in 30 countries including building over 100 new courses. Peter’s contribution and impact […]
The Yering Meadows Golf Course in Melbourne’s famed Yarra Valley announced last month that it has successfully negotiated a competitive sale of its properties and will retain existing management. After a 12-month sale process, the Yering Meadows management team was presented with an offer from new owner Yering Properties Pty Ltd, a company established for […]
Northern Golf Club has unveiled its three brand-new holes and announced a vision for a drastically improved water supply and long-term master plan of its course and clubhouse. Members teed off Northern’s new Thomson Perrett-designed eighth, ninth and 10th holes on April 16. “Nine and 10 are brand-new holes, which will probably be rated one […]
Top award for WA’s Alex Monteath WEST Australian golfing stalwart Alex Monteath doesn’t like surprises, but he received one recently when Golf Management Australia (WA) honoured him with the WA Golf Industry Recognition Award for services to golf. “It was more of a shock than a surprise because I had no idea it was […]
ELEVEN Golf Management Australia (GMA) general managers attended the Club Managers’ Association of America’s 89th World Conference on Club Management and Club Business Expo in San Diego, California and returned home inspired and loaded with new ideas. The were: Aaron Muirhead (Nudgee Golf Club), Scott Wagstaff (Carbrook Golf Club), Barnaby Sumner (Oatlands Golf Club), Michael […]
With more members utilising golf carts in courses across Australia and New Zealand, cart paths become an increasingly necessary part of course design, which can also provide revenue streams not otherwise available. Cart paths provide a number of benefits to a course or club. They ensure members can play throughout the year, regardless of weather. […]
MAROOCHY RIVER Golf Club general manager Charlie McGill still remembers having less than $50 in his pocket when he arrived from his native Scotland to start a new life in Australia. That was 33 years ago. Of course, today he has a few more bob in his pocket along with the Golf Management Australia (Qld) […]
BALLINA Golf and Sports Club general manager Mark Whiting was halfway through an interview with Inside Golf when he excused himself to answer a telephone ringing in the background. Soon he returned to apologise for his short absence. “The office manager had to take her dog to the vet so while I’m talking to you […]
BRETT Holland, the general manager at Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club, is not one to allow the grass to grow under his feet. More than a decade ago, as GM at Murwillumbah Golf Club, he recognised the golf industry was in decline and implemented major changes at the northern New South Wales club. Today […]
One of Sydney’s busiest golf course makeover companies, James Wilcher’s Golf by Design, has won the contract to rebuild Strathfield’s new-look layout, with work recently beginning on the project. The GBD Master Plan for the project was released late last year and the new design will feature both the 18th and eighth holes finishing near […]
WHAT do St Andrews, Augusta National, Pebble Beach and Royal Melbourne have in common? They all use Tru-Turf greens rollers to produce perfect putting surfaces. The Gold Coast-based company has revolutionised the way greens are cared for and even has the US PGA Tour singing its praises. Mind you, it wasn’t always smooth rolling. “When […]
IN the mid-1980s, Mark Holland quit professional tennis to start a career that has led to managing some of the best golf clubs and resorts around the world. For the past 30 years, he has plied his management skills in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi and Kuwait), Singapore, Korea, Indonesia, Macau, Fiji and Australia where […]
AUSTRALIA’S only organic golf course is up for sale. Originally created to provide a place for recreation while preserving the environment, Kabi Organic Golf Club (KOGC) at Boreen Point in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, has matured into a challenging and picturesque golf course. Designed by renowned golf course architect Graham Papworth, the golf course is […]
A groundbreaking move by three of Melbourne’s top ranked golf clubs to establish a ‘super club’ could shine a light into the future of club golf around Australia. Huntingdale Golf Club, Patterson River Golf Club and the Sandhurst Club, after extensive preliminary investigations, have advised that the clubs will enter into a Heads of […]
Eagle Ridge, a Mornington Peninsula 18-hole golf course and wedding venue, has been sold for an undisclosed sum to a Melbourne-based family. The Russo family, who have owned Eagle Ridge since 1995, began a public sale campaign several years ago. Fielding interest locally and from abroad, the Russos were looking for the right purchaser to take the reins […]
Walkinshaw Sports Pty Ltd last month announced the acquisition of wholesale golf business Cooperative Golf Services (CGS). This will see all existing international distribution agreements held by Cooperative Golf Services for this region now fall under the Walkinshaw Sports banner. Walkinshaw Sports have taken this strategic move at a testing time in the golf industry, […]
HEADLAND Golf Club general manager Ben Dobson has returned from his fact-finding mission to Melbourne’s Kingston Heath Golf Club armed with a plethora of good ideas. Dobson, who has been at the helm at Headland for seven years, spent three valuable days at Kingston Heath shadowing general manager Gregg Chapple. There, he was able to […]
NO golfer, irrespective of his or her handicap, walks off a green after a three putt feeling good about themselves. And while The Brisbane Golf Club cannot guarantee a golfer’s most detested deficiency never occurring on their greens, club captain Terry Campbell is adamant the probability has greatly decreased now the course has Ultra Dwarf […]
IAN Cottle, general manager of Burleigh Golf Club on the Gold Coast, doesn’t believe it takes too long to play a round of golf. “I enjoy the four-or-so hours it takes to play a round,” he said. “Sometimes when playing nine holes you can feel like you are just getting warmed up.” Inside Golf caught […]
Golf in the southwest of Victoria has received a major shakeup with 24 clubs in the area settling into their membership as part of the newly formed Western District Golf Association. The association came into being after three former districts – South Western District Golf Association, Women’s Golf Western District and Corangamite District Golf Association […]
ON COURSE Golf members partnered with Callaway Golf in 2014 to raise funds for Movember – the organisation that raises vital funds, promotes awareness for prostate and testicular cancer and supports mental health through Beyond Blue. The tally was an impressive $35,000 making the two-year combined total $85,000. Members from both companies joined forces to […]
The gates at Ocean Dunes on King Island will swing open before the end of the year, according to the man responsible for building the stunning 18-hole golf course. Graeme Grant – former long-time superintendent at Kingston Heath in Melbourne and one of several directors at Ocean Dunes – said the front nine and the […]
DAVID Scott is a shining example of the emerging new age of PGA golf club professionals in the Australian golf industry. Scott, the Deputy General Manager of Riverside Oaks – one of Australia’s biggest and leading golf resort-residential-playing complexes—is a graduate of the PGA’s International Golf Institute and the follow-on PGA club Traineeship. In less […]
MEMBERS of The Eastern Golf club in Melbourne were recently treated to a sneak-peek of their new Greg Norman-designed golf course, currently under construction in the Yarra Valley. As part of the club’s ongoing going commitment to communication and development transparency to members, the club hosted an Open Day on site in Yering in December. […]
HE’S held a number of interesting jobs in his working life, but Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club general manager Roger Morris reckons his current position is right up there with the rest of them. Morris started his career working in international hotels before landing key positions at The Australian Golf Club and Castle Hill Country […]
