• New biomechanics system
• 2014 Ryder Cup dates confirmed
• Diageo named Ryder Cup partner
• Ryder Cup course modifications
• First in Fife launch website
• Nairn to host 2012 Curtis Cup
• 2011 Walker Cup at Aberdeen
• Musselburgh
• Scotland’s Golf industry
• New official St Andrews Links
• Old Course Ballot to Change
• Barclays Scottish Open
• Ryder Cup Logo
• The Tom Morris Golf Shop

Scotland’s Golf industry on course despite a tough year

The clearest indication yet of the resilience of Scotland’s golf industry has been revealed in research released today by VisitScotland.  The 2009 National Golf Tourism Monitor, which is compiled on behalf of VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise (SE) by leading trade body, Golf Tourism Scotland (GTS), shows visitor rounds were maintained at 2008 levels despite testing economic conditions.

From the study of 108 courses, visitor rounds remained virtually unchanged compared with 2008. It also showed that rounds peaked between May and September with average monthly incomes reaching £35,000 per course, though naturally with wide variations among courses.

Interestingly, despite the global downturn, North American visitors still accounted for 30% of overall visitor green fee revenue averaged across all the courses which could trace their visitors by origin. There was also good news for inland and smaller courses, as well as commercial and municipal courses, which all performed well despite the economic adversity.

VisitScotland’s Chief Executive Philip Riddle says the most encouraging aspect of the monitor is the evidence showing that the industry has weathered the economic storm:

“Looking ahead to 2010, The Open and indeed towards the Ryder Cup in 2014, it has never been so important to make sure the golf industry is as strong as it can be and well placed to compete on an international stage in front of a global audience.

In the current climate it’s vital we all work together to get tourism growth back on track.  Feedback from GTS tells us the number of courses providing figures grew by about 20% this year, which is very encouraging.” he said.

First carried out by GTS in 2008, the Golf Tourism Monitor is designed to quantify levels, patterns, and trends in golf tourism in Scotland with the information coming from a significant proportion of the golf clubs and courses that generate the sector’s contribution to the economy.

“It was certainly one of toughest years I can remember,” commented GTS chairman Nick Hunter. “The credit crunch definitely played its part but I am delighted with the resilience shown by the industry, especially as visitor rounds remained stable. I think it shows the sector is pragmatic enough to react to the challenges it faces and puts a lot of clubs in a strong position to benefit from the year ahead.”