THE GOLF BUSINESS FORUM STORY

WHO’S BEHIND THE GOLF BUSINESS FORUM?

Guy Chapple and Andrew Davies co-created Golf Business Forum in 2015. Guy is now the sole Director.

“For over 28 years golf business has been my passion. Working across a range of senior management positions at golf clubs including Caloundra, Croydon, Rosanna and Yarra Yarra, I’ve developed an expert understanding on how to operate, cultivate and optimise business performance.” explains Guy.

Also, Guy adds ”I’m passionate about helping golf remain one of Australia’s most popular sports. I founded WellPlayed in 2011 to help support and grow the Australian golf industry, by providing golf facilities, golf clubs, government and golf-related organisations with genuine, reliable and evidence-based consulting services. We created Golf Business Forum in recognition of the need to connect and inspire the diverse range of golf businesses, industry organisations and commercial partners that serve Australia’s golf participants.”

THE TRIP THAT STARTED IT ALL.

In February 2015 we took a group of golf operators from Australia to San Antonio, Texas for the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) annual conference.

Our tour group featured Australian operators of high-volume public-access golf courses and driving ranges, along with Golf Australia’s Cam Wade. We shared a common interest in identifying trends in golf facility operations, learning more about our industry, and getting ahead of the game by learning from the biggest market in the world.

The trip was a success, we met some new people, got to know each other and shared plenty of ideas. It also became clear there was a need for the Australian market, including both operators and owners, to have access to this kind of experience. The need for educational sessions, custom-designed for the golf industry, is a clear standout. However, the personal interactions delivered far more than we had hoped. Sharing ideas and challenges with your peers is as old as business itself, but the golf industry (in particular those facilities serving the public golfer) lacked a forum to make this happen.

SO WHAT IS THE FORUM?

The Forum is a 2-day education event designed to bring together the Australian golf industry. Featuring a mix of education sessions and a key networking event, along with an exhibition featuring industry business partners, the Forum has previously been held in Melbourne in July 2016 and July 2018.

Golf Business Forum 2020 will be at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Tuesday 23 - Wednesday 24 June 2020.