The global growth of golf and the rise of Asia as a region with major
golf potential set the agenda at the HSBC Golf Business Forum in Abu
Dhabi.
More than 260 golf business leaders from 30 countries attended the
event at the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, April 28-30,
connecting leading companies, organisations and individuals.
Speaking about the international opportunities for the golf business,
Giles Morgan, HSBC Global Head of Sponsorship and Events, called for a
customer-centric approach to drive increased participation in
established and emerging markets.
“Golf needs to take a broader approach, it is not just about the
game,” he said. “Golf must be flexible, it must reflect the zeitgeist
for inclusion, it must ensure it is sustainable, and it must uphold the
traditions of the game but instigate innovation.”
The opportunity for golf to capitalise on its inclusion in the
Olympics at Rio 2016 was discussed in a leaders’ question time featuring
Antony Scanlon of the International Golf Federation, sports executive
Donna Orender, Guy Kinnings of IMG and Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of
the R&A.
Antony Scanlon said, “Golf at the Olympics has a potential TV
audience of 3.4 billion. I don’t think everything will change
immediately, but we have an opportunity around the halo effect – three
weeks after the Olympics 75% of viewers will have seen a sport they
hadn’t seen before.”
“I think it is a great opportunity to showcase men and women being equal in golf,” he added.
Focusing on the rise of golf in Asia, the conference heard that China
is the fastest growing market for golf development in the world. With
more than 600 courses already open, it is estimated up to 1,500 courses
are required to satisfy current demand.
Guy Kinnings of IMG predicted the next global superstar would come
from either China or Korea, while Peter Dawson responded to a call for a
major championship in Asia.
“Clearly, it is illogical that as golf in Asia grows there would be
three majors in America and one in the UK. It is not possible for a
golfing body to determine an event in Asia should become a major, but I
have no doubt it will happen in due time.”
Mr Dawson, who recently announced he would retire from the R&A in
2015, was presented with the HSBC Golf Business Forum Lifetime
Achievement Award by Italian golf sensation Matteo Mannasero, an
ambassador for Golf in Abu Dhabi.
Peter Dawson said: “I’d like to thank everyone here at the HSBC Golf
Business Forum. It’s a thrill to receive this in front of so many people
who are involved in the business of golf and love the game. It’s a
particular thrill to receive this from Matteo – I have known him for
many years and at such a young age he is a fantastic ambassador for
golf.”
Wrapping up the conference, with a strong hint that the 2015 HSBC
Golf Business Forum could be in Shanghai, China, Guy Kinnings, IMG
Global Head of Golf, said, ““It has been a fantastic inaugural event for
IMG and our thanks go to our sponsors, especially HSBC and the TCA, and
to our hosts at the Westin. We wanted this forum to be a forward
looking conference whilst learning from the past we have looked into the
world of innovation and how this may help shape the future of this
sport we love. Rest assured as we move forward with this event our
commitment to this will grow and evolve and I hope we have done it proud
in our inaugural year.”
Ladies European Tour (LET) - 2014 HSBC Golf Business Forum Drives Global Connections
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