World-class speaker line-up announced for KPMG Golf Business Forum

The KPMG Golf Business Forum, to be held at The Celtic Manor Resort in Wales from May 4-6, will present advice from the best in the business on how to stay ahead in the current economic climate.

Head of KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMA) Andrea Sartori said: “Clearly, the global economic downturn is also having an impact on golf throughout the EMA region and beyond and, in times like these, all golf businesses can benefit from the shared experience and expertise that our speakers will offer”.

Speakers include National Golf Foundation CEO Joe Bedditz, European Tour financial director Jonathan Orr, Trump International Golf Links Scotland project director Neil Hobday, Leisurecorp CEO - Golf David Spencer and Golfbreaks CEO Andrew Stanley.

Among topics to be discussed will be golf development trends, alternative ways of project financing, streamlining golf operations, plus country and regional focus sessions on the UK, China India and the Middle East.

More than 300 delegates, including investors, developers, operators, designers and other golf industry professionals, are expected to attend the event.

KPMG’s announcement of the forum’s line-up came at the same time as Bloomberg.com published an article on the impact of the recession on the golf sector in Ireland and Scotland.

According to the article, 700 workers at Gleneagles in Scotland have been asked to take voluntary severance, unpaid leave, reduced working hours or early retirement.

Bloomberg.com also reported that in Ireland, Dublin’s Luttrellstown Castle and Harbour Point, in the southern part of the country, have said they will close in 2009.

Luttrellstown chief executive officer Colm Hannon told Bloomberg.com: “Golf membership is one of those items that maybe comes under the spotlight in times of economic hardship. People are weighing up their priorities”.