The world looks toward boomtown

Over the past 12 months there have been masses of articles written in the international press discussing the golf industry boom in Dubai.

I have to say that although the majority of views presented are extremely positive, not all of it is.

Environmentalists are concerned with the huge water consumption each course requires and what effect that has on resources.

Economists are concerned about sustainability and the effects that golf developments have on the real estate market and tourism sector.

Today my column has a slightly different focus and that is the impact that Dubai developments have had and are currently having on the worldwide golf industry.

One tool to measure this is the upcoming KPMG Golf Business Forum in Dublin.

KPMG turned their focus to the golf industry in a more concentrated fashion back in 2004 when they created the first Golf Business Forum which was an event created to give industry professionals an opportunity to meet, learn and do business in a more targeted fashion as opposed to meeting at annual trade shows or exhibitions.

Not only has the Golf Business Forum been a huge success globally, the role that Dubai developers and Dubai industry professionals play, is also significant.

Last year representatives such as Peter Harradine (Harradine Golf) and Rod Bogg (Dubai Golf and IGLS) spoke at the conference.

This year David Spencer (Leisurecorp – Jumeirah Golf Estates) is presenting his thoughts on "the Race to Dubai", as is Eddie Sammut (Confluence – Project Managers), who is presenting a case study on "Developing the Tiger Woods Dubai".

KPMG shortly thereafter launched the annual Golf Benchmark Survey for the EMEA region (Europe, Middle-East and Africa), which is a detailed market intelligence study that provides key comparable golf industry benchmarks to golf course owners and operators.

More satisfying for me personally and for IGLS as a golf management company specialising in this region, the results of the survey show the UAE as "literally off the chart" when it comes to generating business and, more importantly, profitability.

There is no doubt that some may perceive the Dubai golf market to be rather insular in such that we are in our own bubble and unaffected by global economic pressures, however the worldwide golf industry is certainly sitting up and taking notice of our collective achievements.