2010 OGRO Conference & Exhibition

The 8th annual OGRO Conference & Exhibition took place at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Maidstone on 25th March. Owners and operators of golf facilities together with manufactures, suppliers and others with an interest in the golf world enjoyed a stimulating day with informative and thought provoking input from industry experts.

Rohan Barnett, OGRO MD, opened proceedings by thanking Global Ranges for their continued sponsorship and the audience and exhibitors for their support. Rohan reported that Honorary President, John Jacobs OBE, sent his apologies to all: John has been unwell and hospitalised but is making a good recovery. The attendees joined in sending their best wishes to John.

Opening the morning session, Stephen Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Crown Golf set out his analysis of the Next Step for the Golf Industry. Whilst acknowledging that the economic and the natural climate have both taken their toll on the profitability of many golf enterprises, Stephen urged the audience to keep focused on those matters that are within their sphere of influence and reminded operators that they are in the hospitality business. Urging golf operations that they must innovate or die, Stephen quoted Antony Robbins’ axiom “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got.”

Stephen emphasised the need for all golf facilities to be aware and responsive to the new internet environment that we now inhabit:
70% of UK population have internet access;
80% of Regular UK golfers have access to the internet;
Golfers could be described as ‘early adopters’;
The internet is key to the future of golf.

Summarising, Stephen suggested four priorities for golf in the future:

• Define and act on our circle of influence
• React to changing customer and demographic trends
• Innovate to grow revenues
• Improve yields whilst providing the customer with a value for money experience

View Stephen's presentation slides as a PDF