Following a very successful workshop in the summer of 2007, a steering group, Golf Tourism Ayrshire, was created and has, since then, been looking at the priorities for Ayrshire Golf Tourism development.

The workshop six months ago highlighted the need to examine
1) Marketing and Branding
2) E-Business
3) Industry Engagement
4) Events
5) Capacity and Quality of golf tourism offering

The meetings to date of the group have been focussing on points 3 and 5 – increasing industry engagement and communication and examining strategically the capacity of the Ayrshire courses (weekend, high season, winter) and indeed the quality of the overall offering to the visiting golfer both on and off course.

It was therefore decided to follow up the initial workshop with a winter one which seeks to set clear objectives for the industry in Ayrshire in the area of product knowledge, increased communications and awareness of what is possible for 2008 and beyond.

These issues combined to form the agenda for the Golf Tourism Ayrshire Workshop held at Gailes Lodge Hotel on 14 February 2008, held jointly by Golf Tourism Scotland with the Ayrshire Chamber Tourism Forum, and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire.

This event was important to all of those involved in the golf tourism industry in Ayrshire from accommodation providers to golf courses, funding bodies to tour operators, restaurants to visitor attractions. It represented an opportunity to discuss the problems and identify how the industry can work more closely to mutual benefit and exploit to the maximum the opportunities golf tourism provides.

If you would like further information on the outcomes of this workshops please contact:

Ian Bunch, Chair, Golf Tourism Ayrshire, info@golftourismscotland.com or

Lynne Pringle, Tourism Team Leader, Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, Lynne.Pringle@scotent.co.uk