Golf Tourism is on the Upswing

Golf tourism is increasing and has more than doubled to New Zealand in the past five years, Ms Philippa King, Communications & Trade Manager, The Best of Golf New Zealand, said last week at the 2006 Professional Golf Association Golf Show held in the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour. 

The annual PGA show, Australia’s premier golf exhibition – a two day golf trade show and a two day public show – is designed to promote and “grow the game” by bringing together representatives of golf products, golf holiday and real estate companies as well as a multitude of golf courses, resorts and organisations like The Best of Golf New Zealand. 

The three year old organisation, endorsed by Qualmark, a government backed quality assurance programme, is a “collective cluster of the top nine golf courses in the country”. 

Included in the group is Kauri Cliffs, a luxury lodge and golf course on the North Island considered by many to be the best in New Zealand.

Australia is one of the biggest markets for The Best of Golf New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand’s “golf network to develop golf tourism”. 

We will be focussing on the Australian market during the year to update the average golfer’s knowledge.  While most Australians are familiar with traditional courses in New Zealand there are a number of stunning new developments like Jack’s Point, a championship course opening outside Queenstown at the end of the year, said Ms King.  

Golf is the largest participation sport in New Zealand with 500,000 people playing 6.5 million rounds every year. 

There are 385 courses spread throughout the country.  This is the highest per capita in the world.  New Zealand offers a fantastic and varied golf experience, said Ms King. 

Mr Graham Griffiths, Exhibition Manager PGA Golf Reed Exhibitions – Australia reiterated the growing importance of golf tourism, especially for visitors attending the public show.  More than 10,000 members of the public attended the public show to try out new equipment and learn about playing golf in various states and regions of Australia.

Victoria had a particularly strong presence at the 2006 PGA Show with well-appointed stands staffed by marketing officers from Tourism Victoria and Albury/Wodonga. 

The state has approximately 375 courses with around 210 sport layouts located within a 90 minute drive from Melbourne. 

In order to promote this “high yield tourism segment which has increasing worldwide demand,” Tourism Victoria has produced a compendium of courses entitled “Golfing in Victoria”. 

Next year “the biggest golf show in the southern hemisphere” will be staged at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre during the first or second week of August 2007.

Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King