News Archive for 1999
Tuesday, October 19th, 1999
Architects launch education funding scheme
The British Institute of Golf Course Architects, representing some 65 designers throughout Europe, has announced the formation of The BIGCA Foundation
BIGCA to merge….
British golf course architects have approved the proposal to form one organisation by merging with the European and French Associations
Thursday, October 14th, 1999
Golfers’ Dream Home Overlooking the Course
Golfers are being offered a chance to invest in a log cabin overlooking a magnificent golf course in the Lincolnshire Wolds
Sunday, October 10th, 1999
UK firm retains China contract
Oxfordshire-based Golf Business Communications has been re-appointed as UK agent for the leading Asian golf development and merchandise show, China Golf 2000 to be held at Guanzhou Exhibition Centre from 1st to 3rd December 2000. For full details of China Golf 2000, call Golf Business Communications managing director Geoff Russell on 01865-341580, fax 01865-341575, or…read the full story
Thursday, October 7th, 1999
Rules of Amateur Status – a new code
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews today announced a new and completely re-written version of the Rules of Amateur Status
Tuesday, October 5th, 1999
New Overseas Corporate Accounts Manager for Toro
The Toro Company has appointed Andrew Brown to the new position of corporate accounts manager for Europe, The Middle East and South Africa
Monday, October 4th, 1999
Golf Consultants Association Launched
Some of the UK’s most experienced experts throughout the golf industry have joined forces to form the Golf Consultants Association. This unique association, based at the Sports Industries Federation near Warwick, will provide a much needed point of reference for those requiring independent professional golf consultancy services world-wide. The Association incorporates eight disciplines from the…read the full story
Thursday, September 30th, 1999
American Golf Acquire More Clubs
American Golf (UK) have taken the number of operations under their control in the United Kingdom to 19 after acquiring Abbotsley Golf & Country Club in Cambridgeshire and Oak Park Golf Club in Surrey on 25-year leases. Oak Park is a 27-hole complex which started as a nine-hole course in 1984 while Abbotsley, owned by…read the full story
“Golf World” Sales Down Again
The sales of monthly golf magazines continue to paint a dreary picture of the public’s current lack of interest in the sport. Golf World, for so long the market leader, has plummeted to just over 60,000 copies according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulation figures for the first six months of 1999. That total…read the full story
Acushnet Consolidates
September 1999 Acushnet has announced a consolidation of Titleist and Cobra to achieve a reduction in duplicated costs, especially on the custom-fitting side of the business. “Aside from the spring bubble of demand, the structure of the business will be built to order,” said Wally Uihlein, president and ceo of Acushnet. Uihlein believes industry conditions…read the full story
Thursday, September 23rd, 1999
Nevada Bob’s merger plans
The merger to turn Nevada Bob’s into the world’s largest chain of golf retail stores will be finalised next month. The merger, which will combine Nevada Bob’s Canada with Nevada Bob’s Pro Shop and GDH International has been approved by the directors of all three companies. The shareholders of Pro Shop and GDH have approved…read the full story
Monday, September 20th, 1999
Leisure Links in charge
Leisure Links International, run by former Clubhaus executive Jonathan Talbot-Weiss, has been appointed by Sunley Holdings to oversee the management of the Whitewebbs Park course, in north London .....read the full story »
Dubai exhibition opens
A permanent exhibition of British companies, specialising in the growing leisure and play market, has opened in Dubai – seen by many businesses as the gateway to the Middle East. The exhibition will directly target potential customers in Dubai on behalf of exhibitors, thus cutting costs to exporters of establishing their own links in the…read the full story
Saturday, September 11th, 1999
Stapleford Park project on course
The first phase in the development of a new multi-million pound, 18-hole championship golf course has begun at Stapleford Park, Leicester. Stapleford Park is an outpost of the exclusive Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle and the new £5m development will be built along similar lavish lines. The course is being designed by Donald Steel, one…read the full story
Jack’s a boyo
Jack Nicklaus’s design company is expected to win the contract from three other bidders to design a new 18-hole championship layout at Llanelli in South Wales. The course, which will be the Golden Bear’s first venture into Wales, will be built on the Machynys Peninsular as part of the Millennium Coastal Park. The man behind…read the full story
Friday, September 10th, 1999
Textron to bail out TearDrop Golf
TearDrop Golf, the struggling owners of Ram and Tommy Armour, have agreed a new credit facility worth up to $30 million (£18.75 million) from Textron. The cash injection, to consist of $8 million (£5 million) term loans, is subject to a due-diligence process which will Textron’s senior credit committee will complete by the end of…read the full story
Thursday, September 9th, 1999
Learn To Drive With Hertz and The Golf Studio
New venture at Heathrow combines tax free shopping with teaching facilities
Tuesday, September 7th, 1999
Brocket Hall unveiling
The first nine holes of the new Palmerstone course at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire have been unveiled, but the full 18 holes, designed by Donald Steel, will not be open for play until next spring. last month, Brocket Hall’s 18-hole Melbourne course played host to the Cantor Fitzgerald Laura Davies Invitational on the Ladies’ European…read the full story
Wednesday, September 1st, 1999
Clubhaus steps up spending
Leading golf-course operator Clubhaus has begun a major investment programme at The Warwickshire over the next 12 months. Plans include the development of a new 75-room luxury accommodation wing in conjunction with a 34,000 square-foot health, fitness and spa centre. In addition to the new facility, which is due to open in July 2000, Clubhaus…read the full story
Remote control irrigation
The new Grundfos pumping station for the King’s and Queen’s courses at Gleneagles Hotel can be switched on from a laptop PC at Ocmis Irrigation’s head office in Somerset, 550 miles away. “Computer controlled pumping stations and irrigation sprinklers are the future for precision irrigation,” said Nick Lawson, the Scottish area manager for Ocmis .....read the full story »
Monday, August 30th, 1999
Orlando keeps developing
Lake Hart, a group of Roland investors, have bought 997 acres southeast of the city’s international airport for more than £6.5 million to build a golf course and residential development. Plans for the nearby Lake Nona development, which already features a Tom Fazio-designed course, call for up to 9,000 houses, 2,250 hotel rooms, 10.5 million…read the full story
Spalding sales drop
Net sales of Spalding Holdings, the parent company of Spalding Sports Worldwide, dropped for the second quarter ending July 3, 1999, to £80 million from £101 million over the same period last year. For the first half of 1999, net sales decreased to £153 million compared with £194 million in 1998. However, profits for the…read the full story
Tuesday, August 24th, 1999
Manson to tame Wildwood
Wildwood Country Club has been sold by Humax UK Ltd to a private buyer
Tuesday, August 17th, 1999
Secretaries Form Institute
Neil Hallam-Jones, secretary at Barton-on-Sea Golf Club, has been appointed chairman of the newly formed Institute of Golf Club Management, an offshoot of the Association of Golf Club Secretaries. At the recent inaugural AGM, five other secretaries – David Bluck (Vale of Llangollen), Pat Clash (Lee-on-the-Solent), Robin Crabb (West Surrey), David Deas (Glasgow) and Derek…read the full story
Thursday, August 12th, 1999
Decathlon Arrive in UK
French sports-store chain Decathlon have opened their first UK outlet at Surrey Quays in London and are stocking a wide range of golf equipment ranging from their own Greenway line, which includes irons, balls, clothing and shoes, to leading brand names like Callaway. Decathlon, which started in 1976, have 250 stores across Germany, Spain, Italy…read the full story
