Golf industry trends worldwide continue to be very favorable and there is a growing demand for highly-qualified specialized international business leaders to respond with creativity, innovation and professionalism to new challenges and market opportunities in order to apply the best business solutions.

The Hospitality Industry is experiencing changing trends to offer customers a unique experience during their stay offering different packages that include introduction to spots (golf lessons, tennis lessons, soccer lessons, nature adventure circuits), health spas, local gastronomy, local history courses, enotourism, ecotourism, local language courses, etc.).

If you've ever played golf and experienced that perfect shot, you can easily understand why it is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide. As part of this growth, golf has established itself as its own industry. Golf enthusiasts enjoy the sport in many different ways. They watch pro tournaments on TV, sign up for golf lessons, book tours to play on world famous courses, purchase golf equipment at specialty shops, join local clubs - and some even spend their honeymoons at golf resorts.

With over 32,000 golf courses in the world, golf has grown into a life-long interest for players of all ages. It's no surprise that golf courses now act as starting points for multi-faceted projects including luxury hotels, health spas, retirement living, residential tourism, shopping and leisure entertainment.

The golf industry today demands highly qualified specialized business leaders, and the concept of Golf Management is vital to ensuring golfers' demands and expectations are met with success, efficiency, and professionalism.

DID YOU KNOW?

• There are over 80 million golf players world-wide and it has been forecasted an increase of 120 million by 2010 (+67%) (Source: Hosteltur Especial Golf, June 2006)
• There are over 32,000 golf courses in the world (50% in USA) (Source: Golf Digest, 2005)
• From 2000 to 2006, the number of federated players in the main European countries has grown considerably: Germany +36.8%, Portugal +43.8%, Spain + 69.3%, Ireland +26.6%, Holland +53%, Denmark + 40%, Norway +52.5%, Finland + 44%, Austria + 48%, Italy + 37%, Belgium + 17,2, Switzerland + 32%. Source: “Presente y Futuro de la Industria del Golf en España”, Aymerich Golf Management, , 2007 )
• In Europe there are 27 million federated golf players (representing 34% of the total worldwide) (Source: European Golf Association – EGA 2006)
• According to the European Golf Course Owners the number of courses is growing in most European Union (EU) countries. The upsurge in golf development is particularly strong in nations bordering the Mediterranean — such as Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Italy. Cyprus is a booming market for golf planning. Around the Black Sea there are many projects coming out of Istanbul and Bulgaria. (Source: Golf Business, Global Reach, 2007)
• Spain and Portugal have been the biggest golf markets apart from Scotland, Ireland and Britain. New courses are being built in Portugal - Algarve over 20 new courses and in the coast of Lisbon 11 new courses. (Source: Golf Business, Global Reach, 2007)
• In Asia, China and South Korea are seeing the greatest growth potential. China is fast becoming the playground of North and South Asia. The China Golf Association recent survey concluded that China will need to develop 2,000 courses in the next eight years to service current demand. (Source: Golf Business, Global Reach, 2007)
• In the Middle East, Dubai is the leader in terms of golf development where several new Greg Norman and Ernie Els course designs are planned. (Source: Golf Business, Global Reach, 2007)
• India, a new emerging golf destination which has the largest number of English-speaking people in the world, is developing new courses and is estimated will grow +25% annually until 2010.

Golf is a well established sport in Spain ranking in third position after soccer and hunting and it is foreseen a steady growth trend of 10% until 2012. In Spain, 0.67% of the total population pays golf. If compared to more mature destinations, where the ration reaches almost 10%, Spain has great potential of future growth.

INDUSTRY FACTS:

• The golf industry requires qualified specialized personnel to ensure the industry’s professionalism and sustainability. (Source: Turespaña, 2006)
• Spain is the leading European golf tourism destination, with 35% market share in the three main markets: Germany, Britain, and Sweden. (Source: Turespaña, 2006)
• In 2006, there were 304 golf courses (Source: “Presente y Futuro de la Industria del Golf en España”, Aymerich Golf Management, 2007 )
• The Golf Industry in Spain generated € 2,673 million in annual revenue from direct and indirect activities (+28% vs 2003). (Source: “Presente y Futuro de la Industria del Golf en España”, Aymerich Golf Management, 2007 )
• The revenue generated by golf tourism is 1.325 € millions. (Source: Turespaña, 2006)
• Today, there are 304 golf courses in Spain (increase of 14% from 2003) and over 120 in development in the next decade. (Source: Turespaña, 2006)
• In 2006, Spain had 284,189 federated players (+17.6 % vs. 2003 / +159% in the last decade). (Source: RFEG, 1st June, 2006).
• In the next 5 years it is estimated an average growth rate of +10%, reaching over 500,000 Spanish federated player by 2012. (Source: “Presente y Futuro de la Industria del Golf en España”, Aymerich Golf Management, 2007)
• The supply and demand for golf is growing at steady rate of 12% annually. In 2005, 369 new holes were built (totaling an investment of 103.2 € millions). Source: “Presente y Futuro de la Industria del Golf en España”, Aymerich Golf Management, 2007)
• The rate of increase in golf courses has impacted the amount of newly established hotels and leisure related resorts; thus, increasing the employment opportunities available within the golf industry. (Source: Turespaña, 2006)

In response to the growing demand of the sports, leisure and tourism industry, Les Roches Marbella presents its 1-year Postgraduate Diploma in Golf Management. In line with our mission, Les Roches Marbella in collaboration with golf industry partners will deliver a Postgraduate Golf Management Program to university graduates pursuing specialization in the field of golf management to fast track in their professional international career to managerial positions in the golf industry and industry related businesses worldwide. This program constitutes a further step in educating highly qualified international business leaders, with the company management training, industry knowledge and managerial skills required by golf related businesses.

The hospitality industry is embracing changing trends to provide customers with a unique experience during their stay offering them different sports and leisure packages of lessons (golf, tennis, soccer), nature adventure circuits, health spas, local gastronomy, local history courses, enotourism, ecotourism, local language courses, etc.. Specialization will be the key to success in the hospitality, tourism and leisure industry in the near future. Industry trends are expected to be very favorable as there is a growing need for specialized qualified hospitality professionals as people, in general, have more disposable income and are dedicating more time to Tourism and Leisure activities.

This program has been skillfully designed to provide the theoretical knowledge, personal development, managerial and leadership skills in order to open access to a wide range of career opportunities within the Golf Industry and other related sectors.

Career opportunities include a variety of managerial positions in:

• Golf Course Management (Property Accountant, Assistant Golf Professional, General Managers and Directors of Golf, Head Professionals, Assistant Superintendent, etc.)
• Golf Club Management (Guest Services Manager, Training Manager, Front of House Attendant, etc.)
• Golf Course and Facilities Maintenance (Green keeper, Golf Course Maintenance Staff, Irrigation Technician, Spray Technician, Equipment Manager, etc.)
• Pro-shop Management (Golf Shop Manager, Golf Shop Associate, Golf Shop Assistant, etc.)
• Golf Course Merchandising
• Designer Band Shops and Luxury Boutiques
• Tournament, Championships and Events Management
• Associations and Federations 
• School and Golf Academies 
• Food & Beverage Management in the Club House (restaurants, bar, etc.) - Director of Food & Beverage, Food and Beverage Manager, Assistant Food & Beverage Manager, etc. 
• Human Resources Management 
• Sales and Marketing (Group Sales Manager, Outside Services, etc.) 
• Consulting Services 
• Specialized Media 
• Specialized Training