Sarah Goward to present at IGTM 2022

Sporting Insights’ Sarah Goward will present at the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) on Wednesday 19th October. Kicking off an exciting 12 months for golf in Italy, IGTM is taking place in Rome between 17th-20th November. Attendees at the conference include golf resorts and destinations, booking providers, tourism authorities, hotels, and press. The presentation, which…

Liz Young wins maiden LET title

SMS award winner Liz Young claimed her maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) title on Saturday. A total score of 12 under par gave the Englishwoman a one shot win at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open, played at Golfpark Holzhausern. The victory was richly deserved after a strong 2022 that has seen Young rack up…

Golf shoe reports spike interest in Asia

Golf shoe manufacturers selling into the Asian market are benefitting from a new series of reports released by SMS Asia. Sampling golfers in Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand, the reports, which are available immediately, cover key topics including: Shoes owned – number of pairs and brands Spending habits Point of purchase…

Q2 rounds played up 19% against pre-pandemic figures

The average number of rounds of golf played at courses across Great Britain was down 9% compared to Q2 2021. Despite this, the numbers continue to highlight growth above pre-pandemic levels. A strong Q1 means that even with the Q2 numbers, rounds played in Great Britain are up 24% compared to the first half of…

New Asia golf ball reports released

A new series of reports offers fresh insights on golf ball buying habits in the Asia-Pacific region. The preferred ball choice and buying patterns of golfers in Australia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand are laid bare in SMS Asia’s new reports, which are available for purchase – either on an individual country…

The Interview: Meghan MacLaren

This is an abridged transcript of an interview between Sue Anstiss, SMS’ special adviser for women’s sport, and Ladies European Tour player Meghan MacLaren. To listen to the full recording, which forms Episode 7 of Season 11 of The Game Changers podcast, please visit: Meghan MacLaren: Fighting for gender parity in golf – The Game…

John Bushell’s Open Lunch Speech 2022

Welcome It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to The Stephen Proctor Golf Industry Lunch in association with the Golf Foundation. It’s wonderful to see so many friends back again, and to have a considerable number attending for the first time. This is the 37th lunch that Sports Marketing Surveys has been funding,…

Golf Rounds Continue to Rise in Great Britain

2022 continues to see strong performance for golf and the golf industry. Sports Marketing Surveys’ ongoing Rounds Played monitor shows that quarter one rounds played across Great Britain rose by 7% against pre-pandemic figures. The finding is the latest in a long line of statistics indicating the sustained rise in appeal of golf and follows…

Korea – the next driver of global golf?

In a new quarterly column, Eric Lynge, Head of SMS Asia, looks at some of the striking trends affecting sport and leisure in Asia. His first piece focuses on Korea’s role as the next driver in global golf. The next driver in global golf A few years ago, I was invited by one of Korea’s…