North Africa the next area for golf boom

PRESS RELEASE
As part of the third annual Golf Benchmark Survey, KPMG today publishes its first regional report for North Africa.
While the region currently has only 43 courses in operation – predominantly in the tourist areas of Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia – there are currently 40-45 golf projects in different phases of planning or construction, many of which are parts of large master planned resort communities.
The study, which focuses on the business performance of golf courses, also reveals that the average Gross Operating Profit margin for 18-hole courses is 25% in North Africa, compared to 17% in South Africa.
However, with green fees making up more than 50% of earnings, average revenues at 18-hole courses in North Africa are €945,000, lagging behind other countries including Portugal (€1.8 million), Spain (€1.5 million) and South Africa (€1 million).
The average weekend green fee for 18 holes in North Africa is Euros 59, compared to €78 in Portugal, €66 in Spain and just €30 in South Africa.
Golf has developed and grown in North Africa in the past 10 years, largely in relation to travel and tourism. Egypt now has 14 courses, compared to three just over a decade ago. Morocco leads with the way with 18 courses and more than half of the region’s 9,000 golfers, with Tunisia (10 courses) and Algeria (1 course) making up the remainder.
However, there are now between 40 and 45 new golf course projects, in different stages of development, underway in North African countries, including Algeria, Libya and Sudan.
“This is an important report as this is the first time the North African golf market has been studied in such detail,” said Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice in EMA.
“It is a region that, in golf business terms, has grown over the past decade and continues to develop with a significant number of projects underway. Our survey found that golf managers were optimistic about the future business prospects for their courses, although our analysis was conducted prior to the full scale unfolding of this autumn’s global financial crisis. However, we believe the outlook for the North Africa region remains positive.”
Other key findings in KPMG’s study reveal that:
* The average number of rounds played on 18-hole golf courses in North Africa is 20,400
* 89% of all rounds are green-free rounds – only 11% are member rounds
* Egypt has the most expensive 18-hole weekend green fees (€66), followed by Tunisia (€46) and Morocco (€40)
* Golf participation rates among the local people are very low, with approximately one golfer for every 10,000 inhabitants
* The average number of members at clubs in North Africa is relatively low (236 members), but is highest in Morocco where the average is 425 members
* The proportion of female (30%) and junior members (11%) at golf clubs in North Africa is higher than most European regions, although this can be partially explained by a significant number of male expatriate members being joined by their partners and family
* North African courses operate relatively large cart fleets, with 40-50 golf carts on average, with fees of around €25 per round.

Olazabal takes place of Ballesteros as
captain of the Europe team v Asia

Jose Maria Olazabal will replace fellow Spaniard Seve Ballesteros as captain of the Europe team that takes on Asia in the Ryder Cup-style Royal Trophy golf tournament next month.
Five-time major champion Ballesteros, who led Europe to victory in the two previous Royal Trophies, decided he did not have time to recover for the January 9-11 tournament after undergoing the latest in a series of brain operations in early December.
"I am truly honoured to have been appointed by Seve to take such an important responsibility and I will do my best to deliver a win for my great friend and for Europe," two-time major winner Olazabal said.
"I plan to stay in contact with Seve throughout the process and to work with him as a partner, just like we did on the golf course for so many years in the Ryder Cup."
The Asia team will be captained for the second consecutive year by former U.S. PGA Tour regular Naomichi Ozaki of Japan.

New look for St Andrews Links
clubhouse restaurant in 2009

FROM THE NEWSLETTER OF ST ANDREWS LINKS
A new lounge and dining area is to be created in the St Andrews Links clubhouse.
The bar which separates the two existing restaurants is to be removed, opening up the entire room and allowing the addition of 30 extra tables.
"For 13 years this space has served us well, proving popular with golfers, locals and the general public," said clubhouse operations manager Ewen Bowman, who is overseeing the development.
"However, queuing has increased and feedback suggests modernisation of this area wold be a welcome move."
Sofas will be placed by the windows with low level tables to take advantage of the uninterrupted panoramic view that will be available once the conversion is complete. A new bar will be located to the right hand side of the lounge entrance.
A welcome station will sit to the left of the entrance where a member of staff will be able to greet guests on arrival.
The toilets will be completely refurbished. They will remain where they are but the men's and the ladies' rooms will change places.
Work is due to start on January 5 and will last for around seven weeks.
The rest of the clubhouse will be unaffected and disruptions will be kept to a minimum.
The first series of alterations took place a year ago and resulted in a more efficient use of the entrance space with the retail and reception area upgraded and modernised.

PGA seniors' success earns Brand
invitation to bid for US title

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY PGA
Yorkshireman Gordon J Brand will play in next year’s US PGA Senior Championship following his success in this year's De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship.
It follows a decision by the PGA and the PGA of America for reciprocal exemption into each other’s tournaments and cements the PGA Seniors Championship as one of the flagship events on the European Senior Tour.
Brand will tee up in the 70th US PGA Senior Championship at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland, Ohio from May 14-17 and PGA chief executive Sandy Jones has welcomed the decision by the PGA of America.
"This decision is tremendous news for the PGA Seniors Championship and will help boost its standing as one of the flagship events of the European Senior Tour,” he said.
“The opportunity to compete in a senior major is one that all players aspire to and the exemption will make winning the PGA Seniors Championship an even more enticing prospect.
“We also look forward to welcoming the winner of the US Senior PGA Championship to compete in our championship.”
Slaley Hall will host the De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship from June 25-28 where leading players from the Senior Tour will compete for a £300,000 prize fund over the Dave Thomas-designed Hunting Course.

Larry and Drew Nelson win Father/Son
Challenge in United States

Both of this year's Ryder Cup team captains, Paul Azinger and Nick Faldo, took part but it was
Larry Nelson who holed a 20ft putt for a birdie at the 17th on his way to returning a score of 10-under-par 62 with his son Drew. Larry thus became the first player to win the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge two straight years with different sons.
Nelson, a three-time major champion in his heyday, won the Father/Son title last year with son Josh. He and Drew also won the tournament four years ago.
The Nelsons finished at 21-under 123 over 36 holes for a two-shot victory over Davis Love III and his 15-year-old son, Dru. The Love team made a late eagle to tie for the lead, and while Nelson was certain of a birdie on the par-5 18th at ChampionsGate Golf Club, he made sure it didn't come down to the final hole.
"We really felt like 17 was going to be the pivotal hole," Nelson said. "We didn't want to have to make eagle on the last hole, but we felt like we could make birdie if we needed to. I made about a 20-footer there. Drew hit a great putt the first time, so I had a great line. It was just a matter of hitting it the right speed and on that line.
"We felt when we made that, we pretty much had won the tournament."
The money to be won is not to be sniffed at - the Nelsons received $210,000 for the victory, while the Loves closed with a 62 and earned $120,000. Former U.S. Open champion Tom Kite and son David signed off with a 65 to finish third, earning $90,000.
Greg Norman and his son Gregory, one shot off the lead after the first round, shot 67 and finished 10th.
The tournament is restricted to past major champions and their sons, with a few exceptions. Arnold Palmer, who has two daughters, played again with grandson Sam Saunders and tied for seventh.
Fuzzy Zoeller and his daughter, Gretchen, tied for 12th along with Paul Azinger, who played with Aaron Stewart, son of the late Payne Stewart.
Nick Faldo and Matthew Faldo finished joint seventh - five shots ahead of Azinger - and earned $52,000.
"It's a big family thing, whether we win or not," Nelson said. "We've been fortunate enough to win it three times. I don't know that this one is any more special than the first time I won with Drew. Just a special week all together."
FINAL TOTALS
1 123 Larry Nelson/Drew Nelson 61-62 ($210,00).
2 125 Davis Love III/Dru Love 63-62 ($120,000).
3 126 Tom Kite/David Kite 61-65 ($90,000).
T4 127 Raymond Floyd/Raymond Floyd jun 63-64, Hale Irwin/Steve Irwin 65-62, Bernhard Langer/Stefan Langer 63-64 ($65,000 each team).
T7 128 Nick Faldo/Matthew Faldo 64-64, Mark O'Meara/Shaun O'Meara 64-64, Arnold Palmer/Sam Saunders 64-64 ($52,000 each team).
10 129 Greg Norman/Greg Norman jun 62 67 ($50,000).
11 131 Vijay Singh/Qass Sing 65-66 ($49,000).
12 133 Paul Azinger/Aaron Stewart 68 65, Fuzzy Zoeller/Gretchen Zoeller 66 6 ($47,500 each team)
14 134 Curtis Strange/David Strange 65 69 ($46,000).
15 138 Jack Nicklaus/Jack Nicklaus II 66 69 ($45,000).
16 139 Billy Casper/Bob Casper 73 66 ($44,000).
17 140 Craig Stadler/Chris Stadler 69 71 ($43,000).
18 142 Lee Trevino/Daniel Trevino 71 71 ($42,000).

Change of attitude has worked for
Tyler Aldridge at Q School

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
By HELEN ROSS
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Tyler Aldridge felt like he had nothing to lose. He was going nowhere fast after shooting consecutive rounds of 75 during the first stage of the US PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament at Carlton Oaks in Santee, California, back in October. So Aldridge decided an attitude adjustment was in order.
"I'm like, you know what, let's just go out and play good golf," he recalled. "Don't think about anything: just go out and play. And so far, it's worked."
It has indeed. Aldridge shot five under par his next two rounds and tied for 15th to advance to the second stage. Another tie for 15th there sent him back to California for this week's six-round Q-school finale, where the Boise State University product is one round away from what would be his rookie season on the US PGA Tour.
Aldridge ended a streak of sorts when he made his first bogey of the tournament in Sunday's fifth round. But the 74 he shot on PGA West's Stadium Course still kept him firmly entrenched among the leaders in a tie for sixth with Brian Stuard and Robert Garrigus at 18 under behind leader Harrizon Frazar, the man who shot a 59 on Saturday.
"I feel real good," Aldridge said standing by the busy practice green after he finished a live interview on the GOLF CHANNEL. "I just didn't have any putts drop today and the ball-striking wasn't quite there. But we'll work on that. I'm going to hit some putts and see what happens tomorrow."
Aldridge finished in a tie for 74th at q-school a year ago, earning a Nationwide Tour card in the process. Should he maintain his position among the low 25 and ties after Monday's final round, though, the 24-year-old from Idaho will get to take the next big step.
"I'm not playing scared anymore," he said. "What happens, happens. You've just got to remember it's still golf. You're still hitting a little white ball. I'm not going to die. I'm going to go home and see my family -- most importantly, that's what it is. You go home and see you kids and your wife. Golf in the long run really doesn't mean anything. So yeah, (the difference is) not playing scared anymore."
Even though his earnings left something to be desired, the Nationwide Tour offered Aldridge a chance to learn how to travel and play in different kind of terrain and conditions. He learned what pressure means, too.
"It's an adjustment," Aldridge acknowledged. "When you're growing up just playing with your buddies it's not the same. It's tough to deal with people watching, the cameras, media, everything."
Helping him handle the pressure this week at Q-school are several friends from back home in Idaho. One is caddying for him. Another flew in on Saturday.
"I don't know what it is, I just feel at ease this week," Aldridge said. "Maybe because I've been here before, I know what to expect, but I feel at ease."

HOW THEY STAND WITH ONE ROUND TO GO
Par 360 (5x72)
+Top 25 and ties after sixth round earned 2009 US PGA Tour playing rights.
333 H Frazar 69 64 72 59 69.
338 J Nitties (Aus) 69 63 69 70 67, D Fathauer 70 69 65 67 67.
341 J Huston 74 69 65 65 68, G Day 70 67 64 70 70.
342 B Stuard 67 69 70 70 66, R Garrigus 69 64 71 70 68, T Aldridge 68 66 70 64 74.
343 G Woodland 70 64 71 71 67, C Stroud 69 69 72 66 67, J Oh 71 63 70 70 69, T Kelly 66 68 70 70 69, J Walker 69 68 68 69 69, B Molder 68 67 69 67 72, J Williamson 67 68 69 66 73.
Selected score:
348 Matthew Richardson (Eng) 67 74 65 73 69 (jt 38th).
353 M Brooks 66 69 70 72 76 (jt 97th).

Hugh Hunter's Clackmannanshire Golf News Round-up

OPENING EUROPEAN TOUR

EVENT FOR CALLUM

This week sees Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, make his debut on the 2009 European Tour when he competes in the Alfred Dunhill Championship which is being held over the Leopard Creek Golf course in South Africa from December 11 to 14.

Callum will be competing in an elite field over the par 72, 7249 yard course and can take some encouragement from the performance of the 2007 winner Alvaro Quiros who won after graduating from the 2006 Tour School.

At present Callum is ranked 1367 in the World Golf rankings, and will be hoping for some good golf to move him upwards. Local golfing enthusiasts can follow his progress in detail on the PGA European Tour website.
There is further good news for Callum in that he is in the field as a sponsor’s invite for the next event (December 18 to 21) in South Africa—the South African Open Championship held at Western Cape on an even longer course at 7438 yards. Best of luck, Callum!!

SCOTT DOES WELL IN ARGENTINA.

The other Clackmannan County golf star, Dollar’s Scott Borrowman, played well in Argentina last week in the Argentine Amateur Golf Championship. Scott was given the golfing opportunity by the Scottish Golf Union as one of a four man squad playing in two tournaments in South America.

The Argentine Amateur was settled by match play after stroke play qualifying, and it was good to see Scott leading the qualifiers by one shot with scores of 71 and 70. In the match play section Scott reached the quarter final stage with three good victories, beating Gabriel Ramella (Argentina) by 8 and 7, then Nicollo Quintarelli (Italy) by one hole and then Matthew Haines (England) 2 and 1 before losing to Jason Scrivener (Australia) in the last eight by 3 and 2.