Dear Industry Colleague,

And so we reach the end of another wonderful year in the golf industry.

Congratulations to Sports Personality of the Year Winner Rory McIlroy, who at last became a Grand Slam champion with his crowning victory at Augusta in April, gaining him access to one of the most privileged clubs in world golf.

The game is in rude health and despite there being no resolution between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, we still managed to have a riveting Ryder Cup which included players from LIV. This fudge will have to be clarified in the coming months as having players with pending appeals on their fines is not a workable solution for the long-term.

Perhaps an alternative would be for the DP World Tour (formally the European Tour) to make it easy for LIV golfers to compete in their events. This would give a much-needed boost to European golf and provide the opportunity for LIV golfers to gain ranking points and play more.

In the wider golf industry, courses and clubs have been reporting excellent roundage figures, strong retail sales and well-run golf centres and ranges have enjoyed very strong figures. The game and the business of golf are both in rude health.

Our featured articles this month include an innovative indoor golf centre and a superbly run golf complex in Leicester. Both of these types of golfing facility are sure to boom in the coming years.

We’ve lost many great people this year and we are still missing Rohan Barnett deeply. So on behalf of Marion, Joanna, Louis, Tony and myself, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year to all.

Best wishes,

Colin Jenkins
(07768) 887033