Features

From a landmark retail acquisition by a Dragons’ Den star to the unconventional move of a maintenance contractor turning club operator, we round up the three biggest stories shaping the golf industry in February — including a looming tax hike that could hit golfers’ pockets.

What is the TGI Golf Partnership and what benefits would a PGA professional get from becoming a TGI Golf partner?

Lanhydrock Hotel & Golf Club is celebrating a remarkable milestone for one of its most cherished members. Brian Liggat, who has been the club’s secretary for over 30 years, has marked his 80th birthday.

David Fulcher is the director of golf and operations at Edgbaston Golf Club, meaning he is both the club manager and club professional. Here, he talks about his dual role, using data to manage the pro shop and the support he receives from the TGI Golf Partnership.

Prostate Cancer UK is calling on golfers across the UK to make every swing count in 2026 by taking on The Big Golf Race, to help fund life-saving research into the most common cancer in the UK.

Five years ago, Sentosa Golf Club became the first in the world to sign the UN’s Sports for Climate Action initiative. We speak to its general manager and director of agronomy, Andy Johnston, about setting the benchmark for sustainable golf.

Drawing on industry benchmarking and first-hand experience, Steven Brown explores why many F&B models are failing – and outlines the practical principles golf clubs must adopt if they want their catering operations to become sustainable, rather than a drain on resources.  

Husqvarna’s multi-year title sponsorship of tournaments including the British Masters signals more than a marketing move — it marks the arrival of course maintenance technology at the centre of golf’s biggest stages.

DJ Flanders marks two years as Executive Vice President of Troon International, leading the global expansion of the world’s largest golf club management company across more than 20 countries. We speak to DJ about leadership, growth and the future of modern golf operations.

The TGI Golf Awards were held at the prestigious Fairmont St Andrews Resort, celebrating the achievements, professionalism and commitment of TGI Golf partners from across the UK and Ireland.

Industry leaders, partners and suppliers came together at St Andrews for two days of insight, collaboration and expert discussion, reaffirming the TGI Golf Business Conference’s status as a key event in the golf trade calendar.

In the world of golf, hole-in-one insurance is a game-changer, offering event organisers extra peace of mind while adding excitement for the players.

Two of the three men who have owned Strathmore Golf Centre in Scotland for the last two decades are now set to retire, and they have placed the venue up for sale. They talk about their hopes for the future of the facility.

Ian Melham, Head of Membership Services at Foremost Golf, shares why the structure of the fitting journey is just as crucial as the fitting session itself.

Why a planning change could be a lifeline for club owners, writes Ian Barnett, Group Land and Development Director, LRG.

Kirkby Lonsdale Golf Club in Cumbria has launched a new coaching programme which aims to help players of all ages and abilities. It is being led by new full-time head teaching professional Ellie Broome, who has just returned to her home-town club for a second spell. “From the beginner to established single-figure players we are…

Here’s three stories from the first month of 2026 that tell us a lot about the state of the golf industry in the UK at the moment.

A golf and country club near Horsham in West Sussex has announced that eight-year-old British junior champion golfer Billy Stott has become its first official young golf ambassador.

After enjoying his first ever hole-in-one at his home club, Overstone Park (Northamptonshire), disabled golfer Patrick ‘Pat’ Duke has revealed that golf saved his life.

Golf tournaments are a big part of club life.

The general manager of SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort Hotel in Spain, Stéphane Menou, shares how the launch of The Alto Club, a modern golf facility, is building on the venue’s legacy of its established golf clubs such as Real Club Valderrama, Real Club Sotogrande and La Reserva Club.

Nelli Kovanen grew up next to Finland’s first golf course, then worked at Carnoustie and, for the last three years, has been part of the team at The R&A. She’s now joined this magazine as the key contact for the golf industry.

Michael Walker, the CEO of SYNLawn UK, the leading supplier of custom-fit sustainable artificial turf solutions to both the commercial and private sectors, brings a fresh perspective to golf’s evolving challenges.

The current captain of the PGA, David Scott, is the general manager of Dumbarnie Links in Scotland, widely considered one of the world’s leading new courses. Here he talks about the five years since the venue opened and how he uses golf to help soldiers suffering with PTSD.

How inclusive practices and innovative research are shaping the future of golf accessibility.

Richard Smith, the head professional at Rookery Park Golf Club in Suffolk, talks about adapting to change in the modern golf industry, building a thriving junior and membership pathway, embracing – and even personally funding – technology, and why his approach to business fits perfectly with the TGI Golf Partnership’s.

From Royal Dornoch’s spectacular new clubhouse to concerns about the impact the cost of living crisis is having on the golf industry, 2025 ended with another month of contrasting stories.