The inaugral Business of Golf conference, hosted by the Golf Consultants Association at St Andrews Bay in October 2005, was well received by delegates, with most rating the event as "successful" or "very successful".

The main aim of the conference was to enable delegates to learn how to develop and profit from their golf businesses. This was achieved through a series of presentations, covering topics from feasibility to marketing and management. Speakers included Golf Consultants Association chairman Mike Shields, Golf Foundation chief executive Mike Round and golf architect Howard Swan.

Delegate Chris Morton, managing director of Damme Golf & Country Club in Belgium, completed his post-conference round of golf in fine style. His ace at the cliff-top eighteenth hole on the Devlin course was required for a tie in his match against the GCA team!

This article first appeared in issue 3 of Golf Course Architecture, published in January 2006.