63 and with a variety of teeing options and angles to the greens to ensure everybody can enjoy the course.” IMG is spearheading the marketing and promotion of the course to a nation where golf isn’t really on its radar. Georgia’s most popular sports are football and rugby, with basketball rising fast, so it will be interesting to see if IMG can help golf gain traction among the country’s near four million population. This will be some challenge, given a starting point of just 244 registered golfers in the country (according to the European Golf Participation 2024 report). But IMG is working hard to set Paragraph Tabori up for success and leaning on its experience of managing operations at Dreamland Golf Club in Azerbaijan, another country not known for golf. “Over the past two years we have overseen budgets, provided agronomical expertise and created a sales and marketing strategy,” says Hannah. The course is irrigated with Toro’s Lynx GDC field controller with FLEX sprinklers. “We have also employed and trained a full team to work across the golf club in a country where very few locals know about the sport.” “The successful grand opening event was the culmination of a huge amount of preparation and teamwork. From developing initial business and commercial plans, design and fit-out of the clubhouse and golf academy, recruitment and staff training, procurement of equipment and supplies, membership planning and more – we have been there every step of the way alongside the committed on-ground project team. The foundations have been set for a successful, vibrant club that adds real value to the resort and wider tourism objectives and we couldn’t be prouder of what has been achieved.” James Somerside, marketing director at IMG, adds: “Tbilisi’s location is a great advantage, being easily accessible via direct flights from most European, Middle Eastern and Asian markets. Being part of the Paragraph group, Tabori has a huge advantage, with a world-class hotel on site, as well as the cable car linking guests directly into the city centre in a matter of minutes. We’ve already seen large amounts of interest from neighbouring countries about visiting Tabori.” Guests may come from further afield too, particularly golfers in Western European nations that are wanting a change from their usual destinations, in countries like Spain and Portugal. As experienced in the wider travel industry, which has seen a surge in the number of people seeking something out of the ordinary, there is great appeal in making a new discovery. Tbilisi, with two courses close to the city and another just about in reach, could provide just that. PARAGRAPH TABORI Rugged bunkering, seen here on the second hole, complements the woodland setting Photo: Kevin Murray
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