The First MBA in Golf & Country Club Management in the world is to be offered by Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh, Scotland.

The course, devised by a team of academics and industry experts, will hope to attract students from as far afield as Malaysia, Japan, China and the USA as well as the UK. Unlike many of the courses that specialise in golf course management, this new programme will address a current gap in the international market place for specialists in golf and hospitality management.

The proposed MBA will appeal to golf professionals, country club managers, golf club secretaries and green keepers who are seeking to develop their professional skills and knowledge in this niche market. However, those who aspire to work within this exciting industry but are employed in other areas such as leisure management or other service industries may find this course a stepping stone to fulfilling their future career aspirations.

Ian Buick, programme leader, has pulled together an impressive team of golf and country club specialists to advise on the development and teaching of this course. Individuals such as Brian Anderson, Ex-Director of Golf at Marriott, Dalmahoy, and now a golf consultant, has advised on golf resort management. Susan Grant, Scottish Tourism Development Manager at VisitScotland has provided specialist knowledge on golf tourism and Sheelagh Walker from the Old Course Experience, St. Andrews, has assisted on aspects relating to the management of corporate golf hospitality. It is envisgaed that these individuals and other golfers experts will be visiting lecturers on the course.

Ian Buick said: "Golf is a global service industry that has seen radical changes in its traditional organisation and structural development over the past 20 years. Throughout the world there are some 40,000 golf courses - 6,000 in Europe and 2,500 in Britain. Some 60 million golfers use these facilities throughout the world. Scottish golf tourism is now worth approximately £100 million in terms of revenue generation. The golf tourism sector in Scotland has been given significant backing by the Scottish Executive pump priming of the Ryder Cup bid to the tune of £75 million. Queen Margaret's University College's research of this rapidly growing industry has shown a demand for the specialist graduate in this area. We have therefore spent the last 18 months developing the course to meet the needs of this rapidaly developing and popular industry."

The course, which is planning its first intake in 2002, subject to validation, will initially offer 20-24 places for both UK and international students. It can be studied on a one year full-time basis or part-time over two years. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to study subjects such as contemporary golf and resort development, golf and country club operations management, environmental issues, strategic management, quality and customer care, entrepreneurship and legal issues for the service industries.

Ian Buick explained, "The next generation of golfers will want fast, friendly golf, and family golf. More golf facilities will diversify into country clubs featuring not only golf but other sports, for example, tennis, squash, swimming and general fitness facilities. While all of these current facilities are very much at the expensive end of the market, such recreational diversification will spread to less upmarket facilities."

He concluded: "With considerable experience in the international hospitality and tourism industry, Queen Margaret University College is well placed to deliver this exciting new course. This is proving to be a very exciting time for the college. Not only will we be offering the first MBA of its kind, the programme team is also at an advanced stage of negotiations in Azerbaijan to provide consultancy services for the design, planning and construction of the country's first gofl and country club development."