Middle East is Golf’s New Growth ‘hotspot’

Golf World Group of Perth, Western Australia, is projecting the development of over 100 golf courses in Middle East countries over the next five years. Stephen Allen, CEO of the Group, which he founded in 1994, is well-known in the Asia-Pacific region where he has organised specialist golf exhibitions and conferences for the past 12 years, in Singapore, Hong Kong & Mainland China. The Group’s other activities include golf course consulting, especially in acquisitions, and most recently the representation of golf course designers and contractors.

Now Stephen Allen wishes to develop similar expertise in the Middle East. He sees extensive opportunities and market potential throughout the GCC countries. After a recent visit to Bahrain and Qatar last month - Stephen Allen is keen to develop events in the region.

The Middle East’s oil and gas riches are renowned and the money is in place for the further development of its infrastructure. Stephen Allen is forecasting the construction over 100 golf courses in the area over the next five years; that’s an average of about 6 courses per country at the average rate of 3 openings per year. "The demographics add up," he says, "and a lot of the fiscal budgets were based on an oil price way below what it actually now is."

None of this means that Golf World Group is pulling out of its traditional territory. The sale of a golf course in Western Australia was settled recently and the organisation of specialist golf shows in Asia will continue with another international exhibition and conference planned for 2002.