In this episode of The GBQ Podcast, host Sarah Stirk sits down with Alyson Mckechin PGA, head of Golf It! in Glasgow. During their discussion, we discover:

• How the success of The R&A’s community-based facility in Glasgow might take the concept global
• How to meet the challenge of converting women and girls into golf club members
• The crucial support Alyson received from The PGA when she needed it most

What is Golf Business Quarterly? Created by The PGA, GBQ presents a rounded view of golf business, providing in-depth interviews and genuine analysis of key data around the most important topics facing the golf industry. It deals in facts, data and experts in their field, it stimulates meaningful discussions and aims to unite those who wish to act in the best long-term interests of the game.

Find out more by visiting https://www.gbqdigital.com/.

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In this episode of The GBQ Podcast, host Sarah Stirk sits down with Anders Mankert, owner of Leicester Golf Centre and The PGA’s newest Master Professional. During their discussion, we discover:

• How he risked everything to pursue his ambition of owning and running a golf facility where he could set the standards – and how that has blossomed beyond his wildest dreams
• Why respect and consideration are hugely important, but dress codes are not
• How PGA pros must use PGA Excel to enhance their careers – and why he would think twice about employing anyone who doesn’t
• Why being named a Master Professional by his peers is an honour with which he is still coming to terms

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In this episode of The GBQ Podcast, host Sarah Stirk sits down with Elisa Gaudet, founder of Women’s Golf Day. During their discussion, we discover:

• Why golf needs to invest if it really wants more women and juniors to play the game
• How the “tough” UK market needs to step up and embrace the Women’s Golf Day concepT
• How Women’s Golf Day plans to develop over its next 10 years and what the ‘unicorn’ future for the sport would be

There aren’t too many people in the golf industry who can genuinely claim to have changed the game. But Elisa Gaudet is one.

The renowned author and speaker initially started Women’s Golf Day as a grassroots project and it’s since grown out of all proportion. Events have now been held in more than 1,350 locations and in over 85 countries – all helping to engage, empower and support women and girls to play golf – and we learn just why it has been such a success in the latest episode of The GBQ Podcast.

Elisa talks to Sarah Stirk about the phenomenal success of the event - which is now in its 10th year, assesses whether the image of golf has changed and looks to clubs to use the platform of Women’s Golf Day, and the tools it provides, to be the catalyst for increasing participation.

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In this episode of The GBQ Podcast, host Sarah Stirk sits down with Dr Alan Hocknell, Titleist’s Vice President of Advanced Research and Innovation. During their discussion, we discover:

• How his career has taken him to the biggest OEMs in the world – including Callaway and Acushnet
• How the science of designing ever-improving golf equipment works
• The evolution of technology he has seen during his professional career
• The challenges of continual improvement given the restrictions they work to
• The dichotomy between the tour professionals who can seemingly reduce every course to pitch and putt and the other 99.9 per cent of us who need all the help we can get from our equipment

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In this month’s podcast, host Sarah Stirk meets Martin Ebert, one of the world’s foremost golf course architects. During their discussion, we learn:

• How he works with course owners and members to get the best results
• Could practice areas move into simulators or domes?
• Is there is room in golf for shorter courses – and a game that’s done within three hours?

As co-founder of Mackenzie & Ebert, Martin has led a revolution in golf course architecture over the last two decades. His work at Royal Portrush astonished the golfing public when The Open was held there in 2019 and the Claret Jug will return to Northern Ireland next year.

At Turnberry, he transformed the Ailsa course into a layout with such spectacular views and holes that it is considered one of the best in the world.

But he’s also as likely to be working with a regular club as an Open host and his expertise, gleaned within an ever-changing landscape of fashions and environmental challenges, means he is the perfect commentator on how golf courses might look in the future.

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In this month’s podcast, host Sarah Stirk meets industry stalwart, now education director at Bernhard Academy, Sami Strutt. Over the course of their discussion, we learn:

• Why greenkeeping teams deserve far more recognition
• How three pillars of education – agronomy, leadership and management, and technical and equipment management – will be the foundations of Bernhard Academy’s content and workshops
• How being part of the Women in Golf Leadership Programme gave her the confidence to take on her new role

Sami spent 30 years at BIGGA – rising up every rung of the association ladder to become CEO, before joining Bernhard Academy in April. She spearheaded the governing body’s successful Continue to Learn education programme and is now delivering training to help greenkeepers, equipment managers and turf professionals take their performance to the next level.

With the huge changes she has seen during her three decades in the industry, Sami is well-placed to discuss the vital role of greenkeepers and turf management professionals.

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In this month's podcast, host Sarah Stirk meets the TGI buying group’s managing director, Adele McLean. Over the course of their discussion, we get to learn:

• How Adele has been steeped in the game from a young age
• Her expert take on the landscape of post-pandemic golf retail
• How she views her experiences of being a woman in a male-dominated industry

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Sarah sits down with Dumbarnie Links general manager and PGA Master Professional David Scott. In a fascinating discussion, we get to learn:

• How David views the golf tourism landscape with the pandemic in the rear-view mirror
• What it means to him to be awarded coveted PGA Master Professional status
• His learnings and memories from his high-profile career in golf

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