As 2020 draws to a close on the golf tour front, it’s time to reflect on the year that will have changed the tourism landscape for eternity. The Isle of Man used its sea border status to keep COVID19 out and allowed us to live more or less normal lives here.
Observing the chaos across in the UK, the Manx golfers enjoyed a summer season of competitions galore and clubs with entry numbers going through the roof. Golf courses were inundated with new memberships and visitor green fees. A surge in returning golfers added to the numbers, for many, the pushbike was returned to the shed and lycra swapped with attire for the fairways. Our local golf retailers and golf coaches experienced more business with sales going inter stellar and the whole Manx golf vibe has been well and truly revived.
The ‘Guernsey Airbridge’ was a lifeline for many tourism stakeholders in the IOM visitor economy. Hotels, restaurants, bars and service providers were treated to the wonderful Guernsey Islanders who arrived on our shores desperate for a change of scene and something new. Although limited in numbers compared to the volume of golfers arriving from the UK year in year out, during the month of August we were able to track the spending of 32 golfers.
With zero marketing assistance and clever connections forged with the Guernsey golfing community, Isle of Man Golf Holidays contributed a much needed boost to the economy. The graphic demonstrates the pure value of the visiting golfer. Evidence as to why other jurisdictions such as Scotland, Northern Ireland and the golf coast in NW England invest wisely in this area of tried and tested tourism.
Full credit to our local partners around the courses, restaurants, bars and hotels. The feedback was tremendous and friendships were forged with our new visitors from the Channel Islands.
This summer, Isle of Man Golf Holidays supplied our visitors with our new Ping golf club hire service and the new trolley fleet to make the tour a memorable one. The golf transport for our visitors also made the visitor experience a slick, hassle free affair.
Looking forward to 2021, we hope the border restrictions will be relaxed as the UK returns to normality. The perception is that our Island will be a focus of much attention from the travelling public across the water on both sides. Ownership of the IOM Steam Packet will have give a competitive advantage over the failing airlines who will take time return to a fully operational footing.
Our 8 golf courses are in consistently great condition and the increase in membership revenue in 2020 will allow further investment in the fairways and facilities. Here’s to a prosperous 2021 and thank you to the IOM Government for making the Island safe when we had to be.
Our visitor economy will be in need of a kickstart and it’s important that the economic value of hosting 8 golf courses will be of recognised by those in key positions. Preparations will need to be made for the potential of a hot booking window in January when golfers will be itching to get away for a tour.
Deep down, I’m confident that we can welcome 1000’s of golfers per year to the Island and aim for generating great revenue for our key service partners.
Ged Power
