The GCA is unique in its ability to provide highly experienced, independent professionals to meet your needs.
To qualify as a member of the Association, our members have satisfied the stringent individual criteria relative to the discipline in which they practice.
These cover such factors as:
- Relevant experience over a number of years
- Appropriate industry qualifications
- References from previous projects
- Required insurances
- Declaration of other commercial interests in Golf
The Association provides you with the peace of mind to know that your project, whatever size, is in safe hands and that the advice provided is totally independent.
Current Members of the GCA:
John Ashworth - John Ashworth Associates
John Ashworth Associates deal with the viability of new golf related projects and with the repositioning and further development of existing golf operations. Our services include: preparation and independent appraisals of business plans; master planning and obtaining planning permissions; expert witness services; and broadening the appeal of golf businesses with ancillary offers aimed at a wider market place. As well as golf, the firm is active in all aspects of the sports and recreation industries.
www.johnashworthassociates.com
Jonathan Barker - Adderley Barker
Adderley Barker is a golf clubhouse design consultancy whose definition of success is the same as our clients’ - a commercial return achieved through customer satisfaction, competitive differentiation and added brand value.We work across all areas of commercial design but specialise in the hospitality and leisure industry. As a design consultancy our skills encompass interiors, identity creation and graphics, all accompanied by brand strategy and guardianship.
Ian Bulleid - Zuni Consulting
Ian has a long career as a commercial leisure operator, latterly in Golf. Zuni undertakes business feasibility work, strategic reviews and develops and implements operational business plans across a number of leisure disciplines.
Within golf he has worked with both five star resort developments and smaller owner operated payp businesses. Most recently it has specialised in assisting developers in ensuring upstream design work is fit for operational purpose.
The Company has worked both in the UK and Europe with a number of prestigious clients including Marriott Golf, De Vere, Wales Tourism and currently Rockliffe Hall
Projectstretch across Golf, Hotels, Health and Fitness and Food and Beverage, in both private member clubs and the proprietary sector. Before setting up as an independant, Ian worked for Whitbread Hotel Company as the Group's Golf & Leisure Manager.
Mike Gray - Comuniq8 Limited
Mike Gray was a key member of The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Senior Management Team since 1992 having heading its Commercial Department for 14 years.
Responsible for increasing revenue streams for the PGA via commercial partnerships, sponsorship deals and licensing initiatives, Mike was also responsible for developing a strategy for the PGA’s brand and trademark development.
Mike’s role as Assistant Ryder Cup Director from 1997 – 2003, representing the PGA’s interests in the joint venture with the European Tour, an event which has grown on both sides of the Atlantic into one of the world’s largest sporting events.
His role in the strategic planning for the Ryder Cup has allowed him to develop unique expertise in the staging and logistics of a major sporting event including infrastructure planning, traffic and security management, sponsorship, competitor and spectator requirements.
With a wealth of blue-chip contacts from the international sporting and commercial sectors as well as the media, Mike has the right connections to create relationships with devolved and central government agencies as well as commercial entities.
This expertise and network of contacts aims to provide a consultancy service to help businesses to increase their exposure through marketing activities. by being innovative and different.
Particularly interested in helping clients to concentrate their limited marketing resources on increasing sales and at the same time build a sustainable competitive advantage over their competition and to add value to new and existing sponsorship and commercial deals.
Andy Hiseman - Hiseman Limited / Hiseman Partners
Hiseman Limited, formed in 2002, handles PR and marketing affairs for many leading
golfing companies, as well as working on business and brand-building
consultancy projects. The firm is well-known for its digital
marketing expertise and has helped to establish Online Teetimes
Ltd as the UK's leading distributor of tee times booked online.
Current clients also include Europe's leading golf course
owner/operator, Crown Golf, plus world's #1 golf GPS rangefinder
SkyCaddie, and the new 'My Personal Golf Trainer with IMG
Academies and David Leadbetter' swing trainer on Nintendo
Wii, for Data Design Interactive.
Hiseman is also a director and founding shareholder of PowerPlay Golf, the global 'two flag' golf format. With a 20-year media career encompassing News International, RTL and Emap, Andy is former Publisher of Today's Golfer, FORE!, Golf Weekly, Golf Industry News and Golf World magazines. He formed Hiseman Limited in 2002, working on golf consultancy projects for international and domestic clients including Centrica and the English Golf Union. The firm also offers golf media planning & buying, creative design, web design and e-marketing services.
Brian Pierson - Pierson Golf
Brian Pierson has been involved with construction and alteration work on over 250 golf courses around the World, including seven Open Championship courses, St Andrews, Royal Lytham and St Annes, Royal St George's, Royal Birkdale, Muirfield, Royal Troon and Tumberry other inland courses include The Belfrey, Woodbury Park, Forest of Arden, Skibo, Duke's Dene, Harleyford, Carden Park, Wentworth and Woburn.
Brian was a founder member of The British Association of Golf Course Constructors BAGCC, and is the current Chairman, he is an International member of the Golf Course Builders Association of America, GCBAA and represented the Constructors on the R & A external funds committee for over 10 years.
Having spent over four decades in the golf course construction industry Brian has retired from main stream contracting to use his knowledge and expertise as a golf course consultant, he is convinced that with ever increasing costs and falling revenues golf course developers and clubs need the best advice available to achieve cost effective on time and on budget developments.
In this new role as a project manager / consultant Brian has completed projects in America, France, Spain, Germany, Bulgaria and Macedonia.
In the world of golf development we must move with the times and give the customers not only what they want but also ensure their satisfaction with what is provided.
Tony Scott - IFM Sports Marketing Surveys
IFM SMS specialises in providing golf market insight and strategic consultancy within
the sports, sponsorship, leisure and tourism industry. The
company leads the way in developing technologies, tools and
creative thinking to enable it to help golf developers and
businesses understand how sport impacts on all aspects of
life.
www.sportsmarketingsurveys.com
Mark Smith - Smith Leisure
Mark Smith graduated from Exeter University and then worked for Hillier Parker (international property consultants) in London's West End in the late 1980's selling land and letting buildings for large food and non-food retail stores. He then became involved in selling golf courses and joined UK golf property specialists, William Hillary Leisure & Hotels in 1991. In 2004, he set up his own company, Smith Leisure.
Mark is a Chartered Surveyor with specific expertise in golf property matters of a commercial nature. He has advised a wide range of clients from individual owners to banks, public sector bodies, developers and chain golf operators on buying and selling golf related businesses, granting leases and management contracts and valuations. He also handles golf related viability studies, rent reviews, lease renewals, town & country planning matters, business rates appeals and expert witness work.
Howard Swan - Swan Golf Designs
With a talented and enthusiastic team at his practice, Howard Swan continues to provide professional services to golf course developers and clubs on four continents.
Swan Golf Designs is committed to producing golf courses of the highest quality through innovative design and creative appreciation of the natural landscape setting. It is with this flexible approach, focused on meeting the demands of each client, that the SGD have earned a reputation for professional and creative excellence.