This was the most read story last week on www.golfbusinessnews.com.

Doing golf pr plan for client who has refurbished his driving range

By Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Ltd

#1 Rangefinder brand moves into new offices to cater for increased demand

SkyCaddie is relocating its European headquarters to more spacious premises in Buckinghamshire, after a period of spectacular recent growth.

And with the new top-of-the-range SkyCaddie SGX reaching the UK in April, the company is forecasting another record-breaking year with a stronger than ever sales story for all retailers.

From 1st May 2010 SkyCaddie will be based in a new 13,500 sq ft facility in Haddenham, UK. The new offices include conference and training rooms, where invited SkyCaddie trade customers – including PGA professionals and golf retailers – will receive sales training and product familiarisation sessions.

SkyCaddie’s rapid expansion into Europe will also be managed from its new base.

“Just over 3 years ago we started with just 3 staff in a 400 sq foot office,” said SkyCaddie’s Managing Director UK, Jackie Hitchcock. “Now that we have 20 headquarters staff and a fast-growing business throughout the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe, we have outgrown the business centre where we started, and we are delighted to be moving into Canon UK’s former premises in May 2010.”

The features-packed new SGX is expected to persuade a new generation of golfers to buy a GPS rangefinder for the first time. “Our commitment to providing the industry’s highest standards of customer service and technical innovation is firmer than ever in 2010,” said Hitchcock.

“The SGX is an amazing leap forward for the rangefinder market, and our new base gives us the space to cope with the extra demand it will create.”

SkyCaddie’s new contact details (from May 1st 2010) are:

SkyHawke Technologies UK Ltd – SkyCaddie
Units 10 C-E, Haddenham Business Park
Haddenham, Buckinghamshire
HP17 8LJ
United Kingdom.

Telephone (from UK):  0845 4080505
Telephone (from outside UK): +44 (845) 4080505

CONTACT:  Jackie Hitchcock, Skyhawke Technologies UK Ltd
   jackie@skycaddiegps.co.uk

MEDIA:  Andy Hiseman, Hiseman Limited
   andy@hiseman.com / +44 (0)1780 757461

Prepping my annual trip to the London Golf Show

Inviting Manchester media to a client’s launch evening in May

Preparing heads of terms to modernise a golf property lease.

Progress underway on ‘soft market testing’ two municipal courses for Cheshire East Council.

By Mark Smith, Smith Leisure and John Ashworth, John Ashworth Associates

Cheshire East Borough Council is seeking interest from the golf market to operate its two courses: Malkins Bank – a popular Hawtree designed 18 hole course only 2 miles from junction 17 of the M6; and Queens Park – a 9 holes course on the west side of Crewe town centre.

The Council was newly formed in 2009 as a unitary authority following the merger of three boroughs and half of the County Council. The timing is now right for the Council to undertake a strategic review on the best long-term way of running these courses and has appointed UK golf property specialist, Smith Leisure, to advise in the process.

The Council currently runs Malkins Bank in-house and roundage was just over 39,000 last year. The Council is keen to look at ways of further improving the venue and possible options include a driving range or a short academy course. Queens Park Golf Course is adjacent to Crewe’s only formal park and the latter is currently undergoing a £6.5 million transformation, including Heritage Lottery funding, to bring it back to its former glory. Queens Park Golf Course is operated by the leading golf retailer, American Golf, who has a retail store on site.

Mark Smith of Smith Leisure, who is handling the process along with his GCA colleague, John Ashworth, comments: “The Council’s options include leasing or selling one or both venues and we feel that they will appeal to private sector golf operators, leisure trust operators or perhaps a local individual/consortium. Whilst Queens Park is actually held on a lease already, American Golf is willing to relinquish its interest as running a course is no longer core business for them – they wish to focus on larger retail outlets.”

“We are seeking initial written feedback from the market by Monday 17th May and the result of this will play an important part in how the Council proceeds thereafter. If it does decide to formally tender the properties then the intention is to start this process in the autumn and have the new operator(s) in place early next year.”

If you are interested in these courses and would like a brochure then please contact Mark Smith on 01985 214147 or mark@smithleisure.com .

Enforced stay in the USA until 30th April…so working from Florida!

By Brian Pierson, Pierson Golf

Valdacañas Island Marina is a resort that is situated on an island within the reservoir in the municipalities of El Gordo y Berrocalejo in the province of Caceres.

The project will consist of a golf course with 18 holes, tennis and paddle tennis, equestrian centre and sports club.

Elsewhere in the complex will be a four star hotel with one hundred rooms, a medical spa (spa facilities, massage and beauty treatment clinic) with 60 suites and 250 apartments, two shopping areas, convention centre and a nautical and natural beach. The Development company is “Valdacañas Island Marina, SA”

The complex is to be build on land within the SPA “Valdacañas Reservoir and at the selected location as SCI” Valdacañas margins. ”

The project has been declared of general interest by the Junta de Extremadura and has favourable environmental impact statement.

The project also requires residential construction and tourism, access roads, water supply network, energy, water treatment, etc, there will be very light pollution in an outstanding area of great natural beauty.