BU Research Blog

Golf occupies a prominent place in the global sport community and BU is one of only a few universities offering a full degree course on golf management. Dr Tim Breitbarth (Department of Sport & Physical Activity) is the lead editor of the first book that introduces the fundamentals of golf business and management from a truly international perspective. 30 authors from 6 continents are covering key topics such as media, club management, sponsorship and retail, at elite and non-elite levels. Already, the book has received endorsement from the top of the golf sector, namely Guy Kinnings (Global Head of Golf, IMG) and Martin Slumbers (Chief Executive, The R&A).

With sections exploring the development of golf on every single continent, this book presents the latest thinking on current issues in golf, ranging from sustainability and innovation to global governance. Each chapter incorporates helpful features for students including learning objectives, discussion questions, guides to further reading, recommended websites and insights from industry voices.

Essential reading

This book co-edited together with Sebastian Kaiser-Jovy (Heilbronn University, GER) and Geoff Dickson (AUT, New Zealand) is essential reading for students of any golf-related degree course or professional accreditation programme, and will also be of interest to those studying or working in sport business, sport management and sport tourism. Underpinned by up-to-date literature, golf researchers will also find the book a useful starting point.

Contributors range from internationally renowned academics such as professors David Shilbury (Deakin University, AUS) and Karen Danychuk (Western University, CAN) to a senior vice president at Club Managers Association of America (USA) and managers at PricewaterhouseCoopers (Switzerland) and Brazilian Golf Federation. Also, ex-BU PhD student associate professor Brendon Knott (SA), BU honorary PhD Eddie Bullock (UK) and BSc sport management golf alumni Luke Frary (UK) have contributed their golf expertise.

For more information, including contents, contributors and purchasing options, see: https://www.routledge.com/Golf-Business-and-Management-A-Global-Introduction/Breitbarth-Kaiser-Jovy-Dickson/p/book/9781138957176

Dr Tim Breitbarth (Principal Academic and Global Engagement Lead, Department of Sport & Physical Activity) is available at tbreitbarth@bournemouth.ac.uk

Reviews by Guy Kinnings (Global Head of Golf, IMG) and Martin Slumbers (Chief Executive, The R&A)

“In 1960, a handshake between Mark McCormack and Arnold Palmer became the foundation of not just golf management but modern sport business. In 2017 and beyond, we must all work toward addressing some of the challenges that the sport naturally has to overcome to evolve and remain relevant. With, for example, the re-introduction of golf to the 2016 Olympics, the momentum is on our side. There is great opportunity in global golf.”

“One of the key challenges for the golf industry is to be alive to the changing demands of people’s modern day lifestyles, particularly when research demonstrates that a younger generation of golfers would like to play alternative, shorter forms of the game in a quicker time. It is also important that we educate golf’s current and future executives about effective business and management practices and this book will have an important role to play in that regard.”