Category Archives: Golf Tourism

GREEN Golfmagazin stellt Golfmekka Schweden vor

Das GREEN Golfmagazin der Landezeitung Lüneburg hat eine Doppelseite der Oktober-Ausgabe dem “Golfmekka” Schweden gewidmet. Vorgestellt werden die beiden großen Golfregionen des Landes, Stockholm und Skåne (Malmö). Natürlich gibt es neben diesen beiden noch viele andere schöne Regionen und Golfplätze zu entdecken.

True Golf Marketing half dem Magazin bei der Umsetzung und Gestaltung des Artikels. Das gesamte GREEN Magazin ist als PDF kostenlos erhältlich. Der Artikel über Schweden steht auf den Seiten 48/49.

Pärnu Bay Golf Links takes aim at DACH markets

18th hole, Pärnu Bay Golf Links

Pärnu Bay Golf Links, a strong contender for the European Top 100 golf courses listing, mandated TGM to take over their marketing and sales efforts in the DACH markets. The city of Pärnu is Estonia’s no. 1 summer destination with long white beaches, a wide choice of hotels and a tourism history of more than 175 years.

The golf course opened in summer 2015 and was voted best golf course in Estonina at the World Golf Awards 2016. It was also nominated for best new golf course worldwide. Pärnu Bay Golf Links is a true links course, located right by the baltic sea and surrounded by pine trees.

Together with TGM Pärnu Bay Golf Links will create offers for the DACH markets, work closely with some of the biggest golf tour operators of the region and market to course to the golfing public.

Sweden Golf voted best incoming tour operator at World Golf Awards

swedens-best-inbound-golf-tour-operator-2015-winner-shield-gold-256The World Golf Awards, an annual award show that celebrates and rewards excellence in golf tourism, has announced the winners of 2015. And we are very happy that Sweden-Golf has been voted the top incoming tour operator in Sweden.

TGM is working closely with Nordic Travel/Sweden Golf for several years now helping them to develop the important German speaking markets. Every season so far has seen considerable growth in number of travelers and rounds played.

Already now it is clear that 2016 won’t be any exemption. The early bookings for next season are stronger than ever. It seems like more and more golfers discover the beauty of northern Europe and the wonderful golf courses in Sweden.

 

WINSTONgolf steps up in Sweden

winstongolf_logoWINSTONgolf, a golf resort in north-eastern Germany, is planning a marketing campaign in
Sweden in 2015. True Golf Marketing worked out the details and will help WINSTONgolf to attract more Swedish golfers with print and online advertising as well as a PR-campaign next year.

The award winning resort has two 18 holes courses (WINSTONopen and WINSTONlinks) and a
9 hole par 3 course. It is located in beautiful nature near Schwerin only a one hour drive away from Rostock, where the ferries from Sweden and Denmark arrive.

Origin Hotels at IGTM 2014 in Como

Origin Hotels at IGTM 2014Origin Hotels in Marrakech is growing its business and manages now 5 Riads in the Medina of Marrakech. For more than a year TGM is helping Origin Hotels to develop and sell their golf product. This year the company exhibited for the first time at the International Golf Travel Market, the most important trade show in golf tourism. TGM represented Origin Hotels in the meetings with tour operators from many different countries and endless networking opportunities at Lake Como in Italy. Origin Hotels also became a member of IAGTO (the International Association of Golf Tour Operators).

Sweden awarded Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year

Award ceremony at the annual IAGTO gala dinner. Sweden wins the "Undiscovered golf destination of the year" award.

What a week at the annual IGTM golf travel fair in Costa Daurada, 100km south of Barcelona. True Golf Marketing  attended the fair for three years now to support Nordic Travel/Golf in Sweden in its effort to bring more golfers to Sweden. This year was special though, because Sweden as a golf destination has finally been recognized and received the prestigious “2014 Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year” award.

150 journalists of the International Golf Travel Writers Association gave their votes and had to choose from nominees. Hopefully this award will help many tour operators, journalists and most importantly travellers to discover Sweden as a golf destination. You can read the full press release at the end of this entry.

The days at the Port Aventura convention centers were filled with meetings with tour operators from all over the world. All of them interesting, some more promising than others though. The program included a fabulous welcome night at La Boella, the IAGTO party in the wild west part of the amusement park (including a ride in a roller coaster) and finally on Thursday night the big gala dinner in the old bullfighting ring of Tarragona, that has been transformed in a modern event arena.

Here is the full press release from the Swedish Golf Federation:

The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) has named Sweden as the 2014 Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year. The announcement headlined the global golf tourim organisation’s annual Awards Gala Dinner in Tarragona, Costa Daurada, Spain earlier today.

“We are thrilled to receive this award that will let the rest of the world in on one of golf’s best kept secrets,” says Christer Bergfors, president of The Swedish Golf Federation. “Sweden has made a name for itself as a golfing nation with the success of golfing legend Annika Sörenstam and PGA Tour players like Jesper Parnevik, Henrik Stenson, Peter Hanson and Jonas Blixt. This is an achievement made more remarkable given the long winters, but unsurprising given the quality of the golf courses,” adds Bergfors.

The Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year Award was announced as part of the influential IAGTO Awards, held at the end of International Golf Travel Market, the golf travel industry’s annual trade show. The award is voted on by 150 members of the International Golf Travel Writers Association, which is administered by IAGTO. Tasked with identifying an “undiscovered gem” among the world’s golf destinations, members assess each nomination against criterias as to what extent the destination is “undiscovered”, qualities that make it an interesting golf destination, attractiveness of the region and courses, quality and accessibility of the courses.

Sweden has 480 courses with 474 000 members. Here you will find championship courses such as Bro Hof Slott, Barsebäck GCC and Halmstad GC. In 2003 and 2007, Sweden hosted the Solheim Cup at Barsebäck and Halmstad and the European Tour tournament Nordea Masters been held at Bro Hof this year. 13 Swedish golf courses made to the prestigious Rolex World´s Top 1000 Golf Courses last year and Bro Hof Slott is ranked second-best European course outside Great Britain by Golf World.

1973 Scandinavian Enterprise Open (SEO) was the first Swedish tournament on The European Tour and every year since has seen a tournament in Sweden. Sweden has currently two tournaments on the European Tours. In 2014 both will be played in Skåne, the southern part of Sweden. Nordea Masters at PGA National in Bara and Helsingborg Open for ladies at Vasatorp Golf Club outside Helsingborg.

Seven questions with Golf Digest Sweden

Golf Digest CoverGerman golf balls and Swedish golf courses – Golf Digest Sverige sat down with True Golf Marketing to discuss among other things the state of golf tourism in Sweden and why the VICE golf balls will be a big success in the scandinavian country. We had a lot to talk about over a long lunch and you can read the results in the monthly column “Sju Frågor” in the current issue of Golf Digest Sverige.

For those, who can’t buy the Swedish Golf Digest, you can see and read the article here:

Origin Hotels Marrakech to market golf packages in DACH-region

Courtyard Origin Hotel MarrakechThree beautifully restored Riads, the classical houses in the old town of Marrakech, now invite golfers with tailor made golf packages to experience both, the buzz of the Medina and the golf courses around town. Origin Hotels, owned by Swedish architect Robert Hlawatsch, has teamed up with TGM to market golf packages to the DACH-region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). We will present our packages both directly to golfers as well as to tour operators with competitive net rates. The Riads have been renovated with great care and traditional materials and techniques. Two are located next to each other, just minutes away from the main plaza Jemaa el-Fnaa in a small alley. The third one is in a traditional part of the old town a short taxi ride away from the main square. It features a spectacular terrace from where one overlooks the old town and sees the Atlas mountains.

Samanah Golf Marrakech

Golf around Marrakech has a big variety. From 80 years old Royal Marrakech, which has an almost tropical feeling with thousands of big old trees to desert golf and modern championship courses. And many new golf developments are built and planned at the moment and will open within the next coming months and years.

The Riads itself are small traditional houses with rooms towards an inner courtyards and a rooftop terrace. Each house has not more than 5 or 6 rooms. That means a group of 10-12 people occupies the entire house including all service, ideal for golf groups. All tee times and transfers are arranged by the staff of the hotel to ensure a smooth and trouble free experience.

For more information about rates, packages and group offers contact us directly.

Photo credits: Raboff, Samanah Golf Club

Bro Hof Slott starts online booking on homepage

Bro Hof Slott panoramic view of Stadium Course and Club House (picture: Lennart Hyse)Swedens most praised golf course and the host of the annual European Tour event Nordea Masters (which is played just now) got more accessible for green fee players this week. Bro Hof Slott GC implemented the possibility to book tee times and hotel packages online right on their homepage. The service is offered in Swedish as well as in English in cooperation with Nordic Travel, a Skåne based tour operator with broad experience in incoming golf business to Sweden.

True Golf Marketing supports Nordic Travel in the German speaking markets. We also initiated the deal with Bro Hof Slott and worked on the implementation.

(Picture: Lennart Hyse)

Famtrip to Stockholm – Experience Bro Hof Slott and Ullna GC

Stockholm-Visitors-Board-Djurg.mot-Slottet-125_Foto-SBR_500x333Bro Hof Slott Stadium Course Air_500x333Fågelbro Golf Club outside StockholmBro Hof Slott ClubUllna Golf ClubDrottningholm__Clubhouse_18_hole_Stockholm_602x418If you are a tour operator and a member of IAGTO, you can login in to their website right now and find our invitation to this years famtrip to Stockholm that we are offering together with Nordic Travel. If you are not a member, but still interested in doing the trip, then you should contact us immediately.

The famtrip will take place June 17-21 this year and includes four fantastic golf courses and location checks of several different hotels in Stockholm. We will play Bro Hof Slott GC, Ullna GC, Royal Drottningholm GC and Fågelbro Golf & Country Club. Four very different golf clubs and courses, each worth a visit when you come to Stockholm.

The region truly offers a lot for golfers. More than 60 golf courses can be reached from the city center within a good hour of driving. Very high standards in course design, club facilities, equipment, coaching and restaurants – and you can play longer! In summer it is daylight at least until 10.30 pm.

The capital of Sweden is built on 14 islands and surrounded by water of the Baltic sea and lake Mälaren. The beautiful city offers rich cultural life, restaurants, sightseeing and shopping that will make any day without playing golf a fantastic experience. Many hotels in all categories are available in Stockholm.

Our days will be filled with golf, good food and everything else Sweden’s capital has to offer. The trip takes place around midsummer, which means the guests can enjoy the longest days of the year.

Please do not hesitate to contact us, if you are a tour operator and would like to visit Stockholm. The capacity is very limited and the trip will be fully booked very quickly.

Photo credits: Stockholm Visitors Board, Bro Hof Slott, Lennart Hyse, Jacob Sjoman, Royal Drottningholm GC, Ullna GC.