Inside one of the south-west’s best-stocked pro shops

Golf boards are often dominated by people with decades of experience in the game. But Brandie Deignan, who’s just spent three years on Wales Golf’s board, argues that the most valuable voice around the table may be someone who’s never played – an outsider willing to question long-standing conventions, particularly over who golf is failing…

As England Golf backs Air Ambulance Week, the story of Paul, who suffered a catastrophic cardiac arrest mid-round and received 13 defibrillator shocks from a Thames Valley Air Ambulance crew, shows why clubs are being urged to review their emergency preparedness.

The National Golf Clubs’ Advisory Association says its enquiries are now dominated by member discipline and misconduct issues – including rising incidents on WhatsApp and social media, as well as pace-of-play frustrations.

Wayrobo is expanding its presence across the European golf market as more facilities explore robotic ball collection as part of their long-term approach to range operations.

In the second article of this series, Dr John Fry explores why golf course management’s future may lie in rediscovering many of the principles that shaped the game for generations.

The UK golf club market remains resilient in 2026, with strong participation, membership growth and investor confidence supporting sustained demand. Christie & Co’s James Matson examines the key factors attracting buyers, from diversified income streams and strong demographics to the continued appeal of golf resorts.

Moving beyond the standard rectangle, Tacit’s new Premium Collection draws on heraldic and maritime design to give clubs a more distinctive way to signal their identity on the course – with tiered pre-order savings available for spring delivery.

Steve Bird, Business Development Consultant at Foremost Golf, weighs up the strengths of the pro and in-house retail models, and considers which approach offers the greatest opportunity for green grass retail in 2026.