As a sports enthusiast, I would be amiss this week if I didn’t mention South Africa coming agonizingly close to winning the T20 World Cup, losing by a mere seven runs to India in the final. If one person from the golfing fraternity knows about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, it’s Greg Norman.
At the 1996 Masters, the Great White Shark shot a course-record 63 in the first round and held a six-shot lead over Nick Faldo going into the final round. It seemed he was on his way to donning the famous green jacket that had eluded him up until that point. But as play progressed over the last 18 holes, Norman’s lead vanished and Faldo surged to a famous five-shot victory.
That is the unpredictable nature of the game we love.
What is a welcome prediction and something that I am incredibly excited about, is that Ascot Tours is mentioned as a key market player in a newly released report by Technavio about an estimated $9-billion growth over the next four years in the global golf tourism market.
Coupled with the launch of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association’s first Golf Chapter earlier in the year and the International Golf Travel Market Conference in October in Lisbon, there is only one way and it’s up. SATSA CEO David Frost has been quoted as saying golfers spend around 120% more per person per day than the average tourist. You do the maths.
This week’s newsletter unpacks the forecasted growth of golf, especially in Africa, while there is also more on what is arguably one of the hidden gems when it comes to African golf safaris – Uganda.
Thank you for being a part of our community. We look forward to sharing many more incredible experiences with you.
SCOTT EDKINS
CEO: Ascot Tours
Your Authority on Africa Golf Safaris since 1996