Golf in Austria is doing well, and the trend is expected to continue, according to a new study by KPMG. Nearly 70 percent of the 60 golf facilities surveyed report a positive gross operating profit (GOP) in 2014, and nearly 75 percent of operators surveyed report plans for further capital investments in the near future.
“Our study reveals that Austria offers the game of golf a strong foundation to take itself forward with the next generation of golfers and development,” said Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG’s Golf Advisory Practice in the EMA region. “Our analysis has also demonstrated that there appears to be significant additional development opportunities for golf in Austria.”
Furthermore, over 60 percent of Austrian golf operators report positive expectations for the their business.
“Certainly, winning the right to host the 2022 Ryder Cup would further boost development of golf in Austria and the enthusiasm of industry stakeholders in the country,” Sartori said.
Austria is competing with Germany, Spain and Italy for the 2022 Ryder Cup bid. This is the first time Austria has placed a bid to host the world’s largest golf tournament. If Austria is selected, the event will be held at Fontana Golf Club near Vienna.
“Like most candidate countries, a high level of achievement is mandatory to be able to host such a tournament, and, together with all of our partners and supporters, Austria has all its components in place to successfully stage this world-class event,” said Dr. Peter Enzinger, president of the Austrian Golf Association.
Austria’s first golf course opened in 1901, and the European country has experienced a 98 percent increase in the supply of golf courses in the last 20 years. The total number of registered golfers in the country has tripled over the last two decades, exceeding 100,000 players affiliated with the Austrian Golf Association. Together with Germany, Austria has the highest concentration of women golfers in Europe at 35 percent, and the average Austrian course has approximately 753 members.
Other highlights of the study include:
– Average number of annual rounds at Austrian courses: 19,255
– 69 percent of courses surveyed report an increase in GOP
– 15 percent of course surveyed report loss of GOP
-Average profit is EUR 177,000 based on average revenue of EUR 1,023,000
– Approx. 79 percent of total revenues come from membership and green fees only
– 156 total golf courses in Austria with 66 percent of facilities in the eastern part of the country
– National golf participation rate: 1.22 percent