Partnership highlights Australia as a golfing destination for Asian business

Australia has a strong golfing tradition - with more than 1,650 courses countrywide, but has only rarely emphasised the sport as a conduit to business or an incentive for international business teams. The 'Great golf courses of Australia' campaign aims to use the appeal of the country's very best golf courses to position Australia as a golf tourism destination.

The campaign will focus on six Australian courses featured in US Golf magazine's "Top 100 courses" global rankings. They are Royal Melbourne, where the Presidents Cup concluded last weekend, the New South Wales Golf Course, Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm, Kingston Heath, and Royal Adelaide.

Liz Sattler, director of Great Golf Courses of Australia, says the coordinated campaign will need to do more than simply rely on the quality of those courses, however. “In order for Australia to establish itself as one of the world's leading golf destinations, we must continue to drive the buzz that has been created around Australia in recent years and in particular off the back of the Presidents Cup," she said, "Successful marketing, promotion and distribution of (the) Australian Golf product to the international market is vital if we are to gain a great share of the golf tourism market pie."

Andrew McEvoy, managing director of Tourism Australia, said the alliance was looking in particular at Asia, and the many groups that combined golf and business. “ We definitely see an opportunity here to build golf into the holiday experience, particularly by tapping into those overseas markets that love their golf, such as China, Korea and Japan," he said.