Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam worried about the future of golf

In an effort to find innovative ways for golf to be more "affordable and accessible", Greg Norman, Annika Sorenstam and golf creative thinkers convened at the fourth annual Asia Pacific Golf Summit.

This 'call to action' in Thailand was only one of several forums designed to effect a change in the sport in order to attract more newcomers and to keep the golfers that already play interested in the game. Earlier this year, a Golf Business Forum in Turkey tackled similar questions with both Norman and Sorenstam in attendance.

Believing interest in the sport has hit its limit and is now declining, Hud Hinton, Troon Golf president and chief executive officer warned that, "The game is too expensive to play, too difficult to play, too expensive to operate and the pace of play is too slow."

Greg Norman came up with an interesting idea regarding the premise that it takes too long to play a round of golf.

"There's nothing to say that a golf course has to be 18 holes. Why shouldn't 12-hole courses be successful in Asia?"

Although it seems like an age-old question, what suggestions would you make in order to improve the sport and to bring in newcomers?

My idea?
Children are the future of the sport so perhaps add golf to a school's curriculum? Instead of just playing dodge-ball in a gym where kids learn it's okay to hit one another in the head with a ball, golf can also teach the nine basic principles of the First Tee Program.

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Global Golf Re-Think to be tackled in Turkey?

Greg Norman and Annika Sorenstam have set themselves apart from the average professional golfer through exploration and success within the business landscape. From course design to clothing lines, these two entrepreneurs are ringing up millions in sales outside of the realm of golf, offering them name recognition to those who have never even picked up a golf club.

Both Norman and Sorenstam will be guest speakers during the seventh annual Golf Business Forum sponsored by KPMG. Held in Belek, Turkey, this conference is far from where the average golfer would have considered trekking for a few rounds and a glass of Raki but now appears to be making an international splash.

Why Turkey?

It seems that Turkey is becoming golf's new Portugal with the Turkish Golf Federation ambitiously planning about a hundred new courses within the next fifteen years. The mild weather and central location for Europeans are particularly attractive and the real estate is currently a great value.

Colin Montgomerie and Nick Faldo have already designed courses in Turkey and Hilton Hotels designated Turkey as one of it's key development regions recently adding their first luxury resort and spa in Dalaman on the south west coast.

The Golf Business Forum's theme of 'Rethink, Redesign, Reposition the Global Golf Industry' will tackle the future of golf and real estate, the impact of golf in the Olympics, environmental and sustainability issues as well as Turkey and China's ambitions as emerging markets.

Here is a look into the Golf Business Forum agenda:

• Standing out from the Crowd: Developers on Marketing, Positioning and Branding. Communicating their thoughts on the issue will be Mario Natarelli, CEO of global branding consultancy FutureBrand, with leading developers from Turkey, Greece and Middle East.

• How does the future look for professional golf? After years of sustained growth, fuelled by broadcaster and sponsorship demand, has professional golf run out of steam? Greg Norman plus Ernie Els’ agent, Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, join the debate.

• Here come the girls. With increasing numbers of women in the workplace and with more money to spend, can women play in a man’s world and break down barriers? Annika Sorenstam as well as Alex Armas, CEO of Ladies European Tour, think so and both will be taking center stage to explain.

• Discover Turkey and its wealth of opportunity.  It is already one of the hottest new destinations for golf tourism with plans to build many more courses, but is Turkey the new Spain or Portugal?

• Maximizing profits through design and operations. A practical, workshop style session, focused on golf operations, business management, sales and marketing, procurement, agronomy, food and beverage as well as optimizing the design of your clubhouse.

• The environment – guidelines to environmental best practice. Find out why the environment is fast becoming golf’s greatest challenge and potentially it’s greatest asset.

The 2010 Golf Business Forum will be held at Gloria Hotels and Resorts, arguably one of the most exclusive complexes on the Turkish Riviera.

Set within the glorious Mediterranean landscape, Gloria Resort has everything I look for when I travel; two championship golf courses, private beach, pools with water slides, three five star luxury hotels within the complex with a select number of villas and suites.

If you involved in golf tourism or with international golf course development, consider further investigation into the 2010 Golf Business Forum.