Ken Schofield CBE Gives Dubai Convention Total Support
Dubai (United Arab Emirates): Ken Schofield CBE, the man at the helm of the PGA European Tour for some 30 years, will lead a stellar cast of speakers when GolfEx Dubai opens for business in January.
The global golf summit and exhibition aimed at unifying the golfing world has attracted a powerful cast of golfing industry heavyweights for a showcase that will be the first of its kind dedicated to the unification of the sport.
And in Schofield Dubai-based event organisers and promoters Driving Force have secured a keynote speech from a man consider by many the catalyst in making the PGA European Tour the vibrant and powerful organisation it is today.
To be held at the Jumeirah Conference Centre on January 29-30, 2006, GolfEx Dubai will feature Schofield’s keynote address on day one when he is expected to pull no punches with his views on the past and future of the sport with a particular call to the rest of the world to stand up and be counted.
"In recent years, Dubai has become a hugely important golfing and business destination," said Schofield. "The inception of the highly successful Dubai Desert Classic some 16 years ago has played an important part in this development.
"Now, through the launch of GolfEx, the world of golf can come together in the perfect setting of Dubai to meet, discuss and hopefully progress many of the game’s current issues"
Once the youngest bank manager in Scotland, Schofield went on to use his financial nous to transform the European Tour. When he took over as Executive Director on January 1, 1975, the European Tour consisted of 17 events with the equivalent of roughly $600,000 (Dh2.2 million) in prize-money, and the season ran from about April to October.
By 2003, the corresponding figures were 48 events and over $125 million (Dh456 million), while the season now sees golf played under the European banner just about 12 months of the year in and various corners of the globe.
"Many people would think that a full European Tour schedule and an increase in the prize money are automatic," Schofield added. "But my message is that they aren’t. The environment has shifted and these things are hard-earned.
"The game is a great vehicle for the corporate world – from car companies and financial houses to governments and the proprietors of golf courses. But the search never stops. You always want to reach new levels and that will never cease."
Now a part-time consultant for the European Tour and a broadcaster for the Golf Channel, Schofield has no regrets about retiring.
"Thirty years was a long time and a great privilege, but it was time to move on," said the 58 year-old Scot. "I just wanted to make the European Tour as good as it could be and I tried to do two things above all else – to offer the players the opportunity to play and to provide them with a sensible reward for good play."
As well as Schofield, other speakers at GolfEx Dubai will represent the Asian Tour Executive Director Louis Martin, South Africa’s Sunshine Tour Commissioner Johan Immelman and representatives from golf management companies and course designers.
"We are absolutely delighted and honoured that Ken Schofield has given his total support to GolfEx Dubai," said Driving Force Managing Director Neal Hamp-Adams. "Ken’s knowledge and experience of sport management and organisation is second to none and we know his keynote speech will be eagerly anticipated by the entire golf industry.
Although primarily a conference, GolfEx Dubai – which will be staged at the beginning of Dubai Desert Classic week – will also host a trade exhibition and gala dinner to enable the golfing world to share knowledge, broker business deals, network with the leading figures and experts in the industry in order to drive the game into the future.
Further information on GolfEx Dubai can be found at www.golf-ex.com
Contact:
Alan Ewens, Media Manager
Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai
Tel: (+97150) 4514188
alan2804@emirates.net.ae
