Golf Industry Central Summer 2017 | Page 16

GMA Conference Wrap COCKTAIL PARTY & WELCOME DINNER T he Conference was kicked off on the Sunday with a welcome cocktail party in the historic Mortlock Wing of the State Library of South Australia, allowing delegates to meet with colleagues and friends from around Australia and internationally. Golf Club in Victoria and Gloucester Country Club in NSW, were, undoubtedly, extremely grateful for the generous grant. Early feedback from delegates and sponsors was enormously positive, with many great comments on the location and accessibility of the Adelaide Convention Centre as a conference venue, along with the adjacent Intercontinental Adelaide hotel, home to most delegates for the week. GMA President, Andrew Gay, summed things up: “This year’s conference in Adelaide was an outstanding success, once again providing an ideal platform for improved professional development of golf management professionals,” Following the welcome party the official opening dinner was held in the Intercontinental Adelaide ballroom on the Monday night, where former Australian test wicketkeeper, Wayne Phillips, was introduced to delegates as MC for the week. Toro Australia in conjunction with GMA had ahead of the conference offered up the chance for eligible golf clubs to win a pre- owned Toro Triflex 3400 mower through their Support & Grow Grants program. With a resale value of $18,000 for each machine, Gisborne 16 “The combination of national and international speakers provided exceptionally high quality professional development and this combined with networking opportunities allowed golf club managers to converse about industry issues with their peers and golf’s key stakeholders. The Golf Marketing Professionals I www.golfindustrycentral.com.au “GMA would like to thank all those that supported the conference by attending or through their financial support and we look forward to the 2019 GMA Conference in Melbourne”.