September 27, 2019 – New brand, new logo, new website, and new horizons for golf tourism in Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain). Yesterday, the ‘Barcelona Golf Course Association’ was presented in society, with the Club de Golf Terramar (Sitges) as the ideal backdrop as it coincided with the first day of the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour.

On the speakers table were Santiago Rosell, President of the Club de Golf Barcelona, Club President of the Association; Marcello Della Vecchia, Commercial Director of Real Club de Golf El Prat, Club Vice-president of the Association; and Josué Mascuñán, Commercial Director of the Club de Golf Vallromanes and Club Secretary of the Association. They spoke to an audience of some thirty professionals from the industry, including representatives of golf clubs, tour operators, hospitality, institutions and press.

“Since the first joint action was carried out in 2013, golf in Barcelona was being promoted through shows and other platforms organized through the Diputació de Barcelona”, said Josué Mascuñán explaining the origins of the Association.

“Now, on the initiative of the same Barcelona golf clubs and at the request of the Diputació itself, this year we have created an organization within a single work group. These clubs alone already attract thousands of international players per year, but we believe we have the potential to continue growing, bringing together all our efforts.”

“The Barcelona Golf Destination trademark arisen from the collaboration of seven golf clubs in the region, which are also situated very close to each other, between 20 and 50 kilometres from the city, with the aim of organizing the offer of golf tourism products”, Marcello Della Vecchia said. “The aim is to organize the offer, because we have all the elements to move forward and grow, but we need to present them in the form of packages.”

Club de Golf Barcelona, Club de Golf Llavaneras, Club de Golf Montanyà, Real Club de Golf El Prat, Club de Golf Terramar, Golf La Roca y Club de Golf Vallromanes  are the seven courses that constitute the association so far. These are clubs with a long tradition, widely recognised internationally, with modern facilities and first class services. The clubs already receive thousands of international clients but now, through the Association, this business can be enhanced thus increasing the number of visitors.

“Tourism agencies today sell simple packages and that is what we have to develop,” continues Marcello Della Vecchia. “We have to be very organized with all the essential factors: transport, hospitality, variety of courses, services and fun, with packages that are easy to acquire. And position the city internationally as an emerging golf destination.”

For example, in the province of Barcelona the European Tour Open de España has already been organized more than ten times. It is very important to take advantage of this because these events are broadcast worldwide and are a stimulus to attract foreign golfers who have seen the best golfers playing on those Barcelona courses, and have the desire to play there.

Barcelona Golf Destination offers golf 365 days a year, with a privileged climate that allows you to play every day of the year. Barcelona is the sixth most visited city in Europe and has a powerful brand in the tourism sector.

The first two products to be launched are fundamental:

• Barcelona Golf Pass: With the advantages of providing agility and comfort to clients, they can design their itinerary according to their needs and book 3 to 5 golf clubs in a single operation, as well as giving access to a variety of layouts, with unique and differentiated sea or mountain experiences.
• Stay and Play Packs: With packages and personalized offers that include hotel accommodation in addition to green fees, with the tour operator Barcelona Golf Travel as a travel partner of the Association, which will advise and give assistance during the stay in the city.

To enhance its visibility, a logo and a web page have been designed, still under construction, for the Association, and by the year 2020 a series of powerful actions have been scheduled to promote the destination, including participation in shows and events (four professional international shows, five international shows open to the public and three international golf Opens); in addition to a public relations and marketing strategy through media campaigns, promotional actions at strategic sites, press trips and graphic material.

As an example, in Andalusia there is enormous support from public administrations, which recognise that golf is a fundamental attraction for income from tourism. However, in Catalonia, golf is not seen in the same light, so there is no clear and determined commitment from the institutions. The Costa Brava Golf Course Association has existed in Girona for years and has become a reference point; and the Tarragona courses are represented by the Costa Daurada Golf Association. At last, the Barcelona Golf Course Association is now launched.

“Turning Barcelona into a golf destination is important. Now that many Barcelona golf clubs are opening and are half social and half commercial, and we have the best commercial agents in the industry. This is a perfect opportunity to get together in order to attract tourism with high spending power,” said Santiago Rosell, president of the new Association.

“We have to become a lobby with enough strength to get ourselves known and attract economic support. We still need support from the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Diputació of Barcelona and the Ajuntament de Barcelona, and we invite the golf clubs that are not yet associated to join us so that we can all work together towards the same goal”, concluded.

Pictures: ©MyGolfWay.com

More information about the “Associació de Camps de Golf de Barcelona”, contacting Josué Mascuñán, via mail: admin@barcelonagolfdestination.com.