February 27, 2023 – Winner of the prize for ‘Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator in Spain’ in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2022 at the World Golf Awards, there is no doubt that Barcelona Golf is one of the most important and competitive golf travel agencies in Spain. And this is recognized with awards granted by the votes of professionals in the industry and the specialized media, which gives them with even greater value.

Managing Barcelona Golf is Ian Denham, originally from North Wales, who has lived in Sitges near Barcelona since 1994. With his professional team, he offers golf breaks to tourists who come to Catalonia seeking the best golf courses, with accommodation, gastronomy, leisure, culture and sports, which match the specific needs and budget of his clients. Since the creation of Barcelona Golf in 2003, thousands of players, from couples to corporate groups, have been guided by its know-how, coming from all over Europe, the US, even Asia and Oceania, returning home from their golfing holidays after living a memorable experience.

With the success that comes from constant hard work, Barcelona Golf has become the point of reference for foreign golfers wanting to play on the best courses on the Costa Brava, Barcelona, Costa Daurada and the Pyrenees/Andorra, with the best offers and luxury treatment. So much so, that three years ago it was chosen as travel partner of the Barcelona Golf Destination association and now, in 2023 it is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. We interviewed its manager, Ian Denham, to discover the secrets of Barcelona Golf.

MYGOLFWAY: How were the beginnings of Barcelona Golf?

IAN DENHAM: Ha, ha. Well, I have been living here for 29 years, and 23 years ago I started playing the game again, playing local golf tours in various courses of Catalonia. Then I realized that there was no one organizing golf for foreign visitors. It was the time when web pages were being developed in Internet. So, I started a website, despite my lack of experience, but now, after 20 years, we are a team working full time on the project and we have improved a lot, to the point of being internationally recognized.

MYGOLFWAY: What does it mean for Barcelona Golf to receive its fourth prize of the World Golf Awards? 

IAN DENHAM: We have already won it four times, the previous one was in 2018, and the truth is that it was a surprise in 2022, because after the pandemic and the consequences that it had, we didn’t think that we could win it. The truth is that it is great because of the impact it has on publicity for us, there is also the prestige of winning it, and the satisfaction of being able to display the winners logo on the website, in mailings, etc.

MGW: But it also means that the global golf industry considers you the best valued tour operator in Spain. 

IAN DENHAM: Yes, there are many tour operators that work in the Spanish golf market. So yes, it gives us a lot of prestige. Although we, of course, are focused on Catalonia, not on all of Spain.

MGW: How does Barcelona Golf differ from other tour operators to win this award so many times? 

IAN DENHAM: I think it’s mainly due to personal treatment. We receive requests from all over the world, and we always try to talk to the clients to find out exactly what they want. And that is not so easy to do. If you do everything strictly online it is much more complicated, because often you are not offering exactly what the client wants. Sadly this is happening more and more these days thus distancing the Tour Operator from the client.

MGW: What does the client who comes to Barcelona Golf look for?

IAN DENHAM: Well, we work with almost all the golf courses in Catalonia and of course, some of them much more than others and they all offer something different in their own way. It all depends on the type of client… We work with couples, and even quite large corporate groups… We had two groups of between 80 and 90 people in 2022, and others of around 40. Often it’s easier to organize a large group than a couple, ha, ha. What the clients actually look for is a mixture of golf resorts, city breaks and as we are blessed with the Mediterranean, hotels on or near the beach with golf nearby.

Some people come through the congresses and shows that are held in Barcelona, but the vast majority come through our website. In 2023 we are going to reach the 20th Anniversary of Barcelona Golf, at the beginning of October, and we see this as an achievement in itself.

In addition, we have clients who come almost every year. Some have been coming for 10 or 15 years. And to an extent, it is thanks to the database that we have been creating over many years. Our clients come from the UK, the Nordic countries, Germany, France; and occasionally Asians and Australians, but they are mainly Europeans.

MGW: What packages are the most requested? or do they ask you for tailor-made golf travels? 

IAN DENHAM: Through the website we offer some packages focused on the areas of Barcelona, Costa Daurada and also Costa Brava, more than anything to give ideas. But then the clients themselves can take one of these packages, or choose different hotels or golf courses from those proposed.

MGW: What courses are in highest demand to play in Catalonia? 

IAN DENHAM: In 2022 there was a significant increase in requests for the Costa Daurada, especially asking to play at the Infinitum Golf complex. After hosting the DP World Tour in April, a lot more people have started asking to play golf in this area where the standard of course is generally good and prices of hotels in the golf season are very reasonable. And then, of course, they often request to play at Camiral Golf – formerly PGA Catalunya – on the Costa Brava although this option is that much more expensive nowadays. Finally the RCG El Prat in the Barcelona area is a great favourite as it combines quality, history and personality. And Terramar Golf, next to the beach in Sitges, for hosting a Ladies European Tour event during the last years. These courses in particular are requested because they’ve hosted tournaments on the European Tour, they’ve been on television, or they have promoted themselves well.

MGW: What is Barcelona Golf’s key factor in attracting the attention of foreign clients? 

IAN DENHAM: As I said before, I think the most important thing is the personal touch. For example, an English customer can quite easily contract a tour operator in England who is offering an online package here in Catalonia, but in many cases the tour operators do not have the experience of the country, etc., and I think our advantage is that we are based here. Our ability to offer various alternatives to the client is a definite advantage.

In the end we have so many groups and couples that we cannot accompany each one, but at least we try to visit the clients during their stay here, which I think is a nice touch for most. In addition, they are in contact with us basically 24 hours a day via mobile phone, to solve any doubts or problems such as changes to a tee-time because the plane has been delayed… We are here for all those hiccups.

MGW: The experience with Barcelona Golf must be very gratifying for your clients, because they keep coming back.

IAN DENHAM: Yes, obviously. We are very proud of the treatment we offer to the clients and hope that they continue to return.

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MGW: What is the forecast for this 2023 season? 

IAN DENHAM: In 2022 it was almost a record, with levels higher than before the pandemic, and at the moment for the year 2023, it looks as if we might repeat it, at the moment it looks pretty good, although you never know. With the issue of the energy crisis and the war in Ukraine, everything is uncertain.

Our forecast is to continue promoting and offering the golf courses in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia. We now work as official travel partners to the Barcelona Golf Destination, which is the association of courses in the Barcelona area, so the idea is to do more things with them organizing golf packages for clients entering through the destination’s website. It is early days, but things look very promising

Thanks Ian, and congratulations on your great work.