The European Golf Course Owners Association (EGCOA) is delighted to offer its members another benefit: the Golf Business Development magazine (GBD) - a brand new trade journal for the entire European golf industry - that has just enjoyed a positive launch to the market.

With the slogan "Joined-up thinking for the European golf business", GBD covers the whole golf trade in its editorial scope, and has a mandate to shake-up the industry and to play a key role in helping to develop the sport in the time to come.

The first edition of the six-issues-per-year journal is out now and was sent to all members of the EGCOA. GBD is written for go-ahead professionals in all golf market sectors, from the established golf course developer, the course owner, through to the director of golf or the golf marketing expert.

The journal is published and edited by Ben Evans, former editor of Pro Shop Europe magazine, a journalist with more than 15 years experience in magazine publishing. He is joined in this project by consultant editor Geoff Russell, with 30 years experience in the golf industry, who is proprietor and editor of golfbusinessnews.com and the on-line version of the Golf Owners Operators and Developers Directory.

The European Golf Course Owners Association provides services to support golf course owners in their aims, represents their interests and improve the golf business on a European level. The EGCOA supports the owners for example by spreading and sharing knowledge.

Ben Evans said: "We are delighted to say that the response to our first issue has been highly positive. In tough economic times, our joined-up thinking will help many decision-makers to reach a new audience, find new customers, and expand their horizons."

"The EGCOA believes strongly in joined-up thinking. One of our main tasks is spreading and sharing knowledge among golf course owners in Europe and therefore our members receive a multitude of golf business magazines. We are happy to have GBD in this package", added Lodewijk Klootwijk, CEO of the EGCOA.

* GBD: Contact Ben Evans on +44 (0)1747 820384/+44 (0)7789 722853, or Geoff Russell on +44 (0)1865 340759. For advertising enquiries call Matthew Cull on +44 (0)7977 013348.

* EGCOA: Contact Lodewijk Klootwijk on +31 (0)20 3306103. For more information or to become a member of the EGCOA, visit the EGCOA website.