Stepping off the green for the last time is a tough decision for golf professionals, but some manage to take it in their stride and use their knowledge of the sport to great advantage. James Shippey had no doubt about what he wanted to do. He’s the Managing Director of Absolute Golf Services (AGS), leading a team with specialised skills in golf course and resort management. His career path has led him on a journey to Thailand via the Middle East, always with the small white ball at the centre of his focus.
“I’m a PGA golf professional by trade. I gained my qualifications in the UK before moving to Dubai in 1999 for a position at the Emirates Golf Club. I spent the next 17 years in the Middle East in various operational roles, from golf coaching to the management side of things. My first general manager role was at a golf course called Taba Heights Golf Resort in Egypt. I then moved back to Dubai as general manager at Al Badia Golf Club, prior to moving to my current role in Thailand with AGS in 2015,” James recalls.
The golf-as-holiday industry has changed significantly over the past couple of decades, with established business models no longer a licence to print money. Greater competition, cut prices and a fluctuating clientele have caught many golf resorts short, with changing client volumes and spending habits. That’s where AGS can step in.
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