The 7th GTE Convention

The 7th GTE Convention is a short golf blog post that highlights the work done to help grow golf tourism in England.

Few settings in English golf evoke the raw, natural grandeur of North Devon’s rugged coastline. Perched high above three miles of sweeping golden beach, the Saunton Sands Hotel served as the backdrop for the 7th Annual Golf Tourism England (GTE) Convention.

Bringing together key figures across international golf travel—tour operators, premier resorts, golf clubs, and destination tourism boards—this flagship gathering reinforced England’s standing as a premier global golf destination. Headline-sponsored once again by Discover South Carolina, the convention delivered structured business appointments, industry collaboration, and championship links golf across the iconic Saunton Golf Club.

The Visionary Voice Behind English Golf Travel: A Background on GTE

To understand the impact of the annual convention, one must look at the purpose and growth of Golf Tourism England (GTE).
Established as the primary trade body for the nation's golf travel sector, GTE was founded to bridge a long-standing gap in the industry.
While regions like Scotland and Ireland had long established centralised, government-supported bodies to market their courses globally, England’s vast landscape—boasting over 1,900 golf courses—remained largely fragmented on the international stage.

GTE was founded by Andrew Cooke to unify this rich offering, bringing together championship courses, hidden gems, luxury hotel partners, regional tourism boards, and inbound tour operators under a cohesive umbrella. By offering a collective voice, GTE works to:

• Promote England Globally: Position England’s diverse golfing regions—from the coastal links of Devon, Cornwall, and Kent to the historic heathlands around London and the magnificent courses in the North—to high-yield international markets like North America, Continental Europe, and Asia.
• Facilitate Commercial Connections: Create dedicated platforms, B2B workshops, and familiarisation trips that directly connect English venues and suppliers with overseas buyer channels.
• Drive Regional Economic Impact: Encourage travelling golfers to explore beyond standard entry hubs, driving tourism spend into coastal and rural communities across all four corners of the country.

The annual GTE Convention represents the pinnacle of these efforts, acting as the primary marketplace where commercial contracts are forged for upcoming travel seasons.

Strategic Networking: Connecting Suppliers & Tour Operators

At the core of the 7th Convention was a full day of structured, 1-on-1 business appointments inside the art-deco surroundings of the Saunton Sands Hotel.
UK golf suppliers—representing everything from open-qualifying links venues to boutique coastal hotels—met directly with international golf tour operators.

Key Focus: Building multi-region English golf itineraries, expanding international access to regional links, and establishing strategic marketing partnerships for the years ahead.

The collaborative energy carried into the evening gala dinner hosted in partnership with Discover South Carolina. The ongoing synergy between Golf Tourism England and South Carolina highlights a shared passion for showcasing premier coastal golf destinations to a global audience.

36 Holes of Pure Links Golf at Saunton Golf Club

No GTE Convention is complete without experiencing the local turf, and few venues in Britain can rival the 36-hole links complex carved through the towering dunes of Braunton Burrows. Delegates took to the fairways for two days of golf across both of Saunton’s championship layouts.

Day 1: The Formidable East Course

Designed by Herbert Fowler in the 1920s, the East Course is universally recognised as one of the finest traditional links in England.
Winding through massive, naturally sculpted dunes, it demands supreme tee-to-green accuracy and intelligent shot-shaping into firm, tightly guarded greens.
With the Atlantic breeze rolling off Barnstaple Bay, delegates faced a severe yet exhilarating test of links play.

Day 2: The Strategic Nuance of the West Course

Slightly shorter but offering its own distinct set of challenges, the West Course provided a compelling follow-up on day two.
Featuring subtle green contours, natural doglegs, and demanding placement off the tee, it rewarded strategic course management and creative short-game play rather than raw distance off the tee.

Driving English Golf Tourism Forward

The 7th GTE Convention demonstrated the strength of England’s golf industry when venues, travel organisers, and global sponsors joined forces.
Between the business transactions inside Saunton Sands Hotel and two days spent traversing the dunes of Braunton Burrows, North Devon provided an unforgettable venue for shaping the future of English golf travel.

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