GCAE launches The 19th Room to unite golf industry leaders
The Golf Course Association Europe (GCAE) has launched The 19th Room, a new invitation-only leadership initiative designed to bring together selected owners, operators, investors, consultants, architects, technology companies and other businesses that help shape the golf experience.
The inaugural gathering, Edition Zero, took place from 15–17 June at Victoria Golf Resort & The Els Club in Vilamoura, bringing together leaders from across Europe to share the trends they are seeing within their own organisations and explore what those developments mean for the future of golf.
The initiative has been created to encourage open dialogue between different parts of the industry, recognising that many of golf's biggest opportunities and challenges extend beyond individual sectors.
"In golf, we often talk in silos," said Renate Roeleveld, CEO of GCAE. "Owners with owners, suppliers with suppliers and technology with technology. Yet some of the most valuable insights emerge when different perspectives meet. Together, we simply see more."
Nineteen leaders participated in Edition Zero, representing multi-course operators and owners, agronomy, golf course architecture, technology, data, hardware and a range of other businesses that each play a role in creating successful golf facilities.
Across the discussions, recurring themes included people, skills, knowledge, changing customer expectations, technology and data. Although participants came from different areas of the industry, many found themselves facing remarkably similar challenges.
Reflecting on the event, one participant said:
"What stood out to me was how many organisations across golf are trying to solve similar challenges, yet often do so independently."
For GCAE, the initiative reinforces its belief that financially healthy golf facilities are built on professional leadership and informed business decision-making.
Following the success of Edition Zero, GCAE will continue to develop The 19th Room, inviting additional leaders from across the golf industry to contribute to future discussions. The next gathering will take place during the GCAE Golf Business Conference 2026 in Vilamoura.
