In 1998 Andrew Stanley started a small business working out of his bedroom, organising Ryder Cup style matches for groups of golfers. As with any start-up, there were teething issues, including a punch-up between two clients! But the business diversified and thrived, grew steadily and, 25 years later, Golfbreaks employs more than 150 people in five countries, has a turnover of more than £100 million and provides golfing experiences to some 230,000 customers each year. Golf Monthly caught up with Andrew Stanley to talk about this incredible quarter of a century journey.
Born in Johannesburg to British parents, Andrew’s family returned to the UK and he was schooled in England. After A levels, he completed a hotel management degree at Portsmouth University while gaining further experience in the holiday and leisure industry.
“I spent two summers teaching windsurfing in Minorca,” he says. “That was great from a specialist sports holiday side of things – to understand people travelling with a specialist sports interest.”
After graduating, Andrew did various jobs through his 20s before deciding to branch out alone. In 1998, he started his own business organising Ryder Cup style matches for groups of golfers. The first event was held in Le Touquet for 24 people – two teams of 12. The package included shirts a trophy, the whole nine yards. It was a popular concept, but not particularly easy to police.
“24 blokes away together; the results are fairly predictable,” he chuckles on remembering. “On the first trip two guys on the same team actually had a punch up! I had to plead for a second chance with the team at Le Touquet. Thankfully they forgave us!”
The Domestic Market
Andrew realised there were perhaps easier routes to success.
“We saw there was a great gap in the market for UK golf breaks. Not huge margins but a big market,” he says. “People looking for a night away and a couple of rounds at a good price.”
That was when the business really started to take off. It was also the right place at the right time as the internet was just properly taking off. Before that, travel companies had to rely on a brochure a couple of times a year to sell product. Suddenly they were able to get email addresses and could market offers more regularly and cost effectively.
Andrew was joined by his cousin Guy Proddow and together they launched Golfbreaks.com in August 1999. They moved into a first office and, by 2000, had recruited two further directors in…
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