The GolfBIC Members Dinner returns to the Royal Automobile Club 

Tuesday March 24th in 2026 

with Keynote Speach from Mark Darbon

The UK Golf Federation GolfBIC Members Dinner, sponsored by Inrange, took place at the iconic RAC Club, Pall Mall on Tuesday, 24th March and was a huge success.

Set in one of London’s most distinguished private members’ clubs, the evening promises to be a standout occasion in the golf industry calendar, bringing together golf club owners, managers, and proprietors from across the UK for an exclusive night of insight, networking, and collaboration.

A highlight of the evening was a keynote speech from Mark Darbon,  Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Mr Darbon leads the St Andrews-based governing body, which jointly oversees the Rules of Golf, runs The Open and AIG Women’s Open and invests in developing golf around the world. He is also Secretary of the 270 year-old Club which has a global membership of more than 2,400.

 

An experienced sports industry leader, Mr Darbon (46) was formerly CEO of Northampton Saints, the Premiership Rugby club, and led them to their first Premiership title for ten years in 2024. He is also a former senior member of the team leading the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012 and has held senior roles in a number of sports event and marketing companies. Mr Darbon is a keen golfer, playing to a Handicap Index of 2.9.

The support of UK Golf Federation Corporate Partner Inrange elevates the event further, reinforcing its status as a must-attend evening for UKGF members & golf industry professionals seeking meaningful connections and strategic insight within the ever changing landscape of the industry.

Doug Poole, CEO of the UK Golf Federation, commented, "Our GolfBIC Members Dinner is designed to bring our members together in an exceptional setting with an exceptional speaker. With Mark Darbon joining us and the support of Inrange, this will be a memorable and highly valuable evening for anyone leading or managing a golf business.”

Attendance is £95 + VAT for UK Golf Federation members and £185 +VAT for non-members with  places already limited. 

About Our Sponsor - Inrange
Designed with golfers in mind, built for business success
Innovative technology that’s changing the way we practice
Provides real-time data and feedback for all abilities
Helping businesses grow with smarter range solutions
www.inrangegolf.com

Wednesday 7thOctober 2026 Sywell Aerodrome.

UK Golf Federation's GolfBIC 2 brings the industry together at Golf Business Expo 2026.

Golf Business Expo is one of the UK's leading B2B events for the golf industry. Running GolfBIC alongside it gave UKGF members and Corporate Partners a shared place to meet, compare notes and look at the challenges and opportunities facing golf businesses today. #

The day also included a meeting of the UKGF Board. Board members, members and Corporate Partners discussed the current state of the industry, and those conversations carried on across the Expo floor. Alongside the exhibition, visitors could attend a full day of seminars and panel discussions covering the business of golf from several angles. Experienced club managers spoke about running golf and sports clubs. Leading figures from across the game discussed the professional tour, media coverage and the image of golf. Property specialists covered golf course valuations and sales. 

The afternoon looked further ahead. One session explored how promoting the health benefits of golf can also support commercial success. Panels examined the growing role of AI and robotics in golf operations and how the industry can grow its market. Speakers came from organisations including England Golf, WME, JLL, Golf Genius, Golf Monthly and Golf Tourism England. 

Doug Poole, CEO of the UK Golf Federation, said: "GolfBIC is about getting the right people in the same room, and partnering with Golf Business Expo has let us do that on a bigger scale. Our members and Corporate Partners face many of the same pressures, from rising costs and recruitment to keeping members and bringing new golfers into the game. Days like this let them share what is working and build relationships that last long after the event. "The seminar programme was excellent, covering everything from technology and property to the health benefits of golf. These are exactly the conversations our industry needs to be having. I'd like to thank the Golf Business Expo team, our speakers, our Corporate Partners and everyone who came along and made it such a worthwhile day.”  

Steve May, CEO of Mytime Active commented, "I found the event both insightful and worthwhile. The speakers were knowledgeable, engaging and thought-provoking, providing valuable ideas and perspectives that have already sparked new thinking about how we can develop aspects of our own business.

Having such a wide range of suppliers available in one place was a major benefit. It saved considerable time for both myself and the suppliers by reducing the need for future meetings and travel. I also discovered several suppliers that I had not previously come across, which added even more value to the event.

The Expo was extremely well organised, offered excellent networking opportunities, and provided practical insights that I will take away and apply."