Club Benchmarking EMEA and Forest Road Finance partner to support golf clubs

Club Benchmarking EMEA and Forest Road Finance have announced a strategic partnership aimed at helping golf clubs strengthen financial planning, improve operational decision-making and access tailored funding solutions.

The collaboration brings together Club Benchmarking EMEA’s business intelligence and benchmarking capabilities with Forest Road Finance’s expertise in specialist funding solutions for the golf sector.

Under the partnership, golf clubs across Europe, the Middle East and Africa will gain access to a combination of data-driven performance analysis and financing support designed to address both short-term funding needs and long-term strategic planning.

Club Benchmarking EMEA provides business intelligence tools that enable private golf clubs to evaluate their historic and projected financial performance against industry benchmarks. The platform is designed to help clubs identify operational inefficiencies, governance challenges and potential funding gaps.

Forest Road Finance, meanwhile, has built a reputation for supporting golf clubs with financing solutions for equipment, machinery and other operational requirements.

Ricky McNeil, Director of Forest Road Finance, said the partnership would create a more comprehensive support offering for clubs navigating increasingly complex financial pressures.

“Club Benchmarking offers clubs a true, unbiased position of their historic and forecasted future performance,” he said.

“At Forest Road Finance, we have a proven track-record of supporting golf clubs, especially when it comes to sourcing funding for equipment and machinery.

“The solutions we offer complement one another and only increase the value of our service to golf clubs.”

The partnership is expected to provide golf clubs with a range of integrated services, including guidance on capital and cashflow planning, benchmarking tools to support governance discussions, and educational workshops focused on industry trends and strategic planning.

Both organisations said the initiative is intended to help golf club leaders make more informed decisions in an operating environment shaped by rising costs, changing member expectations and growing financial complexity.

James Burns, Director of Club Benchmarking EMEA, said the collaboration would strengthen support for clubs seeking long-term financial sustainability.

“This partnership strengthens our shared commitment to helping clubs make well-informed, data-driven decisions,” said Burns.

“Club Benchmarking provides leaders with absolute clarity on their long-term financial position, and Forest Road Finance brings deep sector understanding that supports those discussions.

“Together, we’re helping clubs plan confidently for the future.”

The partnership also includes plans for joint educational workshops and strategic planning initiatives aimed at supporting golf club boards and management teams as they respond to evolving operational and financial challenges.