British Masters Provides GIS Students with Unique Industry Experience

Last week, GIS students were invited to The Belfry during the British Masters for an exclusive tour of the ground which has hosted the Ryder Cup four times.

Ending a seven-year winless spell, Alex Noren won the title for the second time, shooting a five-under 67 to finish 16 under.

Behind the scenes at the golf competition, a few lucky GIS students were given rare access to areas at The Belfry usually reserved for players and officials.

“It was an eye-opening experience,” said Dan Colquhoun, an MSc Sports Marketing & Media  student who is also the Course Representative for the programme.

Beginning the day with a tour of the grounds, the students were introduced to teams working in multiple departments, including broadcasting, hospitality, and partnerships, providing insight into the work that goes into ensuring the televised event ran smoothly. 

“It quickly became clear just how many moving parts are required to stage a championship of this stature,” said Joe Mahon, a student studying MSc International Sport Management.

“Everywhere we went, there were professionals at work calmly juggling logistics and ensuring spectators had the best possible experience.”

From learning about the meticulous preparation of the greenkeepers to speaking with the ticketing officers who explained the intricacies of managing thousands of spectators, Dan labelled insights from Andy Cross as the highlight.

Player and Tournament Content Manager at the DP World Tour, one of the biggest tours in golf, Cross discussed the storytelling and digital engagement aspect of the event and its relevance to modern sport.

“As a result of my MSc Sports Marketing and Media studies this year, my passion for creating sports content has grown significantly, so hearing directly from professionals working in a sport I follow so closely was an invaluable experience,” Dan said.

“The day provided the chance to network with fellow students who share the same passion for sport and events management, and to top it all off, watching elite-level golf unfold at one of the UK’s most iconic courses was an inspiring reminder of why these behind-the-scenes roles are so important.”

As for Joe, what stood out to him was the operations team, who spoke openly about the rewards and challenges of organising elite sporting competitions.

Exploring the world of events through modules such as Global Sustainable Sports Operations, Joe said: “It was inspiring to hear how varied the pathways into golf and event management can be.”

Joe was also struck by the commitment of the staff, explaining how impressed he was by the “passion and teamwork behind the glamour of the tournament itself.”

“Watching it unfold from the inside,” he summarised, “gave me a whole new perspective on both the game and the industry around it.”

With opportunities such as the exclusive tour of The Belfry as well as our world-first Live Lab in partnership with Mount Pleasant Football Academy, which Dan also attended, GIS aims to  provide students with real industry experience to best prepare them for future careers in sport.

For more information, visit our course offerings page.

Article by Zakaria Anani