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Golf club managers from America and Europe are gathering in Dornoch this week for a major training event, which has been organised by the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA), in partnership with the Club Managers Association of Europe.

This is the first time that the CMAA has held an educational seminar outwith the USA, and 50 managers from American and European clubs are taking part.

The 'Leading Through Change' event is a major coup for Sutherland and Iain Fraser, director of North Highland College's Dornoch Campus, and John Duncan, general manager of the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, have been instrumental in persuading the CMAA to bring their event to the Highlands of Scotland.  Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) is supporting the five-day forum with assistance of £6,000.

Iain Fraser has been the driving force behind the development of a Golf Management degree through the UHI Millennium institute.  Commenting on next week's event, he said: "The CMAA are keen to add a golf element to their training syllabus and where better to come to for such knowledge than Dornoch, home of Donald Ross, the world renowned golf course architect."

During the course of the event - which runs from Sunday 9th to Thursday 13th November - delegates will attend a series of lectures on a range of topics including 'Leading Organisational Change', 'Club Culture', 'Human Resources' and Iain Fraser is making a presentation on key elements relevant to the management of the game of golf.

The CMAA's Business Management Institute delivers a series of professional development modules for club managers.  Each module is an intensive learning experience taught by top university lecturers, industry experts and experience club managers.  Those who successfully complete the course are awarded 'Educational Credits' towards eventual certification as a competent club manager.

A number of places have been made available to Highland golf clubs to participate in this event.

Despite the intensive schedule, delegates will also be given the opportunity to experience some of the area's attractions including a tour of the Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle, a tutored tasting session at the Clynelish Distillery and a round of golf at the Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

Anne Sutherland, head of Skills Development at CASE said: "The fact that the Club Managers Association of America has taken their forum to Scotland demonstrates how seriously they take training as a business or club development tool and what better place to come than Scotland, the home of golf.

"More and more organisations are recognising the importance of taking skills development seminars to new and different locations.  With the standard of conference venues we have available in the area, Caithness and Sutherland is well placed to attract this type of business tourism.

"This is another fantastic opportunity for us to promote, to such an influential group of decision makers, what the area has to offer."