More than a dozens countries and golf destinations were exhibiting at the massive 59th Annual PGA Show last week and many said European and American golfers would soon by traveling in large numbers again this year.

“Last year we saw a record number of golfers here and this year we see a similar surge,” said Ewen Bowman, Director of Operations for the St. Andrews Links Trust.

Bowman said the Links Trust, which actively promote its destination as the home golf, managing the The Old Course and six other public courses in the Scottish town.

He said the fact that the Open Championship was held at The Old Course in 2010, won by South Africa´s Louis Oosthuizen, and the resulting boom has worked well for European public resorts.

A lavish new Donald Trump is scheduled to open this north of Aberdeen this year which will also help Scottish golf as a whole, Bowman said.

Last year, 45,000 golfers played the Old Course, the oldest championship public golf layout in the world, with 240,000 rounds played on the seven courses.

‘It’s important to be here with our constituents and hear what we are saying. It’s very positive for a new year,” Bowman added.

North Americans still make up the largest number of golfing visitors to St. Andrews, but the fast rising numbers of newcomers are Koreans, thanks manly to the huge success they have had on the LPGA Tour and the fact the Ladies British Open will return to St. Andrews in 2014.

The mood was the same for Tourism Ireland and Pierce Wall, Chief Executive Office, of Ireland Golf.

“2011 was a record year for golf travel in Ireland and we feel like 2012 is looking very, very good,’ Wall said.

Like St Andrews benefitted for having the Open Championship in town in 2010, Ireland benefitted from hosting the LPGA’s Solheim Cup in Ireland last year at Killian Castle.

“It was one of the most successful every and proved Ireland can host top notch international events,” tournament director Joe Carr said.

Wales is another country exhibiting here this week, still repealing the benefits of the Ryder Cup there for the first time at Celtic Manor in 2010.

Roger Pride, executive director of Wales Tourism, said the fallow up to the Ryder Cup has sent many golf tourists from North American and the rest of Europe to their championship links courses.

Like Scotland and Ireland, most of the courses there are public and open to all golfers willing to pay green fees.

“With our friends and many supporters, we feel we are well positioned for a new year,’ said Pride.