Staged by the Confederation of Professional Golf at one of Europe’s most exciting new golfing destinations, the Coaches Circle took place in tandem with the Heads of Training Summit and instantly earned its place as a major golf educational initiative or, as one delegate put it: “A must..”

Speakers Presentations are available HERE for delegates to view.

The Coaches Circle brought together National team and elite player coaches for two days of intensive knowledge sharing on all aspects of the game from theory and practical sessions on the short game to discussion around long term athletic development and talent identification. Two heavyweights on the subject, Dr Ernst Zwick and Professor Dave Collins were also on hand to share their expertise and take questions in what proved to be an informative series of sessions.

Thirty delegates were expected for each of the events but 36 attended each of them and their collective and individual responses suggested that they would welcome the occasion to be repeated as and when appropriate.

The Coaches Circle was aimed at those coaches involved in National/junior/regional team coaches and those coaching Elite Players as defined by a player competing on a recognised 1st, 2nd or 3rd level tour.

The Coaches Circle provided a forum which allowed the coaches the opportunity to come together and discuss cutting edge technologies, share good practice and develop new skills and knowledge. Advanced short game techniques along with presentations and discussions around the use of TID (Talent Identification and Development) formed the basis of the two days meeting.

The Heads of Training Summit covered subjects such as: training for career development, the core essentials of education and training, the implications of the Golf Stand project, issues around possible changes to amateur status, continual professional development and the philosophy of Right Coach, Right Place, Right Time, all of which were very well received by the audience which had come from all corners of the globe, with representatives from Canada, South Africa and Hong Kong joining those responsible for training from all around Europe.

The Confederation of Professional Golf’s Director of Education Tony Bennett, who organised and supervised the event, said, “We specifically selected our keynote speakers for their expertise and ability to promote discussion, this proved to be a big success as the quality of discussions at both events surpassed our expectations.” He went on to say that, “We had the right audiences for both events, made up of individuals who were prepared to share their knowledge”.

Lumine Golf & Beach Resort and the Gran Palas Hotel, in the Costa Dorada region of Spain hosted both events. Tony Bennett commented that the staff at both facilities had been very helpful and extremely efficient which had made the organisation and delivery of both events very simple.

Among the leading coaches to enthusiastically welcome the Coaches Circle was former England Head Coach and PGA Master Professional Keith Williams, an experienced Confederation of Professional Golf 5-Star Professional with a distinguished CV who is now head coach to the Czech Republic Federation.

“It would be an absolute crime if Coaches Circle did not go ahead,” he said. “We’ve reached a stage in the evolution of coaching that we need to be looking at new methods, how the golf swing develops, new technology etcetera. It needs a central organisation to run it for all of the countries and the logical organisation is the Confederation of Professional Golf because it has the entire infrastructure to do it and, with R&A support, it is already in place. The Coaches Circle will get one hundred per cent support from me.”

Other comments included:

Lee Parker (Director of Training, PGA of Hong Kong):  “I came here seeking knowledge…to keep up with trends in the golf industry. There is a wealth of knowledge within the Confederation of Professional Golf. If we can tap into that it is a huge benefit. What I would like is a data base for smaller PGAs to link into. It’s very clear that if smaller PGAs don’t move forward we will get left behind.”

Mike O’Brien (Director of Education and National Coach for PGA of Poland): “There were good topics, very incisive, good information and a chance to network, an opportunity to sit and talk with other coaches. Golf training changes so quickly now.  It (the Coaches Circle) could be staged on a regular basis, every year or two years.”

Glenn Cundari (PGA of Canada): “It’s been a fantastic opportunity for national coaches to share experiences and challenges. I think it’s important to get out and see what other coaches are learning. Is there a future for Coaches Circle?  It’s a ‘MUST’. The world of teaching and coaching is changing so rapidly.”

Jeroen den Boer (PGA of Holland): “I’m always interested in new ideas, so this was the place to be. How can the PGAs help elite coaches? By bringing us together like this.”

Martin Briede (Director PGA of South Africa): “It’s been absolutely brilliant. I’ve learned a lot, especially about the short game, and I can’t wait to share it back home. I thirst for knowledge about golf and this is a fantastic forum for us all to get together and become better coaches.”

Lumine as a resort and Costa Dorada as a region were welcomed with matching enthusiasm. “National coaches and Heads of Training from countries as far as Hong Kong, Canada and South Africa together with many European delegates enjoyed the unique and exquisite services offered by the Gran Palas Hotel and Lumine Golf & Beach Resort in the Costa Dorada region of Spain,” commented Jonathan Mannie, Chairman of the Confederation of Professional Golf Education Committee. “The staff and personnel at both venues offered fantastic service and made the occasion here an unforgettable experience that I’m sure will be repeated again sometime in the future.”

“It has been a privilege for us to welcome some of the leading opinion formers in European golf this week and showcase our credentials,” commented Calle Carlsson, General Manager, Lumine Golf Club. “We are committed to raising the profile of Lumine and golf on the Costa Dorada so the support of organisations such as the Confederation of Professional Golf is crucial to us moving forward. With two championship golf courses on-site we are striving to host high-profile professional events, and following last month’s successful staging of the Confederation of Professional Golf Fourball Championship we believe we are getting close to realizing that goal.”

Speakers Presentations are available HERE for delegates to view.

It may be six and a half years away, but the European Tour Destination’s Albatross Course is benefiting from the expertise of European Golf Design (EGD) whose senior design team is liaising with the European Tour and the French Golf Federation as planning commences.

EGD was widely praised for producing the Celtic Manor Resort’s Twenty Ten Course, which enabled the 2010 Ryder Cup to be completed despite extraordinary rainfall, is now assessing masterplans for the golf course as well as the logistics and facilities required to make the venue a global sporting arena.

Ross McMurray, Designer of the Twenty Ten Course, said: “There are many aspects to the course that golfers, professional and amateur, really enjoy, so we don’t wish to alter its popular appeal and the overall experience. However, there are a number of bunkers that will need to be moved for strategic reasons, because they are no longer in play for the longer hitters, while others will be upgraded.

“Some tees may also be placed in more interesting positions, and the Ryder Cup will demand a greater variety of flag positions than the existing greens currently offer.”

As the course is in regular use on the European Tour, the main challenge facing the designers relates more to the scale of the event and the consequential increase in footfall rather than re-modelling what is already a world-class course.

Jeremy Slessor, Managing Director of European Golf Design said: “Le Golf National is a very different project compared with Celtic Manor, but the experience that we gained in Wales will be crucial as we embark on delivering another Ryder Cup venue.

“Planning a course for a Ryder Cup is quite unlike typical tour competitions as the vast crowds only have a limited amount of golf to follow.

“Put simply, it’s a case of forecasting what might occur and finding the best solution. For example, the Alstom Open de France is played in summer when it’s less likely to rain. However, given that the Ryder Cup will be held in September, we need to ensure that the drainage system is up to coping with more substantial rainfall – something we were insistent on at The Celtic Manor Resort.”

The Alstom Open de France has been hosted at Le Golf National on 18 occasions since 1991 and is a popular event in The European Tour schedule, boasting many former Ryder Cup stalwarts as past champions including, Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance and 2012 European Ryder Cup Team captain, José María Olazábal.

EGD, which is the golf course design company of The European Tour and IMG, is now aiming to make it an iconic course and an historic Ryder Cup venue.

It seems that the venues get better and better with every passing event and European Golf Design will be invaluable in preparing Le Golf National for the world’s media, the vast crowds and of course, the best players from America and Europe.”

From the early days Hubert and the French Golf Federation have pursued the ambition for the Golf National to become a Ryder Cup venue. It is now a reality, however a great deal of work remains, if we want this to become a dream come true”.

For more information about European Golf Design, visit www.egd.com

The PGA of Canada is pleased to announce the addition of 19 championships that will count towards the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC.

Members playing in the Rogers Canada Cup presented by VIA Rail, as well as Zone Club Professional Championships and Zone Assistants’ Championships will now earn ranking points.

“When we launched the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC back in 2011, the response was amazing from our members, sponsors and media,” says the PGA of Canada’s Managing Director of Championships and Events, Adam LeBrun. “So this year we’ve evolved the rankings a little to give the Zone events more relevancy and the Canada Cup always features impressive fields.”

The newly added Canada Cup will become a ‘Category B’ championship—between the PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade/adidas Golf (‘Category A’) and the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy and the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada (‘Category C’)—with 390 points up for grabs.

The Zone Club Professional Championships and Zone Assistants’ Championship will become ‘Category G’ and ‘Category H’ championships with 90 and 67 points available depending on the Zone.

Points will remain the same for the championships that were present on the 2011 rankings.

In addition, members can now accumulate points from four championships per year, up from last year when members could only gain points from three championships. However, if members play in more than two championships within ‘Categories A, B, C and D,’ they will only receive points for the two events with the highest point totals.

“These new additions will further identify the talents of our members as professional players,” LeBrun says.

The PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC are based on a three-year rotation, meaning any points earned in 2009 will be lost at the conclusion of that same event in 2012.

The BraeBen Academy’s Brian McCann leads the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC heading into the 2012. The player who sits atop the rankings at the conclusion of the PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade/adidas Golf will earn an exemption into this year’s RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

For more information on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC, CLICK HERE.

Lumine Golf Club, one of Europe’s most exciting new golfing destinations continued its growing status in European golf last week as it played host to the inaugural Confederation of Professional Golf Coaches Circle and Heads of Training Summit. Situated a mere hour south of Barcelona on the stunning Costa Dorada, Lumine Golf Club was selected to stage these two high-profile events in recognition of its first-class practice facilities and 45-holes of championship golf designed by golfing icon and acclaimed architect, Greg Norman as well as the fantastic accommodation offering in the surrounding region, including the Gran Palas Hotel where the conference was held.

The week kicked-off on Monday with the inaugural Coaches Circle that brought together National team and elite player coaches for two days of intensive training on all aspects of the game from theory and practical sessions on the short game to discussion around long term athletic development and talent identification. Two heavyweights on the subject, Dr Ernst Zwick and Professor Dave Collins were also on hand to share their expertise and take questions in what proved to be an informative series of sessions.

Following a bridge day that included practical demonstrations on the range as well as golf on the challenging and immaculately presented Lumine Hills course, the Heads of Training Seminar began on Thursday with subjects ranging from developing golf in emerging markets and linking PGA education to national frameworks. Informative presentations were also conducted by Education Committee members and a number of influential figures, including Niall Flanagan, the former President/CEO of Loch Lomond and Jane Booth, author of the Right Coach, Right Place, Right Time philosophy.

“National coaches and Heads of Training from countries as far as Hong Kong, Canada and South Africa together with many European delegates enjoyed the unique and exquisite services offered by the

Gran Palas Hotel and Lumine Golf & Beach Resort in the Costa Dorada region of Spain,” commented Jonathan Mannie, Chairman of the Confederation of Professional Golf Education Committee. “The staff and personnel at both venues offered fantastic service and made the occasion here an unforgettable experience that I’m sure will be repeated again sometime in the future.”

“It has been a privilege for us to welcome some of the leading opinion formers in European golf this week and showcase our credentials,” commented Calle Carlsson, General Manager, Lumine Golf Club. “We are committed to raising the profile of Lumine and golf on the Costa Dorada so the support of organizations such as the Confederation of Professional Golf is crucial to us moving forward. With two championship golf courses on-site we are striving to host high-profile professional events, and following last month’s successful staging of the Confederation of Professional Golf Fourball Championship we believe we are getting close to realizing that goal.”

Lumine boasts a host of world-class amenities, such as a stunning Beach Club, several restaurants, two clubhouses and three golf courses (two of which are designed by golf legend Greg Norman) and managed by leading management company, Troon Golf. Located on 170 acres, its three courses make up 45-holes of golf. The Lakes Course, a links-style championship course designed by golfing legend Greg Norman, features several water hazards that wind around the Sèquia Major wetlands. While The Hills Course, Lumine’s second championship course runs through white pine trees and offers spectacular views of the nearby coastline. Completing the golf offering is the 9-hole Ruins Course, another Greg Norman design, uniquely laid out amongst Roman archaeological remains from the second century BC.

For more information on Lumine Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community please visit:  www.lumine.com  

Press information is available from James Lovett at the Professional Sports Group: jamesl@profsports.com

About Lumine:

Lumine Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community is a first class resort located in the heart of Costa Dorada (Tarragona), at Playa Larga, Salou. The area consists of the golf courses (Lumine Golf Club), the restaurant areas (restaurant Lumine and restaurant Hoyo 19) and the Beach Club, an exclusive area to relax and enjoy. Lumine Golf Club has 170 acres which includes three golf courses. The Lakes Course, located between beautiful wetlands, with native flora and fauna, is a real challenge for the players. On the other side there is the Hills Course, also called the course of sensations, which is situated between rolling hills, surrounded by pine trees and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. And finally, the Ruins Course, a 9-hole course, which is characterized by its location between amazing archeological Roman ruins. The facilities offered by Lumine Golf Club include the Golf School and the Pro Shop. The restaurant area consists of two restaurants: Lumine Restaurant; boasting creative cuisine on the sea shore where the dishes offer the most exquisite textures, aromas and flavors, and the Hoyo 19 restaurant, which offers a daily menu in a privileged position. There is also a Snack Bar, the perfect place to enjoy an appetizer. The Lumine restaurant won the award for the best restaurant of 2008 given by the Association for Gourmets of Tarragona and the prize for the best restaurant 2009 by the Gastronomic Guild of Costa Dorada. The Beach Club offers everything you require to enjoy a stay in a stunning natural environment.

Lumine is a company which belongs to the La Caixa Bank. In turn Lumine Golf Club is managed by TROON GOLF, the largest golf course management company in the world. The complex fulfills all environmental criteria for responsible water management and conservation of fauna and flora. As a result Lumine Golf Club was the first course in Spain to be awarded the “Gold Signature Certificate Sanctuary” by Audubon International.

Scottish professionals scored an impressive one-two at the recent Golfbreaks.com Pro-Am at the highly acclaimed PGA Catalunya in Spain.

Stephen Gray from Hayston GC in Glasgow claimed individual honours, holding off a spirited challenge from fellow countryman and Tain GC professional, Craig Lee to finish at 7-under.

Gray carded 15 birdies in his rounds of 72-69-68 and was the only man under-par.  He was also the only player in the field to break 70 at the famed Stadium Course.

“It’s a tremendous facility with some of the best greens I have ever putted on,” said Gray after the event. “The course and event certainly lived up to expectations.”

Two other Scots, Craig Ronald and Paul Wardell, also finished in the top-5 with Italy’s Luca Madeddu claiming third place in addition to winning the team event.

The tournament featured 15 teams from the UK, France, Italy, Slovenia and Sweden and was the second Golfbreaks.com Pro-Am this year, following the successful event at Valderrama and La Reserva in February.

For further information on Pro-Ams or PGA Inspection trips run by Golfbreaks.com contact their dedicated PGA team on 01753 754 355 or email golfpro@golfbreaks.com.

Photo (l/r) ….. Michael Stanford (The PGA), Winner Pro Individual:  Stephen Gray (Scotland)  Jim Long (Golfbreaks.com)

The Ryder Cup Junior Match takes place from  24-25 September, a few days before The 2012 Ryder Cup is contested at Medinah Country Club, also in Illinois.

The event, like its senior counterpart, features teams from Europe and the United States, but here each team comprises six girls and six boys. Previous competitors include Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy, who have gone on to represent Europe in The Ryder Cup, Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, Solheim Cup player Suzann Pettersen and Hunter Mahan, the 2012 WGC-Accenture World Match Play champion.

Wilson (left), who won the Silver Medal as the leading amateur at The Open Championship in 2004, takes over from Austrian Gary Stangl and will be assisted by Kristin Gunhildrud. Wilson will also take charge for the 2014 match, which will be held in Scotland.

Wilson, 34, has an impressive CV as an amateur, participating in the Walker Cup in 2003, the Bonallack Trophy in 2002 and 2004, the St Andrews Trophy and the Eisenhower Trophy in 2004, and the European Team Championship in 2003. He was also British Amateur Champion in 2004, won the Lytham Trophy in 2003 and represented Scotland between 2000 and 2005. He captained the Scottish Boys’ team in 2010 and 2011.

“I am thrilled to be appointed as the Ryder Cup Junior Match Captain and delighted to have Kristin as Assistant Captain,” saidWilson. “Hopefully I can bring my years of experience as both a player and captain in a team environment to pass on to the juniors selected.

“This format of match play golf has always been my favourite and one that has given me successful moments in my golfing life and created many great friendships and memories. I look forward to working with all involved and watching the results closely over the next few months and to build towards a team that will have a good chance of winning inAmerica.

“I hope that the juniors involved will get as much from their golf as I have had in the past.”

Assistant Captain Gunhildrud fromNorwayhas extensive experience working with young people – particularly girls – in golf. She founded the Tinius Cup, a tournament where Norwegian girls aged 13-16 take on a similar team fromSweden, and also set up Knøttegolf, a special program to introduce children under the age of 12 to the sport.

She has won the gold medal for the Ladies Team in the 1998 Norwegian Championship, and the bronze medal in both the following two years. She has been involved with the Norwegian Golf Federation since 1995, and captained the European team which took onGreat BritainandIrelandin the Vagliano Trophy last year.

“It’s an honour to be appointed the Assistant Captain for the Ryder Cup Junior Match,” said Gunhildrud. “I hope I can bring my experience with girls to this team. And I’m looking forward to working with Stuart as he has great experience as a match play specialist.

“The most important thing for the team is to have fun, both on and off the golf course. I think if you are in good mood you play much better. So I hope I can help with that too. I’m looking forward to meeting all the wonderful juniors and we are going to giveAmericasome exciting matches.”

Scottish Sport Minister Shona Robison welcomedWilson’s appointment, saying: “I am delighted that Stuart Wilson has been appointed as Captain for both the 2012 and 2014 Ryder Cup Junior Match. This is a significant achievement and a well deserved reward for the hard work and dedication Stuart has already given to the game of golf.

“I look forward to watching Stuart and his team as they take on the USA at Olympia Fields in September and hope that they manage to reverse the result from Gleneagles in 2010.

“As the first Scot to receive this accolade, it would be somewhat fitting for Stuart to take the trophy home, especially as the 2014 event is returning toScotland.”

The Ryder Cup Junior Match celebrates the progress and hard work taking place at the grass roots level of golf, which helps talented young players develop into national team amateurs and some even to The Ryder Cup itself.  In the PGA and Confederation of Professional Golf, golf has a much envied network of expert coaches who, together with golf club volunteers and national governing bodies, help and guide young golfers towards achieving their full potential.

European Tour www.europeantour.com

The Rio 2016™ Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games has selected US based Hanse Golf Course Design to design the golf course in Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games in 2016, when golf returns to the programme after an absence of 112 years.

Hanse Golf Course Design was selected from eight finalists as the candidate that most aptly met the selection criteria that were issued by Rio 2016™. The proposal was cited for its design characteristics, including accentuation of the natural dune formations and retention of the natural contours of the land.

The design effectively addresses the planning of temporary overlay structures and internal flow systems for the venue and contains a strong legacy component with the prioritising of a golf academy as an essential tool for the development of golf in Brazil. The design also considers the location of permanent buildings and the experience of players and spectators.

Gilbert S. Hanse, 48, the founder and President of the successful company, boasts a portfolio of internationally renowned golf courses recognised by elite and amateur golfers alike. Hanse Golf Course Design has teamed up with LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member, Amy Alcott, for the project. Alcott amassed 29 professional victories on the LPGA Tour including five major championship victories. They will work closely with environmental and sustainability engineering firms in the final design process and advocate the use of native vegetation and a minimum of land movement. Hanse has committed to relocating to Rio while the golf course is under construction.

“As it marks the return of golf to the Olympic Games after over a century of absence, this course represents the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the sport. It will enable Rio to host important events in the international calendar and it will be an example of sustainability and preservation of an environmentally protected area,” said the President of Rio 2016™, Carlos Arthur Nuzman. “This course will be an excellent facility for the practice and development of golf and will inspire millions of youth across Brazil and the globe. We look forward to welcoming the athletes and spectators to the course in 2016.”

Peter Dawson, President of the International Golf Federation, said, “The IGF would like to thank all of the architects who worked so hard on their bids and whose presentations demonstrated great vision.  The selection process adopted by Rio 2016™ was extremely thorough and reflected the importance of the project. I am delighted Hanse Golf Course Design has been appointed to design the Olympic golf course which promises to provide an outstanding venue for the Games and a tremendous legacy for our sport in Brazil.”

Hanse Golf Course Design tackled the challenge of designing a course for use by both elite and amateur athletes; one of the main legacy objectives. It addressed the environmental sustainability directives for the Games and efficiently conformed to the building restrictions on the land. Hanse Golf Course Design also effectively integrated native vegetation to the design, reducing the areas where frequent maintenance will be required.

Notes to editors:

Hanse Golf Course Design was formed in 1993 by Gil Hanse and joined in 1995 by his partner and Vice-President, Jim Wagner. With headquarters in Malvern, PA, the firm has dedicated its professional practice to the hands-on creation and restoration of some of the finest golf facilities in the world by creating golf courses which are fun and interesting to both professional and recreational golfers.

In 2009, Hanse was elected “Architect of the Year” by Golf Magazine, and in the same year his Castle Stuart golf course in Scotland was considered to be “the Best New International Course.”

To take part in the selection process, companies were required to provide evidence of golf course design experience, compliant with Rio 2016™ international rules and to furnish proof of the qualifications necessary to develop the project.

The eight contest finalists included: Gary Player Design, Greg Norman Golf Course Design, Hanse Golf Course Design, Hawtree Ltd., Nicklaus Design, Renaissance Golf Design, Robert Trent Jones II and Thomson Perrett.

Candidates’ proposals were examined by a selection panel formed by Peter Dawson, President of the International Golf Federation; Carlos Arthur Nuzman, President of Rio 2016™; Augusto Ivan, Adviser to the President of the Municipal Olympic Company; and Arminio Fraga, member of the Rio 2016™ Golf Advisory Committee.

The golf course will be built at Reserva de Marapendi in Barra da Tijuca, the district that will contain the largest number of Rio 2016™ Olympic Games venues. It will be a unique Olympic Games venue, located approximately five kilometres from the Athletes’ Village and seven kilometres from the Main Press Centre (MPC) and the International Broadcast Centre (IBC), South of Avenida das Americas and North of Lagoa de Marapendi. After the 2016 Olympic Games, the course will be used as a public facility with the chief purpose of promoting golf in Brazil and the globe, representing one of the most important Olympic Games legacies for sport development in the country.

About the Rio 2016™ Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

The Rio 2016™ Organising Committee is a private not for profit sports organisation established by  Brazilian Olympic Confederations, the Brazilian Olympic Committee and the Brazilian Paralympic Committee. Its mission is to promote, organise and deliver the Rio 2016™ Olympic and Paralympic Games, in accordance with the guidelines laid out by the Host City Contract, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the World Anti-doping Agency, and under the Brazilian Law, the Olympic Charter and the IPC Handbook.

Photos of the winning project announcement and images of the design will be available on the Rio 2016™ official website’s press room: www.rio2016.com

Additional Information

Rio 2016™ Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Press Office

Bernardo Domingues
Tel. 21 34335826 – bernardo.domingues@rio2016.com

Elaine Correia
Tel. 21 34335827 – elaine.correia@rio2016.com

Club Inc, golf’s leading recruitment experts, have joined forces with the Confederation of Professional Golf as Career Services Partners to provide invaluable career advice and services to their National PGAs and collective membership of more than 21,000 PGA Professionals.

Furthermore, Club Inc. will host workshops, provide filming material for lectures and support the Confederation of Professional Golf at any conference/meeting necessary.

Club Inc. CEO Niall Flanagan, overtly optimistic about the partnership, commented: “We are delighted to partner the Confederation of Professional Golf, particularly as we believe the role of the golf professional in Europe will be hugely influential in running golf establishments across the region over the next five years.

“By helping professionals to develop their individual brand and think about where they want their career to go, Club Inc. can ensure that every golf professional will know where to turn to when deciding the next step in their career.

“The partnership with the Confederation of Professional Golf is genuinely exciting for both parties. We have agreed to partner them, because we believe we can provide them with an additional informative, experienced and knowledgeable arm.”

The package the Confederation of Professional Golf have put together is also substantial. They’ll provide exposure for Club Inc., including introductions to the 38 member countries and their respective members.

CEO of the Confederation of Professional Golf, Ian Randell, said: “We know that Club Inc. are in the best position to provide a much needed and extremely important service to our members and their PGA Professionals. Niall and his team not only have great knowledge and experience of the golf industry, but also exceptional career expertise from a number of other industries.”

Email: niall@clubincorporated.com
Mobile: 07725 333898

Address: 81 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2EU
www.clubincorporated.com

For further information contact Neil Gray at GMS +44 (0) 1438 718399
E-mail: neil@gmsgolf.co.uk

So delighted were the Tarragona Tourist Board and the Lumine Golf and Beach Resort at the staging of the Confederation of Professional Golf Fourball Championship, with its field of 58 pairs of PGA professionals from far and wide, and their high-quality play, that the Spanish hosts are looking forward positively to 2013 and beyond.

The intention is to use their two fine courses for a 2013 Fourball Championship by attracting a field up to 120 pairs for the better-ball competition that is so popular with the pros and such an integral part of Ryder Cup competition.

Similarly, the visiting players and officials were enchanted by all that the region can offer, with its superb golf courses, ideal location and tourist attractions and they, too, are more than happy to look ahead to more such occasions in the future.

Calle Carlsson, general manager the Lumine Golf and Beach Club said: “This event was arranged at relatively short notice so we’re delighted with the number of entries. We’re looking to get 120 pairs next year for our two very different but challenging courses.”

Carlsson’s upbeat reaction was endorsed by Octavi Bono, general manager Patronat de Turisme, Costa Dorada who said: “The event was a great success and we want to build on it to help promote our region as a golfing destination. I’m hopeful we’ll be able to stage it again for the next two years at least.”

With the first joint-initiative completed to the satisfaction of all concerned  the Confederation of Professional Golf are now returning to the Lumine Golf and Beach Club (March 12-16) for the Coaches Circle and Heads of Training Conference. This package of events could be the start of a lengthy and fruitful relationship as Ian Randell, the Confederation of Professional Golf’s chief executive confirmed.

“Everything has been first class, especially the facility and the hospitality, “he said.” We hope that this is the start of a long partnership between the Confederation of Professional Golf, the Costa Dorada Region and the Lumine Golf and Beach Club.,” he said.

The tournament was won by England’s Matt McGuire and Craig Swinburn, over the resort’s Greg Norman-designed Lakes course.

Having established a four-stroke advantage after the first two rounds the pair were in no mood to squander their hard work in the third. So, after posting a two round total of 16-under-par, consolidation and prudence were on the menu.

Gone was the scorching early pace to be replaced by a more conservative four-under-par 67, more than enough for the English duo to keep their nearest challengers at bay.

At the close, their advantage had been trimmed to three as a result of Michael Jones and Gary Houston posting a second successive round of 65 to finish second on 17-under, two strokes ahead of a five pairs who tied for third place.

The quintet comprised: Matthew Dearden of Wales and France’s Paul Brown; Grant Hamerton and David Smith of England; Italian pair Alessandro Napoleoni and Emanuele Canonica; and previous winners Simon Edwards of Wales and England’s David Shacklady. Edwards and Shacklady won the tournament in 2004, the last time it was contested before being revived in 2011.

“Playing a tournament like this in such good conditions a couple of months before the season starts at home is great preparation,” said Swinburn. “The course was also in brilliant condition and the hospitality superb so, hopefully, more pairs will enter next year. We certainly intend to defend our trophy.”

On the eve of the Fourball Championship being staged there for the first time, the surrounding Costa Dorada region of Spain had been officially unveiled and acclaimed as ‘a new destination for golf tourism.’

The proclamation of the location as a ‘must visit’ destination for golfers from far and wide, amateur and professional, was made by the Tourist Board of the Tarragona provincial government as they also announced the promotional collaboration with the Confederation of Professional Golf.

The press conference was staged to emphasise the important role that golf will play in the development of tourism to the region and the significant contribution that the Confederation of Professional Golf will make in the coming years as a promotional and marketing aid with the necessary experience and expertise.

The occasion took place at the Provincial Council Palace Tarragona, and was attended by Josep Poblet, President of the Provincial Council Tarragona, Ian Randell, Chief Executive Confederation of Professional Golf, Lluís Rullán, President of Mediterranea Lumine Beach & Golf Community and Xavier Graset, alderman of Tourism at Vila-Seca.

Each of these dignitaries highlighted the outstanding quality of the golfing facilities in the area that features seven golf courses, three in Lumine (a total of 45 holes), one in Bonmont, one in Aiguesverds, Costa Dorada and another one in La Graiera.

Josep Poblet, underlined the quality of this ‘new benchmark’ for Costa Dorada provided by the Confederation of Professional Golf and added that it is ‘closely linked to the recognition and prestige that this sport bring’ for tourism’.

Luis Rullán, stressed that ‘not all efforts are focused on attracting foreign tourists, as the sport is being adopted more and more by local residents. ‘About 50% of the clients at Lumine Golf are residents of the province, a very positive balance for a sport that is growing in Tarragona’, he said.

Interviews from the event can be found HERE.

Sweden’s Mikael Sorling has been appointed as chairman of the Ryder Cup European Development Trust (RCEDT), the fund that channels profits from the biennial Matches against the USA into pan-continental grass roots development projects.

Sorling, experienced as a fund trustee, will now head the committee that considers all the applications made by national Federations, PGAs and other organisations and, where felt to be appropriate, will sanction grants to the organisations for such development schemes.

Of the considerable sums raised by the Ryder Cup for the Trust, much of it has been dispersed to many wide-ranging projects from a variety of countries including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, France, Italy, Ireland, the UK and elsewhere.

Mikael Sorling’s qualifications for such a role are probably unrivalled anywhere due to the studious thirst and determination that he has shown to equip himself for office in virtually any and every sector of the sport, from his playing days onward and upward.

Sweden’s leading amateur during the 1970s, he became a professional in 1980 and then assistant club professional at Halmstad GC. He became fully qualified in 1982 and was appointed to the PGA of Sweden board, a position he occupied for nine years. By 1986 he was both Head Pro and Golf Manager at Halmstad and Chairman of the Tournament Committee of the PGA of Sweden, quickly helping to create a ground-breaking agreement with the Swedish Golf Federation.

Though responsible for all this administration, he won six national club pro titles along the way. Almost inevitably he became chief executive of the PGA of Sweden in 1997 and a director of the Confederation of Professional Golf the following year before being invited onto the European Ryder Cup Board and to be a trustee of the Ryder Cup European Trust Fund.

He has also been the driving force behind the establishment of the PGA of Sweden National golf resort that boasts two superb golf courses, academy and the PGA of Sweden HQ, a combination of skills and achievements that earned him the prestigious award of Confederation of Professional Golf Five-Star Professional at the 2011 Annual Awards Dinner in the Algarve, Portugal last November.

With this experience and passion it is very clear that the chairmanship of the RCEDT is in excellent hands.

The Confederation of Professional Golf’s IAN RANDELL, has been appointed to the Management Board of Ryder Cup LLP in personnel changes that ensure, for the first time, that the chief executives of all three stakeholders serve as directors at the pinnacle of the organisation’s administrative structure.

In another important appointment Confederation of Professional Golf director Mikael Sorling moves to the Players and Stakeholders Board and has become chairman of the Ryder Cup European Development Trust, the body that manages profit from the biennial matches between Europe and USA by sanctioning grants to appropriate grass roots causes.

These internal moves follow the retirement of former Confederation of Professional Golf director Donato di Ponziano, thereby creating the vacancy on the Management Board. As a result Randell now enjoys similar status to the other two chief executives of the three stakeholders, George O’Grady (European Tour) and Sandy Jones (The PGA of GB&I).

“I’m obviously extremely pleased and extremely proud to undertake such a role,” said Randell. “And, on behalf of the Confederation of Professional Golf, I look forward to making a meaningful contribution to the present and future well-being of the Ryder Cup, as it continues to grow from strength to strength.”

Since he became the Association’s first chief executive in 2007, having previously filled a similar role with the Ladies European Tour and the British Universities Sports Association, a great deal of progress has been made in making the Confederation of Professional Golf an increasingly significant player on the world stage.

Backed by Sandy Jones as Chairman and his board, along with the Education Committee, the Confederation of Professional Golf has, during Randell’s five-year term in office, enhanced its reputation as a highly respected voice of the Professional Golfers’ Associations across Europe, set and advanced clear standards for membership and education, expanded the event portfolio and become a pioneering member of the PGA World Alliance as new horizons have opened up.

The make-up of the five-man Management Board is otherwise as before, including Richard Hills (Ryder Cup Director) and Jonathan Orr (Finance Director, European Tour) and John Yapp (company secretary).

Although, on a global perspective, golf is now more or less an all-the-year round sport, it is when Spring arrives and thoughts of the upcoming Masters sets the pulses racing that we tend to regard ‘ The Golf Season’ proper as being underway.

This is no disrespect to the wonderful tournaments that take place in the sunnier climes of the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere, with the magnificent golf that they offer, but in most of Europe the sport has been on the back burner throughout what seems a long winter.

But now, as March arrives, golf is ‘about to break out all over’ and as we compile and study the 2012 Events Schedule of the Confederation of Professional Golf, comprising those  tournaments, educational opportunities, trade shows and so on that we  organise, endorse or support in some way, the reaction is of anticipation, enthusiasm, excitement even.

Since, as golfers, tournaments are our ultimate activity my opening look at the months ahead brings the rewarding feeling that we have now a trio of truly representative championships. These are the Glenmuir-supported International Team Championship in the Algarve, the UniCredit PGA Professional Championship of Europe (Pravets) and the Fourball Championship, supported by Costa Daurada at Lumine Golf and Beach Club.

With these supplemented by such well-established and superbly-staged international Pro-Ams as the Beko Classic, the Aegean Airlines and the Kempinski ‘The Dome’ events, we have a schedule of at least six outstanding tournaments, all at attractive venues and embracing five different countries…Turkey, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria and Portugal.

I hope I’m not over-stating the strength of our 2012 schedule but I suspect it is the strongest we’ve ever had.

Naturally we have burning and realistic ambitions to build on this schedule but this must not deny us the satisfaction of dwelling on, and appreciating, what we have. The Fourball contested by 58 pairs from 18 different countries opened up phenomenal possibilities at Lumine and Costa Daurada and will surely grow from strength to strength.

This addition of a new location to our portfolio following only months after Pravets Golf Resort and SPA’s inaugural staging of our 72-hole individual championship in Bulgaria, where an appetite for golf is developing steadily, filled a void that had existed for some six years. And not only did it fill that void, but it also opened up more new horizons for us.

In the coming weeks and months national PGAs will be staging their qualifying competitions for places in this individual championship, currently proudly held by Portugal’s Hugo Santos but coveted, no doubt, by an array of fine players from across the membership. The days when a UK winner could almost be guaranteed have long since been assigned to history.

As I indicated earlier golfers tend to think of tournaments as the ultimate activity but here I must emphatically stress that our No.1 priority is, and always will be, Education. It is via education and education only, that playing standards have improved in recent years to take Europe to the very forefront of world golf.

The appointment of Tony Bennett as the association’s first Director of Golf left no doubt of our commitment in this regard and the way our structure and schedule has been upgraded since then endorses that philosophy.

At the time or writing the ground-breaking Coaches Circle, followed by a Heads of Training conference, at Lumine Golf and Beach Club, Costa Daurada, is coming up on the schedule.

Another upcoming event in a busy year is the PGA World Alliance Conference to be staged at The Belfry, UK, on July 13-16. The Confederation of Professional Golf is a founder member of the fledgling organisation, one that seems to me to reflect an attitude that we have striven to engender over the years, that of official golf organisations, wherever they may be, working together.

All this, and I’ve not even mentioned the Ryder Cup, of which we are a proud stakeholder, in Chicago this September. With the current strength of European golf and the recent rise of a new generation of Americans to join the likes of Woods and Mickelson, it is shaping up to be a memorable match. This and all, of the other mouth-watering tournaments that will now be coming up quick and fast…think of the tussle to be world No.1, the question of whether Tiger Woods will get back to being the player he once was, the Race to Dubai…I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!

As a key stakeholder in the golf sector, golf facility employers are asked to complete and return a short questionnaire to assist the understanding of the current labour market situation in the golf sector in Europe. The survey is part of the work plan of the European Commission funded project “European Occupational Standards for Golf” which is led by the Confederation of Professional Golf, SkillsActive and the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE) together with a variety of national stakeholders (www.golf-stand.eu).

As a thank you, the project partnership has two pairs of clubhouse passes for the BMW PGA Championship 2012 at Wentworth (UK) to give away, courtesy of the Confederation of Professional Golf.

The survey distribution is led by the European Golf Course Owners Association (EGCOA) and the Club Managers Association of Europe (CMAE) who are partners in the project. All you have to do is click on the link that was already provided to you by EGCOA / CMAE by email and to complete the short survey. At the end of the survey you will be asked to fill in your details and you will be automatically entered into the prize draw passes. If you did not receive an individual invitation so far, please contact survey@eose.org.

PING has officially introduced its new Nome™ putter a few days after the new design made headlines when PING Professional, Hunter Mahan, won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship using a Nome that he introduced into his game on the Monday before the event.

“It felt great immediately and it gave me a lot of confidence so I could just trust my aim and stroke the ball freely,” said Mahan, who added the putter to his bag after an alignment-testing session with PING’s Senior Player Development Manager Matt Rollins.

“Long putts, big-breaking putts. I felt like I could make just about any putt I looked at.” All week in interviews, he credited the Nome for his exceptional putting on the fast, undulating greens that yielded him 35 birdies.

The putter, which is precision milled from high-grade aluminum and features tungsten weighting in the sole, arrives in golf shops around the world beginning in early April and is available in standard and belly length versions.

“Hunter’s win was thrilling, and we were proud to see him play with such confidence in his game and his PING equipment, the Nome in particular,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “To go undefeated in six matches against an elite field of 64 is a testament to how hard he has worked on strengthening every aspect of his game, and he really worked magic with the Nome. It was fun to watch.”

The Nome’s ability to improve aim is a result of the putter’s black alignment bar and contrasting white sightline. Its extreme forgiveness comes from a lightweight, high-grade aluminum frame featuring tungsten sole weighting that optimises the CG position and elevates MOI, making the Nome highly accurate. Three different shaft bends are available to fit Straight, Slight Arc, or Strong Arc putting strokes.

Golfers can determine their stroke type using the iPING Fit™ feature on the club maker’s new iPING™ putter app, a free download through the App Store™. Matching the putter model with stroke type is a new form of putter fitting that PING calls Fit For Stroke™. The company’s research has found that when the putter model matches a player’s stroke type, the putting stroke becomes more consistent, the key to making more putts.

PING, innovative as ever, have pioneered a small, lightweight carry-bag with the original Moon, and since then the model has become a ‘must have’ among golfers of all ages. Now, the engineers at PING have made the original pencil bag even lighter, more spacious and feature packed than ever before.

The 2012 Moon-Lite II holds every feature expected from a lightweight bag and more. These include a three-way top with extended nose for optimal balance, and an adjustable standing strap.  The Moon-Lite II has three pockets, including large apparel and accessory pockets and a bespoke water-bottle holder. Importantly, although it weighs just 2lbs due to its lightweight nylon construction, the bag will comfortably hold a full-set of 14 clubs.

For more information: Neil Gray or Sam Elder on +44 (0) 1438 718399.

The European Institute of Golf Course architects has announced the programme for their annual conference which will be held in Nice at the end of March. The Conference, entitled “Growing the Game”, will look at ways to encourage greater participation in golf.

Among the speakers will be Pierre Lasfargue of the French Golf Federation who will be discussing their intention to build 100 small courses around France, as part of the legacy proposal following their successful bid for the 2018 Ryder Cup. Also on hand will be David MacLaren, The European Tour’s Director of Property and Venue Development, who will talk about how the Ryder Cup promotes the development of the game and what that legacy means for golf.

Many of golf’s leading organisations will also be represented at the conference. Ian Randell of the PGA’s of Europe will be giving the club professionals view on how to grow the game, while Dean Cleaver of the Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Associations (FEGGA) and Hidde Verschuur of the European Golf Course Owners Association (EGCOA) will also be making presentations on how they see the future of golf.

EIGCA Industry Partners will also get a chance to give their views on the state of the industry, while EIGCA members will be presenting case studies to illustrate what golf courses around Europe are doing to develop the sport.

Announcing the speakers EIGCA President Rainer Preissmann said; “I am delighted that we have been able to gather together such a distinguished panel of speakers for our annual conference. We very much hope to move forward the debate on what can be done to improve participation throughout Europe. Golf has much to commend it, whether it be socially, environmentally or economically and it is in all our interests that we continue to look at ways to encourage more players to take up the sport.”

The EIGCA Conference will take place at the Holiday Inn Resort, St Laurent du Var, Nice on 30th March 2012. For more details please contact Julia Green at julia@eigca.org