The second of a series of monthly articles by Club Inc, golf’s leading recruitment experts and Confederation of Professional Golf’s Career Services Partners who provide invaluable career advice and services to member PGAs and their collective individual membership of more than 21,000 PGA Professionals.

Interviews are like Tournaments

Interviews are like tournaments you need to prepare to win, you will be nervous and you will be competing against other people all trying to get the number one spot.

Preparing for an interview is vital rather like preparing for a tournament. When you enter a tournament you know the day and the time you will be playing, you know the type of course the event will be played on and therefore the best shots to practice. It is the same for interviews you know what time and date the interview will take place, who you will be meeting with and practice the type of questions you might be asked. Like a practice round you should think of the following when preparing for an interview:

Check the date, time, location and name of the person with whom you are due to meet.
Read the company’s website and familiarise yourself with every aspect of the company. Very often hiring managers are profiled on the company website so these can be a good first introduction to your interviewer.  Also search LinkedIn for company information and profiles of management
Ensure you have sufficiently researched the background of the company and the role and possess a good insight into the people and the culture.
Fully understand the job description and the skills and competencies that the job requires. Be prepared to give examples of work you have done which match those skills and competencies.
Know your own CV. Be able to talk around it using it as a point of reference to promote your experience, strengths and weaknesses.
Prepare some questions to ask the interviewer. Writing questions down and referring to them in the interview demonstrates preparation and initiative so don’t be afraid to refer to them. Make sure they are relevant and appropriate.
Be prepared to answer competency-based questions, which will ask for specific examples of prior experience.
Like on the first tee of a tournament you may be nervous when going into the interview. Adrenaline keeps you on your toes and can add to your performance but can also take over so keep in mind all the things you have practiced and be confident of your past history and why someone should choose you. You should also feel and look the best you can; appearance helps to make the fright first impression. Like coming down the stretch of a big event the pressure will mount but the more knowledge you have, the more comfortable you feel and the best answers you give the more you will impress so remember the following:

Appearance » First impressions are a vital aspect of your interview and you should appear comfortable, smart, professional and confident. Ask whether you need to wear a suit and tie – in some situations a suit is not always appropriate.
Body Language » Make sure you offer a firm handshake, a smile and plenty of eye contact. If you are being interviewed by a panel address your responses to the entire panel, not just the person asking the questions.
Listen » How well you listen in an interview will be a strong indication of your communication skills. Be sure to listen to the questions you are being asked so that your answer is relevant.
When we are nervous we can become stressed which can often affect the way in which we listen and reply to a question. Try to keep yourself grounded and calm and don’t be afraid to pause to think about an answer. Don’t be afraid to ask questions throughout the interview if you feel you need further information or something is not made clear to you by the interviewer. Make sure you are factual and concise with your answers.
Remember that the interview process is two way you should also be trying to find out as much as you can about the club or the organisation to see if this really is the job for you, your family and for the long term benefit of your career.
Ask what the next stage will be and reaffirm your interest in the role. Show enthusiasm for the job and be sure to thank the interviewer for taking the time to meet you. Even if you are unsure if the role is entirely suitable for you it is important to leave the interviewer with the impression that you do want the job.
Just like tournaments you might not win the first time or you might want to win a major and are using some interviews as practice for the role you really want. Due to the way the economy has made clubs and golf organisations think more professional will be going to interviews. If you haven’t been for an interview for along period of time I hope these tips have helped and if you want to know more then listen to the webinar, visit our website www.clubincorporated.com or call us on 0207 903 5105

Remember it might feel like you have little control over where your career is heading. By calling Club Inc. you will find it really doesn’t have to be that way.

For a limited time only, PGA Members who become a friend of Club Inc will receive free Club Inc membership and one free Career Coaching session. Simply send your name and email address to info@clubincorporated.com and they will be in touch.

The limited-edition all-pink PING® G20™ drivers, showcased by the new Masters Champion, is the inspiration for  the company’s fundraising campaign, Bubba Long in Pink. Driven by PING.  They  will be available in golf shops nationwide from around June 1.

As part of PING’s campaign, the company made a $10,000 upfront donation while also giving $300 for every drive Watson hits 300 yards or more (up to 300 drives). So far, $61,600 has been generated. All funds raised will go to Phoenix-area charities, chosen by PING with Bubba’s support. Its effort is part of the Bubba & Friends Drive to a Million initiative launched by Watson in January to raise $1 million for charities this year.

“Bubba is already approaching the target of 300 drives of 300 yards or longer, and we wanted a way to provide ongoing support for his generous cause,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “Even prior to his win at The Masters, golfers were requesting pink G20s.Through word of mouth, social media, and phone calls, the interest was extremely high. We want to satisfy that demand while bringing even more visibility to Bubba’s goal of raising $1 million.

“Golfers who own a pink G20 will be excited to have this prized possession. They’ll not only enjoy the improved performance of the G20, they’ll be participating in a wonderful cause,” he added.

“It was a great weekend for the PING family and for Bubba’s new family in particular, and we couldn’t be happier for them. He will be a very popular champion, and very deserving”

The drivers will have a bright pink shaft and club head featuring the same technology that has earned the G20 high marks for its performance from golfers of all abilities. The pink G20s are offered in 9.5º, 10.5º, and 12º lofts for right-handed players; 10.5º for left-handed.

There is also a version geared for women with 12º loft and a Ladies flex shaft. All come with a matching pink headcover and a power-promoting high-balance-point TFC 169D shaft labeled, “Bubba Long in Pink. Driven by PING. Limited Edition 2012.” It is available in R, S, and L flexes.

Watson had special magic all of his own as he pursued his aim of securing a precious green jacket as illustrated after his tee shot found the woods on the second hole of sudden death (the 10th) as patrons and the global TV audience watched spellbound.

Roughly 155 yards from the green, he hit a wedge, hooking it some 40 yards around a stand of trees, the ball landing and spinning sideways to within 10 feet of the hole. Two putts later, he had his first major title, falling tearfully into the arms of his caddie, his mother, and numerous friends.  “If I have a swing,” he said, “I have a shot.”

Watson’s Redwood Anser® putter will be the newest addition to the PING Gold Putter Vault, the 54th PING putter to have helped win a major championship, the most of any brand. Watson, 33, will receive a solid-gold replica of the putter head. Two gold-plated replicas of the putter will also be made – one for Bubba, one for the vault. His fourth career title elevated him to No.1 in Ryder Cup

In addition to the Anser putter, Watson plays a bagful of PING technology: G20 driver (8.5º), G20 4-wood (16.5º), S59 irons (3-PW), Tour-W® wedges (52º, 56º), and a Tour-S® Rustique (64º/TS).

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

E-mail: neil@gmsgolf.co.uk; sam@gmsgolf.co.uk

Glenmuir has also announced their continuing support of the event in the on-going collaboration that reflects the Scottish company’s perennial involvement in golf at all levels resulting in another highly successful week of events being guaranteed as the Algarve showcases itself with all it has to offer.

And though, the plans are virtually for ‘more of the same’ following a hugely successful event in 2011, there will be differences in terms of a change of both the accommodation for the Congress and venue for the Championship.

This year the action moves a little way along the golden golfing coast from Vilamoura to Lagos, another equally attractive tourist location where all the events will take place. Congress and Dinner will be at Hotel Vila Galé Lagos, where delegates will reside for the duration, while the ITC will take place at the nearby Onyria Palmares Beach & Golf Resort, after two years at Vale do Lobo.

“The 2011 edition of our Annual Congress and International Team Championship received rave reviews from all involved and it is fair to say that the fantastic partnership support that we receive from Glenmuir and the Associaçäo Turismo do Algarve has elevated our event to new heights” said Ian Randell, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Professional Golf. “Their on-going commitment coupled with the spectacular new venues fill us with confidence that the delegates and competitors can look forward to another fantastic experience in 2012”.

Situated on the Lagos seafront, along the sandy Meia Praia Beach and a mere five minutes from Lagos Marina, the Vila Galé Lagos Hotel is a luxury resort, occupying an 85-thousand square meter area. The building faces the ocean and allows for an optimized view from the hotel’s rooms. It is ideally placed for the Congress and its delegates.

The beaches around Lagos are some of the most beautiful of the Algarve. This former fishing village has a long history and is nowadays a lively town.

Onyria Palmares, inaugurated in June 2011, was re-designed by Robert Trent Jones junior who gave such an insightful talk two years ago at the congress about his design work in the region over the years. The superb golf course, one that is bound to become a ‘must play’ destination as awareness increases, was selected as 26th in this year’s Golf World top 100 European courses.

Located in the Bay of Lagos with enchanting land and seascapes, Onyria Palmares has all the features of a links course with some parkland holes attached and attracts rave reviews from all of those who play it…despite its challenging degree of difficulty.

Surrounded by a natural amphitheatre it comprises three nine- hole loops. The first 18 holes opened in 2010 with the other nine following last year and the design work has been described as one of ‘genius’ that combines spectacle with playing subtlety and is said to have already ‘matured nicely’.

Videos:
Hotel Vila Galé Lagos – CLICK HERE
Onyria Palmares Golf and Beach Resort – CLICK HERE

The highly desirable destination of APHRODITE HILLS will become the fourth ‘home’ of the extremely popular, international pro-am that, in its six year journey so far, has performed an  unprecedented service in displaying to the world the region’s limitless potential for golf and general  tourism.

During a period of international economic restraint the AEGEAN AIRLINES PRO-AM’s capacity to attract a full-house field – year after successful year – is a glowing testimony to the event’s appeal to PGA professionals and their amateur partners alike.

Many Confederation of Professional Golf pro-am contestants and prize-money winners are drawn back to compete each year and, for the 2012 tournament, these include the 2011 winner Nicolo Gaggero (right) and the man who chased him home, Zeke Martinez.

Paul Nilbrink, who won in 2009 with a field-crushing final round of 63 will be striving to relive the experience while earlier winners, Henrik Engdahl and Liam Bond, are also in the field featuring teams from Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden and UK.

Paul Archbold and Andrew Nemiroff, two past winners of other Confederation of Professional Golf events, are also among the contestants.

“The Aegean Airlines Pro-Am is a glowing example of what can be achieved by companies with a clear vision working together with us to stage not only a fabulous event but also assist the development of the game in the region,” said Ian Randell, Confederation of Professional Golf’s chief executive.

“The event continues to set the standard for combining a superbly organised tournament at stunning venues with a welcoming atmosphere and off-course events that are second to none”.

Aphrodite Hills is the first leisure and golf development of its kind in Cyprus, and features a magnificent 18-hole championship golf course, designed by the acclaimed architect, Cabell Robinson.

Robinson believes Aphrodite Hills to be the perfect mix of challenging pot bunkers, manicured fairways of lush Bermuda grass and generous tiered greens. Visually spectacular, the course expands through indigenous olive and carob trees and is built on two plateaux separated by a dramatic ravine with outstanding views over the Mediterranean.

Beginners and experienced players of all abilities are encouraged to learn and improve their game at the Aphrodite Hills’ 3-hole Golf Academy, where a team of resident PGA qualified golf professionals equipped with a ‘full video swing analysis system’ can provide the very best one-on-one tuition.

With a large, double-ended driving range, a short game area with a large pitching and chipping green and a 3-hole Academy course, Aphrodite Hills Golf provides the perfect learning environment.

Fully supported by the PGA of Greece, the Cyprus Golf Federation and the Hellenic Golf Federation, the Aegean Airlines Pro-Am was staged previously at Hersonissos in Crete (2006-2008), in Porto Carras in Halkidiki (2009), and at The Dunes Course, at Costa Navarino, Messinia for the following two years.

Teams compete over 36 holes stableford with the best two scores from the team of four to count on each hole. Each team will play 18 holes on Thursday 31st May and 18 holes on Friday 1st June. 2012. The professionals play a 54 hole strokeplay event, 36 holes with their amateur teams, and then a further 18 holes individually.

For more information plesae visit www.aegeanproam.com

It’s McHenry in Cliff Hanging Finale

With a safe regulation par on the first hole of a sudden death play-off, Shane McHenry claimed the  Confederation of Professional Golf-endorsed, 4th BlackSeaRama VIVACOM Pro-Am in Bulgaria as his last challenger, Gary Birch Jnr, failed at the final hurdle by pushing his tee shot out of bounds.

The pair had survived all the varied hazards of the ‘triple treat’ tournament played over 54-holes on three different and demanding golf courses on one-under-par 214, McHenry having caught overnight leader Birch with a 69 against a 70…leaving one last drama to unfold.

Designer Gary Player no doubt had the notion of possible golfing theatre with his signature hole in the shape of sudden death play-offs when he fashioned the 212-metre par three 18th (pictured below) located between the clubhouse and the threatening cliffs on the BlackSeaRama course.

A cliff-hanger of a finish it certainly provided with the pair being confronted by the  challenging tee shot that offered ‘sudden death’ for all who miss the green, a trap that McHenry avoided…but Birch didn’t !

Austria-based, Australia-born McHenry was left to merely get down in two putts for the top prize.

Although they had finished tied on 214 the head-to-head final day leaders arrived there by a vastly different route….Birch Jnr on a golfing version of a switchback ride and McHenry with a rather less eventful eighteen holes.

The excellent BlackSeaRama course was to prove something of a relief from Friday’s gale-tossed lottery at Thracian Cliffs. Beginning as it does with the opportunity of an opening birdie four, it also offers further such chances on its par five holes.

Birch, however, sprinkled his front nine with an erratic mixture of four birdies, two pars, two bogeys and a double bogey to be level-par for the day at the turn. It was only then that he settled down as a possible winner with a run of seven pars topped by birdies on the final two holes…quite a journey!

McHenry, in contrast, birdied the first, parred the next nine, added another birdie and three pars and reached the 15th before leaking a shot.  His birdie-birdie-par finish took him safely into the play-off.

These two apart, the ‘triple treat’ proved to be a triple battle for the field of professionals and their amateur partners. In third place for the pro prize money was Morgon Olofsson…seven strokes behind the other two on plus six.

Results – CLICK HERE

Day 2 – Thracian Cliffs Golf & Beach Resort

Gary Birch Jnr Survives Windswept day for Final-Day Lead in Bulgaria
Take a stretch of cliff-face terrain, ask Gary Player to create a golf course to attract all but the faint hearted, turn up the wind volume to something like gale-force off the Black Sea and what do you get? Thracian Cliffs on Day Two of the BlackSeaRama VIVACOM Pro-am!

Bulgaria’s Cape Kaliakra region, where golf is becoming established as a ‘must visit’ attraction for the sport’s travelling new-experience seekers, continued to showcase its many and varied features at the half-way stage of the Confederation of Professional Golf-endorsed tournament.

If the first round on the Lighthouse course was tough enough – only four of the assembled professionals breaking par – the second round, as scores were blown off-par by gusts from the sea,  was described by more than one of the participants as ‘brutal’.

A clue to the  overall difficulty was provided by overnight leader Shane McHenry whose three under became two over despite a promising start of a birdie at the third in the middle of two pars each side…but, after that, six bogeys from the sixth reflected a struggling, windswept day for all.

This bogey run opened the way for Gary Birch Jnr to inch into a one-stroke lead going into the third and final day on the back of an heroic three-over par 75, one of the best round of a day of high scoring and one ahead of McHenry.

Son of a golf pro, British-born, reared mainly in Germany and currently resident in Abu Dhabi in the PGA of the United Arab Emirates, 34-year old Birch was able to call on the experience of having learned his trade in the European, the European Challenge, the South African  Sunshire and the EPD Tours.

Martin Dewhurst was another to hang in there after a decent first day, also with a battling 75 for a four-over-par 36 hole total and his deserved place among the final day front runners. based at the Costa Navarino Resort in Greece, Dewhurst moved to within two shots of his Austrian compatriot, McHenry for third place.

Among the opening leaders to hold on well was Neil Turley, Bulgarian-based but occupied mainly with off-course matters these days, whose plus-7 for plus-6 overall, was commendable in the conditions and would have been better but for the ugliest of nines on the par-five third.

As for those whose scores suffered most, Ulas Karatas could have been excused for feeling  as though he had fallen off the cliff as his challenging first round two under par 69 plummeted  to  a heart-lurching 85, thirteen over par, ‘helped’ by three double bogeys and a triple for an eight at the par five tenth.

Israeli Oren Geri, another of the first-round hares, suffered similarly as he handed in an 80, eight over par…though they were not the only ones to suffer on a day when the elements combined with the toughest of golf courses to ensure that bridies were outnumbered by bogeys, or worse, on a ratio of three to one.

Day 1 – Lighthouse Golf & SPA Resort

Shane, the Aussie from Austria, Leads BlackSeaRama VIVACOM Pro-Am

Clifftop golf, against a spectacular Black Sea backdrop, proved a tough challenge for the fourth Confederation of Professional GolfBlackSeaRama Pro-Am field – but a quartet of players, Shane McHenry, Gary Birch, Ulas Karatas and Neil Turley, managed to beat the par of 71 in helping to showcase golf in Bulgaria.

Of this leading threesome, Austria-based Australian Shane McHenry cashed in on the experience of a top four finish in last year’s event with an opening three-under-par 68 on the Ian Woosnam signature Lighthouse Course as those around him struggled to make it into red figures.

The 24-year-old, who now holds a European Challenge Tour card, opened with a birdie three, carved further shots off par at the sixth, tenth and 16th and was heading for a four-under-par finish until he tangled with the long,  testing 18th for the only blemish on a splendid opening salvo.

In his spasmodic breaks from his Alpine located day job, McHenry clearly finds that  visits to the scenically spectacular Cape Kaliakra Resorts bring the best out of him. In forging his top-four finish last year he succeeded in setting a course record 68 on the superb but scary Thracian Cliffs course, perched perilously above the Black Sea.

Gary Birch was the first to make a meaningful challenge for the pacemaker role but though he carded birdies at the third, tenth and 15th, a bogey at the short but tricky par-three 11th, where correct club selection is crucial but not easy to decide, restricted him to two-under 69.

Birch was joined on two under by  Ulas Karatas, the Turkish player who has previously graced leaderboards of Confederation of Professional Golf-endorsed tournamants, including this years Kempinski ‘The Dome’ event at Antalya.

It was perhaps no coincidence that his opening round was marred by the same holes that prevented McHenry and Birch enjoying a trouble-free 18-holes. Like the first round leader he claimed four birdies but dropped shots at the 11th and 18th, where problem obviously lurked for all.

As the day’s statistics were to show, these were the most difficult holes on the day while the 16th was the least difficult. The day ended on a satisfying note for Neil Turley, one of the pioneers of professional golf in Bulgaria and instigator of the BSR pro-am, when he claimed fourth place with a one-under-par 70.

In this year’s ‘triple treat’ , three-course format the professionals and their three-man teams of amateurs now move from the Lighthouse Course to two Gary Player designs,  the Thracian Cliffs for the second round before the final bid for a share of the pro prize fund and amateur prizes at the stylish BlackSeaRama Resort.

Leaderboard – CLICK HERE

The fourth annual Confederation of Professional Golf-endorsed VIVACOM BlackSeaRama Pro-Am, Bulgaria, offers a new and unique triple treat for contestants on July 10-15, this year in the shape of the 54-hole tournament being staged across three of Europe’s newest and most dramatically exciting challenges.

 In its previous three years the BlackSeaRama Pro-Am has made a significant contribution to golf in Bulgaria with its events at the luxury Resort on the superb Gary Player-designed golf course.

Now a whole dimension has been added for the four-man teams of PGA pro and three amateurs in the addition of the ‘Lighthouse’ (right) and ‘Thracian Cliffs’ (below) courses ingeniously threaded, as they are, along the ruggedly beautiful high-rise coastline in the North East , Varna region of the country.

Breathtaking sea views towards the magnificent and extremely diverse bay from Cape

Kaliakra to Cape Galata of the Black Sea are the backdrop to a region that is being described in the travel industry as among Europe’s most attractive for sport, leisure and general tourism.

BlackSeaRama is ‘the first championship signature golf course in Bulgaria – 18 holes, par 72,  6,648 metres in length – and the first completed project of Gary Player in Eastern Europe. But it doesn’t end there. “This year we decided to make the tournament even more challenging by including our neighbouring courses – Lighthouse – an Ian Woosnam Signature Golf Course and Thracian Cliffs – a Gary Player Signature Golf Course, “ declare the organisers.

A prize fund of €20,000 (based 20 teams competing) will be available to professionals while enjoying the experience of playing three courses that will inevitably become an increasing target for golfing explorers intrigued by the reports of their splendour emanating from Bulgaria.

Golf World magazine, for example, included Thracian Cliffs in their ‘Golf Escapes’ Collection for 2012-13 and described this  region of Bulgaria as boasting  ‘three terrific new course’.  “With seemingly endless views…this truly is a special place.”

It adds: “…Thracian Cliffs is one of the most dramatic golf courses on earth…”

The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles in Scotland, the host of the 2014 Ryder Cup, has reopened after extensive course modifications, overseen by original architects Nicklaus Design.

The course closed for the work last October. Over 50,000 tonnes of earth have been moved at the course over the past six months, with 30,000 square metres of turf laid, and 1,000 tonnes of new sand used in bunkers. The work included the installation of a SubAir system on all 18 greens in addition to the putting green. All bunkers have been fitted with the Better Billy Bunker system developed at Augusta National.

Director of golf Stuart McEwen said: “It’s been a challenging but hugely rewarding six months for all involved in the redesign. We are thrilled with how the golf course is shaping up and the recent changes made will certainly make a big difference, particularly the eighteenth. By successfully completing the redesign changes now, thousands of golfers will be able to enjoy playing the golf course prior to the 2014 Ryder Cup.”

Course manager Scott Fenwick added: “The work on the eighteenth should make for a much more dramatic and challenging hole for players, creating a real risk/reward for those who decide to go for the hole in two. For tournament golf, the new amphitheatre at the eighteenth will improve spectator views and create a bit more of a buzz around the finishing hole. Some of the technology we’re using really is at the cutting edge. We’re the first club in the UK to have a fully installed SubAir system on all 19 greens – which should help the greens withstand some of the vagaries of Scotland’s climate. We’re also the first in Europe to use the “Better Billy Bunker” drainage method, developed by former Augusta superintendent Billy Fuller.

Andre Bell has turned his ‘dream board’ into reality after achieving his goal of becoming the Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year.

And the former Jersey banker’s aspirations continue to come true having swapped the Channel Island for the humid climes of Bangkok.

But the 41-year-old was back in the UK today (Friday) to collect the prestigious Whitcombe Cox Trophy and a cheque for £3,500 from England football legend Sir Trevor Brooking, who was the guest of honour at the PGA Graduation Ceremony held at the University of Birmingham.

Bell, who will also receive a set of Titleist clubs, was overwhelmed by his success as he looked to follow up being top of the pile 12 months earlier.

“It’s fantastic to achieve this, especially in terms of all the hard work paying off,” he said.

“When I got the news I reflected on the three years and how many others have also helped along the way, friends and family, Mike and Jenny at La Moye Golf Club, Michelle Hill at the PGA and others to get me to the top.

“It is a great feeling. Being the top assistant was pinned on my dream board, where I put the goals down I want to achieve. I have got one of them.”

Image (left to right): Titleist director of sales Ken Graham, PGA captain Eddie Bullock, 2012 Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year Andre Bell and guest of honour Sir Trevor Brooking

Having being given the opportunity to switch careers and the join the 7,000-plus PGA professionals working in the golf industry across the world, Bell is already making the most of his career by moving to the Far East – one of 1,600 PGA members employed in more than 70 countries worldwide.

“I am indebted to the support and opportunity I had from all at La Moye but you have to keep pushing on,” he added.

“I came out here at the beginning of the year to have a go at Asian Tour School and though that didn’t work out, I decided to stay out here and continue my career.

“I’ve got a new position with Wilding Golf, which has a number of centres in Bangkok and about 25 pros from across the world.

“It’s an exciting time. The Foundation Degree has given me a solid platform to build on but I know you can’t expect everything to be done for you and that you have to make your own choices and follow your dreams.

“I’m out in the Far East where golf is growing, particularly in the likes of China and Malaysia. It’s really going to be big in the next 10 years and I’m looking forward to being a part of it.”

The PGA training programme, which was founded more than 50 years ago, concentrates on all aspects of golf including business, equipment technology and repairs, rules and tournament organisation, sports science, sports psychology and playing.

Training and education remains an integral part of the PGA with the foundation degree, while the PGA also runs an honours degree in association with the University of Birmingham.

Once qualified, PGA members also undergo a process of lifelong learning to keep them up to speed with all the latest developments in the sport.

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said:  “The PGA Graduation Ceremony at the Great Hall of the University of Birmingham has now earned its place as one of the most enjoyable and inspirational days in the PGA calendar.  On this day we are able to celebrate men and women completing their PGA training programme and becoming qualified as the next generation of PGA members.

“I always feel enormously proud of these graduates as I know they have all worked extremely diligently during their training years to achieve their PGA qualification.

“Of course the graduation day will not be the end of the story but only the opening to the next chapter of their career as a PGA professional.  At this time golf is expanding across new frontiers throughout the world and it will indeed be many of today’s graduates who will take the game forward and successfully grow it within these new territories around the globe.

“They should all feel rightly proud to have successfully completed their PGA training programme which in the eyes of many is the best in the world and they can now go forward confidently with the PGA stamp of approval on their golfing passport which will take them wherever they wish in their careers.  I wish them all good luck and success wherever they travel.”

Ken Graham, Titleist director of sales, said: “We are pleased to continue our support of the Titleist PGA Assistant of the Year award, recognising this as a starting point of the PGA’s commitment to provide its members with a framework for lifelong learning.

“PGA professionals play a key role in the development and growth of the game across all levels, and we are delighted to support the next generation of qualified professionals and to wish them well with their future careers.”

Samuel Ryder, who donated the striking gold cup which today symbolises one of the world’s great sporting contests, was an English seed merchant and entrepreneur from St Albans in Hertfordshire who rose to the position of Mayor, and it was the current incumbent in the role, the Mayor of St Albans City and District Cllr Aislinn Lee, who officially opened the exhibition at the Verulamium Museum.

Among the guests gathered for the civic reception were Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills, Sandy Jones, Chief Executive of the Professional Golfers’ Association, PGA Chairman Phil Weaver, PGA Captain Eddie Bullock and Ryder Cup player and TV commentator Ken Brown. They were joined by the daughters of victorious 1957 Ryder Cup Captain Dai Rees, Jennifer Johnson and Gillian Williams, and representatives of the Samuel Ryder Foundation.

The exhibition, which will remain in St Albans until the end of June, features personal items from past players as well as rarely seen photographs while a series of specially created display cases and graphic story boards recount the history of the matches, covering its growth from a friendly competition to one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

Organisers are also hoping that the exhibition can be a useful educational resource and will encourage local schools to visit the museum and discover the Ryder Cup’s rich links with St Albans.

In opening The Ryder Cup Heritage Exhibition, Mayor Aislinn Lee said: “It is a great honour for St Albans to host this exhibition. This was Sam Ryder’s home and he became one of the most famous sons of this city. He was a social reformer who built up a business selling penny packets of seeds, a great benefactor who used his money to help the working people of this town. And most importantly we remember him for providing the most iconic trophy in golf, if not in sport.”

Sandy Jones summed up Ryder with two words “visionary and benevolence”.

“It is fitting this exhibition starts here in St Albans before travelling around the UK and Europe before eventually making its way to Gleneagles in 2014,” he said. “Sam left this legacy and I think he would be proud of what he started. I think he would be proud of the great iconic game it has become today, I think he would be proud of this exhibition and proud it starts here in St Albans as it was his home and he would want to give something back to this city through the trophy he created.”

Ryder only took to golf late in life on the advice of his doctor and quickly discovered a passion for the game at Verulum Golf Club game under the tutelage of Abe Mitchell. And when he witnessed an early friendly match between Great Britain and America at Wentworth, Ryder became a prime mover in making it a regular affair and donated the striking gold cup that will again be the focus of attention when Europe defend it against the United States at Medinah, Chicago, later this year.

The Ryder Cup Heritage Exhibition will be on display in the Verulamium Museum from Friday 20th April to Thursday 28th June. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 5.30pm and Sunday 2.00pm to 5.30pm. For more information, please visit www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

Thriving online club exchange retailer Golfbidder has signed an agreement to be part of the PGA Partner Programme for another three years.

The company, which started life as Mashie Niblicks in a south west London shop in the late 90s and offers golfers guaranteed prices for used clubs, joined the programme nearly a decade ago and has become a European-wide success.

Image shows Liam Robb, Golfbidder managing director (left) and head of purchasing John Brook.

More than 700 UK-based PGA pros use the facility annually, each one knowing that they can accept used clubs in part exchange for new ones as Golfbidder will take the former off their hands.

Furthermore, the cash they receive from Golfbidder for the clubs can be used by the client to go towards the new ones, coaching or other products.

An integral factor in the firm’s success has been its rigorous counterfeit screening processes that includes a team of PGA professionals employed to check the authenticity of all traded clubs.

Golfbidder’s commitment to customer service has also seen it exploit all the latest digital media technology with filmed reviews accompanying many of the leading brands for sale.

It also has a designated YouTube channel populated with videos which has attracted more than 700,000 views while its reputation is illustrated by more than 11,000 ‘likes’ on Facebook.

Company founder, and managing director Liam Robb, remains proud to be part of the partner programme and believes their association with the PGA adds a stamp of approval to Golfbidder.

“Customers who come to Golfbidder for the first time might potentially be a bit nervous about buying second hand clubs,” he said. “So the fact we have a respected name like the PGA associated with us is a big benefit.

“We also deal with many PGA professionals who recognise the opportunity that Golfbidder presents in terms of allowing ordinary golfers to offload used or unwanted equipment for a guaranteed price that can either be reinvested in new equipment or perhaps into golf lessons or elsewhere in the pro shop.”

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones, commented: “We are delighted that Golfbidder has agreed a three year extension. It offers a great service to our members, enabling them to trade second-hand clubs with the knowledge they will receive a guaranteed price.”

Launched to universal acclaim last Autumn, the UNICREDIT PGA Professional Championship of Europe, at the PRAVETS Golf & Spa, Bulgaria, is firmly established as the No.1 individual playing target on the association’s tournament schedule…but first, for potential champions, comes the necessity to qualify for a shot at it!

Before the elite field of 60 players can take shape for the second staging of the 72-hole stroke play title on September 17-20,  each member PGA wishing to be represented – and surely that must be all? – has to nominate its national qualifying event to take place in the upcoming weeks or months.

Some have already specified their qualifiers and are listed below. Others are in the process of so doing and their qualifying events will be named in newsletters in the next month or two.  Some member countries have not, however, indicated their intentions yet and are urged to do so as soon as they can.

“Ideally every PGA professional who includes tournament competition in their list of career intentions should get the opportunity to attempt to qualify for this highly prestigious championship,” said Confederation of Professional Golf chief executive Ian Randell.

“When Hugo Santos (pictured), the pro at Vila Sol in Portugal, won the inaugural championship in 2011 it put an achievement on his cv that, I’m sure, he will always cherish. PGA Professional Champion of Europe…who wouldn’t be proud of such a title?

Jonathan Pendry, Golf Courses Director of Braemar Golf commented, “Braemar Golf and RIU Pravets Resort are delighted to be hosting once again the UNICREDIT PGA Professional Championship of Europe. The event last year was fantastic and we thoroughly enjoyed some great golf and socialising as well with the professionals. We look forward to meeting with old friends and making new ones and wish the qualifiers the very best of luck!! “

Golf’s policy of freely exporting education around the world was dramatically emphasised in two months of widespread activity recently when NINE emerging countries were visited as the Golf Development Programme gathered yet more pace.

New golfing nations – spread between South and Central America, the Caribbean and the Far East – benefited from the joint initiative between The R&A and the Confederation of Professional Golf as highly qualified consultant coaches were funded in helping fledgling golf cultures to adopt best practices as they grow the game.

Between mid-October and December golfing missionary-style trips were undertaken to Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Republic of the Union of Myanmar (more commonly known as Burma), Panama and Trinidad and Tobago thereby taking the number of countries receiving such aid past the 50 mark funded by  R&A surpluses from the staging of The Open Championship.

As a result, the wealth of knowledge accumulated from these new nations, and the most favourable ways in which they can be integrated more comfortably into the world’ family’ of golf, is beyond measure.

Local coaches in Costa Rica are doing ‘a fantastic job’…custom-fitted clubs for juniors are urgently needed in Myanmar…golf professionals burst with enthusiasm in Columbia…Panama’s challenge is to teach its juniors to play…Argentina needs a long term strategy…all this and very much more is recorded by the Confederation of Professional Golf consultants.

Alison White, Assistant Director – Golf Development for The R&A commented, “For more than ten years The R&A has worked with the Confederation of Professional Golf to manage the delivery of much of our worldwide “Working for Golf” development programme. During that time we have seen a number of enhancements to the original programme and we are very happy with the structured way in which the various missions are organised.”

She added, “The skills, knowledge, aptitudes and experience of the specially selected pool of Golf Development Professionals which The Confederation of Professional Golf has assembled, ensures that we can offer the most suitable package of help regardless of where the country is on the development curve.”

Brief samples from their report to The R&A and the Confederation of Professional Golf follow, showing the extent to which the consultant’s forensic examination of the various countries’ golfing needs have identified how growth may be encouraged:

ARGENTINA: Johan Hampf & Henrik Lundqvist (October 29-November 4): “The AAG (Association of Argentine Golf) appears to be making excellent progress in their efforts  of enhancing the knowledge of the coaches in Argentina… a long term strategy is recommended to create a structured and sustainable development plan. Parallel to this a continuing development of the basic training program is needed to build good professionals for the future.”

BRAZIL: Tony Bennett (December 2012): “The development of a national junior programme together with the identification of an elite performance pathway has been the focus of attention for the Confederation of Brazilian Golf (CBG) over the last year… the PGA of Brazil have been working hard for several years to raise the standard of coaching across the professional workforce….Golf is still a relatively exclusive sport in Brazil and only when all stakeholders, CBG, Federations, PGA of Brazil and industry specific suppliers work together will there be a significant growth of players”.

CHILE: Johan Hampf (October 22-29): “The level of knowledge is mixed…golf is still a small sport and the cost of being a member is high which limits the target groups for golf players. Many of the clubs are private or semi-private and give little access for beginners and non-members to get on the course. The only public course is located just outside Santiago. It is an 18-hole high-class facility with a modern design. The green fee is high and you need to be a skilful golfer to play the course due to the design… it not suitable for the recruitment of new golfers.”

COSTA RICA: David Gosling (November 3-13): “Much progress has been made in the past 12 months.  I was proud and delighted to see that the soft golf equipment was having such an impact and that the clubs and coaches had taken the ideas and training on board and were doing a fantastic job. This is having a knock-on effect with more youngsters getting involved, more parents and teachers becoming aware of the opportunities. This is delivering new players and families to the clubs and the Association is able to plan and build for the future knowing that this growth is only just beginning.”

HONG KONG: Tony Bennett: (Last quarter of 2011): “The Golf Association is working closely with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Golf Club and the PGA of Hong Kong on the redevelopment of a national golf development plan to this end it is important that the skills and knowledge that each partner can bring to the table….with a lack of available space and new developments on the horizon, it is important that all parties take their responsibilities seriously to ensure a sustainable future for golf in Hong Kong”.

MYANMAR: Kevin Flynn (November 29-December 12): “I would strongly recommend further support for the Myanmar Golf Federation Myanmar National Squad is in need of further training and would benefit from another visit from a top coach. This visit would provide the players with more correct technical information on their golf swings. MGF is in desperate need of custom fitted clubs for the juniors. I felt too many players were making compensations in their golf swings, due to the poor equipment being used.

COLOMBIA: Alasdair Barr (November 10-18) “I am convinced that, as a result of this visit, the professionals will be better instructors with good knowledge and improved communication skills. This will give them greater recognition and hopefully people will take more lessons and help to grow the game. The guys were so enthusiastic I had to be careful not to give too much information over a relatively short period of time.”

PANAMA: David Kearney (December 4-11): “The state of golf in Panama has improved a lot since 2009. Nearly double the pros with some new golf courses almost complete see it in a strong condition going forward. The challenges such as integrating the ‘working man’ into golf are not unique to Panama and a constant challenge will always to be to coach as many children as possible. A PGA development programme run by APA would help to train the trainers and whilst there would be no immediate feedback this would be beneficial in the long term to improvement in the local game and hopefully this would follow on into international success.”

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Martin Westphal (December 8-18): “A general profile of the Coaches/Professionals for Golf in Trinidad & Tobago is needed. Based on this profile the country will be able to write the necessary curriculum and by referring to the curriculum all parties will be able to identify where the support of the R&A and the Confederation of Professional Golf can be effective. The TTPGA needs a closer link to the amateur body. Perhaps it would be good if the TTGA were to take the lead, to ensure at least in the beginning, that a proper administrative side is put in place. This would positively affect the strength the PGA and raise the credibility both organisations which is needed for the future.”

The first of a series of monthly articles by Club Inc, golf’s leading recruitment experts and Confederation of Professional Golf’s Career Services Partners who provide invaluable career advice and services to member PGAs and their collective individual membership of more than 21,000 PGA Professionals.

Can you influence the right people?

Building a CV is like building a golf swing it needs to start with the basics for it to work. When teaching a swing you start with the grip, posture and stance before refining the more technical parts. With a CV you need to start by looking at the length, the important points you want to get across and how it fits the position you are applying for.

Club Inc is fortunate to have a top FTSE 100 HR Executive as one of our associates who has had more than 20 years reviewing CV’s for top business roles. Looking at some of the CV’s we have received she feels that the golf industry is still a cottage industry when it comes to the way individuals present their brand.

All of you reading this article will have a CV but does it work! Having received hundreds of CV’s from golf professionals over many years most are presented in a way that would not pass the 10 second rule. When conducting a search we have a very clear brief and normally a large amount of CV’s to review. If I have to wade through a full page picture of you with a cheesy grin and a brochure of the clubs you have worked at and then finally another 12 pages of old job descriptions I won’t get to the important part of what you have actually achieved and why you fit the role we are looking for.

The most important thing to remember when constructing your CV is that employers want to find out how you best fit the candidate profile and that comes down to understanding what relevant achievements you have performed in your past job roles. Most CV’s read like a series of job descriptions. I.e. this is what I was meant to do. I want to see how well you performed the duties you were asked to perform, a subtle but very important difference.

In today’s world, average will not be good enough, employers want to see why you stand out, if you can offer something different and you have made yourself unique, you will jump out in a selection process. I have seen some golf professionals CV’s who I know are great teachers or great retailers who really haven’t got their point across as they have been to busy with the glossy picture instead of concentrating on their important achievements. Due to them not following this process they have lost out in getting an interview for some of the top jobs because the employers can’t see how they fit their business.

Your CV must be clear, well organised and hold the reader’s attention.  As a rule, your CV should be no longer than two or three pages. Rather than being a generalised account of your career, your CV should be targeted specifically to the organisation and position you are applying for, matching your best talents and qualifications with the job requirements. All jobs are different and so are all employers. It’s important that your CV speaks directly to the job, addresses the position criteria and is relevant to the post you’re applying for.

For example if you are applying for a coaching position, highlight the achievements and beliefs you have with regards to teaching and where you specialties lie. What can you bring your future employer in the form of financial gain or notoriety? This would be different if you were applying for a management position, as employers would need to see what leadership skills you have and the size of the team you have been responsible for. In addition most companies want to see the difference you have made to the profit and loss account. A company today can’t employ just warm bodies they need people who can perform. Again average is just not acceptable.

Finally make sure you take ownership of your CV you need to know all the details as you could be asked anything about your career at an interview and if you haven’t written your CV or have elaborated on the truth you could be found out.

In the next articles we will look at how to:

• Perform in an interview
• Design your own personal SWOT
• Design your career PR and brand awareness.
• We look forward to meeting you in PGA workshops during the year.

For more career advice and the opportunity to:

• Change your career direction
• Increase your earning potential
• Address your work/life balance
• Find a new challenging position
• Get help following redundancy
• Visit our website www.clubincorporated.com or call us on 0207 903 5105

Remember it might feel like you have little control over where your career is heading. By calling Club Inc. you will find it really doesn’t have to be that way.

For a limited time only, PGA Members who become a friend of Club Inc will receive free Club Inc membership and one free Career Coaching session. Simply send your name and email address to info@clubincorporated.com and they will be in touch.

Course design work to prepare the venue of The 2018 Ryder Cup, Le Golf National, Paris, for one of the world biggest sporting events, has begun. 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.

However, as Le Golf National 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

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 master plans 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.”

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:  www.egd.com

Scot Stuart Wilson is Europe’s Junior Ryder Cup Captain 2012

Highly-experienced Scot, Stuart Wilson, has been named the Captain of the European team for this year’s Ryder Cup Junior Match at Olympia Fields, Illinois, USA on September 24-25 shortly before the main event at nearby  Medinah Country Club.

Like its senior counterpart, the Junior Ryder Cup 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, Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, Solheim Cup player Suzann Pettersen and Hunter Mahan, the 2012 WGC-Accenture World Match Play champion.

Wilson, 34, 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.

He 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,” said Wilson. “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 in America.

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

Assistant Captain Gunhildrud, from Norway, has 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 from Sweden, and also set up Knøttegolf, a special programme 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 on Great Britain and Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy last year.“It’s an honour to be appointed the Assistant Captain for the Ryder Cup Junior Match,” she said. “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 give America some exciting matches.”

Scottish Sport Minister Shona Robison welcomed Wilson’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 fitting for Stuart to take the trophy home, especially as the 2014 event is returning to Scotland.”

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 Z-Grip™ Cord grip features a deep “Z” shaped texture pattern that winds vertically around the grip to aid control and moisture management and to maximise responsiveness. This design pattern is complemented with a white end cap and distinctive white body paint.

Specifically designed to reduce twisting at impact, The Z-Grip™ Cord grip, is one of a number of new grips introduced by Golf Pride for the 2012 season. Also new are the New Decade® MultiCompound Whiteout™, the Tour Velvet® 360™, the Tour Velvet BCT® Cord White and the Tour Wrap® 2G® White Midsize.

“Golf Pride has long been a leader in new grip technology, from the invention of the slip-on grip to the introduction of the hybrid category of grips,” said Dan Koehler, Director of Sales and Marketing for Eaton’s Golf Grip Division. “The 2012 line-up offers a grip for every player’s needs, ability and club selection.

“Golf Pride pushes the limits in moulded rubber grips to offer the ultimate feel, feedback, performance and consistency to help golfers play their best.” Golf Pride is by far the most popular grip on all the leading Tours around the world. Over 80% of Tour Professionals re-grip with Golf Pride and none of them is paid to do so.

Being the undisputed leader is not a position the company takes for granted. Like all equipment in golf, grip technology is constantly changing. This year’s new grips have evolved to fit the needs and preferences of all players. With over 60 years of experience, the company’s dedication to performance has never wavered, delivering unsurpassed quality and consistency in all its products.

Eaton’s Golf Grip Division is the world’s largest manufacturer of golf grips, with manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities on five continents.  The division’s Golf Pride brand is recognised globally as the number one choice in grips among tour and recreational players, competitive amateur golfers, club manufacturers and club repairmen.  For more information, visit www.golfpride.com.

For more information: Adam Roberts (+44(0)1438 718399) adam@gmsgolf.co.uk or Conor Dillon (+44(0)1788 341555),  conordillon@eaton.com