Ryder Cup and British golf legend Tony Jacklin will take centre stage in a Q&A where he will field questions from delegates about his record breaking tournament experiences, such as being the first Briton to win the US Open since Ted Ray, and captaining the 1985 European Ryder Cup team to their first victory since 1957, winning for the first time on American soil in 1987, and then the successful retention in 1989.

David Martin, Founder and President of Catalyst Branding, will speak on the findings and outcomes of his work undertaken with the PGA of GB&I, and how that could potentially be utilised by the other PGAs in his presentation. For 30 years, he has served clients across a diverse array of industries, lecturing and writing extensively on key subjects including; leveraging brands to manage demand, the new “relationship” brand, the role of the “source” brand, brand portfolio rationalisation, new trends in branding, brand delivery, employee engagement, customer experience and brand valuation as an ROI tool.

Confederation of Professional Golf board member and Former European Tour Chief Executive, Ken Schofield, who needs no introduction, will bring his incredible experience and knowledge about professional golf and specifically the Ryder Cup in his presentation entitled ’19 Ryder Cups and Counting’.

Niall Flanagan, Managing Director of Club Inc., Career Services Partners of the Confederation of Professional Golf, will present a seminar entitled ‘The Association needs you and you need your Association’, which will look at careers and the skills needed by professionals in advancing their own development.

The Annual Congress is an opportunity for the leaders of golf from across the continent to meet and discuss the state of play within their respective territories, as well as an opportunity to learn and share ideas with each other alongside fantastic speakers from not only the world of golf but wider industries as well.

This year the Congress 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. The Congress and Dinner will be at Hotel Vila Galé Lagos, where delegates will reside for the duration, while the International Team Championship (ITC) will take place at the nearby Onyria Palmares Beach & Golf Resort.

“We’re very excited to have such a fantastic lineup of speakers presenting at the Congress, which we are currently in the process of adding to. Year on year the Congress provides our members, federations, and other stakeholders with a fantastic platform to get together and share good practice in the areas that affect their business, and learn from influential figures from the world of golf and industry,” said Chief Executive of the Confederation of Professional Golf, Ian Randell.

Further details on the Annual Congress will follow soon.

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The Confederation of Professional Golf Annual Congress will run from 20-23 November 2012. For more information on Hotel Vila Galé Lagos, visit www.vilagale.co.uk.

The tournament remains a 36-hole pro-am and 54-hole individual event with amateurs playing their own individual competition on the final day. Play comprises of five rounds of golf (two practice and three in the tournament), three of them on the PGA Sultan course (pictured) and two rounds on The Pasha. Once again the Pros and amateurs divide on the final day as they bid for a share of the prize fund (pros) or one of the excellent amateur prizes on offer daily and sponsored by Lyle and Scott, Ecco, One Golf and Cleveland.

Last year’s Pro-Am was won by Chris Baron earning him the top prize of €4,000, beating off the challenge made by first-round leader Phil Golding.

This year, the packages on offer for professionals and amateurs follow a similar format to previous years – Professionals accommodation (sharing a room) in the magnificent Kempinski ‘The Dome’ Hotel is free while the amateur accommodation price is: €1,390 (shared twin room) per person € 1,590 (single) € 799 for non-playing partner in double room.

To enter download the entry form and fax it to: 0090242 7255971 or email jdent@agc.com.tr.

Entries are on a first-come-first-served basis. All amateurs will be required to produce official proof of handicap before being allowed to compete.

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For more information, results and news from the 2013 Kempinski “The Dome” Pro-Am, keep checking cpg.golf, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

For more information on Antalya Golf Club visit www.agc.com.tr.

This year’s tournament will be hotly contested by a stunning field of players that share no less than 35 Challenge Tour wins, 12 European Tour wins, and two Ryder Cup appearances between them.

Representing significant wins on the Challenge Tour are players such as Stuart Little (three wins), previous BEKO Classic champion, Erol Simsek (four wins), Carl Suneson (six wins, one European Tour win), and Iain Pyman (eight wins).

No less than seven players with a combined 15 wins on the European Tour will be present including Ryder Cup team Europe members Paul Broadhurst (six wins), and Andrew Coltart (two wins).

Also returning to defend his title is two-time Challenge tour winner, and one-time Europe Tour winner, Phil Golding, hoping to replicate the stunning finish from the BEKO Classic 2011, in which he shot a bogey-free 63 to make the playoff with Carl Suneson, winning the tournament on the third extra hole and taking the US$8,000 top-prize.

The field also includes another five previous winners of the BEKO Classic, in the form of two-time winner Simon Edwards, Jon Bevan, Jamie Little, Erol Simsek, Raymond Rusell, and Liam Bond.

Notable other entries include current leader of the 888Poker.com PGA Europro Tour Order of Merit, Stuart Manley, and winner of the 2004 Volvo PGA Championship, Scott Drummond.

The field will contest the Pro-Am over the Faldo design, 27-hole course, with a different 18-hole layout being played on each day, for a prize-fund of US$80,000, from November 15th to 17th 2012.

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For live updates, results and news from the BEKO Classic 2012, keep checking cpg.golf, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

For more information on the Cornelia Golf Club visit www.corneliaresort.com.

“It’s been a humbling yet uplifting experience, one in which the past and the present collide, where nostalgia is inevitable, though suddenly rather quaint, and with reminders that if yesteryear was yours the future belongs to younger versions of yourself.”

Dennis has been with the Confederation of Professional Golf for a number of years, having been brought on board by then secretary, Lawrie Thornton, and carried with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise in journalism and public relations:

“Thornton was acutely aware of the importance of communications and PR having launched an attractive Year Book and planned a quarterly ‘hard copy’ newsletter. That’s about all you could do back in the 1990s. And even that cost an arm and a leg…but he laid the foundations that have steadily been built on.”

Having previously worked within the football industry, Dennis took the change in sport in his stride and ensured the wider golf industry was made aware of the work the Confederation of Professional Golf has carried out over almost a decade and a half so far:

“It’s been a fabulous fourteen years, though, chronicling the progress as it has been forged by the innovators and decision-makers… and it does seem to me that those original founding fathers from back in 1989, who recognised the need for an association of European PGAs, with education at its core, must never be forgotten.

“All that and a thoroughly modern communications policy. Who would have thought that the 1989 ‘blank sheet of paper’ would become such an inspirational story? I’m proud to have helped to write it thus far.”

From Ian Randell, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Professional Golf:

“Dennis has seen immense change within the organisation, adapting his fantastic style of writing and reporting from his previous endeavours as a football writer for the biggest publications in the country. It’s that experience that has enabled him to ensure that all the stakeholders invested in the work we do are aware of the ongoing evolution of the organisation.

“Dennis has done a superb job in publicising the activities and progress of the Confederation of Professional Golf over the years. It was a privilege to be able to acknowledge this with the presentation of the inaugural Confederation of Professional Golf Special Recognition Award last year to him. I know I speak on behalf of all members, directors and staff in offering a big thank you for all that he has done for our Association and the 38 national PGAs that make up our membership.”

It’s been a humbling yet uplifting experience, one in which the past and the present collide, where nostalgia is inevitable, though suddenly rather quaint, and with reminders that if yesteryear was yours the future belongs to younger versions of yourself.

In bowing out of the responsibilities of media consultant to the Confederation of Professional Golf after fourteen years in that role, there could not have been more forensic support for the accuracy of the timing than the coverage of the UniCredit 2012 PGA Professional Championship of Europe on cpg.golf.

Instant hole-by-hole scores…pictures galore, some taken only moments ago…video clips…tweets…Facebook connectivity…all singing, all dancing, ‘ thumbs up if like it’, you name it, it’s there.

What more could one possibly ask from today’s world of miraculous communications in which the microchip and digital media have condensed time and space into the click of a mouse?

The use of this kind of technological wizardry is, as we all observe by the hour, commonplace to the new generations including those fortunate PGA professionals who have graduated in recent years. Now they must harness these hi-tec opportunities or get stuck in a time warp.

This is the very good reason why the Confederation of Professional Golf communications policy, under newly-appointed manager, Aston Ward, has gone stratospheric. Me ? I’m toddling off into the sunset….humbled because, at pushing 80, it’s all rather beyond me, uplifted at the thought of all the progress that’s been made since 1998.

It was different, very different, back then, seemingly in another life, when the then secretary of the association, Lawrie Thornton asked me if (without a fee but well housed, watered and fed), I would travel to Spain to cover the International Team Championship and Annual Congress.

Thornton was acutely aware of the importance of communications and PR having launched an attractive Year Book and planned a quarterly ‘hard copy’ newsletter. That’s about all you could do back in the 1990s. And even that cost an arm and a leg…but he laid the foundations that have steadily been built on.

So, equipped with a notebook and ballpoint pen…no mobile with overseas capability, no laptop, no website, no interested sources for news output, no real idea why I was there, no monthly newsletter, I complied with the request. This is why, earlier, I used the expression ‘rather quaint’.

It felt, at the time as though I were there – ill-equipped and short of knowledge about the subject – to write about a non-event for no one in particular. In recalling that air of uncertainty it seems like just a year or two ago yet we’re now in a whole new age in terms of communications and information technology.

But were the enterprising, thoroughly modern new media man to be shunted back a mere fourteen years in a time machine to see me writing out reports in long-hand to be faxed from hotel reception to recipients who were not very interested, he would require a quick change of underwear. Rather like my age group watching Charlie Chaplain in his first silent movie backed only by a tinkling piano.

We had started using laptops by then, of course, but the connecting infrastructure internationally was…er…let’s be kind and say ‘unreliable’. I once tried for two solid days to e-mail material from the Beko Pro-Am at Kemer G&CC, Istanbul…and was then told it was a holiday weekend. The system had closed down.

However, that was then. And this is now. So as I down tools professionally for the first time in 64 years I heartily applaud Ian Randell, Sandy Jones and the board, the staff and all concerned for leading the Confederation of Professional Golf communications capability into tomorrow’s world, and Aston Ward for implementing the 21st century tools at his disposal.

I daresay I’ll be peeping from the sidelines now and then but I won’t be opening a Facebook page nor a Twitter account…yesterday’s men are more comfortable with yesterday’s publications.

It’s been a fabulous fourteen years, though, chronicling the progress as it has been forged by the innovators and decision-makers… and it does seem to me that those original founding fathers from back in 1989, who recognised the need for an association of European PGAs, with education at its core, must never be forgotten.

Their departure of many of them from the scene, one by one, has been almost imperceptible but evolution is inevitable: Christer Lindberg, (late chairman and president), Lawrie Thornton (former executive secretary), Education chairmen Jean-Etienne Lafitte and Leif Ohlsson, directors Heinz Fehring, Donato di Ponziano, Richard Perthen.

These pioneers, and others remember, including former PGA chief executive John Lindsey whose ideas it was, started the Confederation of Professional Golf from a hazy concept and a blank page and, to paraphrase the words of a pop song, ‘Baby, just look at it now…’

Ryder Cup Partner…influential member of the PGA World Alliance…almost 40 member PGAs…international members such as Brazil and Canada taking territorial coverage to huge swathes of the earth’s surface…21,000 individual pros worldwide, an education philosophy and policy that has grown the game in so many ways almost beyond belief.

All that and a thoroughly modern communications policy. Who would have thought that the 1989 ‘blank sheet of paper’ would become such an inspirational story? I’m proud to have helped to write it thus far.

Dennis Shaw

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From Ian Randell, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Professional Golf:

“Dennis has been with the association for a number of years and has seen immense change within the organisation, bringing his fantastic style of writing and reporting from his previous endeavours as a football writer for the biggest publications in the country. It’s that experience that has enabled him to ensure that all the stakeholders invested in the work we do are aware of the ongoing evolution of the organisation.

“Dennis has done a fantastic job in publicizing the activities and progress of the CPG over the years. It was a privilege to be able to acknowledge this with the presentation of the inaugural Confederation of Professional Golf Special Recognition Award last year to him. I know I speak on behalf of all members, directors and staff in offering a big thank you for all that he has done for the Confederation of Professional Golf.”

The subject matter discussed in both trips very much mirrored each other as the countries share similar membership and player numbers. Discussion of issues such as the cooperation of golfing bodies within both countries, the evolution of the game, as well as the continued expansion of the PGA of Slovakia and PGA of Slovenia’s respective member education programmes and strategic plans, were on the agenda and the countries took full advantage of the previous experience and expertise the Confederation of Professional Golf have to offer.

“One of the key roles of the Confederation of Professional Golf is to set and advance standards of operation for the administration and education of professional golf across Europe. Seeing the current state of golf in both countries, the manner with which the PGAs operate, and the opportunity to share learnings from other countries has been hugely rewarding.” said Ian Randell.

“Both PGAs share common goals of wishing to develop their PGA, their members, and future members, and also golf as a whole in their countries. We will continue to provide advice as they progress with these objectives.”

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For more information on the work the Confederation of Professional Golf carry out, visit cpg.golf.

The return also included the addition of the Confederation of Professional Golf and PGA of Germany “Learning Zone”, in which industry experts were invited to speak about their own particular niches of the industry.

Confederation of Professional Golf Director of Education, Tony Bennett, and Felix Lechner of The PGA of Germany coordinated the speaker line-up for the “Learning Zone”, ensuring presentations were all tailored to the ever-changing needs of PGA Professionals:

“If people can get some knowledge that they can take away and actually apply in their own environment, whether it be a retail shop or driving range, academy, whatever it is, I think people are very happy to go along to sessions and do some learning,” said Bennett.

“We’re keeping away from “education” and from “seminars” – I would keep it to what we call the “Learning Zone”. People can go along, they can take 20 minutes, and they can listen to an expert in that field. The speakers will effectively have three ‘top-tips’ and those tips will give the professionals something tangible that they can take away and use in their own environment.”

The Confederation of Professional Golf-invited speakers included Managing Director of Multi Mall Management; Matias Lopes, Managing Director of Club Inc.; Niall Flannagan, Head of Member Education for the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, David Colclough; Director of Golf Pro Relations at Golfbreaks.com, Jim Long; and Advanced Fellow of the PGA, Ian Peek.  All the speakers revealed some of the good practices that they have used successfully in their own niche within the industry.

The format of the “Learning Zone” is not something new, explains Bennett: “It’s a format that something we have used once before; there’s twenty minute sessions, ten minute Q&As, and it’s a relatively intimate setting as well. Not only that, but the professionals can take twenty, forty, sixty minutes, however long they want, and take that from the time they would normally spend in the show, and learn about something that specifically interests them – we think it’s been very successful.”

Watch the full video interview with Tony Bennett below:

Click the links below to view the interviews with some of the speakers from the Golf Europe 2012 “Learning Zone”:

David Colclough, Head of Member Education for the PGA of GB&I, Discusses What it is that makes an Expert Coach

Jim Long, Director of Golf Pro Relations at Golfbreaks.com, Discusses The Business of Golf Travel

Niall Flanagan, Managing Director of Club Inc., Gives His Tips on Career Development in the Golf Industry

Advanced Fellow of the PGA, Ian Peek, Outlines His Tips for the Business of Coaching

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Tony Bennett has been Director of Education for the Confederation of Professional Golf since 2008, focusing on education standards across Europe. ”The importance of education programmes to employers and the 21,000 individual professionals from the 38 Member Countries that make up The Confederation of Professional Golf cannot be underestimated. With Member countries at different stages of development”. Matters of Initial Professional Education and issues around Post Compulsory Education also occupy much of his time.

Tony is a PGA Master Professional and has a MPhil in Sports Participation and Coaching from the University of Birmingham.

PGA of GB&I Head of Member Education, David Colclough, was one of these invitees and spoke about coaching expertise in the following sessions [click the Seminars to download the Presentation notes]:

• 3 Personal Characteristics that Help to Develop Coaching Expertise
• 3 Ways to Learn that Help to Develop Coaching Expertise
• Helping to Identify Coaching Expertise: A Three Stage Model

An important point within Colclough’s three seminars was that success with players should really be an end result as opposed to a defining factor for expert coaches – “The fuel that you need as an individual to get to that level really starts with having a desire to be better than you are” Colclough said, “To question yourself, to have an awareness of yourself, so that you continue to look at the successes and failures [that] you have and try to get the success greater and failures less often.”

The seminars were all about Top-threes including speakers’ top-3 tips: “Make sure you’re aware of yourself, keep monitoring what you do and see if you can do it better; challenge yourself, in terms of doing things better – do things that might feel uncomfortable but in the long-term might be beneficial; and be and do things that you’re passionate about.”

Watch the full video interview with David Colclough below:

Click the links below to view the interviews with some of the speakers from the Golf Europe 2012 “Learning Zone”:

Tony Bennett Discusses This Year’s Successful Golf Europe “Learning Zone”

Jim Long, Director of Golf Pro Relations at Golfbreaks.com, Discusses The Business of Golf Travel

Niall Flanagan, Managing Director of Club Inc., Gives His Tips on Career Development in the Golf Industry

Advanced Fellow of the PGA, Ian Peek, Outlines His Tips for the Business of Coaching

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David Colclough is a PGA Advanced Fellow professional, who qualified in 1989. Following 14 years of coaching golfers of all abilities, at home and abroad, David began work for the PGA as a Training Executive for Coach Education in 2003. Currently his role has evolved into Head of member Education.

His passion is golf coaching and it has taken him to all corners of the world in the search for information that can help him coach more effectively as well as provide him with knowledge to pass on to PGA professionals engaged in the same search.

David has an ‘MPhil in Sports Coaching’ from the University of Birmingham. Findings from this research into Expert Coaches have been presented at forums with National Coaches from England, Scotland and Wales in 2009. He also presented his work to the Swiss PGA in 2010.

For more information on the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland visit www.pga.info, or follow @PGAMemberEd on Twitter.

The introduction of the “Learning Zone” run by the Confederation of Professional Golf and the PGA of Germany, allowed attendees to gain knowledge about chosen subjects whilst visiting the show.

Included in the impressive line-up of speakers across the two days was Niall Flanagan, Managing Director of golf industry specialist consultants Club Inc.

Flanagan’s chosen specialty was in how to make the most of your career as a Professional within the golf industry, focusing on the following topics [click the Seminars to download the Presentation notes]:

• Top-3 Tips on Networking
• Career Development: A Continuous Cycle
• Branding You

“With career development there is a cycle of how you continually look at your development, from taking it from where you are now to understanding your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats,” said Flanagan. “Then to branding yourself through your CV, selling yourself through the interview, reviewing and going through the offer stages, getting the job, being successful, then looking at your development and starting that cycle again.”

On the return of Golf Europe at its new venue, Flanagan said, “Augsburg is a great place…from the feedback that I’ve had the right people are here it’s just building on numbers, [and] it’s obviously in it’s first year so it should do that, but I think the facility is great to hold it.”

Watch the full video interview with Niall Flanagan below:

Click the links below to view the interviews with some of the speakers from the Golf Europe 2012 “Learning Zone”:

Tony Bennett Discusses This Year’s Successful Golf Europe “Learning Zone”

David Colclough, Head of Member Education for the PGA of GB&I, Discusses What it is that makes an Expert Coach

Jim Long, Director of Golf Pro Relations at Golfbreaks.com, Discusses The Business of Golf Travel

Advanced Fellow of the PGA, Ian Peek, Outlines His Tips for the Business of Coaching

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Niall Flanagan is well known in the club industry for being a results-oriented executive, combining tournament planning and organisational expertise with strong commercial skills and excellent leadership abilities.

His extensive club expertise has been gained by working for elite clubs and organisations in the UK and middle East, notably his roles as President/CEO at Loch Lomond, Director of operations at St Andrews links trust, General manager at Dubai Golf & racing Club, Director of Golf at Celtic manor.

For more information on Club Inc. visit www.clubincorporated.com or follow @ClubInc_2012 on Twitter.

As with all the Confederation of Professional Golf and PGA of Germany, seminars in the Golf Europe “Learning Zone”, Peek detailed main topics to form his ‘Top-3’ aspects within three particular elements of his niche [click the Seminars to download the Presentation notes]:

• Top-3 Tips to Growing your coaching business
• Top-3 Tips to Smart Investment in Your Coaching Business
• Top-3 Tips for the Best Training Aid Stations

Peek focused on what Professional coaches should be looking at from the business perspective of what they do and how best to go about creating a profitable business – “The theme really for all three sessions was be prepared to make change; do great things; and tell everyone about the great things you’ve done. That’s the three keys to success”.

“I think it’s great the show’s back on the road”, explained Peek of the return of Golf Europe, “It’s going to go from strength to strength. I see more and more colleagues looking for further education at these shows, so it’s a winner.”

Watch the video interview with Ian Peek below:

Click the links below to view the interviews with some of the speakers from the Golf Europe 2012 “Learning Zone”:

Tony Bennett Discusses This Year’s Successful Golf Europe “Learning Zone”

David Colclough, Head of Member Education for the PGA of GB&I, Discusses What it is that makes an Expert Coach

Jim Long, Director of Golf Pro Relations at Golfbreaks.com, Discusses The Business of Golf Travel

Niall Flanagan, Managing Director of Club Inc., Gives His Tips on Career Development in the Golf Industry

———————–

Ian Peek is the founder of the Impact Golf Academy and one of few golf coaches world- wide to combine high-speed video analysis with trackman and Force plate data as standard during his lessons.

In his capacity as an R&A/Confederation of Professional Golf Golf Development consultant he has advised the PGA of Poland, the Golf Association of Honduras and the Golf Federations of Chile and Bangladesh in recent years.

A British PGA swing tutor and a regular contributor to Germany’s leading golf magazine “Golf Journal” Ian is also the designer of three successful golf training aids. In 2009 he was made an Advanced Fellow of the British PGA.

With almost 20 years experience as a full-time golf instructor and having worked with players ranging from beginner to challenge tour standard Ian is aware of the rewards available for the well informed and pro-active golf coach.

Contact Ian on Twitter: @IanPeekGolf, or email: mail@nms-golf.com.

Three days of show time for professionals gave them the chance for to visit over 50 stands from some of the UK’s and the world’s biggest brands, meet fellow professionals and share ideas, and ensure that they kept abreast with up-and-coming developments within the industry,

The show was also bestowed the honour of hosting recent Ryder Cup winner Paul Lawrie, as well as the Scot’s treasured prize, the Ryder Cup itself, for two of the show days, giving delegates the opportunity to speak to Lawrie and see the fruit of Team Europe’s labours at Medinah Country Club only a few weeks ago.

The show’s key supporters, buying groups Foremost Golf and TGI Golf, invited their own PGA Professional members to come to the show and meet their suppliers, with a particular focus on carrying out the vital deal-making processes involved with successful retail management for club professionals in the golf industry.

The show was also a winner for the exhibiting business: TaylorMade-Adidas Golf’s attendance at the show, for example, was reportedly their most successful ever and was indicative of the usefulness of such shows to give professionals and companies the vital face-to-face time that makes for prosperous business relationships.

Throughout the show, seminars from leading industry figures and speakers were available for professionals to educate themselves and earn Continual Professional Development points, with a headline seminar on day one from a panel of industry experts, including Chief Executive of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland and Confederation of Professional Golf Chairman, Sandy Jones, TGI Golf Partnership’s Eddie Reid, Foremost Golf Chief Executive, Paul Hedges, Direct Golf owner, John Andrew and TaylorMade-Adidas Golf’s Managing Director, Ben Sharpe. Headlining day two was persuasion and influence-focused motivational speaker, Philip Hesketh, a native to the town of Harrogate, speaking about how to be a great pro and develop professionals’ businesses.

Also included on the final day of the show was the inaugural Teaching and Coaching Conference that featured internationally acclaimed PGA Master Professional, David Leadbetter, and Founder and Director of the Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke Golf Schools, Karl Morris, speaking to a sold-out audience of over 300 professionals.

Leadbetter began the day with the first of his two seminars, explaining the evolution of his coaching philosophy and how advancements in coaching theory and technology are shaping the way he continues that evolution. His second seminar looked at different top-level players’ swing and characteristics through his own eyes and gave attendees a first-hand insight into his coaching philosophy and practices.

Morris’ seminar looked at the intricacies of the value a PGA Professional has to an organisation and ways in which this value can be highlighted and increased. As an employer of PGA Professionals himself, Morris is in the perfect place to understand the requirements and expectations from an employer side, as well as from a customer side, and passed on his expertise to the attending professionals.

Continual Professional Development is a vital part of all professionals’ careers and the show’s seminars ensured the attending delegates could take away a great deal from the show.

PGA Master Professional, Leadbetter, said of the conference, “PGA members are the light-keepers of the game, and if we want to keep doing what we’re doing for future generations, we need to grow the game, and the way we’re going to do that is by keeping up with the times, knowing everything there is to know about our profession.”

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For more information on The Golf Show visit www.golftradeshow.co.uk.

Inspirational Captain Olazábal was joined by Nicolas Colsaerts, Luke Donald, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer, Paul Lawrie, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Francesco Molinari, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood, who will all be competing against each other for the lion’s share of the US$7million prize fund at Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai, China.

The team, only missing Sergio Garcia, wore traditional Chinese jackets in the European colours of blue, and had plenty to catch up following their historic comeback in the Singles at Medinah Country Club to defeat the United States 14½-13½ and retain the Ryder Cup.

Englishman Poulter, who was so inspirational as Europe’s talisman in winning four points out of four and galvanising the team on the Saturday afternoon, returns to action for the first time since his heroics, and admitted that he was still pinching himself at what unfolded.

“It was very special,” he said. “I think everybody as a team bonded very well. That Sunday will go down in history.

“Everybody is so proud of what’s happened to European golf and for each and every member of the team. So to get us all back together again, all but one, it’s great. It’s great to see everybody again and to get back into some normality.

“I’m looking forward to this event very much. I always play well in Asia at the back end of the year. I generally take a few weeks off before it and I haven’t won yet this year, so hopefully I can do so over the next few weeks and I’d love to knock this one of off.”

German Martin Kaymer, who secured the point that meant Europe retained The Ryder Cup, also revelled in meeting up with his teammates and reminiscing about one of the most memorable Ryder Cups off all-time.

“Obviously it’s nice to see ten of the other guys again,” said the former World Number One, “What we did that week was, for me personally, very, very important. It’s kind of like a career high – I don’t even know if it gets higher than that.

“I was just very pleased to be part of that historical moment, and it’s nice to see the guys again and to talk a little about special moments that happened that week. I’m sure some of The Ryder Cup members are going to play together this week again, and then there will be more chats about it. It’s quite nice to be part of it and it’s good to see them all again.”

World Number One Rory McIlory, who won the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters last year at this week’s host venue, is hoping to secure a BMW double after winning the BMW Championship on the US PGA Tour last month.

“It would be very special,” he said. “Obviously it’s been a great couple of months for me with the PGA and the two FedExCup wins and being part of that unbelievable Ryder Cup, as well.

“So it would be nice. I’ve got great memories of Lake Malaren from last year, getting my first win in Asia. BMW is a great sponsor and it’s great to have them on board, not just this week but for all of the tournaments that they sponsor. They are very supportive of golf as a whole globally, and you know, the players really appreciate it.

“My one last big goal of the year is to win The Race to Dubai and try to emulate what Luke did last year, winning both money titles. I’ll be giving it my all this week, and trying to get another win.”

Westwood, who won the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea in 2011, is looking forward to competing against the strong field that includes four of the top five players in the world.

“I really enjoy playing in Asia,” said the Englishman. “I’ve been coming out since 1994 and I’ve had a good few tournaments here and a good few wins.

“It’s somewhere I’ve always played well, and I’m looking forward to this week. I think it’s great that BMW sponsors as many events as they do in golf in these times. The European Tour is very lucky, and obviously they have a tournament in the United States, as well. We need sponsors like BMW, and they put on a great tournament. The infrastructure is great. We play on great venues and we bring together fantastic fields, which this week is just the same.

“It’s a real quality field, and nice to see everybody back together after The Ryder Cup after such a successful week that week.”

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For more information on The European Tour visit www.europeantour.com.

Safeguarding the environment is a top global priority. As a growing international sport, requiring significant land use, golf has a responsibility to embrace the principles and practice of sustainability.

The International Golf Federation (IGF) and its member organisations recognise sustainability as a core priority, optimising the playing quality of the golf course in harmony with the conservation of its natural environment under economically sound and socially responsible management.

The IGF and its member organisations will:

• make sustainability a central pillar of our mission
• expand awareness and encourage action among golfers and golf facilities
• promote best practice to minimise our sport’s consumption of non-renewable natural resources
• assist golf facilities to incorporate sustainable principles, practices and technology into daily business decisions and operations
• encourage golfers to embrace environmentally sound practice in course preparation
• conduct high profile golf events in an environmentally responsible manner
• continue to work to raise the profile of our sport’s progress and contribution to environmental issues
• embrace measurement, target setting, transparency and verification

Success in our joint efforts to promote a sustainable future for golf will deliver:

• for the game; improved financial performance and enhanced profile
• for the golfer; quality playing surfaces, value, challenges and rewarding experiences
• for the environment; conservation of resources and biodiversity enhancement
• for the community; employment, recreational green space and educational opportunities

The future will present many challenges but the IGF and its member organisations are working to ensure that many more generations will enjoy golf and the facilities on which it is played.

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For more information visit www.internationalgolffederation.org.

The IPE concept, born out of a shared thought that the Confederation of Professional Golf should support the development of a first steps professional education programme, is a three-month programme that gives all PGAs access to an introductory level of coach training, whilst also touching on issues around developing both the sport and the industry.

The ability to provide indigenous, appropriately trained golf professionals can be a strong help to develop the sport – an appropriately trained workforce of golf professionals also sends a positive message to the national federation who often need help in their efforts to develop the sport, attract newcomers and discover talented players.

The second stage started with three days of practical work and workshops conducted by Tony Bennett (Director of Education for The Confederation of Professional Golf) at the Zagreb Country Club 1995.

The nine candidates all professionals of the PGA of Croatia now face two days of testing, 17-18th October with two qualified Assessors appointed to examine the candidates. The programme will be completed when the candidates turn in their ‘Portfolios of Evidence’ for marking which will have been constructed over the 16 weeks of the IPE programme.

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For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf IPE Programme click here.

Captain Olazábal, who led Europe to glory just over a fortnight ago, was accompanied by Garcia, one of the heroic 12 players, and Vice-Captain Jiménez as they presented the Ryder Cup trophy and a signed shirt worn on that historic Sunday at Medinah Country Club, Chicago, to His Majesty The King during a special audience at the Palace.

After greeting the three golfers, His Majesty took them aside for a private meeting, after which they shared their experience with the assembled media gathered at neighbouring Somontes Golf facility.

Olazábal said: “This was my second visit to the Palace to see His Majesty and it was a great honour. I came here in 1994 when I won my first US Masters but I came with my family that time. It was a very different experience then as I came as an individual. Now we have come here representing another 11 players, another three vice-captains and the whole of the European Ryder Cup team.

“The fact that His Majesty has invited us to his Palace makes the whole thing very special. There are iconic places and this is one of them but the beauty of this is that he has received us because of what we as a team have all achieved not just the three of us here today.”

Europe equalled the greatest comeback in the history of The Ryder Cup when they came from four points behind on the final day to win The Ryder Cup by 14 ½ – 13 ½ , and keep Samuel Ryder’s golden chalice in European hands.

“He made us feel very comfortable and at ease and it’s been a very nice conversation,” added Olazábal. “He said he was very pleased with the polo shirt from that famous Sunday which is history now and said he wanted it in his trophy cabinet!

“He said he watched a lot on TV but could not watch it entirely but he has asked us to send him the DVD which we will do.”

King Juan Carlos also spared a thought for the late Severiano Ballesteros, who died last May. “He touched my heart when he mentioned Severiano and he said how sad it was to lose him so early,” said Olazábal. “He also talked about the performance of the Spanish players in The Ryder Cup, especially the passion we have put into the event. He was very knowledgeable.”

Olazábal admitted he still wakes up in the middle of the night thinking he is playing one of the matches and highlighted some of the key moments which turned the match in Europe’s favour.

“What Poulter did, especially on the Saturday, changed the heart of the rest of team,” he explained. “When we got together on Saturday evening I could see on their faces there was a different look. There was a totally different atmosphere which was the key to the victory the following day.

“Then on Sunday there were so many emotions. Sergio recovering his match and winning that point was essential and then when Martin Kaymer holed that putt he closed the door to the American team.

“Thanks to the 12 fantastic guys The Ryder Cup trophy will stay in Europe for another two years.”

Jiménez was impressed with how well informed His Majesty the King was.

“He knew how important those two points on Saturday afternoon were,” he recount. “We had never suffered so much as we did those first two days. The Americans were holing everything and our putts did not go in but in the end justice was done.

“One of the most impressive things since we have been back is the number of people who do not play golf and they keep telling us they did not move from their sofa on Sunday. They were suck there with glue. Hopefully this will create more golfing fans and people will talk more about this wonderful sport. This Ryder Cup has been like no other.”

And Garcia was likewise honoured by the experience.

“It was my second visit to His Majesty the King and it is always a very special experience,” said Garcia. “This does not happen many times in your sporting career.

“His Majesty mentioned the putt I holed to win my match and he was very well informed how it all happened. He said if it had been the other way round and we were 10-6 up, maybe the whole world would not have paid so much attention.”

Looking back at his own highlights from Medinah, Garcia focused on the performances of Poulter and Kaymer in particular.

“Ian Poulter was amazing,” he said. “He knows the meaning of The Ryder Cup and he lives for the Ryder Cup. It’s fantastic to have someone like him in the team, someone who can make the spirit turn at the right moment. If I had to choose one moment of the Ryder Cup it is quite difficult as there were so many highlight . But the last two points on Saturday were essential. Poulter’s putt on the 18th that evening and also Luke Donald’s tee shot on the 17th. But I still cannot shake from my mind Justin Rose’s putt on the 17th on Sunday, and finally Martin Kaymer’s putt was incredible.

“The night before, Olazábal and myself, we had a very good conversation with Martin Then on Sunday I was having breakfast with him and I said to him if I had a wish, it would be for him to hole the putt which meant Europe won the Ryder Cup, and, of course, Martin did exactly that.”

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For more information on The European Tour visit www.europeantour.com.

Leading golf equipment brand PING, the company started by the legendary Karsten Solheim 53 years ago, has once again been acclaimed for their continued support of green-grass professionals by winning the coveted ‘Supplier of the Year’ accolade at the recent Foremost Awards Dinner for the fifth year running.

PING’s successful evening was completed with the ‘Iron of the Year’ award for the much-admired G20, the latest generation of the brand’s hallmark G family.

The news is the icing on the 2012 cake for PING, who’ve enjoyed another successful year which begun with the launch of the i20 family and more recently, the exciting Anser and Ladies’ Serene ranges.

John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe, said: “To win such an important award five years in a row is very special. Accolades from our customers are always significant, and the latest one reaffirms what an outstanding job every person at PING has done over the last twelve months. It’s a tribute to our products and people.”

The Foremost Awards dinner was held at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate, Yorkshire on Tuesday October 9th 2012.

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Foremost are the UK’s leading golf buying group, representing over 1000 professionals (www.foremostgolf.com).

For more information on PING visit www.ping.com.

This year the championship will be expanded to be played over two of the fantastic courses at Lumine Golf Club enabling up to 120 pairs to compete in the popular better-ball event that provides the ideal chance of some welcome springtime competition for PGA professionals. The event will take place over 54 holes with a cut after 36 holes, with the final 18 played out over one course.

Calle Carlsson, General Manager of Lumine Golf Club is delighted that the event will be returning once again to the flourishing Spanish destination, “This event and our partnership with the Confederation of Professional Golf are part of a long-term strategy that involves welcoming key influencers to experience our magnificent offering at Lumine, so naturally we are looking forward to welcoming the competitors once again. In 2012 we witnessed a thrilling finale over the Greg Norman designed, Lumine Lakes Course that confirmed our credentials as an up-and-coming championship destination.”

Under the management of Troon the leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing, Lumine Golf Club is one of Europe’s most vibrant new golfing destinations. The impressive 45-hole facility offers a perfect combination of championship golf, luxury accommodation, modern Mediterranean cuisine and first-rate leisure facilities, which can be easily accessed via the nearby Reus airport or a 45-minute drive from Barcelona International Airport.

Located on 170 acres, Lumine Golf Club’s three courses are spearheaded by The Lakes Course, a links-style championship course designed by golfing legend Greg Norman that features several water hazards that wind around the Sèquia Major wetlands. 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.

The 2012 Fourball Championship was won by English pair Matt McGuire and Craig Swinburn in the championship’s first year at Lumine Beach & Golf Club, posting a 20-under-par total to take home the winner’s cheque for €4,500.

Further details will be released shortly.

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

The 78-man field tournament will be played from November 7-10, 2013, at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal, Belek, Antalya, the week before the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – the climax to the 2013 Race to Dubai.

It will be fully sanctioned by The European Tour in a three-year agreement, with details on the eligibility criteria to be announced at a later date.

The announcement was made during the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final taking place at Antalya Golf Club, an exhibition event featuring an elite eight-man field providing a taste of the world-class golf to look forward to in Turkey next season.

Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of The European Tour, said: “We would like to thank the Turkish Golf Federation and International Sports Management for their co-operation in delivering this exciting new event.

“Turkey is one of the fastest developing golf nations in the world and the Turkish Open will further enhance the country’s golfing credentials. As the penultimate event of The 2013 European Tour season, and carrying such a significant prize fund, we anticipate many of the world’s best players to become regular visitors to Turkey.”

Ahmet Ali Ağaoğlu, President of the Turkish Golf Federation, said: “I am very honoured to make this announcement and to be able to bring a top-class European Tour event to Turkey. We believe that Turkey, and in particular Belek and Antalya, is the best golfing destination in Europe and one that deserves such a world class event.

“I would like to thank Keith Waters and The European Tour for their support, as well as Chubby Chandler and ISM.”

Andrew Chandler, Managing Director of International Sports Management, said: “This is just a great move for Turkey. This tournament ticks a lot of boxes for Turkey who are really driving towards a bid for the 2020 Olympics. Hosting big events like this tournament can only help that strategy and to be able to announce a three year deal for a $7 million tournament is a very rare thing these days. I’d like to thank Ahmet in particular because he has been the driving force behind this.”

The Montgomerie Maxx Royal was designed by eight-time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie, in association with European Golf Design, and opened in 2008. Set within 104 hectares of picturesque, mixed pine forest and sandy ridges, the feel of the natural environment has been maintained, thereby enhancing the particular characteristics of the golf course. The par 72 Montgomerie Maxx Royal measures 6486 metres.

 This year the championship will be expanded to be played over two of the fantastic courses at Lumine Golf Club, enabling up to 120 pairs to compete in the popular better-ball event that provides the ideal chance of some welcome springtime competition for PGA professionals.  The event will take place over 54 holes with a cut after 36 holes, with the final 18 played out over one course.

 Calle Carlsson, General Manager of Lumine Golf Club is delighted that the event will be returning once again to the flourishing Spanish destination, “This event and our partnership with the Confederation of Professional Golf are part of a long-term strategy that involves welcoming key influencers to experience our magnificent offering at Lumine, so naturally we are looking forward to welcoming the competitors once again. In 2012 we witnessed a thrilling finale over the Greg Norman designed, Lumine Lakes Course that confirmed our credentials as an up-and-coming championship destination.”

 Under the management of Troon, the leader in upscale golf course management, development and marketing, Lumine Golf Club is one of Europe’s most vibrant new golfing destinations. The impressive 45-hole facility offers a perfect combination of championship golf, luxury accommodation, modern Mediterranean cuisine and first-rate leisure facilities, which can be easily accessed via the nearby Reus airport or a 45-minute drive from Barcelona International Airport.

 Located on 170 acres, Lumine Golf Club’s three courses are spearheaded by The Lakes Course, a links-style championship course designed by golfing legend Greg Norman that features several water hazards that wind around the Sèquia Major wetlands. 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.

 The 2012 Fourball Championship was won by English pair Matt McGuire and Craig Swinburn in the championship’s first year at Lumine Beach & Golf Club, posting a 20-under-par total to take home the winner’s cheque for €4,500.

 Further details will be released shortly.

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

The 39th Ryder Cup is one that will go down in history with a vibrant, enthusiastic, and emotional atmosphere to it, made even more poignant by the European Team retaining the trophy in such charismatic and dramatic style, whilst being watched over by a very special Ryder Cup Legend in Seve Ballesteros.

It is the Confederation of Professional Golf’s great pleasure to offer their congratulations to the European Team players, to European Captain, José María Olazábal, to the players’ partners and to all the officials involved with the European side’s record-equaling comeback win.

Chief Executive of the Confederation of Professional Golf, Ian Randell, said of the week’s extraordinary play, “To witness such a significant moment in European golf was of course very memorable and it’s difficult to be able to convey in words the amazing achievements of the players, Captain Olazábal, families, caddies and all that make up ‘Team Europe’.

“The quality of players that European countries are producing is evidence of the ever-increasing and improving development processes and coaching taking place across the continent – especially evident when a country the size of Belgium can produce a world-class talent such as Nicolas Colsaerts.”

Ian Poulter, alongside his partner Rory McIlory, proved to be the inspiration that installed the belief in the European camp that the victory remained a possibility with their amazing fourball performance on Saturday afternoon.

Team Europe still entered the final day with a four-point deficit behind the United States team, but with outstanding performances from Donald, Poulter, McIlroy, and Rose, they managed to level the score very early on.

Then it was down to impassioned wins from Garcia, Lawrie, and Westwood to keep Europe in the hunt with only two matches left.

Martin Kaymer and Steve Stricker fought it out in a matchup that had each player leading at some point during the tie. But as seemed inevitable the match came down to the last hole with Kaymer requiring a half to ensure retention of the trophy for the Europeans. After an overshot first putt, but a drilled in second for Stricker, it was left to Kaymer to answer the question. He did so in an emphatic manner with a solid effort to the centre of the cup gained the 14 points necessary to ensure the trophy headed back across the pond to European shores.

Woods and Molinari continued their match up the last hole in the knowledge that the trophy was already secure, and after a missed putt on the last for Woods, the match was conceded to Europe for a half to give a win for Europe of 14.5 points to 13.5 points.

In a final day that showed the strength, and mettle of the European players, their Captain, and Vice-Captains, it was only fitting that the performance was dedicated to Ryder Cup and European golfing legend, Seve Ballesteros.

“I have thoughts for my friend Seve. This one is for him,” Captain Olazabal said. “All men die, but not all men live. You [Team Europe] made me feel alive again this week. I’m pretty sure Seve is very happy where he is today.”

Europe won the 2012 Ryder Cup with 14.5 points to Team USA’s 13.5.

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For more information from this year’s Ryder Cup visit The Confederation of Professional Golf on Twitter – @PGAsofEurope – or at the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook page.

Taking place in early March, the event will see 20-plus teams from across the continent – made up of one professional and three amateurs – gather at La Manga Club to contest an overall prize fund in excess of €20,000.

Players will compete over 54 holes for an array of individual and team honours, with packages costing €800 per person (€2,400 per team, professionals go free) including tournament entry, one practice round, a welcome cocktail reception, prize-giving gala dinner and all accommodation.

La Manga Club was once the continental European base of the Confederation of Professional Golf, hosting the Association’s Annual Congress and International Team Championships for many years, and now the pro-am tournament will be the second major international event that La Manga Club will stage early next year, with the resort also set to host the 2014 Spanish Seniors Amateur Championship in February.

Ian Randell, Chief Executive of the Confederation of Professional Golf (pictured right), said: “La Manga Club has played a significant role in the history of the Confederation of Professional Golf, hosting the Association’s Annual Congress and International Team Championship in the formative years of our association.

“We are delighted to be renewing our relationship and this tournament signifies the start of another exciting chapter in our partnership together.”

Gary Silcock, Director of Golf at La Manga Club (pictured left), said: “As Europe’s top sports and leisure destination, it was a logical step for La Manga Club to team up with the Confederation of Professional Golf again and this is fantastic news for the resort.

“This region of Spain offers the perfect climate for winter golf. The resort is very popular with professionals hosting coaching groups on overseas breaks and the pro-am will give us the chance to showcase the extensive golf and practice facilities that we have to a discerning international audience.”

Having celebrated its 40th birthday last year, La Manga Club stands as a bastion of European golf, sports and lifestyle resorts.

Among its most recent accolades, La Manga Club has been voted as the best golf resort in Spain by UK readers of Today’s Golfer magazine for the last two years, hosted the 2013 Spanish Amateur International Golf Championship and is the overseas training base of the Lawn Tennis Association until 2016.

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For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page, call 00 34 968 17 5000 (ext 1360), email golf@lamangaclub.com or visit www.lamangaclub.com.

For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf visit cpg.golf, follow @PGAsofEurope and search #LaMangaProAm on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

Captain Olazabal went out strong – an overnight four-point deficit meant that Team Europe needed to come out fighting and get some early wins on the board to get back level with the Americans – and that’s exactly what happened.

Emphatic performances from Donald, Poulter, McIlroy, Rose and Lawrie meant Europe came back square with America after the first six matches out on the course at Medinah Country Club in Chicago, Illinois.

With Team Europe dressed by Glenmuir in colours befitting of European legend, Seve Ballesteros, the players began to play like he did back in his hay-day.

 Americans Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson both posted wins against Colsaerts and McDowell respectively, but Lawrie’s outstanding 5&3 win against FedEx Cup winner Brandt Snedeker ensured Europe only remained one point behind.

The match proving to be a real battle of the titans was Garcia versus Furyk – a game that saw both players 1-Up at some point throughout the game was brought back to A/S by a solid par on the 17th by Garcia after Furyk made bogey. Heading down the last Garcia stayed firm and hit the fairway whilst the American wobbled and put his drive into a fairway bunker, and then through the back of the green with his second. But it was Garcia that remained solid to win the last hole with a par to get Europe into the lead for the first time in the tournament.

Meanwhile in the last group, a match that some pointed out could well become the decider, Francesco Molinari and Tiger Woods were battling it out with Woods once again playing better in the second nine to stay in contention.

Swede, Peter Hanson, played his way back into his tie with Jason Dufner with five birdies on the back nine , but lost out to a par from Dufner on the final hole.

Martin Kaymer and Steve Stricker fought it out as well, in a matchup that had each player leading at some point during the tie.

But as seemed inevitable the match came down to the last hole with Kaymer requiring a half to ensure retention of the trophy for the Europeans and after an overshot first putt, but a drilled in second putt for Stricker, it was left to Kaymer to answer the question – and he did so. A solid effort to the centre of the cup gained the 14 points necessary.

Woods and Molinari continued their match up the last hole in the knowledge that the trophy would return East, and after a missed putt on the last for Woods, the match as conceded to Europe for a half to ensure a win of 14.5 points to 13.5 points.

A Ryder Cup that will go down in history as one of the greatest golf matches ever played – For Seve.

Europe wins the Ryder Cup 14.5 points to 13.5.

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For more coverage from this year’s Ryder Cup visit The Confederation of Professional Golf on Twitter – @PGAsofEurope – or at the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook page.

The 15th edition of IGTM, which will take place in Vilamoura from November 12-15, 2012, will showcase the potential golf tourism that can be achieved by a country or a region, like the Algarve.

Comprising 35 of Portugal’s 80 golf courses, the Algarve’s reputation as a favourite among golfers continues to grow, with recent accolades, such as Today’s Golfer Magazine’s ‘Best Value Golf Destination’ in Continental Europe, reaffirming the region’s immense golfing appeal.

“Since IGTM was last in the Algarve in 1999, the region has seen a 20% increase in number of rounds played and the opening of 16 new golf courses. This correlates to an increase in the Algarve’s golf tourism industry, which, today, represents 12% of the region’s total tourism revenue,” explained António Pina, President of the Algarve Tourism Board.

Twenty-six of the Algarve’s golf courses have been recognised in numerous rankings, equating to almost 70% of the region’s courses, and a third of Portugal’s total number of courses.

António Pina added: “With 75% of the country’s rounds of golf being played in the Algarve, and 90% of those rounds being played by visitors, the decision to host IGTM a second time reflects the crucial role tourism plays in the region and its overall contribution to the Portuguese economy.”

Peter Grimster, IGTM Exhibition Manager, commented: “It is great to come back to the Algarve and see how it has developed over the years. For an established golfing destination of more than 30 years to continue to experience growth in its number of visitors, golf breaks and golfing holidays is a notable achievement.

“We expect IGTM 2012 will provide yet another platform for the Algarve Tourism Board to showcase its critically acclaimed golf courses and resorts, as well as promote itself as a leading golf destination.”

Peter Grimster continued: “With 450 exhibitors already confirmed from 55 countries and over 300 buyers, this year’s IGTM promises to be an unmissable event.

“Coupled with the fantastic response IGTM has had over the past 15 years, we are confident our vision to create the ultimate golf travel event which helps facilitate and initiate business and where important industry trends can be discussed, has been achieved.”

As in previous years, buyers, exhibitors and press attendees will receive pre-scheduled one-to-one appointments as well as social networking opportunities during the four-day show.

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For more information about IGTM, please visit: www.igtm.co.uk.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: 1 October 2012: A large veranda showcasing the lush tropical landscape of Barra da Tijuca, combining an atmosphere of conviviality with nature — in the spirit of Rio — defines the character of the winning project in the competition to choose the design for the Rio 2016™ Olympic Games golf course’s club house, announced on Monday at the Brazilian Institute of Architects, Rio de Janeiro department (IAB-RJ).

The event was attended by the President of the Rio 2016™ Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Rio 2016™), Carlos Arthur Nuzman; the committee’s chief executive, Leonardo Gryner; the President of IAB-RJ, Sergio Magalhães; the competition’s coordinator, Claudio Taulois; and the President of the jury, Fernando Alencar.

Pedro Évora and Pedro Rivera, of Rio de Janeiro, are the author and co-author respectively of the winning project. Altogether, 82 teams of architects and landscape architects from across Brazil entered the competition, with 57 projects submitted. The competition was open to professionals who graduated within the last 15 years.

“We wished to showcase Brazilian culture and to give this opportunity to our country’s young architects,” said Nuzman. “They’ve come up with projects that honour and make Brazilian architecture proud. I’m delighted with the result.”

The winners will receive a R$25,000 (Brazilian Real) prize (about $12,000 USD), the runner-up will claim 15,000 BRL (around $7,500 USD) and the third place, 10,000 BRL ($5,000 USD).

The competition was organised by IAB-RJ, which has more than 50 years’ experience in running similar contests, and was also assigned to hold the Olympic Park and Olympic Port design contests by the City of Rio de Janeiro.

The grandson of Affonso Évora, who was point guard for the Brazilian national basketball team that won the bronze medal at the London 1948 Olympic Games, architect Pedro Évora, 34, was thrilled about the selection of his project. “It’s an open space, with full contact with nature, integrated with the landscape of Barra. Those who play and who attend will have a unique experience, one that could only be experienced here,” he explained.

For Sergio Magalhães, the high standard of the competition proved that the decision to opt for young architects was right: “The terms of reference or, in other words, what the customer wanted done, were clear and high level, facilitating the development of projects. Of the 57 submitted, 40 were approved in the first round, which demonstrates the high level of the pool. To offer this opportunity to young Brazilians proved to be an excellent choice”, said the President of IAB-RJ.

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For further information on the Rio 2016™ Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, visit www.rio2016.com.

 Network Your Way To The Top

It is said most people spend more time thinking about where they are going on holiday than their career. For those golf professionals who really want to succeed you need to think what your ultimate career goal is in order to satisfy all the things you want to achieve.

Having worked with hundreds of PGA Members, every one of them has different goals. Some want a top club professional job, some want to be the best coach, some want to work abroad, some want to turn to club management and become a General Manager. So its is important to research and understand what steps are needed to get to your individual career goal.

Networking and marketing yourself to the right people is one of the most powerful tools in getting you to the next stage. For example, I knew my career goal was to be a General Manager at one of the top clubs in the world. I started writing to Dick Kopplin the leading headhunter in the USA in 1998. At first I never got a reply as he didn’t know me and at the time I was living and working in Dubai. When I moved to St Andrews in 2004, I attended the CMAA World conference presenting the Opening Education Address to 1,800 people. This was the first time I met Dick. In 2005, I invited Dick to speak at a conference that I promoted, which he accepted. In 2006 he got me the interview for the position of CEO at Loch Lomond that resulted in me being successful in fulfilling my career goal. It had taken me 8 years but the work I did along the way helped me pave the way to getting me what I had set out to do some 15 years before.

Improving your own PR is also vitally important, most golf professionals I know are confident in presenting themselves due to the hours coaching their students and retailing to their customers. Think about putting yourself forward to speak at conferences, writing articles for magazines or websites. This will grow your brand and attract potential employers as the more often your name and picture appear the more chance you have of being reminded to or meeting owners, CEO’s, headhunters etc.

For golf professionals I think Linkedin is a must to help promote themselves and open up career opportunities. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 175 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals giving you the keys to controlling your online identity.

You should Google yourself? You never know what may come up. LinkedIn profiles rise to the top of search results, letting you control the first impression people get when searching for you online. You should know how to best set up your account and adding, and frequently updating, your CV will help boost your Linkedin profile. Whether you’re looking for a career opportunity, winning new clients or building your professional reputation, LinkedIn can, if used properly, connect you to jobs, sales leads and ideal business partners.

So please remember that Networking can be very helpful to your career – its not just a buzz word, it actually works. Develop a network of friendly people who share information to help each other. I believe it is best known as a strategy for opening the hidden job market. Since 80% of jobs are not advertised, it is essential that you develop friendly relationships with people who can tip you off to job openings – perhaps even introduce you to the person who is doing the hiring. There is some truth in, “It’s not what you know, but who you know.”

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Since the start of this series of articles on helping Professionals with the very best career advice in sport we are pleased to report that we are now working with a large number of PGA members. Currently 10 professionals a week are becoming clients, helping them to have a better chance to improve their careers and networking opportunities, which Club Inc can provide.

For more career advice and the opportunity to:

• Change your career direction
• Increase your earning potential
• Find a new challenging position
• Get help following redundancy
• Help you with your professional network.

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.

One of the major challenges facing the PGA professional is to quickly identify changes needed in a player’s game, and to set a path of instruction to improve skill levels. Whilst much more is now known about preferences in learning styles and how information is delivered by the coach and received by a player, often there are more simple barriers to improvement within a player that need to be understood if the coach is to be successful.

Here are 5 of the most common barriers to improvement from a psychological perspective and the teaching approach which then needs to be taken:

1. ‘I don’t know what to do’ = Information
2. ‘I don’t know how to do it’ = Demonstration
3. ‘I don’t know why I should do it’ = Education
4. ‘I don’t know when to do it’ = Direction
5. ‘I can’t do it’ = Persuasion

Guidance for the PGA professional:

Listen carefully to the words a pupil or player uses to explain their needs during coaching sessions to best direct you to your course of action. You will find players vary in their needs over time, and when working on different skills. Also if you feel a player is not making progress, take time to consider if you have delivered your coaching message in a variety of ways to aid learning and development.

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Dr. Brian Hemmings has been lead psychologist to England golf for over a decade. During this time he has helped develop the mental skills of the best emerging English golfers including the likes of Ross Fisher, Richard Finch, Danny Willett, Tom Lewis, David Horsey and Chris Wood. Brian is author of the book ‘Mental Toughness for Golf: The Minds of Winners’ and is also a regular presenter on the PGA CPD programme.

Brian has released a fully online Golf Psychology Coaching Certificate course that carries 100 PGA CPD points and has been completed with great reviews by PGA professionals. Go to www.golfpsychologycoaching.co.uk for full details.

The course is full of practical activities for the PGA professional to guide players through improving their mental game, and is endorsed by some of England’s best coaches. You can complete the course at home so you will have no travel costs or time away from your work. All you need is a player to work with and the time to complete the course activities. For a price reduction type in the promotional code 2012 to reduce the price from £295 to £219.