“It’s great – we came here on a kind of holiday because we’ve not played much golf back in England,” said Cort.  “We played really well, gelled well as a team together and played well every day.”

“I’m really chuffed,” added Shave.  “We’ve played a few of these events together now and we’ve had some good results but it’s nice to win a big one.”

With wind speeds of 65kph expected it was the more sheltered Hills Course that played host to the finale of the Championship – something that didn’t phase the eventual champions:

“It was tough being so windy, and the rain didn’t help,” explained Shave.  “But it wasn’t as bad as was forecast thankfully.”

Cort added, “It was tough to predict what score [would win]…we thought we were cruising at 18-under and then thankfully we finished it off with three birdies in the last three holes which cemented it.”

The British duo began their final round looking to capitalise on their first and second round 64 and 66 respectively, the latter of which included an ace at the Lakes Course’s fourth hole.

Click Here to View the Full Final Leaderboard

A solid two-under par opening nine holes was a good start, but the back nine was where they turned things up a gear.  Birdies at holes 10, 11 and 12 got them to 18-under, and then birdies at 16 and 17 allowed daylight to appear between them and their rivals.

Stood on the 18th tee both Professionals were aware of their position at the top of the leaderboard – a fact that did not detract from their plan to keep two shots in play.  After solid irons from the tee and regulation approach shots to within 15-feet, there were a pair of birdie putts to take the Championship by two shots.

Cort stepped up first with a quick downhill snake that glanced the right side of the hole that was converted for the par:

“The guys ahead made birdie to go to 19-under and as a twenty we needed to make par and I thought it was in but then Craig had a five-footer to make birdie anyway so that finished it off nicely,” said Cort.

“Well Matt has already made four anyway so it made mine a little bit easier to be fair to him…I was just glad it went in,” said Shave.

With both Professionals being accompanied by their partners, the week had a more family orientated focus than normal:

“It’s been a really nice week, we’ve just chilled out and it’s been like a holiday really,” said Shave.

“We’ve kept practice to a minimum – we’ve obviously warmed to hit shots but as soon as we’ve finished the round we’ve just gone straight back to the apartment and caught up with the girls…so it’s been good in that sense,” added Cort.

In second place were the PGA of Spain pair of Rafa Gallardo Moreno and Borja Garcia [pictured right and left], whose final round seven-under 65 pulled them up the leaderboard to finish on -19 (196), taking €4,150 in winnings.

“Great, it’s been a really good day and we have a great feeling,” said Garcia.  “We matched perfectly…Rafa made five birdies, I made five birdies too today and we played solidly like this [throughout].”

At standalone third place were the PGA of Italy’s Alessandro Tadini and Gregory Molteni [pictured, left and right].  Their seven-under 65 was enough to take them two clear of their chasers finishing on -18 (197) receiving a cheque for €2,800.

The Confederation of Professional Golf would like to thank all the supporters of the event for their continued support, along with all the competitors from this year’s Championship.

For further information and final scores visit http://eur.pe/2015Fourball.

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For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf Golfbreaks.com Fourball Championship visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter search the Hashtag ‘#FourballChamps’, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

With thanks to Golfbreaks.com (www.Golfbreaks.com/pga-pro), LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club visit (www.lumine.com), Costa Daurada (www.CostaDaurada.info), Cambrils (www.Cabrils-Tourism.com), La Pineda Platja (www.LaPinedaPlatja.info), and Salou (www.visitsalou.eu).

Gusts of over 30mph were not enough to slow down the pairing who took full advantage of Cort’s hole-in-one to card a five-under 66 for a -13 total (130).

“We played ok, but we left a lot out there today,” said Shave.  “Obviously the highlight was Matt’s hole-in-one but we didn’t hole many putts really.”

“We made a big statement yesterday when we didn’t drop a shot on the other course,” added Cort.  “But we started with a bogey on the first today.  We managed to get a couple back and five-under was a good target today.”

The pairing’s first bogey of the tournament came on their opening hole but was followed by an immediate bounce-back birdie at the second.  Cort’s hole-in-one came at the 178m fourth hole where a precision 7-iron made its way into the cup:

“The wind was really gusting at that stage and we looked at the hole and the pin was only about 10 yards on…I said to Craig ‘how do you get it close?!’.  I went with a 7-iron, hit a really good shot…didn’t really see it go in as it was over the brow of a hill.  It’s my first hole-in-one in nine years…so it was great to get one in.”

Four more birdies and a single bogey finished off their round to lie one ahead of the chasing pack made up of four pairings – Ismael Del Castillo & Pablo Herreria (PGA of Spain), Florian Fritsch & Sascha Elender (PGA of Germany – pictured), Rafa Gallardo Moreno & Borja Garcia (PGA of Spain), and Adam Wootton & Richard Wallis (PGA of Great Britain & Ireland).

All four pairings sit at -12 (131) for the event whilst the top-22 pairings are within just five shots of the lead.

“We’ll have to look at what the weather is like,” said Germany’s Elender.  “Then we’ll just play as we did today, try to have a lot of chances, and then when we putt as well as we did today we’ll have a chance.”

On the move of the final round to the Hills Course, GB&I’s Wootton (pictured right alongside Wallis) said, “In all honesty in tournament and practice rounds we’ve struggled on the Hills Course, so it might not suit us the most, but we’ll try and dovetail again like we did yesterday…and give ourselves two chances on every hole.”

42 pairings will compete across Lumine’s Hills Course after the final round was moved due to high winds forecasted in the local area.  The final round gets underway at 09:00am CET, 01/30/2015.

For updates and full Round 1 scores visit http://eur.pe/2015Fourball.

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For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf Golfbreaks.com Fourball Championship visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter search the Hashtag ‘#FourballChamps’, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

With thanks to Golfbreaks.com (www.Golfbreaks.com/pga-pro), LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club visit (www.lumine.com), Costa Daurada (www.CostaDaurada.info), Cambrils (www.Cabrils-Tourism.com), La Pineda Platja (www.LaPinedaPlatja.info), and Salou (www.visitsalou.eu).

Cort and Shave’s campaign at LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club on Spain’s Costa Daurada began solidly with four birdies in their front nine (The Hills’ back nine) to go out in 32.  That streak continued through the turn gaining another four shots in the next three holes to push them to their eight-under 64.

“We didn’t drop a shot which was important,” explained Cort.  “We dovetailed really well…we didn’t get any birdies on the same holes.”

“We just tried to get two balls in play to give us two chances on every green,” Shave added.  “Matt played really well and I helped out a couple of times.”

Fellow Brits and keeping their share of the lead are Adam Wootton and Richard Wallis whose early surge with an eagle at the second hole on the Lakes Course followed by a birdie on the third got them off on the perfect footing for the week.

Further birdies at the 8th, 11th and 12th took the pair to six-under par and a final push with birdies at the 16th and 17th holes gave them their eight under par total (71).

“We’ve not really got a game plan,” said Wallis.  “We did talk about it in the practice round but we’re both quite aggressive and the only time we’ve really spoken about it today was on the last hole.  I think because we got off to a good start and then played the tough holes on the back nine well we just tried to snowball it and see if we could finish strongly.

“Certainly with the weather coming in tomorrow we wanted to get off to a decent start…our goal today was to try and get a strong score on the board.”

“We both played pretty well even though it was cold this morning,” said Wootton “Rich holed a couple of nice putts on two and three, which got us some momentum.  We held on through the middle and then holed some more putts towards the end.”

In third place are the PGA of Sweden’s William Adolfson and Oscar Bergman with a seven-under par 64 carded around the Lakes Course.  Six birdies and one eagle were marred only by a single bogey on the 12th hole.

Also joining the Swedish pair in third place are Florian Fritsch and Sascha Elender hailing from the PGA of Germany.  A bogey-free round that included two runs of consecutive birdies in their front nine at the Hills Course ensured they are in contention moving in to Round 2.

Round 2 begins at 09:00am CET, 01/29/2015.  For updates and full Round 1 scores visit http://eur.pe/2015Fourball.

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For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf Golfbreaks.com Fourball Championship visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter search the Hashtag ‘#FourballChamps’, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

With thanks to Golfbreaks.com (www.Golfbreaks.com/pga-pro), LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club visit (www.lumine.com), Costa Daurada (www.CostaDaurada.info), Cambrils (www.Cabrils-Tourism.com), La Pineda Platja (www.LaPinedaPlatja.info), and Salou (www.visitsalou.eu).

Wales’ Garry Houston secured victory at the 2015 Mercedes-Benz International Pro-Am in association with Abu Dhabi Sports Council, after an epic play-off battle against fellow PGA of Great Britain & Ireland Professional, Alex Wrigley, ended on the fourth extra hole.

After both finishing at a three round total of -13 (200), Houston and Wrigley entered into a playoff on the 18th hole at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, UAE, that was halved in par fives three times, but ended with a birdie three for Houston ahead of Wrigley’s par four as they moved to the 16th hole.

Whilst Wrigley drove the green in one and Houston was just short, it was the latter that managed to convert his approach to a birdie to take the Championship.

“It was a bit like the hare and the tortoise coming up this par-five 18th,” explained Houston.  “Alex has a lot more length than me but I knew where he left it would mean that he was going to have difficult shots to get it up-and-down for birdie, so as soon as we got off 18 onto 16 I knew I’d have a chance.

“My game plan for the week was to win really – it was a good field and the scoring was really good at the top, I wanted to play well and do the best I could.”

Wrigley [pictured left] led for the previous two rounds and whilst he missed out on the win there were plenty of positives to take from his performance:

“Like every week you’re trying to play your best and trying to win – my game’s been in decent shape for the last couple of weeks – I’ve been changing a few things over the winter and they’re obviously paying off.”

Houston began the day three shots behind overnight leader Wrigley but the Welshman made light work of the deficit with three birdies at in his opening six holes.  A bogey at nine was also swiftly dealt with after two birdies at 11 and 12.

A further bogey at 13 dropped him back to ten-under, but a fantastic three birdies in his closing three holes for a six-under 65 propelled him to the a joint lead with Wrigley.

Wrigley’s final round began on a strong footing with early birdies on the front nine at holes three and five.  A further birdie at 10 took him to -13, however things hit a speed bump at holes 14 and 15 as the Englishman made two consecutive bogeys to drop back to -11.

But two birdies at 16 and 18 got him back to a three-under 68 and a total of -13 where he led for most of the afternoon until he was caught by Houston.

Third place fell to the defending champion, Filip Mruzek (PGA of Czech Republic), who made a concerted effort to get himself to a second event victory, but his closing two-under par 69 wasn’t enough to boost him past a ten-under par (203) total.

The Team Pro-Am event was a close-run competition on the final day but it was the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland’s Jonathan Grogan and his team of Patrick Seigmund, Michael Gustke and Stefan Seifert [pictured right], that edged ahead by one for a points total of 263 (-47).

Tournament winner, Houston, and his amateur teammates, John Bailey, Gary Dewhurst and Dorian Hopkins, bettered Grogan’s third round total by a shot with 89 points (-17), however it wasn’t enough to go ahead leaving them with the second place team spot at 262 points (-46).

For final Individual Professional and Team Pro-Am scores visit http://eur.pe/2015MercInt.

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For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter search the Hashtag ‘#MercIntProAm’, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club visit www.aesgc.ae.

Peter Dawson and Ty Votaw, respectively the President and Vice-President of the International Golf Federation – the body charged with the responsibility of bringing golf back into the Olympics – took to the stage at the IGF Olympic Golf Forum which launched the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, alongside the respected Rio course design team of Gil Hanse and Amy Alcott.

There was a palpable air of excitement among the packed audience who heard first-hand about the considerable strides being made in ensuring that the pioneering 60 men and 60 women who will represent their countries in August 2016 will find a stunning challenge awaiting them in Brazil.

A delegation of IGF Board members visited the course in Rio last weekend to witness for themselves the progress being made on site and Dawson told the Trade Show visitors, and the TV audience live on the Golf Channel, that “excitement is really mounting” as the countdown continues to Rio 2016.

He said: “We began this project of bidding for golf to return to the program of Olympic sports because so many small countries, small in golfing terms, who really needed some help to grow the game.  They said to us, look, if we could get golf into the Olympics it would give us extra exposure, extra government support, extra popularity for golf, and that’s already beginning to show through in so many countries that I visit around the world.”

Click Here to Download the Olympic Update Transcript

Votaw talked about the significance of Olympic golf in the United State by saying: “When we embarked upon this process we knew it would grow the game around the world, and we also know that anything that could bring golf to more eyeballs and to more kids in this country would certainly have an incremental effect here. We think it’s going to do nothing but help grow the game here in the United States.”

Norwegian Pettersen, a two-time Major winner and seven-time Solheim Cup player, was closely involved with golf’s Olympic renaissance in 2009 as an IGF delegate in Copenhagen when the International Olympic Committee vote was taken to include golf in the Olympic Programme for Rio 2016.

Growing up in Scandinavia, where the Winter Olympics ruled the roost, she could never conceive of the day – now just around the corner – where she, too, could dream of capturing the first gold medal in golf since the start of the previous century.

She said: “I grew up seeing all my role models, heroes, competing on TV for the gold, silver and bronze medals. Now I can have that dream myself and it is quite inspiring for me. And being a part of this process, you can see how much work it took to get golf back in and I think golf, as one of the biggest sports in the world, should be on the Olympic Programme.”

McDowell also recalled his youth in Northern Ireland, commenting: “One of our most famous Olympians was Dame Mary Peters, pentathlon gold medallist in the ’72 Munich Olympics, and I think my earliest memories probably came from watching the Olympics on TV and – being a purist – were of the 100 metre sprinters, and Linford Christie, a phenomenal British athlete, winning gold in ’92.

“I think the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of sport. It’s the ultimate achievement for a sportsman and athlete. Nothing will internationalize the game more than golf being part of the Olympics and bringing the game to underdeveloped parts of the world, bringing golfers to this great sport that we all love. I don’t think the timing could be more perfect. We’re all very, very excited and very passionate to be part of it.”

Hanse and World Golf Hall of Fame member, Alcott, provided a series of slides displaying the type of golf course the players will encounter in August 2016. Hanse explained: “We were blessed with a very sandy site (offering) the opportunity to create a golf course that looks and feels a little bit like the sand belt in Melbourne, Australia. I think these images will hopefully resonate and show people that there is grass, it’s growing, and there is a real golf course in the ground down there.”

Alcott added: “Gil and I have created a real links-style course with a lot of diversity and the mandate was playability for all levels of golfers (although) obviously I wanted to see it as a real challenge for the elite players in the world. We will leave behind a course for the people of Rio to enjoy in perpetuity.”

Pettersen said: “From what I’ve heard it’s going to be a fantastic course. It’s going to be links style, which is probably not what I had on my mind thinking about Rio, and having played some other courses down there.”

McDowell commented: “I think seeing these images certainly heightens the excitement level to be part of it. We still have a bit of work to do to make sure we are on the teams to go and compete as an Olympic athlete. I’m very passionate about seeing the golf course in Rio – it’s definitely amazing.

“I believe that the Olympic Games will grow into the game of golf as players get a chance to experience it. Golf has not been part of the Olympics since 1904. We have got a lot of learning to do. We have got a lot of understanding to do. As players we are excited to be part of it. The game will grow as we witness the first golfers standing on the podium with gold medal around their necks listening to their national anthems.”

PGA of Great Britain & Ireland Professional, Alex Wrigley [pictured right], cemented his position at the top of the 2015 Mercedes-Benz International Pro-Am leaderboard with a four-under par 67 in Round 2 at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, UAE.

Wrigley leads the way at -10 (132) after another solid sub-par round allowed him to open up a small but significant lead over his rivals.

An early charge with birdies at the second and third holes took the Englishman to eight-under where he remained for the next eight holes until an uncharacteristic bogey at the 12th pushed him back to seven-under.

Undeterred Wrigley bounced back with three birdies in his closing five holes to post a 67 that sees him head into the final round with a two shot advantage over the chasing pack.

Still within touching distance of the lead is overnight co-leader Filip Mruzek [pictured left] after a two-under par 69 took him to -8 (134).

The PGA of Czech Republic Professional was decidedly steadier in Round 2 with just a single birdie on the second nine having started on the 10th hole.  Birdies at two and six were only hampered by a bogey at four to close at eight-under for the tournament.

Remaining in third place is Wales’ Garry Houston who also took 69 strokes for his tournament total of seven-under par (135).

The Team Pro-Am competition remains wide open as the overnight leaders, Team Houston (John Bailey, Gary Dewhurst & Dorian Hopkins), dropped back to tied-third position on 173 points (-29) and were leapfrogged by Jonathan Grogan’s team of Patrick Seigmund, Michael Gustke, and Stefan Seifert, along with Nicolo Gaggero’s (PGA of Italy) team of Fabio Poggi, Andrea Grondona and Orlando Grondona, whose 86 and 89 points respectively boosted their totals to 175 (-31).

Team Houston sit alongside the team of Darko Ljubanovic (PGA of Croatia) and his teammates Damir Borovac, Alan Engelbrecht, and Mario Capek who each lie only two points behind the leaders.

For full Round 1 scores visit http://eur.pe/2015MercInt.  Round 2 begins at 08:00am (GMT+4).

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For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter search the Hashtag ‘#MercIntProAm’, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club visit www.aesgc.ae.

The second edition of the Pro-Am at Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates got underway after a short delay due to unusually damp conditions for the middle of the desert, but after the rain had cleared it was Wrigley and Mruzek that made headway throughout the day.

England’s Wrigley had a steady start from the 10th hole at the par-71 championship course with one birdie in his first seven holes, but then turned up the heat through the turn with five birdies in seven holes to end with his 65.

“I got it going around the turn,” said Wrigley.  “I think I made three or four birdies in a row and made three really key up-and-downs on seven, eight and nine…so I’m really pleased with my opening round.”

Again opening with a bogey-less round was 2014 Mercedes-Benz International Pro-Am Champion, Filip Mruzek:

“I played a good game…a bogey-free round,” Mruzek explained.  “[I had] no problem from the tee…I missed a few putts, but otherwise it was great golf so it was just a good day.”

Mruzek’s start was forceful with three birdies in the opening five holes, but was more subdued through the turn with only one birdie. This was disrupted at the 17th when a two at the 172-meter par three, followed by a birdie four at 18, gained two more to push to the top of the leaderboard.

One shot back at five-under par are the duo of Garry Houston (PGA of GB&I) and Nicolo Gaggero (PGA of Italy) who both carded 66s that were each only marred by the pair of bogeys they each took.

Houston’s seven birdies were hit by bogeys at holes nine and 14 after six birdies through seven holes at his turn, whilst Gaggero’s excellent closing six holes were interrupted by a bogey at 15.

The Team Pro-Am competition got off to a high-flying start as Houston and amateur teammates, John Bailey, Gary Dewhurst, and Dorian Hopkins, carded 91 points (-19) to sit at three ahead of second place Jonathan Grogan and his team of Patrick Seigmund, Michael Gustke, and Stefan Seifert.

For full Round 1 scores visit http://eur.pe/2015MercInt.  Round 2 begins at 08:00am (GMT+4).

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For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter search the Hashtag ‘#MercIntProAm’, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club visit www.aesgc.ae.

As a member of a Confederation of Professional Golf Member Country, European PGA Professionals can benefit from the most sophisticated golf club pricing system on the planet.

The video below explains how – simply click the screen or press pause to interact with this video and see more Videos available from Golfbidder.

“Golfbidder has eliminated the trials and tribulations of selling second hand golf clubs.”

Keith Maxwell – Head Professional, Sunningdale Golf Club

The increasing number of new releases in the hardware market has a dramatic effect on the price of even recent product lines. This increases the need to move stock quickly to avoid the risk of being left with redundant items and potential losses. Selling to Golfbidder removes this risk as we’ll take the clubs from you, leaving room (and cash!) for latest products from the manufacturers.

Based near South West London, Golfbidder is the Official Club Exchange of the PGA and CPG (10 years and 2 years respectively) meaning these two governing bodies believe Golfbidder can genuinely help their members. Over 1,200 club professionals use Golfbidder every year to move on their second hand golf clubs.

“Using Golfbidder to take trade-ins has helped me to increase sales and helps me keep control of my stock levels.”

Kieron Stevenson – Head Professional, Royal Troon Golf Club

The way it works is very simple. As you’ll have seen from the video we can offer you (and therefore your customer) instant prices for their old clubs – which they can then use as credit against a new club in YOUR shop

This creation of ‘virtual credit is where we see the scheme really work for your business. By offering to give them something for their old clubs, you’re matching the online price (or beating it) without having to take a hit on margin.

“I’ve received excellent reports about the quality and professional nature of the service that Golfbidder provides for PGA professionals. Golfbidder already employs in-house multi-lingual staff to provide great service to pro’s in Europe. I would encourage all PGA professionals across our member countries to visit www.golfbiddertrade.com to learn more about the way Golfbidder can help retailers increase turnover..” Ian Randell, Chief Executive, Confederation of Professional Golf

By offering a part-exchange service, all parties benefit:

• You’ll gain more sales and business in your shop by offering a part-exchange service.
• You’ll have a real advantage as not many retailers offer to accept part-exchanges in Europe.
• The customer is happy because they have saved money.

WIN! WIN! WIN!

It’s not only the customers’ clubs we want either. It’s yours too.

At the end of the season you may have new stock that you have not sold but would like to get rid of to make room and cash available for the new models. We can buy new stock in bulk.

Offering to take part-exchanges really does stimulate business. Not only does it drive extra money through your till (customers are much more likely to transact if they know they can get something ‘off’ with their old clubs), but it keeps customers loyal.

As key influencers at your respective golf clubs you can quickly gain an additional following from this scheme ….. once people know they can get their new clubs from you and something for their old one, they’ll tell everyone they know!

However you communicate with your customers, whether it’s by email or in-store, ensure they know that yours is a shop where they can turn their old clubs into new ones. Golfbidder will always offer a price for it and that ‘price’ is money which goes towards buying goods in your shop.

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Further information: www.golfbiddertrade.com

Contact: +44(0) 208 401 6900

Email: Pros@golfbidder.co.uk

Post: Unit E5, Barwell Business Park, Leatherhead Road, Chessington, Surrey, KT9 2NY

@LeeColan

For any leader, passion is the key to success. Here’s how to turn inspiration into action while pursuing your goals.

Passion is not just the way to happiness–it’s also the fuel that ignites success.  Having passion for a particular goal, whether personal or professional, provides the energy and motivation to take the actions necessary to achieve that goal.  It’s the intangible component that explains why some people and teams are better able to stick with their plans and achieve greater levels of success.

Here are eight strategies that the highest-performing leaders use to get the most from themselves and others.

1. Give passion to get passion

Think about how you respond to others.  Are your responses filled with enthusiasm or are they flat and lifeless?  The level of your energy will be reflected back to you–it’s your boomerang to the world.

2. Value your values.

Just as important as what you do is how you do it.  Living and working in alignment with your values reflects your passion as a person.  Living your values also engenders the respect and commitment of others, who will see you as a leader of integrity.

3. Communicate with your community.

The word “communication” comes from the Latin root meaning “community.”  The best leaders surround themselves with others who share their motivation.  Stay connected with your community to find support, to learn, to teach and to remain energised to stick with it.

4. Listen to Yoda.

In the words of the Star Wars Jedi Master Yoda, “Do or do not.  There is no try.”  If you are nervous that your plan won’t work, you might find yourself saying, “Okay, I’ll try to do it.”  You are laying the foundation for being unsuccessful from the beginning by giving yourself a way out.  Yoda’s adage is a passionate reminder that life rewards those who let their actions rise above their excuses.

5. Be still.

Start each day in quiet meditation or prayer.  Refresh your mind and refocus your heart on what you are passionate about.  Concentrate on one new thing you can do that day to deepen your passion and make progress toward your goal … even if it’s something you don’t like to do.  Your passion helps you endure those daily disciplines that build the foundation of your success.

6. Enjoy the journey.

If it’s only about achieving the goal, you are likely to lose steam along the way.  Take time to be a human being, not just a human doing.  Although high-achieving leaders have a laser-like focus, they also relish being in the moment.  My favourite poem says it best: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift … that’s why we call it the Present.”

7. Imagine the future.

Visualize the things you will be able to do once you have achieved your goal.  Does it feel freeing? What will you be able to do with your precious resources of time, money and energy?  This exercise is particularly helpful when you feel the flame of your passion barely flickering.

8. Serve others.

Use your passion to inspire others.  After all, great leadership is about others, not about you.  Be ready to turn your passion into an example to encourage those around you to pursue their own goals.  A true passion, like love, is limitless … so share it.

Niall’s top 10 suggestions:

1. Attend events that are relevant to you and your business.
2. Arrive early so you don’t walk into a room full of people who are already in conversation.
3. Be confident in your language and actions- people buy certainty and confidence, but turn away from arrogance- be careful.
4. Listen more and talk less.  It is no coincidence that you learn more when someone else is talking.
5. Become the gatekeeper and the go-to contact.  Build your strong contact network over time so that other people think of you first when they need help and advice.
6. First impressions count, so make yours positive.  Everything from appearance and handshake, to your attitude and body language.
7. Know your elevator speech – a short, sharp explanation of what you do.
8. Self-management of your time.  Don’t spend too much time in one discussion.
9. Be a farmer not a hunter – avoid selling and trying to get a deal on the day.
10. Always follow up with the contacts you make.

Manager, International Development, PGA Project China for the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, Matthew Davies, shares his thoughts about some of these opportunities in China, but also talks about some of the key considerations for if you are planning on working and living there.

There are many opportunities in the Chinese golf market, and Davies gives some advice on just how exactly is the best way to find out about these opportunities:  “Firstly, for the employment opportunities, you can start by regularly checking the jobs section on your PGA’s website.  Recently there has been an increased number of advertisements from China for PGA qualified golf professionals.”  

However, it is understanding and appreciating how the Chinese people do business may offer the key as to the best way to find out about opportunities and give yourself the best chance of entering the market.

“The Chinese do business very much based on the relationship and rapport they establish with someone,” Davies explains.  “Usually it will take 2 or 3 meetings over dinner before any commercial relationship ensues, sometimes longer.  Business is done usually through networks, often through a recommendation by a close associate of that Chinese person whom they trust.  As a result, it is understandable that they would rather employ someone, or do business with someone, they have met face to face rather than just read about through a CV or have a proposal land on their desk.”

It would therefore stand that the best way to find out and establish a business relationship with the Chinese is to travel to the country and meet people face to face.  One PGA of Great Britain & Ireland member who recently did this is Jonathan Garratt: “Absolutely the trip was beneficial for me.  I think the fact that I turned up out here and put myself forward for jobs really made a good impression.  The employers realise how serious you are about working in China.  It has resulted in me being offered an employment opportunity at every place I visited.”

Jonathan is keen to offer advice for his fellow PGA professionals looking to gain employment in China: “For any PGA professionals who are looking to come out here for work visiting here first is a must.  Not until you get here do you really realise how little English is spoken and how different even simple things like eating are.”

But although it is clear there are many opportunities in China for PGA professionals, Davies is quick to point out there are also some hugely important considerations which you need to consider before beginning any venture into China, certainly for employment purposes.

“The first and most important consideration is your Visa and making sure this is taken care of.  As recently as July 2013 the rules on employment of foreigners in China have become much stricter, so it is important to understand what you require before applying for your Visa and accepting any employment opportunity in China.  Further, you should also agree who is responsible for paying for the application of your Visa and any costs associated with doing so – will this cost be covered by the employer or by yourself?  Those travelling with family will also have considerations relating to education and additional health care, which although relatively accessible in the Tier 1 cities, can come at a considerable cost and something to research before booking your flights”.

1. Always try and get an early flight

This gives you more time for meetings during the day so you can arrive somewhere and get straight down to business.  It might mean waking up earlier but can be worth it if you get everything completed in a day – you could even fly back that evening so you’re not away from your own bed too long. You can review and plan where needed if you make regular flights and it’s worth experimenting to get the most efficient timings and costs.

2. Organise your travel documents

There’s nothing worse than not being able to find your passport when you get to an airport, so it’s always worth keeping copies of your boarding cards, ticket receipts, or your passport in a pack in your luggage.

3. Keep a check on your home time

I always keep one clock set to my home time zone so I can keep up with what’s going on back at the office, and ensure I don’t call at unearthly hours of the day too!

4. Stay hydrated!

This is so important to ensure you stay alert and have full concentration in every meeting.  Nowadays you can’t get water through security so once through Passport control head straight to a vendor and get a water for the flight or journey (which should hopefully be cheaper than buying it on a plane as well!).

5.     Adapt and survive

Travel with the correct travel adaptors – You can’t always purchase the right ones when you’re abroad so this is really important to make sure you can keep yourself powered up!  Maybe even invest in a new portable emergency USB and device charger and keep it in your bag at all times.

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 I attended the CMAA World conference presenting the Opening Education Address to 1,800 people in 2004.  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.  My story illustrates just how important networking can be in your career – below are 3 more benefits of networking when it comes to advancing your career…

1. Improves your PR within the industry

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, but think about putting yourself forward to speak at conferences, writing articles for magazines and/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 mentioned or meeting owners, CEO’s, headhunters etc.

2. Helps unlock the job market

Networking can be very helpful to your career.  It’s 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.”

3. Allows you to meet people that are outside your circle broadening your knowledge and skill sets

Finally attending events both inside and outside the industry can help you learn so much that you can add to your skill set.  It really is amazing the number of people you meet who play golf and will get talking to you because you are a golf professional – you never know where this may lead.

Golf is a fascinating and varied industry with much history and it employs many thousands of people across the UK & Europe offering a variety of roles and opportunities within different areas of the sport.

Most of us will spend 30 – 40 years of our lives working in different roles and organisations so it is important that we make the right choices and think through how best to make the most of our assets to create an interesting and fulfilling career.

Considering options when it comes to a career can be challenging and difficult, and knowing where to go for insight and advice can be daunting, which is why it’s important to review and assess where you are currently in your career, identify realistic and achievable goals that can support your progression within the sport and club industry, and also to create a clear plan to take you to where you want to go.

Two Club Inc. success stories are qualified PGA Professionals Matthew Hough and Karl Whitehead.  Matthew was one of our very first candidates having met me at a PGA course regarding working in China.  Matthew, 26, was employed as a qualified assistant at a traditional golf club in the North of England.  He was frustrated in his role, ambitious to take his career to the next level and had targeted Asia as the ideal place to work and live.

“At first I wasn’t sure what this assessment would bring me and it was going to be a big investment for me.  I worked with Niall to understand what my strengths really were, how I could turn my weaknesses into opportunities, how to grow those opportunities and realise any possible threats just like a business.

“Niall even sent me his CV and showed me a template that was clear and helped me to really highlight my achievements.  I grew to realise that a CV is not a job description – it really needs to show perspective employers very quickly who I am and what I have achieved.  With my CV transformed I was then eager to make the next step of undertaking a role-play interview.  This was just like an interview I even put on my jacket and tie on and felt really nervous.  Niall showed me a recording of the interview and offered his advice on where to improve, from this experience the next role-play session was much better and gave me confidence for when the real thing came along.

“We then looked at my LinkedIn and Twitter accounts and gave me a much better brand even changing my email address which made me look more professional.  Finally Club Inc showed me the importance of networking opportunities and I visited the Open Championship where they introduced me to so many people, which is really Club Inc’s unique skill as between Mark, Niall and their associates they know nearly everyone in industry.”

Another example is Karl Whitehead, now Head Professional at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, who had a clear career goal of working in the Middle East:

“I contacted Club Inc, as I knew they could help me achieve my goal of working in the Middle East. Niall was a GM in Dubai I tapped into his knowledge about the area and his contacts.  My CV was transformed to be specific and was worth the time and resource investment to get my dream job.

“My CV and cover letter certainly played a pivotal role in my success in achieving my dream move to Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi.”

Both these examples show the difference that a clear, concise and targeted CV can make when applying for career opportunities.  But what they also highlight is that it’s not just the CV that is important – a full mix of skills involving your CV, interview technique and preparation of your own online presence is required to help you achieve your career goals.

One business that acts proactively is Official Club Exchange of the Confederation of Professional Golf, Golfbidder, so we spoke to Managing Director, Liam Robb, about how the company ensures it is leading the way when it comes to integrating technology to their ever-expanding business…

How does Golfbidder utilise technology?

Perhaps our most unique piece of technology is our pricing calibration system, which our developers wrote in-house over a period of years. It gives the buying team here, headed up by John Brooke, real-time access to product availability, conversion rates, product profitability and stock turn across thousands of golf club models in varying conditions – enabling us to give the best price possible for old equipment to club pros.

We also have an automated system that tracks the price online sellers are charging for clubs so that our older models don’t end up looking too expensive – it is a constant process which is essentially about supply and demand – our buy and sell prices just reflect the market out there at any given time – and reflect it not just at model level – but at SPEC LEVEL.

So if you take a driver for example – that has various permutations of loft, flex, shaft type etc, then add in left or right hand, men’s or women’s, then condition ratings for head, shaft and grip – and there could be 100 different prices for one model! You could only manage this in the volumes we do with some very good software.

Then the fact that we are constantly using the software means that it is learning and becoming better and better all the time as more data is gathered.  We have data from all the way back to when the business began so using algorithms created by our developers we can ensure pros are getting the fairest and most accurate price and we make the appropriate margin on each club.

On the distribution side, when we take an order on the phone, that automatically creates a purchase order which gets emailed to the pro – and it also triggers a next-day collection of the clubs via UPS – so the whole process is very smooth.  We process payment for the clubs as soon as they arrive here.

Our aim is to make life as easy as possible for the club pros selling to us – they need to be able to deal with us with as little hassle as possible so that they can get on with running their businesses.  The organisational benefits we can give – for example, removing the inconvenience of individually promoting, selling and distributing clubs themselves – will hopefully achieve that goal.

How are Golfbidder’s customers changing the way they use technology and how has this affected the business?

The biggest change recently is the use of mobile – a significant number of customers now transact on mobile devices – which presents technical challenges for the web developers.  A few years ago, retailers would create apps for use on smartphones, but there are now so many different devices – phones and tablets with different screen resolutions – that making your website responsive is the way most people are going now.  Essentially you have one website, but it is optimised and resizes depending on which device it is being viewed on.

How important is it for Golfbidder as a business to keep up with changes/innovations in all aspects of technology within the business?

Very!  The example of optimising your website for mobile use as noted above being just one example.  The online market is changing all the time and you need a good (and normally expensive!) development team to keep abreast of things.

One of the ways we’ve done this is through the use of analytics software such as Google Analytics – previously this type of software would have cost a huge sum of money but now it is readily available for free so businesses should be making use of it!

We’ve used the data from there to establish exactly the information we gave about mobile device use – we can see exactly how users are interacting with our website and what device they do it on.  We’re also using it to tell us what the conversion of visitors to customers is by tracking consumer journeys from beginning to end on the site, which tells us key areas to improve and what news things can be introduced to increase that rate.

What is the biggest change in technology that has affected Golfbidder?

Believe it or not, the internet!  When we launched at the end of 1997 the internet didn’t exist.  I just had a shop and the idea was that if things went well I’d open some more.  But the internet changed everything.  I launched a simple one page website, which lacked traffic at first, but after some help from an SEO guy we started getting 10 emails a day from various parts of the country asking whether we had a particular club in stock – and then we started sending clubs out. The whole business model changed.

Any simple tips for professionals/national bodies to use when thinking about technology in all aspects of their businesses?

When we talk about technology, we are probably talking about web-based applications of some sort and I think the only advice I can give is that it is really helpful to have someone high up in the management who really does understand the lingo of JavaScript, html, database management – and keeps abreast of latest developments.  (I don’t understand it brilliantly if I’m honest – but I know someone that does!).  It’s important because if you are going to outsource technology work you want to understand the work that is being done, make sure you are not paying too much for it, make sure it is the best solution and is future-proof. It is very difficult to answer these questions if you are a technical layman.

Also, I think if you are going to adopt Social Media – Facebook, YouTube, Twitter etc – then you need to do it well.  It sounds obvious but a lot of people don’t do it well.  It requires quite a bit of thought to write something that people are actually interested in – and that often means having dedicated people involved doing it or are trained in the best ways of using it.  And you need to be very clear about what the purpose of doing it is and whether the time, effort and cost involved is actually worth it for your organisation.

Social Media has so many benefits for us, from excellent engagement rates which lead to great conversion rates directly from specific platforms, to a huge amount of awareness (e.g. 2 million+ views on YouTube), which mean it certainly is worth doing it, which means you can justify throwing resource at.

For more information on Golfbidder visit their Partner Page and www.Golfbiddertrade.com.

Attending PGA administrative staff, PGA Professional Members of Confederation of Professional Golf Member Countries, Media, company representatives, and European golfing body representatives are invited to a European Night at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida, USA, on Thursday 22nd January.

The evening is an opportunity for European attendees of the Trade Show to meet for an informal drinks and networking evening hosted by the Confederation of Professional Golf and PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, and supported by PGA Golf Exhibitions.

Dr. Brian Hemmings & Dr. Richard Cox

Wednesday 21st January 2015

Central Location: Holiday Inn, Rugby-Northampton, J18 of M1, NN6 7XR, United Kingdom

‘Approved by the British Psychological Society Learning Centre for the purposes of Continuing Professional Development’

&

‘Approved by the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland for 25 CPD points’

*Reduced Fees for Postgraduate Students/BPS Stage 2 Trainees/BASES SE Candidates/PGA Assistants*

Click Here to Download Information PDF (0.4mb)
Click Here For Full details and booking forms

“Taxi for Gordon Strachan” was a familiar chant from Coventry City fans at the turn of the century when he was manager and the club was dropping out of football’s top flight.

Similar cries when he lands in Spain en route for La Manga Club, however, are music to his ears.

And with good reason. Having owned a property at the complex for more than 25 years, Strachan, the dark days of the Sky Blues demise long behind him as he breathes life into Scotland’s national team, is a regular visitor.

Located 75 miles from Alicante airport, all that’s needed to get there is a taxi. Similarly, with the resort boasting more than 20 bars and restaurants, a five-star hotel, health club and fitness centre plus extensive facilities for golfers, footballers and tennis players within its confines, a hire car is not necessary.

Eight international-size football pitches, complementary training facilities and an average annual daytime high temperature of 22c make La Manga Club a warm weather training Mecca for Strachan’s teams and those from such clubs as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

The facilities for tennis are similarly extensive. However, the biggest attraction for the pint-sized Scotsman, who was a by-word for perpetual motion in his playing days, is the golfing menu on offer at La Manga Club; as it is for many golfers from the UK and northern Europe in the chillier months.

And, as in the case of the footballers, they are spoiled for choice when it comes to honing their games.

La Manga Club delivered another exciting chapter in its prestigious history in September following the official opening of the resort’s €1 million redevelopment of its teaching and practice centre including a new Leadbetter Golf Academy – the only one of its kind in mainland Spain.

The centrepiece of the renovation is the creation of a bespoke Leadbetter Academy building – described by David Leadbetter as “comparable with anything I have seen worldwide” – complete with two tuition studios, both equipped with the latest technology including Trackman, SAM PuttLab and K-VEST.

The Leadbetter Academy is directly adjacent to the remodelled range, and features two 36-metre Huxley grass tees, three extra mat teeing areas and a 150-metre wide, 35-metre deep grass tee area. The range itself has been extended to 300 metres with additional target greens, trees and bunkers added for increased definition.

When it comes to putting all this practice to the test then, again, the golfer is spoiled for choice as La Manga Club has not one but three courses: the South, North and West.

Although unimaginatively named, when it comes to design they are anything but, especially the West Course. Accuracy here is paramount as it winds its way through La Manga Club’s pine woodland.

Fairways are tight and the trees all-too-willing to send an errant ball even further off course. Indeed, such is the demand for accuracy that drivers, unless wielded by skilled and accurate owners, can be under-employed. A long-awaited chance to give the driver an airing, however, presents itself at the 18th where, with the tee a couple of hundred feet above the fairway and seemingly the whole of Murcia to aim at, the temptation to grip it and rip it is irresistible.

By contrast, the South and North courses are more open. Not that means they are any easier, especially the former which stages championships and, originally designed by Robert Putman and modified by Arnold Palmer, has undergone a complete refurbishment over the last couple of years.

These include the addition of water hazards and trees as well as green alterations. Just shy of 7,000 yards, the South is the longest of the trio, a statistic borne out by two par threes each measuring more than 215 yards.

The North is shorter than its two siblings but, in contrast to the South, has tighter fairways and larger greens. One of these – at the par three second, comprises three tiers. All of which is a recipe for a four putt or worse. Given the practice facilities at La Manga Club, though, there are no excuses for not going back to the drawing board.

Find out more at www.lamangaclub.com.

For the last five years, Jim has been the Director of Golf Pro Relations at Golfbreaks.com, a position to which he brought incredible enthusiasm and dedication. Jim organised a number of FAM trips for groups of fellow PGA Pro’s, helped to develop tuition breaks for the company as well as successfully running the Golfbreaks.com Pro-Ams and 4-ball Championships. He was also instrumental in the development of the company’s long-term partnerships with both The PGA and the PGA’s of Europe.

Chief Executive of Golfbreaks.com, Andrew Stanley, paid tribute to a wonderful colleague and dear friend on behalf of all 140 staff at the Windsor-based company.

“Jim was one of the most positive and likeable people imaginable and his contribution to the company over the last five years has been immense. His love of golf and love of people meant he was universally liked in the industry. Jim was also greatly respected as a pioneer in the world of golf travel and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him. Our hearts go out to his family at this sad time.”

Sandy Jones, Chief Executive of The PGA and a long-time friend of Jim, also paid tribute: “We are all deeply saddened by the passing of our friend and PGA member, Jim Long. He was a great credit to the Association in every way, displaying all the qualities and values you’d expect from a PGA member, not least his boundless enthusiasm and positivity. Jim was also respected and admired by all who met him over the many years of his membership and will be greatly missed by those of us lucky enough to call him a friend.”

Having played for the England team as a young amateur, Jim achieved his dream of making it as a Touring professional, competing for four years on both the European and African Tours, including an appearance in the PGA Championship at Wentworth.

After his playing career ended Jim turned his attention to golf travel, founding Longshot Golf Holidays. Having established the company as one of the largest and most respected in the industry, Jim eventually sold Longshot to concentrate on his World Pro-Am Golf Tournaments.

Over the course of 20 years, Jim organised more than 150 successful tournaments in the likes of Arizona, Dubai, South Africa, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Mexico, Spain and Portugal.

Also during this period, Jim helped a number of companies in his capacity as a golf advisor, including Dom Pedro Hotels, TWA Airlines and Trusthouse Forte Hotels.

He also served as General Manager at Sand Martins Golf Club in Wokingham, helping to complete the building of this club, as well as finding time to publish the best-selling book, ‘The Golf Rules Dictionary’.

The study found more women would be interested in taking up golf if they could learn with female friends and family, and play on shorter courses offering the option of nine or six-hole rounds.

They would also be encouraged to commit to golf or return to the sport if clubs were “less masculine”, “less intimidating” and treated them as “valued customers.”

The findings are contained in a new free-to-download report, The Opportunity to Grow Golf: Female Participation which follows specialist qualitative research, including a series of panel sessions around the UK listening to the views of female golfers, lapsed players and non-golfers.

Click Here to Download the Report

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wQM0rUAKoo

The report, which was launched this week in London to an audience of golf industry professionals, including the 2015 European Solheim Cup Captain Carin Koch, is designed to help clubs and courses identify potential solutions to retain current female golfers and attract new players, supporting the long-term sustainability of the golf industry.

The project is being supported by a series of short documentary videos showcasing the work of golf clubs and courses that are successfully recruiting new female golfers, viewable at www.greencast.co.uk

Syngenta Head Turf & Landscape EAME, Simon Elsworth, said: “The good news coming out of this research is that the UK golf business has a genuine opportunity to grow by proactively encouraging female participation.

“What’s important, though, is to listen carefully to what women are saying about golf, what aspects of the sport appeals to them and understand the conditions that need to be created to engage women as customers.”

Simon Elsworth continued: “The results of our qualitative research show that an important factor is the ability to learn and play with friends and family at venues where women feel welcome. Some of our case study videos underline this point, especially where there is all-female coaching and courses are able to provide flexible playing conditions.”

More than 30 golf business leaders gathered in London for a special presentation of the research report, including representatives of golf’s governing bodies, the professional tours and leading multi-course operators.

European Solheim Cup Captain Carin Koch, who has publicly expressed her desire to see more women playing golf, said: “It’s very important that we listen to young people and women and better understand what would encourage them to try golf, which is why I was so interested to read this report.

“As European Solheim Cup Captain, I’m very aware that thousands of sports fans will be watching the event on television and what a great opportunity this is to showcase golf as a game for women. My hope is that it will inspire new players of all ages to give golf a try and see what an enjoyable, social and healthy sport it is.”

Mike Round, Director of Development and Membership at the Ladies European Tour, said: “The Opportunity to Grow Golf: Female Participation is an important and valuable contribution to the efforts being made to inform and support the growth of golf – and is welcomed by the Ladies European Tour.

“The reality is that there is a gender imbalance in golf and this is something that needs to be addressed.  While progress is being made, much more needs to be done. This survey highlights that while there are challenges to overcome, there are also practical solutions that, if applied, will enable the sport to grow.”

Syngenta’s golf market research is designed to provide clubs and courses with information that will help them make customer-focused decisions to maximize market opportunities and deliver long-term business benefits.

Previous reports, including Growing Golf in the UK (2013) and The Opportunity to Grow Golf: Youth Participation (2014), are available to download from www.greencast.co.uk.

Here Richard walks us through some of the successes he has had in his first year as well as some of the trials and tribulations faced as PGA Professional working outside of their native country…

My opportunity to coach in Bulgaria was born out of my desire to coach a National Team, having been a European Tour Player, PGA of Great Britain & Ireland Trainee of the Year, Club Professional, recognised coach with many published articles, Golf Director and Regional PGA Chairman of Yorkshire and the North Region PGA.

I met many challenges upon my arrival last year – lack of resource, a new language and culture, and a team with poor golfing fundamentals.  The lowest handicap was 4 and the only single figure player in the squad, with the next best player having a 14 handicap.  The National team training was somewhat sporadic, without structure or focus and unfortunately no continuity of coaches.  I was just “another coach who might not stay”, in the eyes of the team.  I valued the warmth and friendliness from members and employees at St. Sofia.

“First understand before you can be understood” were the words that resonated through my mind.  Having understood the challenges we faced as team and coach I set about devising a plan to measure progress and development, with the assistance of two Bulgarians assigned to Junior Golf Development, working for the Bulgarian Golf Association.

We structured the training sessions, albeit on a limited budget, to incorporate a wider range of players.  I showed the players that I was there to help and support their development.  Naturally it took time to gain their confidence and trust, but after a short while they could see my intentions were clear and that I was in Bulgaria to stay.  A visit to the “Balkan Challenge”, at Lake Bled in Slovenia in July last year provided a great opportunity to get to know the players better.

That was over 12 months ago.  We now have four single figure handicappers all less than 16 years of age and a crop of youngsters knocking at the door behind them.  Players have participated in the Faldo World Series and this year two players will compete in the British Junior Open in July.

My methods are simple.  I have identified players who demonstrate good attitude, commitment to practice and the ability to bounce back when things are challenging.  In turn our team members show me they have the desire to be the best they can be.  These young people are pleasure to teach and be around.  I admire their determination to succeed.

With the help of colleagues, back in the UK, I have been able to identify the better ways to develop the team and advance their progress here in Bulgaria.  We have also incorporated the services of “Golf Data Lab” as an integral part of players’ understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses.

We gave 600 free lessons in the Capital City of Sofia with help from Ryder Cup European Development Trust, The R & A, European Tour, and Bulgarian Golf Association.

The World Matchplay at Thracian Cliffs last year highlighted the game in Bulgaria and with continued funding from The R&A and others mentioned I really hope we can produce some great young players over the coming years.

28-30 January 2015

The Confederation of Professional Golf Golfbreaks.com Fourball Championship returns to LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Community, Tarragona, in the Costa Daurada region of Spain, and will again be played over two of the fantastic courses at Lumine enabling up to 120 pairs to compete in the popular better-ball event, that now has the support of Europe’s largest golf travel company, Golfbreaks.com.

• The entry fee is €200 per pair and ALL entry forms must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee/credit card details and will be accepted on a first come first served basis.
• The closing date for entries will be Wednesday 14th January 2015.
• The Championship will be a 54-hole fourball betterball stroke play event with a maximum field of 120 pairs competing over the Lakes course and Hills course at Lumine Beach & Golf Club.
• Each pair will play 18 holes on Wednesday 28th January and Thursday 29th January over both courses.
• The top 40 pairs and ties will qualify for the final round on Friday 30th January over the Lakes course only

A GUARANTEED prize fund of €30,000 increasing by €200 with each additional entry beyond 25 teams.  All prize money is subject to a 5% levy.  The leading 40 pairs and ties will receive prize money.  NB: To receive prize money, competitors MUST complete all rounds entered.

Click Here to Find Out More

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For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf Golfbreaks.com Fourball Championship visit the Tournament Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter search the Hashtag ‘#FourballChamps’, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

For more information on Golfbreaks.com visit www.Golfbreaks.com/pga-pro, and for more information on LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club visit www.lumine.com.