Here IGPN looks at the hosts of the Associations three PGA Professional Championships and reveals more about what they have to offer…

Gloria Hotels & Resorts

International Team Championship & Annual Congress (8-11 December, 2015)

	W: www.gloria.com.tr E: info@gloria.com.tr T: +90 242 710 06 00 TW: @Gloriahotels
	Belek, Turkey
	Antalya Airport (AYT)
	Belek is a year-round destination but October to May is the ideal time for golfers. Winters are mild and sunny – around 17°C – although you may need a jacket in the evenings. If you want your golf break to include some pool time, go between June and September, when temperatures can climb to 38°C.
	Turkish Lira (Approx. 3.10 Lira to 1 Euro)
	Citizens from various countries require e-Visas for permission to enter and move around Turkey. E-Visas can be bought online ahead of travel at www. evisa.gov.tr and fees vary according to country of travel document and type of travel document. Travellers must also carry a passport that is valid for 150 days minimum from the date of arrival in Turkey. (www.goturkey.com)

Where the Mediterranean Sea and the river Acisu encounter, Gloria Hotels & Resorts inspire with their Five-Star Resorts in the sun-blessed and whole year destination Belek at the Turkish Riviera, which is only 30 kilometres away from Antalya airport.

“Unforgettable diversity, elegance and geniality” is the motto of the Gloria Hotels & Resorts, which comprises the facilities Gloria Golf Resort, Gloria Serenity Resort, Gloria Verde Resort, Gloria Villas and Gloria Golf Club. All sites are connected via a wonderful trail full of beautiful plants and trees with the beach.

Golfing all year round – in the Gloria Golf Club

Throughout the whole year Golf Club, the largest golf course of its kind in Turkey and the largest playing area of a hotel in Europe on 3.200 square meters, is the ideal place for some excellent golf.

The Gloria Golf Club has a total of 45 holes (two 18-hole championship courses, the “Old Course” and “New Course”, and one 9-hole academic course “Verde Course”) was designed by the renowned French golf course architect Michel Gayon. Here golfers find the perfect service: whether on the golf course, in the Club House, in the restaurant-bar, in the Pro-shop with well-known brands or individual oases of quietness.

Health at Gloria

Today, the hotel group keeps up with the times and launches new health programs: From purification via healthy sleep to right nutrition guests can find a wide selection in the new VITA by Gloria Cure & Care Centre. Next to therapeutic treatments new equipment for ultrasonic and electrotherapeutic procedures were installed – such as for the MBST® – Magnetic Resonance Therapy, which is an ideal alternative for osteoarthritis, arthropathy, brittle bones, sport injuries and osteomalacia.

The enchanting world of Spa & Thalasso

Gloria Hotels & Resorts Spa & Thalasso provide international brand products and engage professional SPA-therapists with international experiences, who offer relaxing and natural healing treatments with seawater, algae, slab and sea salt.

In addition to the first thalassic centre of the region, the Asklépion Spa & Thalasso of the Gloria Verde Resort, two further wellness areas are available for guests: the Serenity Spa of the Gloria Serenity Resort and the La Source Spa of the Gloria Golf Resort.

Gloria Sports Arena is open!

Europe’s largest private investment in sports – the Gloria Sports Arena – opened its doors on 30th December 2014! The arena offers modern technology and services to more than 50 indoor and outdoor sports across a 105,000 sqm Sports Medicine and Athletic Performance Center.

The Özaltin Holding group has invested more than 50 million Dollars for this huge project. The Gloria Sports Arena – a cradle for many Olympic sport disciplines – will be the new landmark for the sport tourism of Turkey and thus will change the image of Antalya as a true golfing and soccer destination.

Lumine Mediterránea Beach Club & Golf Community

Golfbreaks.com Fourball Championship (10-12 February, 2016)

	W: www.lumine.com E: golf@lumine.com T: +34 977 129070 TW: @LumineGolf
	Tarragona, Costa Daurada, Spain
	Reus Airport (REU) Barcelona El Prat (BCN)
	Costa Daurada is graced with a quintessentially Mediterranean climate, marked by mild winters and warm summers with little rain. The region’s mountainous geography likewise contributes to its stable climate, making it an optimum place to enjoy outdoor activities all year long. Average temperatures range from approximately 14º in winter to between 21º and 29º in summer.
	Euro
	Costa Daurada is a coastal region at the southern tip of Catalonia. Its capital is Tarragona and it is divided into six counties with a total of 131 towns. With an area of 2,999 square kilometres, it forms, along with Terres de l’Ebre, the province of Tarragona, which, along with Lleida, Girona and Barcelona, is one of the four provinces of Catalonia. (www.costadaurada.info)

Just 40 minutes south of Barcelona or a 15-minute transfer from Barcelona’s Reus airport, golf in the Costa Daurada remains something of a well-kept secret.  The renowned ‘Golden Coast’ already has some seriously good golf, including the Greg Norman-designed course at the 36-hole venue LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club in Vila-Seca/La Pineda Platja – a state-of-the-art Spanish resort that is fast gaining a reputation for being one of Europe’s premier golfing destinations.

With a broad variety of attractions, including 45-holes of championship golf, a variety of hotel options to suit all budgets, a first-class events and conference centre, restaurants serving modern Mediterranean cuisine and a magnificent Beach Club, LUMINE offers a luxurious haven in which to unwind and get away from the stresses of daily life.

45-Holes of Golfing Paradise

LUMINE is a true golfing haven, with 45-holes that offer a wide-variety of challenges for players of all skill levels. With Troon Golf at the helm alongside dedicated staff, guests are guaranteed pristine course conditioning, smooth and fast greens alongside first-class service and hospitality.  The three LUMINE courses are the first in Spain to be awarded the Audubon International Gold Signature Sanctuary Certificate, regarded worldwide as the kite mark for the most environmentally aware leisure developments.

The centre, previously base to their official winter training camps, has received rich praise from the Austrian and Finnish Golf Federation’s elite squads and is a popular choice for PGA Professionals leading group training.

Aprs Golf

Once you step off the final green a wealth of world-class facilities await, including two fully equipped clubhouses and the luxurious LUMINE Beach Club. Situated on 1km of golden Spanish beach and pine-clad hillside above the sweeping bay of Tarragona’s Playa Del Llarga, it offers the perfect mix of style, relaxation, excitement and fine dining.  With nine swimming pools laid out on a series of terraces with luxury beds and loungers, this has become a fashionable venue for a young crowd as well as families and couples.

Surrounding Region and Attractions

The Costa Daurada region is brimming with leisure, cultural and historic attractions. Spain’s largest theme park and one of country’s biggest entertainment attractions, PortAventura, lies just 5km away.

To the north lies the Priorat wine region, the birthplace of exquisite reds that many wine writers and collectors consider to be Spain’s most elite.  The historic town of Tarragona is also just a 15-minute drive from LUMINE.  With 2,200 years of history and a Roman heritage preserved in dozens of monuments and architectural remains, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Essential Roman highlights include the Amphitheatre, the Circus depicting the route of early chariot racing, a one-kilometer stretch of original walls and fortifications from the 2nd Century BC, and a temple with its surviving portico.

If it’s bustling nightlife or seaside sophistication you are looking for, then the choice is yours; with both the busy resort of Salou and the more peaceful marina port of Cambrils just a few minutes’ drive away.

Pravets Golf & Spa Resort

UniCredit PGA Professional Championship of Europe (14-17 October, 2015)

	W: www.pravets-golfclub.com E: info@pravets-golfclub.com T: +359 882 550813 TW: @PravetsGolfClub
	Pravets, Bulgaria
	Sofia Airport (SOF)
	Sofia has a humid continental climate with an average annual temperature of 10.2 °C (50.4 °F). Winters are cold and snowy. In the coldest days temperatures can drop as low as -15°C or even lower, most notably in January. In summer, Sofia is often subjected to heat waves with high temperatures reaching or exceeding 35°C in the hottest days, particularly in July and August. (Source: http://wikitravel.org)
	Bulgarian Lev (Approx. 1.96 Lev to 1 Euro)
	Pravets is a town in the Pravets Municipality in central western Bulgaria, located approximately 60 km from the capital Sofia. Sofia is Bulgaria’s capital and its largest city. Founded thousands of years ago, today the city continues to develop as the country’s cultural and economic center. At present, the city has a population of 1,250,000. (Source: http://bulgariatravel.org)

Pravets Golf Club

Pravets Golf Club offers a Peter Harradine designed 18-hole, par 72, Championship golf course and a state-of-the-art golf academy with an extensive practice area.  This parkland style golf course boasts spectacular views of the local mountains and lake, framed by the impressive RIU Pravets Resort hotel.

The par-three eighth hole, played as the 17th during the UniCredit PGA Professional Championship of Europe, is the signature hole with its challenging island green.  The 9th and the 18th greens are united in one double green, alike the well-known features of the Old Course in St Andrews.

The modern clubhouse is situated on the south side of the Pravets Lake and perfectly complements the splendid picturesque mountain scenery, just a step away from the double green of the 9th and 18th hole.  The unique terrace of the Panorama restaurant gives patrons a beautiful view of the parkland style course.

The Pravets Golf Academy is one of the best-designed learning facilities in Europe.  The club’s coaching facilities are state-of-the-art and offer covered and uncovered practice range bays, a dedicated short game area and teaching studios.

Hotel RIU Pravets Resort Golf & Spa

Hotel RIU Pravets Resort is located 50 km away from Sofia – easily accessible, only 45 minutes drive on Hemus highway and yet distant enough from the daily stress of the big city.  The hotel provides a quiet and cozy atmosphere for relaxation or work, and offers its guests breathtaking views of the lake and the golf course, as well as the picturesque slopes of Stara Planina.

The hotel has a total of 242 units offering all features and services to satisfy the most demanding requirements of the leisure and business traveler.
The “Hunters’“ and “Panorama” restaurants give guests the opportunity to enjoy fine dining through a sophisticated international menu, game specialties and exquisite desserts.
For those who appreciate good wine, the hotel has its own sommelier who has prepared an excellent international selection of white and red wines.

The proximity of Pravets Sports Complex (with multifunctional sports hall, 3 football fields, 4 basketball and volleyball playgrounds and 3 tennis courts) is a great opportunity for camping and training of sport teams.

Hotel guests can enjoy their coffee or cocktail by the open air Olympic-size swimming pool during the day or some quality time in the lobby bar, the piano bar or the bowling centre in the evenings.

Spa Facilities:

The SPA collects the best of the past and ultra- modern technology and occupies an area of ​​nearly 3000m2. It will offer you a unique combination of cutting-edge and classic relaxation techniques. Incredible variety of procedures and individual programs supported by ultra modern facilities will satisfy every customer.

For more information on the Association’s tournament and education events visit cpg.golf/event

Representatives from the Association’s 36 Member Countries, along with leaders from Federations and other significant golfing bodies from across the continent, will meet and discuss the state of play within their respective territories, as well as learn and share ideas with each other alongside fantastic speakers from not only the world of golf but wider industries as well.

Then, running simultaneously to the Congress, the ITC will pit teams from across the Confederation of Professional Golf’s Member PGAs against each other across 72-holes at Gloria Golf Club with the best two individual scores each day from the team of three counting towards the overall team score. 2014 winners, Scotland, will look to make it three wins in four years and repeat their 10-shot victory over the rest of teams when they return.

“Our partnership with Gloria has already shown to be hugely effective from both sides,” said Ian Randell, Confederation of Professional Golf Chief Executive. “The resort offers superb accommodation, extensive meeting facilities, great golf courses and offers plenty of variety for both our delegates and players. With such rich surroundings to our flagship event, it is no wonder our guests value the experience greatly and are looking forward to returning for a second year.”

“We are very pleased to be hosting the Confederation of Professional Golf’s Annual Congress again this year,“ explained Öznur Özdemir Özaltin, CEO of Gloria Hotels & Resorts. “We are especially excited to relive the International Team Championship, which is a key part of the Congress week. Last year the Scots took the glory – we can’t wait to see who will win this time around!”

With Gloria’s fantastic Serenity Resort acting as the base for both events, the week will conclude with a gala award dinner bringing Congress delegates and ITC competitors together in celebration of the Association’s 25^th Anniversary, the annual award winners and the ITC Champions.

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For more information and news visit the Annual Congress Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2015AnnualCongress), follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag ‘#AnnualCongress’ or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

The 2015 Annual Congress and Gala Awards Dinner are supported by Rolex and the Ryder Cup European Development Trust and hosted by Gloria Hotels & Resorts – for more information on the event partners visit http://eur.pe/2015AnnualCongress.

I have been very fortunate throughout my career to be able to see the world as an integral part of my job and I believe that having an international perspective and experience and understanding of other cultures has benefitted me oreatly both personally and professionally. Sharing knowledge and good practice across organisations and PGA Professionals by spending time with people from other PGAs, golfing organisations and PGA Professionals is at the heart of the operation of the Confederation of Professional Golf.

With travel on our minds for this issue, the Confederation of Professional Golf make it our business to provide opportunities for PGA Professionals to travel whether it be to compete in international tournaments or Pro-Ams, educational events such as the recent Coaches Circle in Bulgaria or purely to take trips with clients, providing a world of opportunities.

Our tournament schedule continues to expand and it is fitting that we take a look at some of our fantastic event venues that we are lucky enough to have on our schedule.  We are thankful to them all for their hospitality and support in various ways and I hope that you get an opportunity to visit them either at one of our events or separately making use of the great deals many of these places have for PGA Professionals.

I have just returned from my most recent trip where I was very fortunate to travel to the US PGA Championship with our Chairman, Sandy Jones. Whilst there, we were able to share some of the golf development initiatives taking place across Europe for an interview with SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio.

It would seem to me that there are some fantastic initiatives around the globe to encourage more people to play more golf more often and experience our wonderful sport. It would also seem that golf at the elite level could not be in a better place! The four men’s majors have been full of great golf, interesting story lines and excitement. Jason Day’s win at Whistling Straits (an amazing venue that is sure to provide a fitting stage when we return there for the Ryder Cup matches in 2020) saw him take his rightful place as a Major Champion after several near misses and he now joins Rory and Jordan in making up a triumvirate of twenty-somethings atop of the world rankings.

When you add in the fact that 17 year olds, in the form of Canadian, Brooke Henderson and Germany’s Dominic Foos (a member of the Junior Ryder Cup team in 2012), setting new records on the LPGA and European Challenge Tour respectively – the top of the professional games seems to be in a very exciting place!

I hope you enjoy the read this month and you are inspired by this issue to get out there and explore the golfing world.

This article originally featured in International Golf Pro News. Visit the IGPN Page to find out more and subscribe for free.

From the shores of Lake Geneva to the fairways of Rio de Janeiro, the world’s top women golfers had a taste of what to expect in 2016 when they paid a visit to the Olympic Museum and IOC Headquarters ahead of the Evian Championship.

Seven golfers from five continents, all with aspirations of going to the 2016 Rio Olympics, played a nearest to the pin contest before taking a guided tour of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland and posing in front of the Olympic Flame.

Shanshan Feng (China), Julieta Granada (Paraguay), Fabienne In-Albon (Switzerland), Caroline Masson (Germany), Paula Reto (South Africa), Alena Sharp (Canada) and Maria Uribe (Colombia) were all inspired to realise their own Olympic dreams as they learned about past records and heroes.

Staged at two editions of the Games (Paris 1900 and St Louis 1904), golf is returning to the Olympic programme in 2016 after a 112-year absence. To mark this event, the International Golf Federation (IGF) Executive Director Antony Scanlon announced that The Olympic Museum will devote an exhibition to golf with free admission from 9 December 2015 to 31 January 2016, where visitors can learn everything about the sport before the upcoming Games.

After the contest and tour, several players met the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach at the IOC Headquarters to discuss their hopes for when golf returns to the Olympic Games next August. President Bach insisted on hitting a few chip shots with the players in the garden afterwards and said: “I really enjoyed trying golf but the passion was greater than the performance!”

World number eight, Shanshan Feng, who is one of China’s brightest medal prospects, commented: “It was really great to learn more about the history of the Olympic Games and it has certainly inspired me to go for a medal! The Olympics is so popular in China and I am determined to represent my country with pride.”

Julieta Granada, who is Paraguay’s representative on the current Olympic Ranking, commented: “As I’m from South America I’ve got extra incentive to perform well in Rio. As well as competing, I’m looking forward to the carnival atmosphere at the greatest show on earth.”

Fabienne In-Albon, who is poised to represent Switzerland, commented: “Representing my country in the Olympics has been a dream since I was a little girl. Now I have the chance to make this dream become a reality so I’m working very hard every day because I’m sure next year is going to fly by.”

Germany’s Caroline Masson, who won the nearest to the pin contest, commented: “It was a privilege to sit down with President Bach and the IOC staff and it was great to hear how much support golf has from the IOC in its return to the Games. I’m working really hard to make sure I’m in Rio next year.”

South African Paula Reto commented: “I always watched the Olympics growing up in South Africa so it’s going to be fantastic to compete and I will do everything I can to play well.”

Canadian Alena Sharp commented: “To represent my country and compete for an Olympic medal would be an absolute honour and I’m going to work hard to achieve my goals.”

Maria Uribe from Colombia commented: “For me, nothing will beat playing in the 2016 Olympics in my home continent, South America. I can’t wait for golf to return to the Games in Brazil after a 112-year absence and I’m sure the worldwide interest in golf will grow massively as a result.”

After their inspirational visit, the players took the short boat ride back across the lake from Lausanne, Switzerland, to Evian, France, which is hosting the final Major Championship of 2015. With less than a year to go until the next Games, watch the players compete in the Evian Championship and support them on the road to Rio in 2016.

For up-to-the-minute information on #OlympicGolf and regular updates, please follow us on Twitter (@OlympicGolf), Facebook.

A recent example was spending 10 days or so in Bulgaria at Pravets Golf & Spa Resort just outside Sofia. During that period we hosted around 50 people for various reasons tied into our education operations and I was lucky to spend much of the time interviewing these people and generating content.

During this trip and others before it I’ve picked up a few tips for travelling in a communications context that I think could easily help others heading to foreign climes:

Ask Questions

Never be afraid to ask a question – when I first visited countries outside of my ‘comfort zone’ (Britain), I always held back when I needed to find something out. I assumed people wouldn’t speak English and even if they did they wouldn’t want to help. Well it turns out, oddly enough, that they’re just like you and me. There are always people out there willing to help.

Asking questions also has other advantages – a whole world of culture and idiosyncrasies opens up to you and you often find out some enlightening things. This is especially important in what we do at the Confederation of Professional Golf – you would be amazed at what you can find out when you ask the right questions and listen properly.

Learn Your Ps & Qs (phrases)

One of my only regrets is not having paid more attention in language lessons at school. Admittedly I am in an interesting position where we have 36 member countries that speak approximately 39 languages so it is more relevant to me than perhaps others, but I really wish I had at least one fluent second language. It is amazing to visit other countries and be able to speak to them in English and communicate effectively, but it would be better if the visitor could adapt to the host rather than the other way around [although something that can help is Google Translate’s amazing app that instantly translates printed text in 27 languages].

Because of this my advice is to try and learn just a couple of phrases and words that could help during the trip. Easier said than done of course but it is genuinely worth it. And don’t be afraid to test out your phrases when you are there. Again I’ve often hid away from using some snippets of languages I do know, but a) how will you get better if you don’t practice, and b) the natives don’t mind if it’s a little wrong…at least you are trying!

Organise Yourself

Always having documents to hand is great – I love to travel using Apple’s Passbook functions on the iPhone, but I always have backups somewhere in my hand luggage. And then I tend to have digital backups available offline in the app Evernote.

Then there’s your kit – more or less every time I travel for work I will have a bag of camera gear, computer bits and pieces and a mass of cables with me. The key here is to make sure your gear is secure and safe, easily accessible (especially for the times when you get a tear-down from security) and in its place. Amongst other things I use a ‘Cocoon GRID-IT!^®’ – this is a great organisation system that uses elastic straps to hold anything and everything together so you can get to it easily and also keep a variety of items in one place.

Backup! Backup! Backup!

The last tip (for now anyway) is to backup. That’s it. Simple. Always, always, always back your files up before you go anywhere. I have various hard drives and memory cards with me when I go away but I always have another back at home with a very recent backup ready to go if I ever need it. I haven’t needed it yet, but you never know…

This article originally featured in International Golf Pro News. Visit the IGPN Page to find out more and subscribe for free.

Afterwards Louis revealed that it was in fact a trigger shown to him by his psychologist, Karl Morris, which enabled him to engage his pre-shot routine effectively throughout the tournament.

IGPN caught up with Louis ahead of his return to St Andrews to find out more…

Q. Can you explain a bit about the red-dot concept and what it was designed to do?

“I had it on my glove to have a focus point to start my routine.  It could have been any colour, but red we thought was like a stop sign; stop what you are doing and focus on the next shot.”

Q. How did Karl help you identify this and build it in to your game?

“I worked with Karl Morris for 1 or 2 weeks to work on a routine, nothing other than that, just on the routine side of my game.”

Q. How much do you think the idea assisted you throughout that week?

“Well I still needed to play well, but obviously that helped me get into the right frame of mind before I hit every shot.”

Q. Do you still use this concept or something similar when playing now?

“No I do not use that concept anymore, but I got myself into a routine after that.  I do not need the trigger as I know now before a shot to stand a few seconds to focus on what I want to do.”

Q. How do you feel about returning to St Andrews five years on from your Open Championship win?

“I’m really looking forward to playing a golf course I love at my favourite place in the world.  Hopefully the game is there and I play well this week.”

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PING are Corporate Partners of the Confederation of Professional Golf. For more information on PING visit www.ping.com.

The uniforms of the International Team at The Presidents Cup 2015 combine the rich history of the event with Peter Millar’s signature style – timeless craftsmanship, superb sophistication and bright hues of wearable color. The week’s events will welcome the finest in luxury apparel styling, uniquely tailored clothing and performance fabrics with the International Team donning expertly crafted tailored clothing from luxurious super 120’s wool, imported cotton dress shirts, silk neckwear, 100 percent cashmere sweaters along with high-performance fabrics.

“We’re very proud to partner with Captain Price and the PGA TOUR once again on The Presidents Cup International Team uniforms,” said President of Golf for Peter Millar, Todd Martin. “Mike Bowers, our VP of Design, has worked very closely with Captain Price to create a line that is unique and tasteful as the matches move to Asia for the first time in the Cup’s history.”

Additionally, Peter Millar will outfit the wives and significant others of the International Team with apparel that offers classic sophistication and an effortless nod to modern styling. Classic chic will be the cornerstone of the women’s apparel, offering cotton polo shirts in crisp colors and feminine silhouettes as the base layer. Players wives and significant others will enjoy luxury cashmere and coordinated outerwear accented with perforated leather trim for layering on cool mornings. Unique accessories such as the pony hair polka dot belt and flat will add for a pop of fashion.

“I’m thrilled Peter Millar is the official uniform for the International Team at the 2015 Presidents Cup in South Korea. The superior quality, comfort and performance of the clothing will no doubt give our team great confidence and enable them to perform at their highest level,” said Nick Price, International Team captain and World Golf Hall of Famer.

Click Here to Visit the Peter Millar Corporate Partner Hub Page

The 2015 KLM Open is the venue for the launch of an ambitious project to unite the golf industry in its quest to increase participation in golf across the EU and promote golf to the next generation of young players.

The GoGolf Europe project will support five European countries – the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France and Portugal – in a three year initiative designed to test innovative new access pathways to golf for European youth while also documenting the unique health benefits which the sport can provide to all.

The new GoGolf Europe project has successfully secured co-funding from the European Commission under Erasmus+, the EU programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for 2014-2020.

Led by the European Golf Association (EGA), the project will unite the National Golf Governing Bodies of the five participating countries alongside the Confederation of Professional Golf, the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment and the University of St Andrews as the official research partner. Alongside the funding support from the European Union, co-financing will also be provided by the European Tour and the EGA.

The GoGolf Europe launch event at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club on Wednesday 9^th September will use the prestigious setting of the KLM Open to showcase the project. As the project aims to increase youth participation in golf, the launch will actively involve local children who will get a behind–the-scenes view of the European Tour championship venue and the chance to play golf and receive coaching with local professionals.

Richard Heath, General Secretary of the European Golf Association (EGA), the organisation leading the project, commented: “Europe has excellent capacity for golf with over 6,700 courses and some 7.9 million citizens already playing the sport. Nonetheless, we are facing significant challenges in effectively engaging young people to take up the sport and we are actively seeking innovative new solutions for growing youth participation”.

Florence Brugmans, youth coordinator of the Netherlands Golf Federation, stated: “We are delighted to host the launch of the GoGolf Europe project – increasing youth participation in golf is high on our agenda in the Netherlands. We think the GoGolf project can make a difference in enthusing youth for the sport. We are pleased to be part of a project that unites the entire golf sector in pursuit of this goal.”

Fredrik Lindgren, Head of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at the European Tour said: “The European Tour players were all inspired to start playing in their youth, and the European Ryder Cup team’s successes have led to innovative legacy programmes in the countries hosting The Ryder Cup, so we are proud to stand alongside our Golf Europe partners and further support the structured development of the sport in Europe with GoGolf.”

For more information, please contact the Golf Europe office: info@gogolfeurope.eu.

IMAGE CREDITS – Getty: Youngsters at the launch of GoGolf Europe at the KLM Open on Wednesday

The European Week of Sport (EWoS) aims to promote sport and physical activity across Europe. The Week is for everyone, regardless of age, background or fitness level. With a focus on grassroots initiatives, it will inspire Europeans to #BeActive on a regular basis and create opportunities in peoples’ everyday lives to exercise more.

Golf Europe is coordinating a variety of activities related to EWoS and the #BeActive campaign, including free lessons from PGA of Belgium Professionals in nets and on synthetic greens at The Square in Brussels as part of the European Commission’s multi-sport exhibition.

Along with this activity each of the days has a theme relating to the overall message of the week:

• Monday 7th – The week will be officially opened by the Commissioner for Sport, Tibor Navrascs, and EWoS ambassadors.
• Tuesday 8th – FOCUS DAY: Education.
• Wednesday 9th – FOCUS DAY: Social inclusion, and Flagship event.
• Thursday 10th – FOCUS DAY: Workplaces– inviting businesses to take part in a team putting competition.
• Friday 11th – FOCUS DAY: Outdoors.
• Saturday 12th – Club & fitness centre focus and the opportunity to communicate the benefits of joining a club such as members becoming more active, creating a social network, healthy living, and promoting an active and outdoor lifestyle.

There are a wide range of activities for various sports and activities taking place across Europe not just for the week but until the end of September 2015. EWoS will also return during September each year ensuring the message of promoting participation in sport and physical activity and the benefits of both continues in years to come.

For more information on the European Week of Sport and to find an event near you visit http://eur.pe/EuropeanWeekofSport

The inclusion of the event to the schedule marks the first African-based Confederation of Professional Golf Sanctioned Event and sees the Association partner with one of its International Members, the PGA of South Africa, to promote and operate the event.

After two successful editions so far, the event is set to combine fantastic playing conditions of 90 holes across four championship courses – Zimbali Country Club, Durban Country Club, Prince’s Grant Golf Estate and Cotswold Downs Golf Estate – along with prize fund payouts up to 60th place.

The PGA Professionals will battle it out in an Individual Stableford format competition to claim the US$33,000 cash first prize. The teams will compete in a four round Pro-Am tournament consisting of three rounds of combined Betterball Stableford and a single round of Fourball Alliance Stableford for the prestigious Team Pro-Am trophy.  A total prize purse of US$210,000 will be paid out that includes cash for the Professionals and US$50,000 in cutting-edge golf apparel for the daily amateur prizewinners, plus two luxury hole-in-one cars for the Professional and amateur as separate prizes.

“We are pleased to announce that the entries for the third World Club ProAm are officially open and teams who have been waiting have been quick to secure their spots for 2016,” said Chief Executive of the PGA of South Africa, Ivano Ficalbi.

“This tournament, the only Club Pro-Am of its kind in the world, has come a long way since we announced the inaugural event at the 2012 Confederation of Professional Golf Annual Congress in Portugal, and we are proud to say that it just keeps getting better and better.”

Entry for amateurs is US$4995 each. The PGA Professional’s travel, accommodation and golf is sponsored by the organisers as the fourth member of the team:

• A full golfing package of 5 days of competitive golf across 90-holes of KwaZulu-Natal’s premier courses
• 7 nights 5-star accommodation sharing
• Breakfast daily
• 5-Star official gala events
• Airport transfers in Durban from King Shaka International airport
• Official Practice round – voluntary on one of the courses by draw
• Golf carts / or caddies on any walking only course (DCC)
• Mid-round (halfway house) Grab & Go snack & drink
• Luxury coach daily transportation to and from golf courses
• Welcome Cocktails
• Official Opening Dinner
• Awards Gala Dinners

To find out more and register your entry visit WorldClubProAm.com.

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

The partnership began in 2008 after the leading manufacturer joined the Association’s portfolio of Corporate Partners reflecting the company’s involvement in many of the Confederation of Professional Golf member countries as well as their tireless support of the PGA Professional.

PING are set to unveil a brand new, state-of-the-art, showroom at their Gainsborough headquarters, which will showcase the now unified clothing and hardware ranges. The brand will also use the advanced facility as a training room, regularly inviting PGA Members to visit and learn about the methodology PING has utilised since 1959.

“Ping continue to be fantastic partners for our Association,” explained Confederation of Professional Golf Chief Executive, Ian Randell.

“Their business ethos and commitment to quality and innovation very much align with our own ideals, and the longevity of the partnership is testament to the strong relationships that exist between our two organisations and the benefits that we can bring to each other.”

“Ping and PGA Professionals have very common interests and objectives so this is a very comfortable partnership that has stood the test of time, and will continue to do so” said John Clark, Managing Director of Ping Europe.

For more information on PING visit www.ping.com