Because of this I sit in the middle of various areas of the industry where I can get a good view of what is happening when it comes to embracing technology and looking at innovative ways to continually advance our profession and the coaching process.

Barely a day goes by without an announcement of an upgrade or introduction of a new piece of equipment that could make a golfer better (or ideally simply enjoy themselves more), and it’s exciting to think where this could go in the future.

Now, as an opening caveat, I no longer coach students as part of my job, but I am exposed to a lot of great coaches who have dedicated their lives to improving golfers’ experiences. So whilst I may not be directly using coaching equipment on a daily basis, I can appreciate the technology behind them and their practical applications.

In speaking with many of these coaches, there is something that continually comes up when you discuss technology – data capture.

The level of detail and sheer quantity of data that we can capture about a golf swing is incredible. Technologies such as launch monitor/radar flight and ball-roll tracking devices, hi-speed camera analysis, and the myriad of other options on the market, mean you can now analyse every parameter imaginable when getting the ball into the hole. And, assuming the user is appropriately trained, this can turn into a very tangible benefit to the end-user.

Previously we featured the Strokes-Gained metrics developed by Dr Mark Broadie that utilises the PGA Tour’s ShotLink® data in which every single shot played in PGA Tour events is recorded into an open-access pool of information that academics can make use of.

This detailed level of data capture has meant that every single aspect of a player’s round can be analysed and new and improved metrics for performance have been created.

With the continued rollout, pun intended, of golf simulators and intelligent, customisable simulated environments, combined with Augmented Reality (AR) technology, we now have ways of mirroring golf course conditions like never before, making coaching more realistic and contextually applicable.

Where Next?

Simulating golf course conditions leads nicely into the potential innovations that we could see in the future.

One thing I think could have huge potential uses would be virtual reality (VR) – imagine standing in a bay, putting on a headset and methodically planning your way around your next golf course of choice.

This could be something that helps the transition of elite amateurs to tour events – often players with little experience of the ‘big stage’ can let things get on top of them. The incredibly immersive experience of VR could help train players to overcome their nerves, ignore the distractions and perform better under pressure by recreating the conditions they could feel. Granted, nothing will ever replace the real thing but this would be a great start.

The future of data-capture looks to be about expanding our awareness and knowledge of areas of the sport that were previously nothing more than theory. We already have equipment with built-in sensors but I can see a future [that is not too far away] where there are completely non-invasive methods of gathering the same data Trackman can for example, but without the need for any external equipment to be setup, with data streaming live and wirelessly to receivers both on and off the course.

I can also see this extending to more wearable equipment that is less intrusive in the practice or practicing or playing (think a biomechanics analysis product that is nothing more than a normal base layer for example with no discernable difference to a normal item of clothing).

Right now anyone can go out and measure their vital statistics using something like an Apple Watch and the relevant apps, but perhaps in future we won’t even need to put anything on, or if we do it will be more akin to wearing a temporary tattoo than an accessory like a watch.

Perhaps a much bigger question to pose from all of this is what will be done with this data – the more you capture, the more you need to process it, and ultimately it needs to be useful to coaches and then to their students.

What will certainly need to happen, no matter what might come in the future, is for the education of coaches to go hand-in-hand with the technological advancement to ensure these fantastic tools are not purely a marketing ploy but are actually beneficial and valuable to their students.

PGA Professionals have a responsibility to keep up with the latest changes in coaching methods to ensure they a) provide what their students want and need, and b) they don’t get left behind when others could be helping golfers play better and enjoy themselves more.

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

IGPN still continues its mission of providing interesting, relevant and useful content to our Member Country PGAs and their individual PGA Professional Members.

We have had contributions from across golf and many other sports and industries. Not just from within Europe, but from around the world. And from PGA Professionals and a wide variety of experts, academics and figureheads.

This 36^th Issue looks at an area that is, and will likely remain, at the core of what a PGA Professional does – coaching.

We have expert input from our John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching Winner and coach to numerous European Tour and Ryder Cup players, Mike Walker, world-renowned coach, David Leadbetter, and our 5-Star Professional Award winner, Alan Walker, as well.

This information is designed to educate, inform and inspire and is an excellent example of the type of content we are working hard to develop and the direction in which our communications strategy is headed.

We must also remember that coaching is not just limited to the driving range or the playing lesson – we must continue to coach ourselves and our peers to advance all of our skills and become better and better at what we do.

A quick glance at the variety of information on our A.S.K. platform at cpg.golf/ask will immediately show what we mean with content looking at the coaching golf to all manner of abilities, but also coaching and development information about growing the game, careers, productivity, business, marketing, and much more.

This information, together with the delivery and spread of IGPN, enables us to support our Member Country PGAs with their advancement of their PGA Professionals by curating international expertise and making it open and available to those who wish to make use of it.

We will continue to develop our communications into the future across an ever-changing technological landscape, and IGPN will always be a fundamental part of that.

As a final point, it would be remiss of us not to mention Sergio Garcia and his phenomenal win at Augusta National. It was difficult to pick sides on the final day as he and Justin Rose battled it out but whilst Justin would no doubt be a worthy owner of a green jacket, we were all delighted to see Sergio break through as a major champion. Hopefully this is just the beginning…!

If you would like to contribute to A.S.K. or IGPN then we invite you to share this with Aston Ward at aw@CPG.com and hope that you will join us in developing our Member Countries in Issues of IGPN, and the years ahead.

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

“Very sad indeed,” said 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie of Lloyd’s death. “Peter was brilliant to my wife, Marian, and myself when I first started playing Scottish Region events. A great guy who will be sorely missed.”

Born in Airdrie and brought up in Gartcosh, Lloyd started with The PGA in 1986 after the closure of the local British Steel plant, having followed his father into the steel industry after leaving school.

Appointed by his good friend Sandy Jones, Lloyd was tournament director for the Scottish Region for eight years before serving as the senior tournament director at The Belfry for two years.

He returned to Scotland in January 1997 as regional secretary, succeeding Neil Simpson, and held that post until December 2006. During that time he managed the Region’s move from Glenbervie to its current headquarters at Gleneagles.

At Tartan Tour events, Lloyd was supported by his wife, Anne, as she worked as a recorder. Her death in November 2010 left a huge void in Lloyd’s life but he continued to serve The PGA in a pastoral role.

In fact, he served as welfare and benevolent officer for 10 years, just stopping last year.

“Peter will be missed by the many who knew him but fondly remembered by us all,” said Jones, The PGA executive president. “He was a great ambassador for golf and The PGA and I have lost a lifelong friend.”

PGA in Scotland secretary Shona Malcolm added: “Peter was a true character and they are few and far between in golf in Scotland today. He was always ready with advice and willing to help but never let anyone away with actions he thought reflected badly on his beloved PGA.

“I’ll miss lifting the phone and asking, ‘Peter, can you remember the background to such and such a tournament?’ Invariably, he could.”

Lawrie was joined in paying tribute to Lloyd by former PGA in Scotland captains Andrew Crerar and David Scott.

“Peter was a true gentleman and a dedicated man in many ways,” said Panmure PGA Professional Crerar. “He was a giant for The PGA in Scotland and will be greatly missed and very fondly remembered.”

Scott, director of operations at the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews, added: “Peter was a huge support to so many people during his time at The PGA. He will be sadly missed.”

Lloyd, a vice president of Mount Ellen Golf Club, is survived by his three children: Alison, Lesley and Leonard and his grandchildren Daniel, James, Callum, Fraser and Megan.

The Robert Kalkman Foundation has received funding from the Ryder Cup European Development Trust in order to continue providing opportunities to children across the Netherlands and allow the Foundation’s clinics to increase in size and frequency.

Golfing World caught up with Robert at the Foundation’s golf day to find out more about the great work being done…

To Find Out More About the Robert Kalkman Foundation visit www.robertkalkmanfoundation.com.

For more information on the Ryder Cup European Development Trust visit www.RCTrust.info, and follow @RyderCupTrust on Twitter.

The partnership has proven to be ground-breaking for the Association, generating direct business for BMW within their VIP Sales Programme, predominantly through the development of an exclusive PGA Professional Member offer and hub page for PGA Professionals to access.

The partnership is another way in which BMW support golf, complementing the partnership with Ryder Cup Europe, title sponsoring Professional tournaments, the BMW Golf Cup International, amongst other activities that show how golfers are very much a key demographic for them.

BMW continue to have excellent relationships with Member Country PGAs such as the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, PGA of Germany and PGA of Switzerland, and have since developed new national partnerships in Holland, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Poland.

These national relationships allow BMW to touch golf on not only a pan-European scale but also locally in various countries, further benefitting the PGAs and ultimately their individual Professionals.

The PGA Professional offer is open to any PGA Professional member of a Confederation of Professional Golf Member Country and entitles them to access to the BMW International VIP Sales Programme, giving benefits such as individual assistance from a personal VIP contact, preferential terms and conditions, invitations to exclusive events, and delivery at any BMW or MINI dealer within Europe or at BMW Welt in Munich.

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“In the past few years our relationship with the Confederation of Professional Golf has continued to develop and we have enjoyed working closely with the Association and its Member Country PGAs,” said Christian Masanz, Head of BMW Golfsport Marketing. “The partnership helps to strengthen our global engagement in golf and in particular with PGAs and their PGA Professional Members.”

“Historically most of our partnerships have been about brand association and communication,” said Confederation of Professional Golf Chief Executive, Ian Randell. “These things continue to exist but we are acutely aware of the need for our corporate partnerships to be exactly that – a partnership that directly benefits each other’s businesses.

“We were delighted to be able to attract BMW to join our Corporate Partner family and it has been a pleasure to see that not only have both sides gained great value from the relationship but also many of our Member Country PGAs have benefited directly too.”

For more information visit http://eur.pe/PGA-BMW-Offer

The Association has long been at the forefront of golf development, utilising its network of 35 Member Countries and the 21,000+ PGA Professionals they represent. It is now taking further steps to ensure that it is positioned and equipped to provide a comprehensive and effective set of services, guidance, tools, initiatives and expertise to assist countries in growing and promoting golf in their territories.

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“The Confederation of Professional Golf are uniquely positioned to provide services and expertise for developing golf on an international basis, said Chief Executive of the Confederation of Professional Golf, Ian Randell. “This is both through our own Golf Development Team and our network of National PGAs and their PGA Professionals who provide a skilled workforce for the advancement of the game and golfers.

“We are building on the experience and knowledge that has been gained over the past 20 years or so around the globe to move forward with a holistic view to the provision of expertise. This ranges from strategic, structural and political guidance, to sharing good practice and expertise in areas such as education and coaching to help a country achieve its golf development objectives in whatever form they may take.”

A major step toward this has been the formalisation and continued integration of the Golf Development Team – a group of 24 Golf Developers that are highly skilled in a wide variety of areas relating to golf development such as, beginner and elite coaching, management, participation activity with key focus areas such as juniors, women and disabled players, as well as consultancy and professional education.

The Golf Development Team, managed by Confederation of Professional Golf Director of Education & Membership, Tony Bennett, have been deployed in a wide variety of golf development missions and activity for over two decades, in particular for The R&A and their ‘Working For Golf’ Programme. The Association will place greater emphasis on shining light on this hugely valuable activity moving into the future through its communications and ongoing activity.

The Association recently hosted a Golf Development Team meeting at its Belfry HQ that brought together many of its existing members, and some that are newly added, to continually develop the Team and inform them of the Confederation of Professional Golf’s current activity and updated strategic undertakings and to share the latest good practice initiatives, along with details of new tools and strategies now available.

The Team Members also attended the Golf Development Team A.S.K. Workshops, the latest edition of the initiative that gives PGA Professionals a platform to share experiences, ideas and stories in front of a live audience in short, sharp and concise 20 minute sessions, ensuring the Team Members also took part in CPD activity for their personal and professional development.

For more information on the Confederation of Professional Golf Golf Development Team visit http://eur.pe/GolfDevelopmentTeam