The European Team will again comprise 12 amateur players – six boys and six girls – from any European Golf Association member country who are under the age of 18 as of January 1, 2018. In order to qualify, players cannot be members of a US college golf team as of the first day of the match.

The European Captain, Maïtena Alsuguren, has, with the assistance of the EGA and Ryder Cup Europe, identified the selection system based on an analysis of the important tournaments and championships in which the best European juniors will compete in during the lead-up to the Junior Ryder Cup team announcement on August 20, 2018.

The team will be selected by Alsuguren, who will be supported by a selection committee made up of representatives from Ryder Cup Europe and the EGA.

The Boys’ Amateur Champion and the Girls’ British Open Amateur Champion, if both eligible, will be automatically selected. The captain and the selection committee will take particular note of performances in the following events:

Boys:

• The Amateur championship, Royal Aberdeen and Murcar Links, Scotland, 18 – 23 Jun
• European Amateur Championship, Royal Hague Golf & Country Club, Netherlands, 27 – 30 Jun
• European Boys’ Team Championship, Golf Resort Kaskada Brno, Czech Republic, 10 – 14 Jul
• European Amateur Team Championship, Faldo Course Berlin in A-ROSA Sharmützelsee, Germany, 10 – 14 Jul
• The Boys’ Amateur (champion gains automatic selection), Royal Portrush and Portstewart, Wales, 14 – 19 Aug

Girls:

• Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, Hillside, Southport, England, 26 – 30 Jun
• European Girls’ Team Championship, Forsgårdens Golfklubb, Sweden, 10 – 14 Jul
• European Ladies’ Amateur Team Championship, Golf Club Murhof, Austria, 10 – 14 Jul
• European Ladies’ Amateur Championship, Penati Golf Resort – Heritage Course, Slovakia, 25 – 28 Jul
• Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship (champion gains automatic selection), Ardglass Golf Club, Northern Ireland, 14 – 18 Aug

In addition, the captain and the selection committee will analyse the results of the best boys and girls ranked in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings (WWAGR).

Selectors will also look at strong performances in national open-level and WAGR/WWAGR Elite, A and B events.

Alsuguren said: “It’s a real honour to captain Europe once again at the Junior Ryder Cup. Now that the qualifying events have been finalised, I am starting to get excited about seeing the team take shape next year.

“The standard of both male and female junior golfers is very high in Europe, and although we may not have a strong recent record, I’m certain that the team we will take to Paris next September will be of the highest quality.”

America has won the last five editions of the Junior Ryder Cup, with Europe’s last victory coming in Ohio, in 2004. The 2006 contest was tied.

The 2018 Junior Ryder Cup will be the tenth staging of the event, which has seen some of the world’s greatest players pass through its ranks. Reigning Masters Tournament champion Sergio Garcia played in the 1995 exhibition match, and, four years later, was a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup Team in Brookline.

Two-time Major winner, Suzann Pettersen, took part in both the 1997 and 1999 editions of the Junior Ryder Cup, while four-time Major champion, Rory McIlroy, formed part of the victorious European side of 2004.

Hunter Mahan, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Lexi Thompson are some of the global stars who have represented the US team.

Next year’s contest will be held at Disneyland Paris® for the first time and entry will be free for all attending.

For more information on the Junior Ryder Cup visit www.rydercup.com

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I think I can sum it up in a sentence when I quote Ben Hogan and say, “good golf begins with a good grip.”

You can take that two ways and look at the actual grip, such as those made by Golf Pride, and the way that you position your hands on the club. These are clearly intertwined and, if you look at how the actual grips on golf clubs have evolved over the years, it shows how the hold plays such an important role.

The Top Hand

I would say that 80% of amateur golfers grip their top hands on the club incorrectly, and this is the biggest fault in golf. You can really only tell the quality of a grip when you open it up and a lot of the time you will see golfers grip the club too much in the palm. This makes it very difficult to set the club and the only way to do that is with the elbow. This increases the tension in your hands, and your body doesn’t get involved in the swing.

If you set the grip further in the lower part of the hand towards the fingers, you can set and hinge the wrist. A simple tip for amateurs is to hold the club up in the air at 45 degrees before placing your hands in the grip position. You will have seen a number of pros do this over the years, as it ensures the hands are in the right position.

You can then connect the hands together, however you feel comfortable, safe in the knowledge you are set correctly.

https://youtu.be/wf5cMV5CeDI

Grip Size

A lot of players underestimate the importance that the thickness of a grip plays. All hands are different sizes and the thickness of the grip is vital because it determines the amount of pressure you apply to the club. If the grip is too think or too thin, a player is going to generally grip the club in the palm of the hand, which is one of the most common faults I see.

This is because the player is trying to hold on to the club in an attempt to hand onto it, something that is clear when you see wear marks on the heel of a golf glove.

You hear about a strong grip all the time, but this is often misinterpreted. It in face means that a player sets their hands round in an anti-clockwise position.

You might think a grip is just a grip, but there is a big different between the types on offer and the golfers they suit. For example if you play golf in Dubai and it is 120 degrees and your sweating profusely, you will need something that is completely different compared to what someone is playing with where it is always cold, and more of a tacky feel is needed.

Grip Pressure

If you ask most of the pros they would say that their grip pressure, our of 10, would be between a three and a five. If amateur golfers were honest, many would say they are around a nine and you can see the veins popping in people’s arms as they stand over the ball.

If you go back to the great Henry Cotton, the hands play a huge role in the swing. Although I believe that power comes from the body, this power ultimately comes down through the arms and hands, and then through the club. The hands also control the clubface, so if you aren’t gripping it correctly and your grips are the wrong size, you’re going to have a problem squaring the face up and releasing the clubhead.

Personal Feel

My great friend Nick Price has the same size hands as me, but has very skinny cord grips that feel awful to me; he couldn’t hit my clubs and I couldn’t hit his.

The reason he has those skinny grips is that over the years we have worked hard to set the club and because he has very solid wrists, they do not cock or set very easily. Having a thinner grip allows him to set the club easier. Players who are very wristy through the ball can control that hand action with thicker grips.

This is where a good teacher or fitter will help to advise on the type of grip they need. Feel is such a key thing to top players, and it can make such a difference.

I have worked with LPGA player, Lydia Ko, who previously played with a normal grip, which is stretched half an inch to make it thinner. She then made an equipment change and could tell immediately that the grips on the clubs hadn’t been stretched.

There is no answer for everybody, but once you have found your grip thickness it will help your game.

The grip is a very underestimated part of the club. Some manufactures will put cheap grips on great golf clubs and they will wear out quickly and compromise the quality and performance. Changing your grips at least once a year is vital. My first rule of thumb, a little tongue in cheek, is that if you can see your reflection in your grips it is definitely time for a change.

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To find out more about setting up your own regripping service with Golf Pride visit www.golfpride.com/about/wholesale-distributors and find your nearest distributor.

Registration Closes – Nov 09, 2017

Price – $119.00

Participating in a U.S. Kids Golf Certified Coach Seminar enhances the coach’s knowledge of all aspects of youth golf that can be utilized to enhance his/her current program or provide the basis for establishing new offerings. Areas of focus during the seminar include:

Perfect Swings Begin with the Perfect Fit:

The importance of properly-fitted clubs to maximize success for both young golfers and their coaches. Proprietary research on swing speed development for junior golfers.

Scaling the Game:

Research regarding proper length of course setup for players based on their driver carry distance will be provided so that coaches will become experts in golf course setup and yardages. Tailoring the course for young golfers will result in lower scores, encouraging more rounds and increasing retention.

Enhancing Current Junior Programs:

Tools, resources, best practices and bringing “fun” to their junior programs through a games-based curriculum. The seminars will feature an outdoor session that will demonstrate game-based learning with games from the U.S. Kids Golf Book of Games.

Other topics presented in more detail include:

• Analysis of golf participation and programs vs. other youth sports.
• “Scaling” of the following elements for youth: Equipment, The Golf Course, Competition and Instruction.
• Parental involvement and introduction to the “Positive Coaching Alliance”.
• High-quality instruction focusing on fun and achievement while teaching fundamentals.
• Introduction to golf-specific games to serve as a key component in instruction.

Completing the Certified Coach process

Certified Coach Frequently Asked Questions

LOCATION – Gut Kaden Golf and Land Club GmbH, Kadener Straße 9 , D-25486 Alveslohe

DATE AND TIME – Thursday, 9 November | 8:15-16:30

HOTEL INFORMATION –  A limited number of rooms are available at Gut Kaden.  Reservations can be made at Gut Kaden.

Click Here to Find Out More About the Seminar – http://eur.pe/2idJSKu

Fred observes that hospital patients judge their experience not only by the way they are treated for the disease but also, and more importantly, by the way, that they are treated as a person…

If Fred is right, and incidentally I think that he is, and if this concept transfers across into golf, which I think it does, then the ‘how’ is perhaps more important than the ‘what’? This is an essential point for all, coaches, managers, and leaders to recognise. By the way, the great ones do; that is one reason that they are great.

Content, or perhaps we should call it knowledge, can be learned. In fact, content can be learned by almost anyone on almost any subject. Certainly, there is always content to learn or be updated on, that is the nature of progress. Often people have a fascination for content, and yet they have a hard time sharing that knowledge in a way that can make a difference in the life of someone else. I believe that it is possible to learn enough content for whatever role you have in a short period of time to become good at almost any subject. Learning to share that knowledge however is altogether different.

Back to Fred Lee and his five behaviours. Fred conveniently created the acronym S.H.A.R.E. Essentially these behaviours boiled down to the following values: using initiative, being part of a team, understanding the customer’s feelings, treating them with courtesy and making sure that communication is open and honest.

• S – Sense people’s needs before they ask (initiative)
• H – Help each other out (teamwork)
• A – Acknowledge people’s feelings (empathy)
• R – Respect the dignity and privacy of everyone (courtesy)
• E – Explain what is happening (communication)

So if the ‘how’ is so important then how can golf focus more on how to share experience and knowledge so that it is relevant, timely and useful? There are many answers to this question, and I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

This forces us as practitioners to extrapolate ideas from other areas of research and trial them with the players we work with as we refine and optimise our strategies and learn from the players, coaches and caddies until the research catches up.

I’m pretty fortunate to have a younger brother on the European Tour who has fast tracked my practitioner learning curve in golf and helped build up some practice based evidence which hopefully over the next few years can be trialled and tested to eventually translate into evidenced based practice.

Until such a time, I hope the following provides an insight into some considerations when working with golfers or even some food for thought (apologies for the pun) for Tour Professionals themselves.

Pre Round Fuelling

Golfers are faced with three different fuelling scenarios on a day to day basis. They are either out early (which often means a 5am start!), mid morning, or in the early afternoon.

Despite these timings changing, which may impact on meal timings and portion size, the underlying principles of how to fuel the round don’t.

Ok so what are we looking for? Well when we look at the demands of golf a round generally takes approximately 4 hours, top this up with 60-120 minutes of prep time (warm up, range, putting green, conversations with caddy, etc) and we are looking at about a 5-6 hour shift.

During this 5-6 hour shift mental focus, stable energy levels and adequate hydration are going to be key, as one poor decision or energy dip can ruin your card and separate the winners from the also-rans.

As a result the pre round meal should be finished approximately 90 minutes before the round to give the body time to digest the food and the player time to prepare. The meal itself should contain some high fibre low GI carbohydrates, such as oats, to provide a sustained release of energy over the coming hours.

This portion of carbohydrates should be complemented with a source of high quality protein, such as greek yoghurt or eggs, to not only supply the muscles with amino acids to support muscle maintenance and function but also to aid the production of neuro-transmitters to improve mental focus and induce satiety.

This base of protein and carbs should then be finished off with some high quality dietary sources of fat to provide some low intensity fuel, e.g. nuts, seeds, avocado, etc as well as some fruits and/or vegetables to bump up the micronutrient content of the meal.

A simple example of this for a 9am tee time would be a bowl of nutty muesli topped with banana and fresh berries coupled with a 3 egg omelette and a large glass of water at 6.45am. For a 2pm tee time, a baked salmon fillet with a sweet potato and feta salad would also be a good example.

On Course Nutrition

The goal on the course is exactly the same, optimise mental focus, keep stable energy levels and remain hydrated. As a result on course snacks will follow a similar trend aiming to provide some low GI carbs, a moderate amount of protein and some high quality fats.

To ensure a steady supply of energy as well as reducing symptoms of hunger it is best to spread 3-4 snacks out evenly over the round. Depending on the length of the course players may wish to eat on holes 5, 10 and 15 (particularly if it’s a shorter course) or on holes 4, 8, 12 and 16 (better suited to longer and/or slower rounds). These snacks can be prepared (in an ideal world) ahead of time by the player or one of their team or purchased for convenience.

Some great examples of on course snacks that players/their team can prepare would be homemade protein bars, nut and seed “energy” balls, oat based banana bread.

Speaking from experience, some of these snacks can be prepared with no more equipment than a mixing bowl so could be an easy way to kill 10 minutes on a Monday and set you up for the week. However, preparing your own snacks is not always possible so picking up some nuts and seed tubes/bars, bananas, beef jerky and protein bars is also a good call.

What does need to stay more regular than the eating on course is the drinking! The best way to stay on top of this is to not only consume a few mouthfuls of fluid along with each snack, but also on each hole either as you are walking down the fairway or walking to the next tee box. You might find on hot days that you may need to do both!

As for what’s in the bottle, it is best to drink water with additional electrolytes (a simple effervescent tablet will do – sugary sports drinks should be avoided). As a result the player should be equipped with 3-4 agreed on snacks before leaving the locker room and 2 bottles of water and a tube of electrolytes to top up when needed during the round. The only time this may differ is on a Sunday, in which case you always bring more and are fully prepared to go down 19 if required!

Nutrition for Recovery/Sleep

Post-round the shift focuses to recover for the following day’s play. Again this meal should contain some quality protein to aid muscle repair and maintenance however, unlike most sports there is no need to feed high volumes of carbohydrates to refuel, a moderate potion accompanied with some tasty vegetables will do.

For example, a nice lean steak with some mash potato and pan fried vegetables would fit nicely, as would a tasty teriyaki chicken stir-fry with some additional vegetables. This meal is generally the easiest for most players to get right.

This meal should be followed up with a nighttime snack, again to support recovery but also to enhance sleep, e.g. greek yoghurt with tart cherry mixed through.

Nutrition for Travel

As the competition draws to a close on Sunday, most players make their way straight from the locker room to the airport as they head on to the next event. For Tour Professionals, the schedule can be relentless and this high volume of flights, temporary time zones and often new/foreign cuisines all increase the risk of illness for the players and caddies.

These at-risk periods and shifting circadian rhythms should all be supported with appropriate performance planning to not only ensure the player and caddy acclimatise as soon as possible for the next tournament but also minimise the volume of days a player and his caddy may lose to illness.

I hope this gives some insight and sparks some thoughts about how nutrition may impact on a golfer’s performance. With the lack of current evidence available it seems the next step is for the tours to continue to innovate in performance nutrition research – then we can see how well the worlds best can really play.

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This article appears courtesy of the Undergraduate Sports and Exercise Medicine Society – www.basem.co.uk/usems

Their staff explains how they do it:

This interview was the inspiration behind The Growth Mindset Playbook (a page dedicated to laying out the best ways to teach and implement growth mindset).

I’d like to give a huge S/O to Karch and his staff for being so incredible these past few years – I can’t explain how much they’ve helped the Train Ugly mission!

If you’d like to see the crew in action and learn more about their approaches, check out:

THE TRAINING THE GAP CONFERENCE

You need to make sure your efforts are being mirrored in the results you see, which means having a system in place to allow you to understand what’s working and what isn’t. Here are our top 10 tips for a systematic, successful search:

1. Take some time out

Start by giving yourself 24 hours off from your search to create some space in your head to start organising yourself. A small time investment now could save you hours in the long-run.

2. Create a workspace

Having cleared some space in the temporal sense, set aside a room or desk that’s clear and clutter-free. Doing this will automatically make you feel more focused.

3. Clarify your goals

Draw up a list of your main goals: what kind of position do you want, when do you want it by and what salary are you willing to accept? Then have an alternative plan in place for each of the above.

4. Have a set schedule

It’s been said that the difference between a dream and a goal is a deadline. Commit a certain period of each day to working on your applications and stick rigidly to this.

5. Sharpen your search materials

You need to be ready to roll with your application at short notice. This means maintaining an up-to-date CV and cover letter template as well as keeping your professional profile ticking over on sites such as LinkedIn.

6. Soup-up your inbox

The email account is the jobseeker’s command HQ. Sorting your emails into different categories – jobs applied to; open positions etc. – will help you stay on top of things.

7. Create a system

Alongside this, you’ll need a tracking system that lets you know where you are with each application at quick glance. It needn’t be an elaborate spreadsheet, but should have all the information you need clearly laid-out.

8. Then use it

The best data management system in the world is no use to you unless you keep it regularly updated. Make sure your version includes a ‘next step’ section to encourage you to follow up on any developments.

9. Map your networking

Monitoring your informal job enquiries is no less important. Stop trails from going cold by keeping a note of any meetings or encounters you have while setting reminders for when to follow up.

10. Review your progress

Taking stock of your search is more important now than ever. Review what’s been working well and what hasn’t. Then decide how you’re going to improve things.

Job hunting can be a relatively painless business or it can be a long, hard slog. While there are usually a number of factors involved, often some simple organisation and forward planning can prove the difference.

This content appears courtesy of Abintegro, experts in career management, transition technology & e-learning for today’s modern, mobile and technology-savvy workforce – Find out more at www.abintegro.com

Credit: Graduate Fog; Quint Careers; Business Insider

“I think women’s golf has a great future if it can market itself correctly. For me it’s as exciting watching a ladies’ tournament as it is watching a men’s tournament. Sometimes people get a bit drawn to how far the ball flies and they attack impossible pins and take on impossible shots, but the ladies play really clever golf too.

“I was at the Evian Championship last year and what I saw was very impressive – they had a very professional attitude and were really focused on the range so there’s no difference between them and the guys. I would like to see ladies get much more TV time and more acknowledgement for what they are doing.”

Interview Highlights:

00:29 – How Marie got into golf…

01:39 – Entering a golf club as a young girl golfer…

02:21 – The changes in golf in Austria…

03:23 – Marie now works at the same facility that she started her golf career at…

06:25 – Being driven by those that originally discouraged her golf…

08:23 – Getting the Austrian National Team Coach job…

09:20 – Becoming involved in ‘Communicology’…

11:25 – Using ‘Communicology’ to break things down and not get lost in the detail…

12:10 – Key learnings from Marie’s career so far…

14:19 – The difference between teaching & coaching…

16:00 – What changes has Marie seen over the time she worked with the Austrian Girls squads…

18:49 – Working as a National Coach is a 24/7 role…

19:41 – What is the future of girls’ golf…

20:48 – The challenges face in women and girls’ participation…

23:01 – The difference between girls and boys’ sport …

24:26 – What are the mistakes most beginner golfers make…?

28:15 – Who is the best lesser-known coach Marie has worked with…?

30:19 – What advice would you give your 25-year-old self…?

31:09 – Marie’s views on who she feels are ‘successful’ people…

32:05 – Marie’s favourite book…

33:01 – The advice has Marie found beneficial up until now…

35:01 – What might surprise listeners about Marie…

35:19 – The golf equipment that gives Marie the most joy…

35:55 – Marie’s dream Fourball…

36:34 – Advice for aspiring PGA Professionals…

Find out more about Marie at www.functionalgolf.at and at functionalgolfat on Facebook.

Find out more about the Confederation of Professional Golf Golf Development Team at http://eur.pe/GolfDevelopmentTeam

Press conference concluded the 2018 Year to Go celebrations

Thomas Bjørn and Jim Furyk today held their first joint press conference as respective European and US Ryder Cup captains for The 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National.

[fb_plugin video href=https://www.facebook.com/RyderCupEuropeanTeam/videos/1673266282717687/]

Earlier in the day, the pair recreated history by hitting golf balls off the famous Eiffel Tower, 41 years after the legendary Arnold Palmer became the first – and only previous person – to do so.

The two captains used their press conference – which took place in the shadow of the famous landmark at the Pullman Eiffel Tower – to reflect on that stunt, meeting the French President Emmanuel Macron and all of the other activities which have formed the Year to Go celebrations.

They also looked forward to next year’s Ryder Cup, which will be held in France for the first time, at Le Golf National from September 28-30, 2018.

Bjørn said: “The last two days have been everything that France is. They have shown everything that it can do, and ever since I was appointed, there have been a lot of conversations about how we can deliver the best Ryder Cup ever.

“We’re off to some start, that’s for sure. It’s been amazing. European history is very special. It’s very special to each country in Europe, and when you come to this country, there might not be a country in the world that has a greater history and has more pride in its own history, and we have certainly lived that the last few days.

“France has shown me that it’s ready to take on one of the great sporting events in the world.

“We went to school yesterday and we saw kids on the golf course, and you realise that this country is now taking in so much to deliver a Ryder Cup that all of the golfing world can be proud of.

“This is one of the first times we come to one of the big cities in the world to play The Ryder Cup, and when this match unfolds over those three days at the end of September next year, you’re going to have Paris as a backdrop, and it’s going to be delivered in a completely new way. It’s going to be an event that I don’t think we’ve seen in the game of golf before.”

Furyk said: “I’m absolutely blown away by the last two days to be honest with you. My gratitude, really goes to Ryder Cup Europe and to the country of France for their hospitality and for putting on an amazing number of events.

“Last night we had dinner at the Palace of Versailles, which was an unbelievable, unbelievable night. This morning, breakfast at the residence of the President.

“Today, we got to emulate the same shot that one of my idols, Arnold Palmer, who hit off the Eiffel Tower about 40 years ago. I can’t imagine packing that all into two days. It’s been a phenomenal two days.

“This could really be the grandest setting ever in Ryder Cup history. So to be a part of it, I feel very fortunate.”

Le Golf National, France, will host The 2018 Ryder Cup from September 28-30, 2018, when Europe will try to regain the Ryder Cup following defeat at Hazeltine National last year. Bjørn’s team will be looking to extend an impressive winning record on home soil which stretches back to Valderrama in 1997.

For more information on the Ryder Cup visit www.rydercup.com

Image courtesy of Getty Images

Pair then hosted a clinic for more than 750 children

Activities were part of the 2018 Year to Go celebrations

Thomas Bjørn and Jim Furyk today went head-to-head at The 2018 Ryder Cup venue Le Golf National as the European and United States captains led two teams of junior golfers in a special Captains’ Challenge.

The pair were joined by eight members of the French Golf Federation’s Elite Junior Squad – four boys and four girls – for the fun contest over L’Albatros course, which next year will host The Ryder Cup for the first time, becoming only the second venue in continental Europe to do so.

The Captains’ Challenge was compered by Paul Armitage, Le Golf National’s General Manager, with European Captain Bjørn and United States Captain Furyk steering their respective teams of two mixed foursomes pairings through the five-hole challenge, which was played over the first hole and Le Golf National’s famous finishing stretch, the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th holes.

Fittingly, the match was halved, with the challenge providing all eight juniors with an experience to remember on the course which will be the backdrop for 24 of the world’s leading players in 12 months’ time.

Team Bjørn, represented by Mathilde Claisse and Dimitri Mary, Lilas Pinthier and Thomas Boulange, and Team Furyk, comprising Candice Mahe and Pierre Pineau, Evangeline Prevot and Clement Charmasson, were then presented with flags signed by both captains as a memento from the day.

The Captains’ Challenge was watched by more than 750 local schoolchildren who were then able to hear Bjørn and Furyk pass on their expertise when the two captains hosted a clinic on the practice range. This group included pupils from the nearby Ecole Robert Desnos, in Guyancourt, who cycled to Le Golf National after earlier in the day receiving a visit from the two captains, who spent time in their classroom learning about the children’s work as part of the Mon Carnet de Golf educational programme.

Bjørn said: “Today brought you back to your own childhood, to see all these kids excited about golf. It was a good reminder of where you came from. It’s been a brilliant day in the sense of seeing the excitement about the Ryder Cup in France.

“We’re in a country where golf is not the biggest sport and The Ryder Cup doesn’t have a history, so to bring it here and see the schools getting involved, and to watch these fantastic young players in the Challenge gives you a few goose bumps. You can feel from them that they are so excited about The Ryder Cup.

“I had some good chats on the golf course with Jim and also with the kids, trying to talk to them about playing the game. They are extremely talented players and it looks like they have a great future ahead of them in the game. One comment to a kid like that can make them because we’ve all had it at some stage in our careers, that one guy who says something that stays with you for the rest of your life. Hopefully we passed on one or two things today that will stick with them and make them into great players.”

Furyk said: “We had a great visit this morning to a local school, and it was then great to see some of France’s elite junior players play a foursomes match. It was nice to see the golf course a bit and enjoy our day with the kids.

“The Captains’ Challenge had some amazing golf. The kids were nervous to start with but they played phenomenal. I enjoyed not only how well they played but how well they interacted. They helped each other reading putts, and played with genuine smiles on their faces.

“I think it was a great experience for them and I can’t imagine putting myself in their shoes, at the age of 16, 18. Trying to go back and hit those shots, I would have been a nervous wreck.

“The clinic was great too. We had a lot of fun interacting with the kids. You want kids them to think of this game as enjoyable, to relate and associate golf as fun. It was good to hear them out there cheering, yelling, and having a great time. It’s exactly what we’re looking for.”

Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, said: “The Ryder Cup is defined by respect and togetherness, and events like the Captains’ Challenge are the embodiment of this. The Captains’ Challenge and Captains’ Clinic demonstrate that golf is accessible to both boys and girls and hopefully all of the juniors involved will be inspired by their unique experience at Le Golf National.

“Thomas and Jim are wonderful ambassadors for our game and for The Ryder Cup, and this undoubtedly came across in both activities, giving the participants a day they will never forget.”

Pascal Grizot, Chairman of Ryder Cup France 2018, said: “This day will leave an unforgettable memory for the numerous children from schools in Saint Quentin en Yvelines and beyond. The Elite teams will also take away great moments from this day with the captains at Le Golf National.

“This is the beauty of major sporting events and the beauty of meeting legends. The French Golf Federation could not dream of a better start to the Year to Go and these two days will really help promote the Ryder Cup to the French public.”

Le Golf National, France, will host The 2018 Ryder Cup from September 28-30, 2018, when Europe will try to regain the Ryder Cup following defeat at Hazeltine National last year. Bjørn’s team will be looking to extend an impressive winning record on home soil which stretches back to Valderrama in 1997.

For more information on the Ryder Cup visit www.rydercup.com

Image courtesy of Getty Images

Youngsters are studying a Ryder Cup educational programme, Mon Carnet de Golf

Visit was part of the 2018 Year to Go celebrations

Pupils from a school close to The 2018 Ryder Cup host venue Le Golf National today had a special visit from captains Thomas Bjørn and Jim Furyk, with the nine and ten year olds showcasing their work as part of an educational programme which is inspired by the biennial contest between Europe and the United States.

Bjørn and Furyk are in France for The 2018 Ryder Cup Year to Go celebrations, and their first official engagement was to meet the children from class CM2 at Ecole Robert Desnos, in Guyancourt, who have been studying the Mon Carnet de Golf curriculum.

The educational programme aims to introduce golf and The Ryder Cup to French schoolchildren, integrating the biennial contest into a wide range of subjects.

European Captain Bjørn and United States Captain Furyk were greeted at the gates of the school by class teacher Florence Coquart, Marie-Christine Letarnec, the Mayor of Guyancourt and Serge Clément, the local area educational representative.

The captains, along with officials from Ryder Cup Europe, the PGA of America and the French Golf Federation, then visited the youngsters in their classroom, the party greeted by waving flags in support of both continents.

They spent some time in the classroom, taking the chance to view some of the work produced by the youngsters as part of the Mon Carnet de Golf programme before participating in a Q&A session with the pupils.

To mark their visit, the two captains were presented with good luck giftboxes and, in return, Bjørn and Furyk presented the school with a special Ryder Cup book signed by them both.

Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, said: “The Ryder Cup educational programme is a fantastic initiative which helps leave a lasting legacy in the host country. It was a huge success in Scotland in 2014 and it is great to see the youngsters in Frances really engaging with it.

“Mon Carnet de Golf helps introduce a new generation to the game of golf through wider learning, and hopefully Thomas and Jim’s visit will help inspire these pupils even further.”

Pascal Grizot, Chairman of Ryder Cup France 2018, said: “I am very happy that both Ryder Cup captains have decided to visit one of the many classrooms in France involved in the Mon Carnet de Golf programme. The captains’ visit is an important statement of support to this national educational programme, which is driven by school teachers.

“Mon Carnet de Golf shows children can learn golf in a fun way. Introducing golf to children is a great way to overcome the negative images golf sometimes has and allows them to discover the great benefits of the game. I hope the French pubic will also be able to see golf in this way.”

Le Golf National, France, will host The 2018 Ryder Cup from September 28-30, 2018, when Europe will try to regain the Ryder Cup following defeat at Hazeltine National last year. Bjørn’s team will be looking to extend an impressive winning record on home soil which stretches back to Valderrama in 1997.

For more information on the Ryder Cup visit www.rydercup.com

Image courtesy of Getty Images

The program will start in January 2018 (January 20-27) and will prepare Norwegian professionals to add even greater value to the clubs where they work by becoming better skilled to mentor the local coaching team, as well as some going on to become tutors in the new PGA education on a national basis.

Background and Objectives

The PGAN and NGF have over the last 6-7 years completely restructured their Pro/Coach education system from the grass roots to top level.

The new educational system unites a working collaboration between the PGAN, NGF, Hedmark University College, Norwegian Olympic Committee and the Confederation of Professional Golf.

The system has been through a recognition process in all organisations involved and has been given high score. It is now, in order to reach the learning outcomes, essential that all kinds of education are delivered with the same quality as planned.

The national tutor team needs to expand to be able to deliver education according to the growing needs from the organisation, and good mentors locally, and tutors nationally, will be the difference between success or failure. Good coach teams where PGA Professionals and volunteer coaches works hand-in-hand is the vision of PGAN and NGF. This means that PGA Professionals will have solid tutor and mentor competences as well as working conditions to function as a coach of the coaches.

Strategy

“We are really pleased to announce that this mentor program is being delivered together with The Confederation of Professional Golf. It will add even more quality to the program and we will by this involvement of the CPG do as we preach ourselves in order to living the philosophy of continuous improvement”, said Anders Thelberg, Head of Training for the PGA of Norway [pictured, right].

“The Confederation of Professional Golf’s Tony Bennett [pictured, left] will be the “mentors mentor” during the program. We know we already have high quality in our national tutor/mentor team but we are always eager to reach a higher levels. Meeting Tony made us sure that we have found the right man to coach us to our next level. The involvement of the Confederation of Professional Golf will also strengthen our educational system since it will help get our Norwegian model even more in line with European standards.”

Confederation of Professional Golf Cooperation

Confederation of Professional Golf Director of Education & Membership, Tony Bennett, added: “Since the very inception of the Confederation of Professional Golf, more than a quarter of a century ago, we have promoted the benefits of collaboration between all of golf’s stakeholders. It is crucial to the development of the game that each organisation plays its part to ensure that golf can reach all parts of the community, and make the game accessible for participants and competitors alike.

“We are impressed with the working relationship that the PGA of Norway and NGF have created, and know that there have been huge strides made over the last few years particularly. We are sure that by collaborating with PGAN and NGF that we can help golf in Norway to make the next step along its evolution. We at the Confederation of Professional Golf look forward to working with Anders Thelberg and all those involved in education and training from both the PGAN and NGF.”

Plan and Further Process

The tutor/mentor program is now being launched, with a start date of 20-27^th of January for 2 years. The PGAN and NGF encourage golf clubs to ensure their PGA Professional attends the program. Specifically those clubs that have invested in volunteer coaches.

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For more information, please contact Anders Thelberg by e-mail anders.thelberg@golfforbundet.no or cell phone 913 25 135.

The European Tour Foundation was launched in May this year, replacing the existing Tour Players Foundation, and will bring together, under one umbrella, the many philanthropic and charitable elements the Tour engages in.

Its mission statement sees it seek to make a positive impact in the communities in which the European Tour hosts tournaments. It also issues grants to grassroots golf initiatives and supports European Tour players’ charitable initiatives on a global scale.

The Foundation will benefit from a number of fundraising activities over the next 12 months leading up to the biennial contest at Le Golf National in France from September 28-30, 2018, where Europe will try to regain The Ryder Cup following defeat at Hazeltine National last year.

Bjørn said: “I am delighted, in my position as Ryder Cup Captain, to nominate the European Tour Foundation as the Official Charity for The 2018 Ryder Cup.

“There is no question that the honour of being appointed Captain is the greatest gift that the European Tour can bestow on any of its members and, therefore, being able to repay the Tour’s charitable arm in this way and utilise the global impact of The Ryder Cup is very important.

“Having spent ten years as Chairman of the European Tour’s Tournament Committee, I know about the charitable efforts of many of our players in addition to what the Tour does collectively in the countries we visit.

“The newly constituted European Tour Foundation will help pull all these charitable initiatives together and its work will help The 2018 Ryder Cup leave a real legacy both in the host country France and around the world.”

Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, said: “The Ryder Cup has benefited many good causes over the years and the appointment of the European Tour Foundation as the Official Charity for 2018 ensures we can help many more.

“Thomas has always been a huge supporter of the European Tour and our charitable work, and this announcement merely helps underline that.”

For more information on the Ryder Cup visit www.rydercup.com

Image courtesy of Getty Images

“Considering the large number of highly accomplished business leaders who entered this competition, I am excited to announce that our Board of Directors has selected Kevin Thistle to lead the PGA of Canada into an exciting new era of success,” Steve Wood, President of the Board of Directors of the PGA of Canada announced Tuesday.

Mr. Thistle, former President of Golf Operations for the Windmill Group in Calgary, has held leadership positions at some of Canada’s most recognized golf clubs including Angus Glen.

“I want to emphasize that while he was, until Wednesday of last week, an active member of our Board of Directors, he was chosen because of his track record in business, his demonstrated leadership skills, his proven marketing acumen and his ideas about sustaining growth and profitability in our business through innovation,“ Mr. Wood said.

“Kevin is extremely well-known and respected in our business across Canada, not only because of his extensive professional accomplishments but because of his ethics, his energy, his ideas and his ability to work with others to achieve common goals. The number of high calibre leaders who expressed interest in this challenge should have made a difficult choice. In the end, Kevin’s knowledge of our industry and experience as a marketing innovator made him a clear and unanimous choice of our Board,” Mr. Wood said.

“Thanks to the work of Gary Bernard, our former Chief Executive Officer, we are in a strong position, with the means to identify and pursue exciting new directions. The transition process towards those new directions will require vision, leadership and strong people skills.  We are confident Kevin has those skills. “

“To me, this is a dream come true,” Mr. Thistle said. “I have been part of the PGA of Canada throughout my career. I have been active in both Ontario and Alberta zones of the PGA of Canada and I have close friends across the country.  Our members value the PGA of Canada and the brand credibility it offers. I think they realize change is inevitable. I look forward to working closely with our Board and our members across Canada to help our association and its members enjoy a robust and exciting future.”

Founded in 1911 the Professional Golfers Association of Canada is the oldest professional golf association in North America and the second oldest PGA in the world. The PGA of Canada is a non-profit association comprising 3,700 golf professionals across the country and has evolved to become one of the most innovative and respected in the world.

Biography – Kevin Thistle, CEO PGA of Canada

Mr. Thistle, an accomplished PGA of Canada member since 1984, is a recognized leader in the Canadian golf industry who combines a demonstrated track record in golf management with superior business management and marketing skills.

While he was equipped with a Bachelor’s Degree (Commerce and Economics) from the University of Toronto, it was his passion for golf developed as a youngster at Pickering’s Seaton Golf course that established his career path. His PGA of Canada Executive Professional Qualification took him to Angus Glen where he started the new facility and grew the staff from two to more than 400 while overseeing development of a 15,000 square foot clubhouse and later, a 50,000 square foot addition. In 15 years there he progressed from Head Professional and Director of Golf to President and General Manager, all the while maintaining his PGA of Canada Executive Professional designation as an active part of his duties.

In addition to hosting the RBC Canadian Open twice, the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and the Telus Skins game, Kevin continued to grow revenue at Angus Glen while adding another 18 holes to the course to make it a 36-hole facility.

From there he was lured to the exclusive Coppinwood Golf course, a Tom Fazio design consistently ranked among the best courses in Canada. In four years there, he and his team increased membership from 137 to over 400. During his time at the club he doubled revenues through innovations in all areas of the club.

Then Toronto Hunt Club called upon Kevin’s magic touch. In his first year he grew both membership and revenues with his proven tactics. He implemented new programs to an already robust food and beverage operation and instituted critical changes to grow pro shop revenues, but his plans for Toronto Hunt were interrupted by a phone call from Calgary.

As a result, Kevin said goodbye to the hands-on golf business to take on marketing and management challenges for the Windmill Group, owners, operators or managers of eight golf clubs including Calgary’s new Mickelson National. As President of Golf Operations and Vice-President of Business Development, he and his team grew revenues and increased membership from 108 to 500 in a four-month period at the Windmill Group’s private facilities.

Throughout his life, Kevin has shared his professional skills with the community. From coaching baseball and hockey in Markham to working with numerous charitable organizations including the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, the Sunnybrook Hospital’s One Night Live event, Toronto Raptors Foundation, Ronald McDonald House charities and many others, he is a committed believer in giving back to the communities in which he lives. He is the recipient of numerous awards for his community service.

His volunteer work extends to the sport that gives him a living. In addition to years of service on the PGA of Canada Board and zones, Kevin has been a Board member of the Golf Management Institute of Canada and Humber College Golf Management Advisory Board. He has also been a guest lecturer for the National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA of Canada Zones and numerous Professional Golf Management Programs across the country.

Kevin is married to his wife Heather and together they have two sons, Calvin and Christian.

PGA Members from Confederation of Professional Golf Full Member Countries are entitled to 1 daily ticket per day or season ticket for free, and 1 daily ticket per day or season ticket with a 50% discount.

European National PGAs have been sent full details on how PGA Members can register their interest and obtain unique access codes for the PGA Member ticketing portal, which will go live at the end of January.

The Ryder Cup week is much more than just the three competition days, and will include the Ryder Cup Celebrity Match, a spectacular concert and a chance for fans to work on their own game in the dedicated Training Zones. For more details on what you can expect, visit www.rydercup.com/week.

Spectators are encouraged to use public transport during the week and more information can be found at www.rydercup.com/transport.

For queries about the ticketing process please contact your national PGA, or visit www.rydercup.com for general information

On the one hand this pertains to language, i.e. whether or not you speak a second or maybe even a third language. More importantly though, it’s about understanding and accepting that customs, standards, and values differ between cultures, and being willing to learn and adapt to them.

Research undertaken by the British Council showed that employers value intercultural skills just as much as they do formal qualifications. The Council surveyed employers from nine different countries operating within the public, private and non-profit sectors. When asked about their reasons for valuing intercultural skills, they stated that employees who successfully display these skills were more likely to secure new projects, worked better within diverse teams and were more successful in representing the company brand and reputation.

In fact, a lack of intercultural skills was perceived as a risk to the company, possessing the potential to seriously damage client relations, team productivity and ultimately the company’s reputation.

While there might not be a straightforward way for employers to test your intercultural skills in an interview, they might ask you questions like: have you ever worked abroad? Do you have experience working in a diverse team? Do you speak any foreign languages?

They can also learn a great deal from how you communicate throughout the application process and during the interview: are you easy to talk to? Are you able to see things from someone else’s perspective? Are you willing to learn from them?

Ultimately, intercultural skills are something you show. Simply listing it on your CV won’t do; you’ll have to convince people you possess the eagerness to learn and the ability to adapt. So start doing: read, travel, learn a new language, talk to different people and, most importantly, be curious.

This content appears courtesy of Abintegro, experts in career management, transition technology & e-learning for today’s modern, mobile and technology-savvy workforce – Find out more at www.abintegro.com

Credit: British Council; Skills You Need

A prize fund of up to €28,000* will be up for grabs when Professionals compete alongside their teams of three amateurs over four competition rounds at AESGC, the recently announced host venue for the 21^st Faldo Series Grand Final in November.

“The AESGC management are so proud to host this prominent event once again with the aim of providing its competitors with the best golf experience possible,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Hahyan, Member of the Executive Council and Chairman of AESGC. “This tournament will bring a new opportunity to cross cultures and other social aspects and I convey my best wishes to all the participants”

AESGC General Manager, His Excellency Mohammed Rashid Al Nasseri, added: “We are deeply honoured with the trust from the organisers for choosing AESGC as the host to this prestigious event once again. May this tournament promote camaraderie among golfers as it takes golf sports to another milestone at the Garden City of Al Ain.”

Packages begin at AED 5,450 (approx. €1250) and include:

• 6 night’s accommodation in the ROTANA AL AIN including breakfast and taxes, 27th January through to 1st February (check out 2nd February)
• Complimentary use of all Academy facilities including the par 3 course throughout the event
• Official practice round (28th)
• Entry to the Mercedes-Benz International Pro-Am team event (29th – 31st)
• Amateur entry to individual event on Thursday 1st with Professionals completing their 72 hole event
• Shared golf carts for all 5 rounds of golf (Professionals allowed to ride in golf carts)
• Buffet lunch at the golf clubhouse on tournament days
• Cocktail reception, Gala dinner and awards ceremony
• Players welcome pack

For additional information and package details download the entry form or contact gavin@aesgc.ae.

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The 2017 Pro-Am was won by Alex Wrigley (PGA of GB&I) whose tournament week included a course record 63 in Round 03, and was his first victory in the event after two runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2016.

For More Information & To Enter Visit: http://eur.pe/2018MercInt

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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.

From 08 to 11 February, the renowned Spanish club will host the Costa Daurada International Pro-Am with teams of one Professional and three amateurs competing over three rounds, together with a guaranteed prize fund of €20,000 for Professionals.

Directly after, from 12 to 15 February, the Confederation of Professional Golf Fourball Championship Presented by Costa Daurada will see up to 120 pairs of PGA Professionals battle it out across the club’s Hills and Lakes courses in what has become one of the largest Professional tournaments in the world.

https://youtu.be/ayzJvXIQzqE

Professionals are invited to enter both events* that have joined forces for the second year in a row as the Costa Daurada Golf Festival, celebrating the ongoing successful partnership that Lumine, the Confederation of Professional Golf and the local tourism agencies of the Costa Daurada have forged.

“Having these events together for a second consecutive year really adds strength to them both and proved to be a popular way of showcasing what Lumine has to offer,” said Confederation of Professional Golf Chief Executive, Ian Randell.

“Hosting one of our Championships alongside a Sanctioned Event offers something for every type of player to head to Lumine and enjoy competitive golf and their fantastic facilities. We are looking forward to heading back there in February for another exciting few weeks!”

General Manager of Lumine, Calle Carlsson, commented: “We are delighted to have partnered once again with the Confederation of Professional Golf for what promises to be two exciting events to help kick-start 2018 at Lumine. These tournaments are always fiercely competitive and of a high standard by the very nature of the professionals we have playing here. The Festival provides a great way for us to showcase both our superb golf courses and strengthen Lumine’s reputation as a host of top-level tournament golf.”

The PGA of Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli won the 2017 edition of the International Pro-Am after taming the windy conditions at Lumine to complete a wire-to-wire finish; his first Confederation of Professional Golf Sanctioned Event win.

Gagli had used his momentum gathered from the 2017 Fourball Championship where he had finished tied-third with Emanuele Canonica, not far behind eventual winners from the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, Paul Hendriksen and James Ruth, who closed with an outstanding seven-under round of 64 to take home the €6,150 first prize.

For More information Visit http://eur.pe/2018CostaDaurada
For More information Visit http://eur.pe/2018Fourball

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

With thanks to LUMINE Mediterránea Beach & Golf Club (www.lumine.com), Costa Daurada (www.costadaurada.info), Cambrils (http://www.Cambrils-Tourism.com), La Pineda Platja (www.lapinedaplatja.info), Salou (www.visitsalou.eu), and Tryp Port Cambrils (http://eur.pe/2hAHhxs).

*Please note the Fourball Championship and Costa Daurada International Pro-Am are separate events – entry to one does not constitute entry to the other.

The international Pro-Am event proved to be hugely popular after its first edition in 2017, providing an excellent opportunity to showcase what Costa Navarino and the surrounding Messinia region have to offer, whilst helping to contribute to the development and awareness of golf and golf tourism in Greece.

PGA Professionals will battle it out for a prize fund of €50,000* in the official Confederation of Professional Golf Sanctioned Event that falls under the auspices of the PGA of Greece, and the Hellenic Golf Federation and is supported by Aegean Airlines.

Teams of three amateurs and one PGA Professional will compete across three rounds on The Dunes Course and The Bay Course at Costa Navarino, enjoying the mild climate of the region and the unspoilt Mediterranean landscape surrounded by centuries old olive groves and rolling hills overlooking the Ionian Sea.

There is no Pro-Am package fee for each participating professional bringing a team of three amateurs, including complimentary flights with Aegean Airlines and accommodation at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino.

Amateur packages start at €1,575, with four, five and seven night options available, and include:

• Accommodation in the The Westin Resort Costa Navarino
• Welcome Reception, Social Event Gala dinner & Prize giving Ceremony
• 3 tournament rounds & 2 practice rounds
• Buggies for all rounds
• On-course refreshments and snacks for 3 tournament rounds
• Exclusive welcome gift package
• Tournament fee contribution for Professional Prize Fund of 50.000€*
• Golf Swing Video Analysis with Movement Analysis Software
• Sports Injury Prevention & Performance Program
• And much more…

For More Information & to Enter Visit http://eur.pe/2018Messinia

For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2018Messinia) and messiniaproam.costanavarino.com, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag ‘#MessiniaProAm’, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

Find out more about Costa Navarino at www.costanavarino.com.

*Based on 50 teams competing

The former European Tour Professional and 2013 Portugal Masters winner was able to move up from second after five birdies and two bogeys gave a six-under par total (213), seeing him claim the $10,000 winner’s cheque and his first Confederation of Professional Golf Sanctioned Event title.

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“I came out here with zero expectations having retired from tournament golf,” said Lynn. “My practice round was awful, but I managed to shoot a good score in Round 01 and continued from there so I’m delighted.

“I started a bit poorly today but then managed to string some birdies together, including on the last which I didn’t know at the time was to pip it by one. I’ve had some super teams…and out here you meet some great people, and that’s why we’re out here, having fun with it all.”

Fellow Englishman and PGA EuroPro Tour Professional, Andrew Marshall, also shot a 70 but was just one shot short of the target finishing at five-under par (214) for the week.

Overnight leader, Georg Schultes (PGA of Austria), could not capitalise on his lead but still shot a steady level-par 73 for third place at four-under (215).

Team Opet 2 [pictured above] were able to convert their lead to win the Team Pro-Am event with 260 points (-44). Amateurs Oya Dagli, Arzu Narin and Nurten Ozturk partnered 2011 Open Champion and 2016 Ryder Cup Team Europe Captain, Darren Clarke, for their final round 87 points, and were also aided in their victorious run by the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland’s Garry Houston and PGA of Sweden Professional, Joakim Rask.

Opet 3 were in the chase all week and managed to match Opet 2’s 87 points, however it was not enough to catch the lead, giving them a 257-point (41) total, whilst Otokar 1 and Opet 4 finished in a tie for third place with 251 points (-35) a piece.

For Full Final Scores Visit: http://eur.pe/2017Beko

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For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2017Beko), follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the hashtag ‘#BekoClassic’, and like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Beko visit www.Beko.com.

Images Courtesy of Gary Edwards/VP Creative