Englishmen Matt Wallace and Eddie Pepperell, both European Tour winners in 2018, will represent the home side when the innovative GolfSixes returns to Centurion Club in St Albans, near London, from May 5-6.

England are the highest ranked of the 11 qualifying teams who join defending champions Denmark and four wildcard entries to form a 16-team field packed full of European Tour winners in the second staging of the innovative six-hole competition.

The confirmed qualified teams from around the world are: England, France, Australia, Thailand, Italy, South Korea, South Africa, USA, Spain, Scotland and Sweden.

Pepperell claimed his maiden European Tour victory by finishing on 18 under par at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in February, while Wallace won a thrilling play-off against countryman Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston to win the Hero Indian Open earlier this month. Wallace is now looking forward to teeing it up in the unique GolfSixes event for the first time.

The 27 year old said: “Playing in front of a home crowd is an exciting prospect and something I’ve always looked forward to. Last year it looked as if there were a lot of kids enjoying the whole experience, so it should be a lot of fun to play in front of so many young fans and hopefully get them excited about golf.

“I think it’s a great idea to have new and different formats like this on the European Tour, and, with the wildcard teams in the mix this year, there could be some intriguing match ups. Eddie and I have both had good starts to the year, and the chance to team up to represent England is really exciting. I’m sure we’ll have a good laugh on the course and hopefully give the home fans plenty to cheer about.”

European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn and Solheim Cup Captain Catriona Matthew will become the first male and female professionals to play together in a competitive match play format on the European Tour when they form the ‘Captains Team’ as one of the four wildcard entries.

An ‘England Women’s Team’ comprising Charley Hull and Georgia Hall will be joined by a ‘European Women’s Team’ of Norwegian Suzann Pettersen and England’s Mel Reid, with the final wildcard team to be confirmed shortly.

Defending champions Lucas Bjerregaard and Thorbjørn Olesen will return to represent Denmark in the fast-paced competition as the 16 teams go head to head for a total prize fund of €1 million with the eventual winners receiving €100,000 each.

ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who currently lies second in the Race to Dubai, will once again represent Thailand alongside eight-time European Tour winner Thongchai Jaidee.

Aphibarnrat, who will make his second appearance at the Masters Tournament next week, said: “I had a lot of fun taking part in GolfSixes alongside Thongchai last year and we’re looking forward to getting back to Centurion Club again.

“I enjoyed the team format, and it definitely seemed to be exciting for the fans too. Last year it was great to see so many kids around the course making noise and cheering on the teams, so it will be fantastic to see more of the same this year.

“We don’t get too many opportunities to play for our country as golfers, so it will be fun to team up with Thongchai again to represent Thailand. We got to the quarter finals last year, but we’ll be aiming to get our hands on the trophy this time around.”

France will be represented by 2017 KLM Open champion Romain Wattel and four-time European Tour winner Alexander Levy, whilst the last two winners of the UBS Hong Kong Open – Wade Ormsby and Sam Brazel – will compete on behalf of Australia.

Former Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari will be joined by 21 year old Renato Paratore, who won his maiden title at the 2017 Nordea Masters, in the Italian team.

Three-time European Tour winner Jeunghun Wang and 2016 Shenzen International champion Soomin Lee will play on behalf of Korea in the country’s debut GolfSixes appearance, while the South African team of George Coetzee and Haydn Porteous boast six European Tour titles between them.

Julian Suri, who captured the 2017 Made in Denmark title, will play in a USA team along with 2014 Omega European Masters winner David Lipsky, while Adrian Otaegui will represent Spain alongside Pablo Larrazábal, who has come close to securing his fifth European Tour title with three top ten finishes on the European Tour so far this season.

The Scotland team will feature two European Tour winners in Scott Jamieson and Richie Ramsay while Sweden have seized the final automatic qualification spot, with Alexander Björk and Joakim Lagergren joining the field.

The 16 teams will compete over six holes in a group stage, with teams split into four groups of four, before the top two teams from each group progress to the knockout stages – the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, a third/fourth place play-off match and the final.

In the group stages, three points will be given for victory with one point awarded for a draw and the matches will be played in a greensomes match play format.

Once again the six holes will be themed, with the popular shot clock hole returning – with a penalty imposed if players take longer than 30 seconds per shot – alongside the long drive and closest to the pin holes.

The innovative six-hole competition will have a festival feel with a centrally-located Fan Zone full of entertainment for all the family.

The 15 confirmed teams are:

Defending champions

DENMARK: Lucas Bjerregaard, Thorbjørn Olesen

Qualified teams

• ENGLAND: Matt Wallace, Eddie Pepperell
• FRANCE: Romain Wattel, Alexander Levy
• AUSTRALIA: Wade Ormsby, Sam Brazel
• THAILAND: Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thongchai Jaidee
• ITALY: Renato Paratore, Edoardo Molinari
• SOUTH KOREA: Jeunghun Wang, Soomin Lee
• SOUTH AFRICA: George Coetzee, Haydn Porteous
• USA: Julian Suri, David Lipsky
• SPAIN: Pablo Larrazábal, Adrian Otaegui
• SCOTLAND: Richie Ramsay, Scott Jamieson
• SWEDEN: Alexander Björk, Joakim Lagergren

Wildcard teams

• CAPTAINS TEAM: Thomas Bjørn, Catriona Matthew
• ENGLAND WOMEN’S TEAM: Charley Hull, Georgia Hall
• EUROPEAN WOMEN’S TEAM: Suzann Pettersen, Mel Reid
• FINAL TEAM TBC

Tickets for the event, which will feature amphitheatre-style stands around tees and greens, music and pyrotechnics on the first tee and player engagement across the course, are on sale now for just £16 for adults and £5 for children from http://et.golf/clscgA.

Find Out More @ golfsixes.com

The three-round tournament was played at Troon Golf’s Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, where Professionals and amateurs alike had the chance to test their skills on the renowned championship courses.

PGA of Great Britain & Ireland Professional, Gane, played consistently across the first two rounds taking a substantial lead over the field.

But a level-par 72 in his last round, with a bogey on the last, was not good enough to stay ahead of Mathiam Keyser, who shot an incredible five-under 67 in windy conditions to force a playoff with Gane.

After three holes, both players had come close to snatching the title – Keyser on the first hole, nearly driving the par-four 10th green but failing to make two putts, and Gane on the third playoff hole with a putt incredibly lipping out. With no daylight left, both players agreed to return to the clubhouse and share the Individual Professional honours.

“I thought that if I played a good round in the afternoon in the wind, well, you just never know what could happen,” said Keyser of his five-shot deficit when starting the final round.

“It was an amicable draw and a good result in the end, so I’m still happy with the win,” said Gane of his second Confederation of Professional Golf Sanctioned Event win of the season after also taking the 2018 Mercedes-Benz International Pro-Am title in January.

In tied third place at four-under par (212), the PGA of GB&I’s Daniel Whitby-Smith was joined by the PGA of Italy’s Federico Elli, whose unfortunate triple-bogey in round two stopped him from having what would have been the perfect round and allow him to enter round three in contention.

The Team Pro-Am event was won by Mathiam Keyser and amateurs Khaled Samawi, Julien Leonard and Ead Samawi, with 259 points (-43).

Gane and his amateurs, Andrew Doswell, Neil Foulkes and Robert Munro, secured second place with a total of 254 points (-38), with Whitby-Smith and his amateurs Gary Moore, Ian Birch and Darren Marshall not far behind in third position with a 248-point total (-32).

For Full Final Scores Visit http://eur.pe/2018TroonAbuDhabi

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For more information about the 2018 Troon Golf Abu Dhabi Pro-Am, visit the Tournament Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2018TroonAbuDhabi), follow @PGAsofEurope and search #TroonAbuDhabi on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Abu Dhabi Golf Club visit www.adgolfclub.com, and to find out more about Saadiyat Beach Golf Club visit www.sbgolfclub.ae.

Golf is played by around 55 million people on 32,000 courses in over 100 countries.¹ With over half a billion homes worldwide tuning in for each day of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, a series pitting Europe’s best against the cream of the American crop. We look at the health benefits of playing golf available not only to Rory McIlroy and the game’s elite, but also to those inspired to visit their local course.

Indeed former British Prime Minister David Lloyd George viewed less talented golfers as reaping more benefits than those bestowed upon the likes of McIlroy:

“Golf is the only game where the worst player gets the best of it. He obtains more out of it as regards both exercise and enjoyment, for the good player gets worried over the slightest mistake, whereas the poor player makes too many mistakes to worry about them.”

But what of the available evidence? Do golfers really live longer happier lives?

A landmark Scandinavian study² of over 300,000 golfers estimated they lived a remarkable 5 years longer than those who do not play golf, regardless of age, gender, or socio-economic status. Evidence also suggests that golf has a role in preventing and treating many chronic diseases, and has positive mental health effects.

Golf & Walking

A 2006 study³ found a mean of 11,948 steps are taken per 18-hole round, exceeding the commonly recommended daily amount of steps for health.  With technological advances coming into the game, calls have been made to reduce the use and availability of motorised carts to transport players around the course. Cart use reduces walking distance from an average 8+km to 3.86km per round.⁴

Another study⁵ found that walking 18-holes was the equivalent of moderate-high intensity exercise for the elderly, moderate for the middle-aged, and low for the young. A 1998 study⁶ determined that golf should be classified as a form of aerobic training for middle-aged people.

An Inclusive Sport

Golf suits participants of all ages, with people of mixed ability, sex, and age able to play together.  The Walker Research Group concludes: “golf is well suited for the development of social capital” with designated social spaces and natural breaks providing unparalleled socialisation opportunities and thus potential psychosocial benefit to participants of all ages⁷.

A 2006 study⁸ engaged children in non-traditional sports such as golf during extra-curricular time and found that such an intervention coupled with lifestyle activities such as walking, significantly increased physical activity in primary school aged children. This also slowed unhealthy weight gain.

In regards to gender inclusion, the recent news of women winning the right to R&A membership at St. Andrews after a 260-year wait, exhibits a positive step by the game’s administrators to quash these barriers and see more women playing and staying in the game⁹.

Was David Lloyd George right?

There is clear evidence that regular physical activity, in the form of golf, increases life expectancy.  And although Lloyd George was correct that the benefits can be accrued by players of all abilities, research suggests that low handicap players tend to play more often and have the lowest mortality rates.  Encouraging friends, family, and patients to take part in regular physical activity is time well invested, and golf can offer significant benefit to Joe and Jane Public and Rory McIlroy alike.  Just don’t hire a buggy!

References

1. Wilson B. Golf industry facing challenges: BBC News Online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12731099, 2011:Online News Article.
2. Farahmand B, Broman G, de Faire U, Vagero D, Ahlbom A. Golf: a game of life and death–reduced mortality in Swedish golf players. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2009;19(3):419-24.
3. Kobriger, S. L., Smith, J., Hollman, J. H., & Smith, A. M. (2006). The contribution of golf to daily physical activity recommendations: How many steps does it take to complete a round of golf? May Clinic Proceedings, 81(8), 1041-1043
4. Sell, T. C, Abt, J. P., Lephart, S, M. (2008) Physical activity-related benefits of walking during golf. Science and Gold V: Proceedings of the World Scientific Congress of Golf. 128-132
5. Broman, G., Johnsson, L., & kaijser, L. (2004) Golf: a high intensity interval activity for elderly men. Aging – Clinical and Experimental Research, 16(5), 375-381
6. Magnussen, G. (1998). Science and golf III: Proceedings of the 1998 World Scientific Congress of Golf. (eds.) Martin R. Farrally, Alastair J. Cochran. Human Kinetics
7. Walker Research Group. The Health & Wellness Benefits of Golf Participation & Involvement. Review of Academic Literature. Golf 20/20 & World Golf Foundation. (2011)
8. Taylor, R., Mculey, K., Williams, S., Barbezat, W., Nielsen, G., & Mann, J. (2006). Reducing weight gain in children through enhancing physical activity and nutrition: The APPLE project. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 1(3), 146-152
9. Women win right to R&A membership after 260-year wait as other clubs are told to remove barriers. The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/11107633/Women-win-right-to-RandA-membership-after-260-year-wait-as-other-clubs-are-told-to-remove-barriers.html Online news article.

With a couple of bogeys on the back nine, Gane had eight birdies to card a solid five-under par round, keeping his lead over South Africa’s Mathiam Keyser who sits in second place.

Keyser made five birdies and two bogeys on his way to a three-under par 69, taking him to a total of seven under (137) and still just within touching distance of the lead.

The PGA of Italy’s Federico Elli also had a good run trying to catch the leaders, but a triple-bogey on the par-four fourth meant his six birdies and an eagle would only allow him to finish his round with a 68 and a six-under par (138) total for the tournament.

In the Pro-Am, Gane’s Team of amateurs Andrew Doswell, Neil Foulkes and Robert Munro, head into the last round with a total of 174 points (-30), just four points ahead of Keyser and his team of Khaled Samawi, Julien Leonard and Ead Samawi.

With 165 points (-21), Saadiyat Beach Golf Club’s local team of Matt Waters (PGA of GB&I), Khalifa Al Masaood, Mark Stannard and Saif Thabet enter the final round in third place.

For Full Round 02 Scores Visit http://eur.pe/2018TroonAbuDhabi

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For more information about the 2018 Troon Golf Abu Dhabi Pro-Am, visit the Tournament Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2018TroonAbuDhabi), follow @PGAsofEurope and search #TroonAbuDhabi on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Abu Dhabi Golf Club visit www.adgolfclub.com, and to find out more about Saadiyat Beach Golf Club visit www.sbgolfclub.ae.

With a course set up for championship golf, Gane carded eight birdies for an astonishing 65, taking the lead by three strokes over South Africa’s Mathiam Keyser who shot a steady four-under par (68), with three birdies and an eagle.

“It’s the third or fourth tournament I’ve played round here [Abu Dhabi Golf Club], and I don’t think I’ve ever broken par, so there was a sense of trepidation going out today,” said Gane. “But going out this morning the greens were so good, so pure, and I just managed to hit it close and hole a few.”

The PGA of Italy’s Federico Elli, and the PGA of GB&I’s Daniel Whitby-Smith and Matt Waters each share third place after their opening scores of two-under par (70.)

Team Gane also took the lead in the Pro-Am – together with Andrew Doswell, Neil Foulkes and Robert Munro, the team scored 87 points (-15) to take the lead before moving to Round 02 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s sister course, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

The amateur competitors demonstrated extreme grit and will to compete on holes that were set up exactly the same as for the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA event in January that included some of the best players in the world.

Two points behind in second are Keyser’s team with amateurs Julien Leonard, Ead Samawi, and Khaled Samawi, scoring 85 points (- 13).

For Full Round 01 Scores Visit http://eur.pe/2018TroonAbuDhabi

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For more information about the 2018 Troon Golf Abu Dhabi Pro-Am, visit the Tournament Hub Page (http://eur.pe/2018TroonAbuDhabi), follow @PGAsofEurope and search #TroonAbuDhabi on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.

To find out more about Abu Dhabi Golf Club visit www.adgolfclub.com, and to find out more about Saadiyat Beach Golf Club visit www.sbgolfclub.ae.

Base Training Phase 1

After an athlete’s summer you should always start with Base Training Phase 1. The first six weeks is time dedicated taking care of the flexibility, balance, stability and core issues they may have.

Starting with the basics, even if the athlete has trained for many years, is important – compare it to building a foundation for your future house or a pyramid (see my creative drawing!). All the future work you do is based on how well you have done your foundations and that needs to be solid as a rock!

Circuit training of 15 repetitions is common format and your program should include lots of flexibility and stability exercises! During this time take care of the technical issues of their swing and do basic training on the short game and putting, so if you’re an athlete and you haven’t already, go and book session with your golf coach and go to work!

Base Training Phase 2

Base Training Phase 2 [that usually starts ideally before January time] involves more strength work (and core) and repetitions go down. ‘How many is ideal?’ I hear you ask – this obviously depends on various things; their training (and injury) history and what the athlete’s goals are. You should concentrate on a few areas and get them super strong! With your golf training switch your focus more towards short game and their creating different shots.

Pre-Season

Pre-season (March-April time) is all about developing further your strength and slowly getting into the power training. Training from the previous Phases should be so solid that power exercises that involve lots of medicine ball throws, should be relatively easy to perform and the athlete should feel pretty fresh after their workouts. Their golf training should be all about getting better at scoring so lot’s of playing and loads more short game!

Mid-Season

During the golf season the athlete will probably tend to play a lot, so this training phase mainly involves maintaining the strength and power that they build over the winter months, getting those low scores onto the scoreboard and winning tournaments!!!

Good luck with planning your athlete’s next season and if you need help with it we are happy to help!

Riikka

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

But it’s not just the oldies among us that are affected; millennials are frequently hit with these ‘senior moments’ too. Perhaps there’s an argument for mandatory name-tagging for everyone? Alternatively, there are a number of simple tactics that can help ward off this most socially awkward of conditions. Here is a selection of the best ones to try:

1. Concentrate

Most name blanks are created at the initial meet and great stage when people tend to be distracted by all the other thoughts running through their mind. By listening and fully engaging you stand a much better chance of recalling specifics such as names.

2. Repeat

Having registered the name, the trick is to consolidate it with as much repetition and reaffirmation as possible. Asking your new acquaintance to spell it out in full will help lodge it firmly within your temporal lobe. Warning: this may make you look odd if their name is John Smith. But you could try “John with an ‘h’?”

3.Write it down

For those with a visual rather than aural learning style it’s helpful to write down the name at the earliest convenience. You might even look to carry around a note-pad for this very purpose, though this could also make you look like an undercover detective on a bad day.

4. Name association

Similar to the popular word association drinking game but with more names and less drink, this tactic involves creating links and patterns between the person’s name and those of celebrities or people you know. Always keep your workings to yourself to avoid causing offence.

5. Address it head on

If after all this your new connection still remains nameless, your best bet is to meet the situation head on and own up to your forgetfulness. Do this early while your forgetfulness is still easily brushed aside. Waiting until the office Christmas Party could make things awkward, especially if Secret Santa is involved.

With several potential tricks up your sleeve, compensating your name-blanking tendencies is easier than it seems. Don’t start reaching for the nametags just yet.

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

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As Thomas International continues to roll out the High Potential Trait Indicator (HPTI) worldwide, a vast amount of data is being collected and analysed alongside a great deal of data about workplace and leadership outcomes.

These results were presented in a symposium at the 2018 International Test Commission Conference in Montreal [read more about it here]. This represents one of the largest HPTI studies done to date, including nearly 10,000 participants.

One of the defining features of the HPTI is it’s optimal trait levels for leadership. The HPTI goes beyond identifying personality traits and provides clear guidelines for identifying high potential leaders based on their personality traits. The recent studies confirm and reinforce the importance of personality traits for leadership.

The Process

Good scientific research involves thorough testing to build on theories and collect large amounts of data. This helps to confirm findings and improve the knowledge and understanding of the topic under investigation. Thomas International have been testing and validating the HPTI with workers around the world to ensure HPTI results and reports are valid, reliable and useful in workplaces around the world.

This process ensures the HPTI is a scientifically validated tool, and allows the continuous development of additional knowledge and resources to improve the utility of the HPTI in practice.

One of the papers presented at the 2018 International Test Commission Conference in Montreal looked at the results from a study of nearly 10,000 participants. Alongside the HPTI, various workplace outcome variables were also examined. The results demonstrated that the theoretical underpinnings and psychometric properties of the HPTI are valid and useful for North American populations.

Key Findings

First, the items and personality traits tested by the HPTI can be used in workplaces in North America. This research also involves a localisation process for the HPTI, so population norms and optimal levels of traits tailored to North American workers, leaders and businesses.

Second, this is the largest study to date examining HPTI traits at different levels of leadership. The results show very significant differences in HPTI traits at the different levels of leadership. The results confirm the importance of HPTI traits for leadership, and show the importance of HPTI traits increases with leadership seniority.

The chart below show increasing levels of each personality trait in each leadership category. This is a clear pattern which shows how important optimal HPTI trait levels are in leadership, and senior leadership in particular.

The results also show a greater spread between some traits. For example, those not in leadership tend to have average Ambiguity Approach levels. Senior leaders show substantially higher Ambiguity Approach which is essential for the level of complexity and uncertainty they face in their work.

Competitiveness, on the other hand, shows a relatively narrow spread. Although Competitiveness rises slightly higher at more senior levels of leadership, the differences are relatively modest. This is consistent with previous findings that extreme levels of competitiveness can be counterproductive in leadership positions.

Overall, this clearly shows the importance of HPTI traits in leadership and highlights that the HPTI traits are even more important in senior leadership. As HPTI research is conducted around the world, the research results clearly and consistently demonstrate how important HPTI traits are for leadership potential.

Implications for Business

HPTI personality traits are incredibly useful in assessing high potential at work for three reasons (discussed in more detail in High Potential: How to spot, manage and develop talented people at work).

1. Personality is stable

Personality traits are relatively stable from early adulthood into later life. It is a consistent pattern of thinking, feeling and behaving. This means personality is a very useful early indicator of potential at work.

2. Personality is rooted in the brain and biology

Personality comes from neurological processes and structures. That means personality is essentially hardwired in the brain, and very difficult to change except in cases of extreme psychological intervention. Unlike factors such as motivation which can change day-to-day or year-to-year, personality is a useful long-term predictor of both performance and potential.

3. Personality traits interact

Personality traits do not exist in isolation. The traits interact to form a whole, overall personality structure. Having high or low levels of one particular trait will influence how all other traits are experienced and expressed. This means it is important to look at all the HPTI personality traits in combination. The research described earlier in this article reinforces how important all of the HPTI traits are for overall leadership potential.

Getting a full picture of a person’s personality traits provides important information about making decisions related to identifying, managing and developing high potential at work.

Read more about each of the 6 traits of high potential in leadership and how the HPTI can support you in recruiting and developing your (future) leaders.

To find out more about the real-life applications of the HPTI, please get in contact on info@thomas.co.uk or call us on +44(0)1628 475 366.

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Ian MacRae

Ian has been an organisational psychology consultant for over a decade and is the director and co-founder of High Potential Psychology Ltd. He is the co-author of High Potential: How to Spot Manage and Develop Talented People at Work and the High Potential Trait Indicator (HPTI), a measure of leadership potential, which is available to Thomas clients.

When team members work well together, there is little they cannot accomplish. Looking at the bigger picture when it comes to your teams, such as their behavioural and emotional preferences and the impact they have on each other, can greatly increase your chances of developing a high performing team.

Patrick Wright from the Rugby Business Network (RBN) uses Thomas assessments to do just that. Thomas tools allow them to gain a deeper understanding of an individual’s preferences, something the RBN have used to develop athlete performance, enhance transition programmes and ultimately deliver results.

Developing self-awareness in the USA 7’s Rugby team

Mike Friday, Head Coach of the USA 7’s Rugby team, has been working with Patrick at the RBN to embed Thomas assessments into the team’s training programme in the lead up to the Rio Olympic Games, in order to improve consistency in performance through greater self-awareness amongst team members.

As a high performance sporting team where effective communication is crucial to successful performance, the team needed to develop their understanding of each other. As a result, they implemented Thomas’ Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) to identify their strengths, limitations, motivators and communication preferences; helping team members and coaches to tailor communications to individuals, so as not to misinterpret them and stifle learning.

The PPA compatibility report was also used between players, coaching staff and the management team. The reports uncovered a number of potential challenges to effective team relationships, which allowed them to put timely strategies and development plans in place to help individuals to modify their behaviour to the preferences of others.

The players also noticed an immediate impact after implementing Thomas assessments. Madison Hughes, player and captain of the USA 7’s Rugby team comments, “The Thomas PPA helped the team take a different perspective on communication with each other. In particular, it helped us realise the different ways people see things and therefore that with each individual, different approaches are necessary.

Mike concludes, “it has been very insightful working with Thomas International. It has encouraged open communication within the squad and has created a foundation for us to create winning performances on the pitch and to be a more united squad off the pitch. I would highly recommend teams looking to find the edge in high performance to explore this approach.”

For more information, visit ThomasInternational.net.

Photos provided by Mike Lee/KLCFotos

The PGA of Great Britain & Ireland Professional is an established part of the coaching tour de force from the Peter Cowen Golf Academy, having worked with, and influenced, over 40 European Tour players across the last decade.

Much like many coaches, Walker started his golf career on the playing side but, having left the game, it was only when he actively sought out his old coach, Peter Cowen, to help him out of his then office job in London that he got fully into golf coaching.

“When I look back now to my younger years, possibly to my detriment, I was almost more interested in coaching and practicing than playing because I used to get very nervous,” says Walker.

“I was bored in an office job in London and I contacted Pete who was my coach before I gave up golf and it was he who said well you could teach, in his words, standing on your head. I was just really interested in coaching, and I couldn’t wait to get to work every day.”

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“I think it’s a shame that a lot of coaches keep their cards to their chest because I’ve found that just by having conversations you learn different things from everybody…”

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Walker was placed as the Padawan Apprentice to a Jedi Master in Cowen, whose coaching pedigree speaks for itself when you see the list of players he has worked with. His exposure to Cowen’s working environment enabled him to absorb much of his knowledge whilst also being given the freedom to establish his own philosophy and opinions.

“I am extremely privileged with the fact that I have had ‘on-tap’ access to one of the best coaches in the world. All the questions that would make you scratch your head; you could get answers or Pete’s opinion of that answer.

“I think it’s a shame in the golf industry that a lot of coaches keep their cards to their chest because I’ve found that, whether it’s Pete or other coaches, just by having conversations with them you learn different things from everybody.”

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“I wouldn’t be doing what I did last year if it wasn’t for Pete – it’s that simple. I owe him a lot.”

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Clearly even a slight dipping of the toe into the mind of Walker shows how much Cowen, and other coaches, have influenced him:

“Without Pete then I wouldn’t have received any awards if it wasn’t for him – I wouldn’t be doing what I did last year if it wasn’t for him – it’s that simple. So I owe him a lot.

“What I most enjoy is talking technique and hitting balls with Pete and comparing ideas, what some players do that he’s worked with, what other players do that I’ve worked with – it’s just constantly stimulating your interest so it’s a fortunate position to be in.

“Other coaches that you travel with – for example Phil Kenyon, the putting coach – I talk to him a lot about coaching because it transcends into other areas, not just technique. Managing people, looking at statistics or score reports – it’s a myriad of things that you’re actually doing. I wish people would have more open conversations or forums because I think it helps everybody ultimately.”

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“What I’ve found is that if you’ve got a pupil you were on the same wave-length as then it’s gratifying whether they’re just starting or whether they’re playing for a living…”

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The professionals covered by the Cowen/Walker partnership reads more like a football squad than a roster of individuals, and the multinational, multi-tour group mean that it can be non-stop for Walker throughout the season, travelling to various tour events and making sure he is available to his students.

“Coaching tour players around the world is a bit of a double-edged sword – I don’t like the travel, and I don’t know many people who do, but the places that you go the other side are more than worth it…you get unbelievable experiences.

“Being on tour might test you a little more, but it’s all contextual and rolls along the way. I would have been just as nervous doing my first lesson to a group as teaching on a large stage like the Ryder Cup or something like that because it’s new at the end of the day. I guess the more you do it the less nervous you get.

“What I’ve found is that at any level, if you’ve got a pupil that you were on the same wave-length as and you get on with then it’s really gratifying whether they’re just starting or whether they’re playing for a living. It can be gratifying coaching at whatever level – a beginner to a 12 handicap just as much as coaching somebody to win his or her first tournament.

“It’s especially gratifying with someone like Matt Fitzpatrick who you’ve coached from being a kid. When he won the US Amateur that personally was one of the most satisfying moments because you’d seen him as a 13 year old kid coming to the driving range and then you’ve taken him all the way up to walking on the first tee at the Ryder Cup with him.”

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“The fundamentally important thing is to know your topic absolutely inside-out whatever level you’re at…”

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Much of Walker’s success is attributed to the help of his fellow coaches. This culture of sharing and advice is evident in his own views on how PGA Professionals can advance themselves as

coaches and it doesn’t take much to get him enthused and impassioned about his area of expertise.

“Some people are extremely good at coaching juniors, others at coaching your bog-standard player, and other people would be more interested in elite coaching…I think you need to identify what you prefer early on.

“But irrespective of any of those avenues, you need to know your subject inside out because all of the best people I’ve come across – not just in golf but in different industries – they make complex subjects appear simple, and to be able to make it simple you need to know as much as possible.

“The fundamentally important thing is to know your topic absolutely inside-out whatever level you’re at – then pick your route and try as hard as you can.”

Earlier this year Walker was awarded the John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching at the Confederation of Professional Golf’s Annual Congress Gala Awards in recognition of his position as a leading light in the profession.

“I felt very humbled and very proud – especially with John Jacobs linked to my roots at Hallamshire and Lindrick Golf Clubs at different stages. Matt Fitzpatrick, originates from Hallamshire, and my first proper golf lesson was at Lindrick with Pete so it seems quite fitting.

“I am extremely honoured to be associated with such a household name, especially with his recent passing. I know it’s a cliché but everybody values being acknowledged by their peers…if things like this happen then it gives you a boost of confidence and it’s really satisfying.”

@bizzwriter

Focus on a few core components of leadership and you can take your company to new heights.

Company leaders always want to motivate, inspire, and support their people to the absolute fullest.  But most go to bed at night suspecting that they’re coming up a little short.  Maybe more than a little.  Take heart: You can become a truly great leader.  All it takes is:

Perspiration

Great leadership requires effort – lots of effort. And much of that effort revolves around learning: about your people, your operations, your industry, and yourself.  Be relentless in your pursuit of knowledge about everything – and everyone – In your business ecosystem.

Vision

Develop a clear vision for what your business is all about, and don’t lose faith in it.  Know in your heart that you and your team can accomplish anything you set out to accomplish if you work together and believe in one another.  You will undoubtedly encounter setbacks, but don’t be deterred.  Learn from failure and remain confident.

Communication

Great leaders communicate sincerely, often, and in many different ways to everyone in their organisations.  They inform, provide feedback, and motivate – Intelligently and honestly.  Connect with all your people and cultivate multiple channels for two-way.  When you hear your own words and messages repeated back to you from your employees, or when your employees talk among themselves using your words to describe your vision and goals, then you know you’re making an impact.

Collaboration

Form teams and groups that are constituted for maximum effectiveness.  Recognise that in order to do their very best work most employees need consistent support and input from co-workers, peers, and managers.  When you create this kind of environment, you’ll see an immediate impact on productivity and effectiveness – as well as morale.

Decisiveness

Highly effective leaders are decisive when called upon to make tough calls quickly and confidently.  Take a moment to assess a difficult situation and then calmly and rationally consider your options.  As soon as you have the information you need to make an informed decision, make it.  Don’t let fear of being wrong prevent you from making what you know is the right call.

Integrity

Study after study finds that the No. 1 quality that employees want leaders to possess is integrity.  Always be candid, forthright, honest, and fair.  Treat your people as you want to be treated.  Your employees will respect you and respond in kind.

Inspiration

When times are tough, be the person that people look to for inspiration.  Don’t just talk, act.  Reassure your employees and help them overcome their own doubts and anxieties.  Model the kind of positive behaviour you want to see in them.

The R&A and the USGA finalised golf’s new Rules this month after an extensive review that included a request for feedback from the global golf community on the proposed changes. Golfers can now access the official 2019 Rules of Golf by visiting RandA.org or usga.org/rules.

The process to modernise the Rules began in 2012 and was initiated to ensure that the Rules are easier to understand and apply for all golfers and to make the game more attractive and accessible for newcomers.

While the majority of proposed Rules remain intact in the final version, several important changes to the initial proposals and further clarification of many Rules were incorporated. The most significant adjustments made following review of the feedback received from golfers around the world include:

• Dropping procedure: When taking relief (from an abnormal course condition or penalty area, for example), golfers will now drop from knee height. This will ensure consistency and simplicity in the dropping process while also preserving the randomness of the drop. (Key change: the proposed Rules released in 2017 suggested dropping from any height).
• Measuring in taking relief: The golfer’s relief area will be measured by using the longest club in his/her bag (other than a putter) to measure one club-length or two club-lengths, depending on the situation, providing a consistent process for golfers to establish his/her relief area. (Key change: the proposed Rules released in 2017 suggested a 20-inch or 80-inch standard measurement).
• Removing the penalty for a double hit:  The penalty stroke for accidentally striking the ball more than once in the course of a stroke has been removed. Golfers will simply count the one stroke they made to strike the ball.  (Key change: the proposed Rules released in 2017 included the existing one-stroke penalty).
• Balls Lost or Out of Bounds: Alternative to Stroke and Distance:  A new Local Rule will now be available in January 2019, permitting committees to allow golfers the option to drop the ball in the vicinity of where the ball is lost or out of bounds (including the nearest fairway area), under a two-stroke penalty. It addresses concerns raised at the club level about the negative impact on pace of play when a player is required to go back under stroke and distance. The Local Rule is not intended for higher levels of play, such as professional or elite level competitions. (Key change:  this is a new addition to support pace of play)

David Rickman, Executive Director – Governance at The R&A, said, “We are pleased to be introducing the new Rules of Golf after a collaborative and wide-ranging review process which has embraced the views of golfers, rules experts and administrators worldwide. We believe that the new Rules are more in tune with what golfers would like and are easier to understand and apply for everyone who enjoys playing this great game.”

 “We’re thankful for the golfers, administrators and everyone in the game who took the time to provide us with great insight and thoughtful feedback,” said USGA Senior Director of Rules & Amateur Status, Thomas Pagel. “We couldn’t be more excited to introduce the new Rules ahead of their education and implementation.”

Major proposals introduced in 2017 that have been incorporated into the modernised Rules include:

• Elimination or reduction of “ball moved” penalties: There will be no penalty for accidentally moving a ball on the putting green or in searching for a ball; and a player is not responsible for causing a ball to move unless it is “virtually certain” that he or she did so.
• Relaxed putting green rules: There will be no penalty if a ball played from the putting green hits an unattended flagstick in the hole; players may putt without having the flagstick attended or removed. Players may repair spike marks and other damage made by shoes, animal damage and other damage on the putting green and there is no penalty for merely touching the line of putt.
• Relaxed rules for “penalty areas” (currently called “water hazards”): Red and yellow-marked penalty areas may cover areas of desert, jungle, lava rock, etc., in addition to areas of water; expanded use of red penalty areas where lateral relief is allowed; and there will be no penalty for moving loose impediments or touching the ground or water in a penalty area.
• Relaxed bunker rules: There will be no penalty for moving loose impediments in a bunker or for generally touching the sand with a hand or club. A limited set of restrictions (such as not grounding the club right next to the ball) is kept to preserve the challenge of playing from the sand; however, an extra relief option is added for an unplayable ball in a bunker, allowing the ball to be played from outside the bunker with a two-stroke penalty.
• Relying on player integrity: A player’s “reasonable judgment” when estimating or measuring a spot, point, line, area or distance will be upheld, even if video evidence later shows it to be wrong; and elimination of announcement procedures when lifting a ball to identify it or to see if it is damaged.
• Pace-of-play support: Reduced time for searching for a lost ball (from five minutes to three); affirmative encouragement of “ready golf” in stroke play; recommending that players take no more than 40 seconds to play a stroke and other changes intended to help with pace of play.

Presented in digital, text-based form today, the new Rules will also now be translated into more than 30 languages and readied for final delivery via print and digital formats, including searchable Rules of Golf official apps developed by The R&A and the USGA.

Three important publications, to be distributed in September, will help players as well as officials and provide interpretation and guidance in how the Rules are applied:

• The Player’s Edition of the Rules of Golf: An abridged, user-friendly set of the Rules with shorter sentences, commonly used phrases, and diagrams. Written in the “second person,” The Player’s Edition is intended to be the primary publication for golfers.
• The Rules of Golf: The full edition of the Rules will be written in the third person and include illustrations. It is intended to be a more thorough version of the revised Rules.
• The Official Guide to the Rules of Golf: This “guidebook” replaces the Decisions book and will contain information to best support committees and officials. It includes interpretations on the Rules, committee procedures (available local rules and information on establishing the terms of the competition), and the Modified Rules of Golf for Players with Disabilities. It is a comprehensive resource document intended as a supplementary publication.

More than 30 “how-to apply” videos and a summary of the principal changes are now available at usga.org/rules.  Additional education tools will be released in September.

Players are reminded that the current edition of the Rules of Golf (2016) must be applied when playing, posting scores or competing for the remainder of 2018. The Rules of Amateur Status and the Rules of Equipment Standards were not part of this review process.

As an extension of their support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A and the USGA’s efforts to modernise golf’s Rules. The Swiss watchmaker’s contribution to excellence in golf is based on a rich heritage stretching back more than 50 years, forged through pivotal partnerships at every level of the game, from the sport’s leading professional and amateur competitions and organisations, to players at the pinnacle of their sport worldwide.

Find out More @ www.RandA.org

Golf Pride, recognised globally as the number one choice in grips by a wide variety of players, explain more…

Regripping time vs. coaching time

The time spent regripping is a hugely profitable way to spend your day. The example below shows just how much profit could be earned from regripping one set in 30 minutes. Two sets in an hour could give a great profit when compared to the money you might make from a lesson. Make it a goal to fill your diary with regrips in the spaces between lessons and you’ll achieve an excellent payback on your day’s work.

You don’t need a shop to generate revenue from regripping

Regripping is something that can be carried out with minimal equipment and without the need for a retail space. If you are a coach at a range or an academy then all you need is some safe space in a store room for example where you can carry out regrips and repairs. You can then bolt this service on to your lessons and ensure all of your clients are playing with good condition grips that are right for them.

Golf Pride provide resources and POS displays FREE

Golf Pride provide a variety of point-of-sale material and displays for use whether you have a shop or not so you can get the products front and centre and in peoples’ hands. Make the most of the posters, imagery and display stands to really show off the service you can offer – and best of all they provide these for FREE from your distributor!

Large range and options – increased personalisation for your customers

Custom fitting and club repairs are very much about personalisation nowadays and with Golf Pride’s wide range of types, colours and sizes on offer you can really tailor your service to a client’s needs.

Improves customer/client relations (and can help your students’ progress)

Regripping, and grip fitting along with it, is a great way of getting closer to your clients even if you do not already coach them. You can offer them the service and then take time to speak with them about their current equipment in general, their game, and whether they are working on anything and then use this as a chance to explain how new equipment or lessons could help.

Then there is providing a gripping service for those that you do already teach – this is a no-brainer as you can ensure your students are using appropriately fitted equipment that is in good condition.

It’s an easy [up]sell

What is the one point of contact between a golfer and the club? Exactly. This should be something that is very easy to communicate to your clients/customers. In order to ensure the connection between the golfer and their equipment is as good as possible then they need to have good condition, usable grips – and regripping is a really cost effective way for them to achieve better performance.

For more information on Golf Pride visit www.golfpride.com.

And we have been doing so throughout history. Stories have allowed us to pass on information from one generation to the next in the form of books, visuals and the spoken word. Some cultures rely heavily – or solely in some cases – on oral storytelling to pass on traditions, values and beliefs. Members of the Native American Abenaki tribe, for example, have traditionally told their children stories as a way to teach them right from wrong and so instil core values in them. Fairy tales have done the same for many cultures for hundreds of years.

So why stories? What makes them so valuable?

First and foremost, stories allow us to make sense of the world around us. The way this works is quite simple: our brains are hardwired to look for patterns, i.e. finding links between cause and effect. This is how we learn from a young age. For example, if we touch something very hot and it hurts our hand we make the causal connection between the two and learn not to touch that thing again. The end result of this thought process is a story, which we can then share with others to spread our knowledge.

Stories can touch us in any number of ways. They can open our minds to new perspectives, inspire and persuade us, help build our confidence, grow a sense of inclusion and incite change. Ultimately, they can be used to shape our values and beliefs. Think, for example, of how stories are used within religion and politics to influence how people think and what they believe.

A story’s power comes from its narrative form, which draws us in much more than dry facts ever could. Evidence from neuroscience suggests that when we listen to a story our brain patterns start to mirror those of the speaker, allowing us to connect on a deeper level. The way a story is structured – with a clear beginning, middle and end – also helps to maintain our engagement as we long to hear the outcome.

Being a great storyteller is an incredibly useful skill for any professional to have, and a relatively easy one to master: after all, it’s something that we practise almost every day. However, to perfect the art there are some ground rules to keep in mind:

1. Make sure you understand your audience and how best to best to engage them.
2. Your story needs to be easy to follow with a clear structure.
3. Don’t forget the power of delivery: your tone of voice and body language can influence engagement levels.

Evaluate your own storytelling skills: how comfortable do you feel telling a story? How good do you think you are at engaging others when you speak? Then start practising those skills. Whether it’s at your next networking event, during a presentation, or a meeting with your boss or a hiring manager: tell a story about you, your career or the project you are working on. Chances are whoever’s listening will remember that story over anything else.

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: Abintegro; The Guardian; The Health Foundation

Such achievements would have not been feasible without the strong commitment and contribution of the whole consortium.

We invite you to look at the main outputs which are concisely described and downloadable below.

OUTPUT 1:

Innovative Coaching Methodology – “P.L.A.Y.IN.G. – Play, Learning and Activity for Youth IN Golf”

An innovative golf coaching methodology challenging traditional coaching and training concepts which emerged from desk research on the current availability of junior programmes, experience of the outcomes from such programmes and the belief that newcomers to the sport are keen to learn but are frequently limited by time and access to facilities.

The overall concept was to develop an original methodology to introduce golf to youth where the learning and retention of skills were fundamental, but which began with the sport and not the skills, focused on problem-solving tasks, not skill repetition, guided discovery rather than adopted a prescriptive doctrine.

The project adopted a philosophy that can allow the newcomer participant to appreciate the sport and its objectives before developing the skills and tactics necessary to play it.

Download the Ouput here

OUTPUT 2:

Guidelines to Enhance Youth Participation in Golf – “Golf: A Greenprint for the future”

A set of guidelines on how the golf sector can enhance youth participation. Topics of these guidelines are recruitment, attitude to golf, promotional campaigns, welcoming new players, club environment, infrastructure and access, coaching strategy, golf course optimisation, club diversification, motoring process.

This Greenprint (a blueprint using a pun from golf terminology to make Greenprint) has been developed to assist golf organisations and institutions to develop context specific interventions and to adapt and learn from experiences over time.

They are intended primarily for golf federations, PGAs and individual clubs, especially across Europe, but they have wider relevance for states, NGOs, schools and other organisations worldwide that are considering developing interventions for youth participation, and they offer insights for sports other than golf.

Download the Output here

OUTPUT 3:

Literature review – “Golf: A fair way to human health and wellbeing?”

This review examines how the golf sector might pursue more social sustainability, particularly around access and participation by young people, as a contribution to improved health and wellbeing.

The research questions addressed through this review are: How might golf contribute to health and wellbeing of people? · How can we improve access to and increase participation in golf, especially amongst youth? · How can we enhance the social sustainability of golf?

Whilst the golf sector has responded well to sustainability challenges in some areas, a strategic approach will ensure that the game of golf fulfils its potential to contribute to the development of a healthy and just society living within environmental limits, in line with contemporary concepts of sustainability. The review includes a set of practical recommendations.

Download the Output here

OUTPUT 4:

Literature review Executive Summary – “Golf: A fair way to human health and wellbeing?”

An Executive Summary of the full literature review has been produced to reach the widest ring of stakeholders and spread the message as broadly as possible about the potential and evidence of the sport of golf.

Dowload the Output here

OUTPUT 5:

Overview of Golf and Health – “Golf: On course for generations of healthy players”

This overview is closely linked to the literature review but is intended to provide a stand alone document for those interested primarily in an assessment of the connections between golf and health. The overview seeks to explore:

• What are the potential influences of golf on human health and wellbeing?
• How can we strengthen the capacity of golf to enhance health and wellbeing?

This document investigates the context of health and wellbeing challenges, then examines how the sport of golf can influence health and wellbeing, and finally derives some recommendations to strengthen any positive influences of golf whilst supporting the golf sector itself.

Download the Output here

OUTPUT 6:

Research report evaluation of the GoGolf intervention – “An eagle eye on golf”

This report outlines the results and analysis from the wide and ambitious participative research carried out through the project and during which youth perceptions of golf, barriers to participation and ways of overcoming these were assessed within the five participating countries.

The aim of this report is to evaluate and reflect on the GoGolf progamme influences on youth health and participation, coaching innovation, partnership and other outcomes, but also to identify lessons learned for the golf sector for how youth access and participation can be enhanced to release health benefits.

The analysis has been made from the inputs and contributions from over 640 trained youths and all involved local coaches active in the delivery and testing of the innovative coaching methodology.

Dowload the Output here

OUTPUT 7:

Research report evaluation of the GoGolf intervention – “An eagle eye on golf”
(Executive Summary)

An Executive Summary of the full Research Report has been produced to reach the widest ring of stakeholders and spread the message and have the highest possible impact all over Europe and beyond.

Download the Output here

OUTPUT 8:

An informational booklet for youth on healthy leaving and the sport of golf

This booklet provided a short summary of the key messages and testimonials around the sport of golf and its benefits on health and wellbeing. This booklet has been designed and developed for youth.

Download the Output here

OUTPUT 9: 

An awareness raising Promotional Film

A 5 minute film has been professionally produced and was shown during the final conference of the project to promote the GoGolf initiative, to present the activities carried out through the project and underline some key findings.

It includes some testimonials from various stakeholders such as partners, local coaches having taking part in the delivery on the coaching methodology, Physical Education teachers, youths and GoGolf Ambassadors.

The idea of this film is to encourage other Federations and other sports to consider the implementation of a similar initiative to enable greater inclusion, access and opportunity for youth to engage with sport at grassroots level.

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

The destination currently provides a rich and varied array of golf courses where to enjoy this sport all year round. All the courses are also located close to the main towns of the Costa Daurada and have very easy access. Moreover, these are high-quality courses as they have been designed by world experts such as Robert Trent Jones Jr and Greg Norman.

 The Costa Daurada, A Universal Heritage

In 1991, the monastery of Santa Maria of Poblet, in Vimbodí-Poblet, became the first monument of the Costa Daurada to achieve the Unesco World Heritage Site listing. The declaration arrived after years of restorations to recover the ancient splendour of a unique monastery: with a mixture of styles: from Romanesque to Gothic and a monastic community that maintains the communal life.

The discovery of Tarraco is also synonymous of a trip back in time that will enable you to enjoy a small piece of the history of the Roman Empire. The light, the pleasant temperatures, its port, etc. were factors that favoured the idyll between the Romans and Tarraco, a city that for two years, from the year 29 to 27 bc., even became the residence of Emperor Caesar Augustus. The Roman Tarragona is also a World Heritage site: we suggest you visit the amphitheatre, the walls, the circus, etc. Don’t forget to stroll around the streets of the Part Alta (high part) where you can still perceive and discover its rich history.

The bourgeoisie of Reus promoted the construction of new buildings in the historic centre of the capital of Baix Camp, which at the end of the 19th century became their manor houses and are now authentic architectural gems that you will be able to discover when strolling through the centre of Reus. The icing on the cake of this architecture is the Pere Mata Institute, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, and that was built following the pavilions model of the Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona It is currently possible to visit the pavilion “of the distinguished”, which is of great architectural beauty. At the Gaudi Centre, you will be able to learn the secrets of this talented architect.

Human castles are culture and one of the deeply rooted traditions of the Costa Daurada. With more than two centuries of history, this tradition, which came from the town of Valls, has spread first along the Catalan geography and now, even beyond the barriers and borders of this territory. Strength, balance, courage and wisdom are values associated with human castles and are the reason why they have been declared intangible asset by Unesco.

Wine Tourism

The Costa Daurada is a territory of excellent wines. Since the Romans arrived, vineyards are grown in the counties in the south, although the greatest expansion took place with the arrival of the Cistercian and Carthusian monks. The production of grapes and wine making has been deeply rooted in the monastic tradition and since the middle ages, it has also been adopted in this territory.

Although, in addition to the history, the geographic and climate conditions of these counties produces wines of a great quality and of a special singularity. In fact, in the Costa Daurada, there are five designations of origin, some of which are even made with autochthonous grapes, as well as the Designation of Origin Cava.

To be able to enjoy the wine culture, the wine tourism offer increases day by day, with cellars that offer routes to discover the territory, the vineyards and at the same time taste the wines and cavas that are made there.

In this context, we also propose the discovery of the architecture linked to the wine culture. We are referring to the modernism cooperative buildings built at the ends of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, as a result of the zenith of the cooperative culture.

Find out more about the Costa Daurada in next month’s IGPN…

For More Information Visit www.costadaurada.info