In late 2018, after 25 years as the Association’s Chairman, Jones retired from his position with the CPG, formerly the PGAs of Europe, having been a key part of its inception and evolution across three decades, as well as a one of the key drivers behind the development of the Ryder Cup and the Ryder Cup European Development Trust (RCEDT).

The Christer Lindberg Bowl, named after the Association’s first Chairman, reflects the importance and influence of its winners on our sport.  Jones joins the role of honour that includes names such as John Jacobs, Joe Steranka, IMG, Emma Villacieros, Rolex, and Annika Sörenstam, in recognition of their impact and support of golf at all levels of the sport.

“When Christer Lindberg sadly passed away many years ago, I was part of setting this award up, so to be on the receiving end of it is an amazing feeling and is something very special to me”, said Jones after receiving the award at the 2019 CPG Annual Gala Awards Dinner Supported By Rolex at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort in Portugal.

“However, I feel this award is testament to more than just myself – it is a recognition of so many other people who I have worked with over my career – people that have contributed significantly to many of the achievements accomplished in the world of golf.”

Having played golf from an early age under the guidance of his avid-golfer mother, Jones moved from computer programming for IBM to a career in golf when he took up the role as Regional Secretary for the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland’s Scottish office in 1980.

Within 12 years he had risen to the position of Chief Executive after which he led the organisation with countless initiatives, programmes and events each conceptualised and developed through him and his team of staff that grew significantly during his tenure.

Jones was also involved in the formative years of the PGAs of Europe and following the passing of Lindberg in 1994, he took up the reins as Chairman and oversaw the rise of the Association to the globally influential organisation of 32 Member Country PGAs that exists today.

During this time he also played a huge role in the growth and development of the Ryder Cup to what it has become today, being one of the largest sporting events on earth and a key ‘shop window’ to the sport.

Together with past European Tour Chief Executive and current CPG Board Director, Ken Schofield, he also drew up the agreement between the CPG, European Tour and the PGA of GB&I to establish Ryder Cup Europe and the RCEDT.  Jones also Chaired the RCEDT for over a decade, helping to distribute funds from the Ryder Cup across numerous countries and projects for the betterment and growth of golf.

“To see the CPG and RCEDT continue to grow and have an impact on the game after my tenure is fantastic; it has been a huge part of my life and I will never forget my time as Chairman.”

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“Thank you so much for giving me this award and acknowledgement of my career, it is a great honour”, said Karlsson, upon receiving the news of his award at the 2019 CPG Annual Gala Awards Dinner Supported By Rolex at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort.

“It is a great honour to be recognized by the PGA community and to be associated with all the fantastic players and ambassadors of the game that have been recognised before me. This award for sure helps me in my continuous strive to help grow the game – I am definitely committed to do my part.”

With previous recipients of the award including Seve Ballesteros, Alison Nicholas, Bernhard Langer and José María Olazábal, Karlsson joins an array of golfing legends to have been recognised with the accolade.

Regarded as one of the most successful European and Swedish players of his time, Karlsson first burst onto the scene in 1990 through European Tour qualifying school, setting the scene for a long and established career that has accumulated over 600 European Tour starts and most recently, earnt his PGA Tour Champions card for the 2020 Season.

Marcus Lindell and Johan Hampf, President and Chief Executive of the PGA of Sweden respectively, commented: “Robert is a true role model for Professional Golf in Sweden. His dedication and hard work to become one of the best players in the world has inspired many Swedish players across all levels of the game.

“Robert is involved with various projects to help support and grow the game in Sweden. He received the PGA of Sweden Future Fund scholarship during his early career and is an honorary member of our association.”

Karlsson’s achievements have spanned across the globe, where has amassed 12 victories including the BMW International Open and Omega European Masters. Perhaps his most memorable year came in 2008 when he won the Mission Hills World Cup with Henrik Stenson on behalf of Sweden, and the European Tour’s season-long ‘Order of Merit’, the last under such a name before becoming ‘The Race to Dubai’ as we now know it.

Karlsson added: “The game has changed considerably since I first started playing but I have had some incredible experiences, victories and moments that I will cherish forever…giving other young golfers the opportunity to experience what I have one day would also be fantastic.”

In more recent years, Karlsson has also played a huge role for Team Europe within the Ryder Cup, both in a playing capacity and in a supporting role. At the age of 37, his debut in 2006 at the series of matches in Ireland was late compared to most but he contributed significantly to the European victory and went on to represent Team Europe once more at Valhalla in 2008.

He also played the role of Vice Captain in that famous victory in Paris last year, supporting Thomas Björn and his team of European superstars to an emphatic victory at Le Golf National that will be eternally remembered for generations. Such a performance has earned him the honour once more, as he was Captain Padraig Harrington’s first appointment as a Vice-Captain for next year’s matches at Whistling Straits.

[Photo Credit: RK-3674_byAntonBengtsson.jpg – Credit: Anton Bengtsson]

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Altinova was presented with his award at the 2019 CPG Annual Gala Awards Dinner Supported By Rolex at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort, recognising his achievements and contributions within the PGA of Germany and to the travel industry. He now joins last year’s recipient, David Kearney, and fellow compatriots Guido Tillmans and Gunter Kessler, to have won the award within the last decade.

Upon receiving his recognition, Altinova, CEO of golf.extra, commented: “It is a fantastic honour to receive this award; one that I was very surprised at when I heard the news.

“We do a lot of work in Central-Europe, particularly the German-speaking areas, organising over 400 weeks of travel with PGA Professionals to locations across the world and it is great to see the impact that we have been having as a result.”

Having been a member of the PGA of Germany for over 20 years, Ergül Altinova has contributed significantly to the development of German professional golf, through his previous responsibilities of training three German PGA Assistants, his senior roles within the PGA of Germany, and the close relationships he holds with various German golfing bodies.

However, Altinova is predominantly known for his contributions to the travel industry and tourism in Germany, where he has formed numerous travel companies that employ over 30 people including golf.extra and EMU Exclusive Travel. Both are responsible for organising and delivering golfing holidays, coaching trips and various golf-related travel options for PGA Professionals across Europe and beyond.

From these endeavours, Altinova’s passions have naturally transferred across various sectors and markets within the industry, where his work with the PGA of Switzerland, the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup as a travel partner has raised an already-growing travel and tourism reputation to another level.

“It means a lot to be a PGA Professional,” added Altinova. “Golf has given me so much both personally and professionally, and the knowledge I have gained over the years as a result has certainly helped achieve what I have as a tourism operator. I am extremely grateful to the CPG and the PGA of Germany for their recognition.”

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Weir was presented with the award at the 2019 CPG Annual Gala Awards Dinner Supported By Rolex at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort. The Scotsman now joins the exclusive list of previous winners including Theodore Vassilakis, Mustafa Koç, 2017 winner, Samuel Ryder, and last year’s winner, Renton Laidlaw.

Upon receiving the news of his award, Weir said: “It is a great honour to receive this award in recognition of the support I have given on behalf of The R&A to the CPG’s work, central to which, is the raising of coaching standards globally.

“We see playing standards improve year on year, across every championship and international match we run, and our relationship with the CPG has been critical in seeing this improvement take place.”

In a career extending over 35 years with The R&A, Weir’s first memory of golf, quite aptly, was being taken by his father to their flagship event – The Open Championship. That would set a recurring scene, as he then went on to work for The R&A during the 1985 Amateur Championship and 1985 Open Championship when it was held at Royal St. George’s. To date, he has had involvement with 36 Open Championships across his entire career.

From 1985, Weir worked in the Rules, Championships and Development departments until 1999, when he was appointed as The R&A’s first Director of Golf Development. In his current role as Executive Director – Golf Development and Amateur Championships, Weir oversees a portfolio of nearly 30 amateur championships and international matches and golf development work in over 80 countries around the world.

His relationship with the CPG first came about as part of his work delivering The R&A’s golf development visits overseas. Since then, he has overseen the mass development of golf through increased golfing activity, improved standards of play and emerging countries joining the global golf community.

“Legacy is a big word, but I would hope people across the golfing community recognise the passion I have for my work,” added Weir.

“I would hope that some of today’s professionals, who competed in our national championships and international teams over the years, would say that I helped them in small ways to reach where they are today.”

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Much of this was led with passion by the current CPG Honorary President and FFG Vice-President, Pascal Grizot – the man instrumental in delivering the Ryder Cup to Paris last year, and FFG Marketing & Communications Director, Olivier Denis-Massé, was presented the award at the 2019 CPG Annual Gala Awards Dinner Supported By Rolex at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort.

The FFG follows in the footsteps of other impactful golf development projects and initiatives such as last year’s winner, the South African Golf Development Board, fellow French-based activity, Golf Educatif, and the Robert Kalkman Foundation.

Upon receiving the news of the accolade, Denis-Massé said: “For the FFG, this award is recognition of all the work we have done over the past decade since securing the Ryder Cup bid in 2008.

“The short courses have been a vital project for French golf in delivering inexpensive, accessible golf for all to play and enjoy the game. Looking ahead, to be able to say this project helped make golf a national sport in France would for us, be the ultimate legacy.”

In 2011, France was awarded the honour of becoming only the second host of the Ryder Cup in Continental Europe, following in Valderrama’s footsteps in 1997.

As part of the successful bid, the FFG aimed to create a lasting legacy for the game of golf in France. As part of this, it sought to create 100 new golf courses around France that promoted golfing opportunity and access for everybody.

After 10 years of work, the short course project has had a significant impact on French golf, developing 17,000 new players, creating over 250 jobs and generating economic benefits such as increased investment into golf and contribution to the national GDP through an average of €220,000 of revenue and 3000 green fees per course.

The short courses have provided a practical, easy and quick way to play, creating facilities located in more urban areas with a more affordable entry point into the sport. In mid-2019, the FFG celebrated the opening of the 100^thcourse with support from the Ryder Cup European Development Trust, at The Regional Training and Development Centre operated by the Ligue de golf Occitanie, a regional organisation of the FFG. This has since been followed by the 101^st short course, showing the FFG’s belief that this project can continue to expand and also be mirrored by other countries seeking effective ways to increase golf participation.

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Through continual dialogue with golf club and course managers and golf associations, and as part of the mission to keep adding value to the growing number of people OnCourse, new features include:

• Annual Sustainability Scorecard – tracks the 32 Sustainability Metrics for Golf, giving clubs easy access to key data and year-on-year trends, plus professional-standard presentations and graphics prepared for each club.
• OnCourse Carbon Calculator – calculates carbon emissions, sequestration & balance plus guidance on how to improve.
• Communications materials – more ways to communicate with colleagues, golfers and community – including monthly themed campaigns for clubs that want to do more around a particular issue.
• Consultations – free call to determine which aspects of OnCourse will best meet a club’s aims and needs, and how to get started or connect with additional support if desired.

Now in eleven languages, the programme is proving to be a valuable resource for clubs and courses of all sizes around the world, with more clubs now joining every day to unlock the many business benefits of sustainability and to play their part.

As described by one club recently, “OnCourse provides a vision of how golf clubs can and should be in the 21st Century – as clubs that act as stewards for the land, use resources responsibly and are integrated as part of their communities.” – Bob Roberts, Market Harborough Golf Club.

Clubs around the world have already shared hundreds of examples of this type of action, their projects and results, provided as an always growing library of ideas in OnCourse and also helping to strengthen the reputation of golf and the value it brings to nature and people.

Over the coming months, many workshops and events are taking place with GEO Foundation and partners, check with GEO or your local golf association for more information.

And in the UK, visit the BTME Sustainability Zone in January 2020.

Bertaina’s relentless dedication to the bettering of Italian golf, and his work with both Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, earned him the accolade which was presented at the 2019 CPG Annual Gala Awards Dinner Supported By Rolex at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort. The Italian follows in the footsteps of other great coaches such as Neil Manchip – coach to 2019 Open Champion,Shane Lowry – as well as Michael Bannon, Dominique Larretche and Salvador Luna.

Upon receiving the news of his award, Bertaina commented: “I am honoured to have been awarded the John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching – he was a great teacher of the game and an inspiration to me.

“I would like to thank my home golf club, Circolo Golf Torino, for giving me the opportunity to practice my teaching and coaching, and to Edoardo and Francesco Molinari for being great students and friends of mine over my entire career.”

Both Molinari brothers have gone on to record victories across the globe and represent Team Europe in the Ryder Cup as brothers in 2010 and owe much of this success to Bertaina. They describe him as a pivotal part of their support network and their successes are a testament to his dedication and commitment as a world-class golf coach.

Born in Turin, Bertaina first began playing golf at the age of nine and has been heavily involved in the game ever since. His career has previously taken him to the United States where, under the tutelage of Norman Von Nida(Coach to Greg Norman), he dedicated his career and professional development to the art of golf teaching and coaching.

Domestically, Bertaina has undertaken senior coaching roles in Italy for the Men’s, Women’s and Professional National teams and has led various successful Italian amateurs to victory over a career spanning multiple decades.

Perhaps his most famous achievement however has been his work with the Molinari brothers from humble juniors to European Tour superstars, helping to create a lasting legacy of golf in Italy in the development of these role models for future generations.

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The comprehensive evaluation is part of the continued joint effort to modernise the Rules by reducing complexity and ensuring the Rules effectively guide how the game is played today.

As part of a review process that began earlier this year, the governing bodies will seek the perspectives of golf’s stakeholders as an integral component of the review process, including elite amateur golfers, golf event organisers, national golf associations, professional golf associations and other industry partners.

The aim is to provide the golf community with a modernised set of Amateur Status Rules in late 2021, with the goal of an effective date of 1 January 2022.

Grant Moir, Director – Rules at The R&A, said, “We will be looking at the Rules of Amateur Status carefully and considering ways in which we can modernise them and bring them more into line with the way the modern sport is played. The code remains a fundamental framework for amateur golf and we will be listening to the views of players, officials and associations to give us a fully rounded view of how we can improve them.”

Thomas Pagel, Senior Managing Director of Governance at the USGA, said, “One of golf’s greatest benefits is that it can be played by all ages and played for a lifetime. It is our goal to ensure that the fundamental concept of what it means to be an amateur golfer is clear and retained to promote fair competition and enjoyment for everyone, while still addressing many issues that seek to protect the game. This is a forward-thinking approach and engaging golfers is a key component of doing what’s best for golf.”

In a separate move, with effect from 1 January 2020, The R&A and the USGA will introduce one change to Rule 3-2b of the Rules of Amateur Status, which regulates hole-in-one prizes. The Rules will no longer limit the prize an amateur golfer may win when making a hole-in-one outside a round of golf, including “stand-alone” and “multiple-entry” hole-in-one events. It is hoped the change will help to promote the game and cater to new audiences as well as eliminate unnecessary restrictions for event organisers.

New Rule 3-2b will read as follows:

Rule 3-2b. Hole-in-One Prizes
An amateur golfer may accept a prize in excess of the limit in Rule 3-2a, including a cash prize, for making a hole-in-one during a round of golf on a golf course.

An amateur golfer may also accept a prize in excess of the limit in Rule 3-2a, including a cash prize, for making a hole-in-one during contests held outside a round of golf, including multiple-entry contests and contests conducted other than on a golf course (e.g., on a driving range, golf simulator, or putting green) provided in all cases that the length of the shot is at least 50 yards.

More information on the Rules of Amateur Status can be found at www.RandA.org and www.USGA.org.

At the start of the day only one stroke separated professionals Ralph Miller, Mark Reynolds and Ruben Wechgelaer from their nearest rivals – the PGA of Italy. However, they put the experience of coming up short in last year’s tournament to good use, as they accompanied a strong game plan with composure to comfortably move clear in the final round seeing them take a victory on the Algarve – the location of their last ITC win in 2013.

“Winning is always a great feeling but claiming the International Team Championship – one could say the inaugural version in the Confederation of Professional Golf era – makes this one even better,” said PGA of Holland Captain and Board Member, Ralph Miller.

Mark Reynolds, who has been in rich form all season, commented: “We were unfortunate to come up short last year but we do have a great team that always believed it had enough to win, so thankfully we managed to get over the line this time.”

Ruben Wechgelaer, the final member of the team, gave his thoughts on the week as a whole: “The facilities here at Penina have been fantastic all week. The course was immaculate but challenging and we have had a great time here in Portugal.”

A tie for second place saw the PGA of Belgium’s Didier Dykmans [Captain], Nicolas Vanhootegem and Guillaume Watremez finish alongside the PGA of Italy’s Gregory Molteni [Captain], Mauro Bianco & Andrea Rota sharing a nine-under par total.

In the International Team Championship Team Shield, a competition held within the ITC for CPG Member Country PGAs with less than 100 members, it was the PGA of Slovakia who came out on top for the first time in their history.

“This win has written a piece of history for us and golf in Slovakia, as we have been competing [in the International Team Championship] for years, but this is the first time we have managed to win the Team Shield – it creates a strong foundation to build upon in the future” said Juraj Zvarik.

The title seemed poised to be a two-horse race between the PGA of Poland and the PGA of Greece, only for Slovakia – with Professionals Juraj Zvarik [Captain], Martin Tavoda and Peter Svajlen – to put together a sensational final score of 141 (five-under par) and overtake both for victory, finishing at four-over in total.

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PGA Professionals Ralph Miller (Captain), Mark Reynolds and Ruben Wechgelaer posted scores of 70, 70 & 76 respectively, which keeps them just one shot ahead of the PGA of Italy (with professionals Andrea Rota, Gregory Molteni and Mauro Bianco) after they posted the lowest team score of the day with 139 (-7).

“I played very well and managed to make an eagle and a few birdies along the way, so I am very pleased with how I battled today” said Captain Ralph Miller.

Despite their success so far, Mark Reynolds was keen for his team to remain humble and focused: “We might be leading but we have to focus on the job tomorrow, ignore the leaderboard as much as we can and post some good numbers”.

In the International Team Shield, a secondary tournament within the Championship for those PGAs with a membership of less than 100 Professionals, Team Poland (with professionals Maksymilian Saluda, Michael O’Brienand Brian Messing) overtook Team Greece after shooting a one-under-par (145) score.

With both events concluding tomorrow, both Holland and Poland will hope to continue their current form in what have been closely contested championships at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort.

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PGA Professionals Ralph Miller (captain), Mark Reynolds and Ruben Wechgelaer formed a formidable partnership, with respective scores of 69 (-4), 74 (+1) and 76 (+3) proving just enough to form a one-shot lead over the PGA of Switzerland, who finished on 144.

“It was tough, the course was wet which made it feel quite long and combined with the tight fairways and tree lined holes, made it a very tricky test of golf” said Mark Reynolds, following the conclusion of his round.

“Ralph put a great score together today on minus four, so hopefully me and Ruben can follow suit in tomorrow’s round”.

In the International Team Shield, a secondary tournament within the Championship for those PGAs with a membership of less than 100 Professionals, the PGA of Greece (with Professionals Adam Kritikos, Chryssanthos Diakou and PGA of Greece President Adonis Sotiropoulos) and the PGA of Poland (with professionals Maksymilian Saluda, Michael O’Brien and Brian Messing) found themselves tied for the lead on 149 (+3) heading into round 02.

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