As an international association of National PGAs and organisations representing the interests of golf professionals, CPG is committed to building a diverse and relevant partner portfolio that supports the evolving needs of the game. The continuation of its collaboration with Glenmuir further enhances its apparel offering, providing Members with access to a trusted and established brand within the golf clothing sector.

This renewed partnership reflects CPG’s strategic focus on offering choice to its Member Countries and their professionals. With multiple apparel partners positioned across different areas of the market, CPG ensures that organisations and individuals can access a range of products, services, and opportunities aligned to their specific needs.

Through the partnership, PGA Members within the CPG network will continue to benefit from an exclusive offer across the Glenmuir website, alongside access to glenmuirpro.com – a dedicated B2B platform designed to support PGA Professionals with high-quality apparel solutions for their retail and operational requirements.

View Exclusive CPG & Glenmuir 30% Discount Member Offer

Glenmuir’s longstanding presence within the professional game further reinforces the strength of the partnership. With a heritage rooted in craftsmanship and a continued role as an official licensee and supplier to the European Ryder Cup Team, including for the 2027 Ryder Cup, the brand brings both credibility and alignment to CPG’s wider position within the global golf landscape.

This alignment is particularly significant given CPG’s role as Development Partner in Ryder Cup Europe through the vehicle of the Ryder Cup European Development Trust [RCEDT], which is focused on supporting the growth of golf and golfers across Europe.

The renewal forms part of CPG’s ongoing commitment to its CORE pillars – Communities, Opportunities, Resources and Experiences – ensuring that its network continues to benefit from meaningful partnerships that deliver both practical value and long-term impact.

Find Out More at Glenmuir.com

CPG FESTIVAL OF GOLF
PORTO CARRAS GRAND RESORT, GREECE
13 – 16 OCTOBER 2026

………………

The Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) has announced that the 2026 CPG Festival of Golf will return to Porto Carras Grand Resort in Greece from 13–16 October, uniting Member Countries PGA Members, and industry partners for a week that blends competition, collaboration and the continued development of the professional game.

As one of the standout moments in the CPG calendar, the Festival of Golf brings together Member Countries, PGA Members and industry partners from across the global game for a week of connection, collaboration and shared learning.

Blending a conference-style programme with on-course competition, the event features the 37th edition of the historic CPG International Team Championship [ITC], which continues with its refined format aimed at elevating both the competitive edge and the overall team experience with ITC competitors playing alongside Festival delegates and partners.

At its heart, the Festival of Golf is about bringing together the CPG membership to strengthen the community, connect leaders who share the same challenges and ambitions, to uncover new opportunities to strengthen and grow their organisations, learn from each other and external experts, and to leave with practical ideas and resources that can be actioned straight away.

All of this is wrapped into a genuinely memorable experience – from engaging sessions and meaningful conversations to time on the course and the chance to enjoy a world-class setting alongside peers from across the global game.

Alongside the Championship, the wider festival schedule will continue to offer an engaging and inclusive experience for attendees. Plans are in place to introduce new elements to the programme, including the addition of a coaching and education-focused component, aimed at delivering practical insight and added value for PGA Members.

“We are delighted to welcome the CPG Festival of Golf back to Porto Carras Grand Resort for a second consecutive year, further strengthening our partnership and shared vision for the future of golf in the region,” said Porto Carras Grand Resort CEO, Filoklis Kotsifis.

“At the same time, we are proud to share that significant investment works have already commenced across our golf facilities, as part of a broader commitment to elevate and continuously enhance the overall golfer experience – both on and off the course.

“We look forward to welcoming golfers, partners, and companies from across the globe, and to delivering an event that reflects the quality, ambition and unique character of Porto Carras.”

Porto Carras Grand Resort provides the perfect host venue, with significant ongoing investment into its golf facilities and a clear ambition to establish itself as a recognised international golf destination. This vision aligns closely with CPG’s commitment to supporting the growth of golf in developing regions and creating meaningful opportunities for its network, and in particular the long-term and enduring relationship with the PGA of Greece and its Members.

The event will be delivered in collaboration with regional stakeholders, including the PGA of Greece, and longstanding commercial partner AEGEAN Airlines.

Member Countries are encouraged to register representatives and teams, with invitations being sent to all Member Countries directly shortly.

The CPG Festival of Golf reflects the organisation’s CORE pillars of Communities, Opportunities, Resources and Experiences, providing a platform for Member Countries and individuals to connect, learn, and contribute to the continued development of their organisations, their people, and the game.

Find Out More About the CPG International Series @cp.golf/festival

Molinari returns to the role for the third successive Ryder Cup, having been part of the European victories at Marco Simone in Rome, Italy, in 2023 and Bethpage in New York last year.

As part of his role, the 45 year old will once again provide statistical support to Donald and Team Europe through his statistical analysis model.

Molinari said: “It was a very easy decision when Luke called me and asked me if I was willing to help him again. I was obviously very happy. I think any time you can get involved in the Ryder Cup, in any role, it’s a great thing and I cannot wait for Adare Manor to come soon enough.

“Luke is an unbelievable captain. He’s very well-liked by all the players. The great thing about him is that he leads by example. He really puts a lot of effort and thoughts into this process, into the Ryder Cup. He’s trying to make all the players very comfortable when they’re in the team. And at the same time, he’s very motivated to win.

“He will really try any new avenues, new ideas, and see what works. He is incredibly hardworking. And then the players really follow him because they see how motivated he is.

“I thought 2023 in Rome was great, but 2025 was another level. Europe hadn’t won away in a long time. Winning in New York against those crowds was something everyone thought was always impossible when we started working for it. To be able to pull it off, was a dream come true, and at the end of the week it was incredible. It was something that we will never forget.

“It’s going to be incredible to play in front of the Irish crowd next year. Every time we play in an Irish Open or anything really in Ireland, they’re always very passionate, very loud. They’re also very respectful of the players, which I think is going to be a great thing for this Ryder Cup coming after New York. But obviously being the home team, they will be supporting us very strongly, very loud. It’s going to be amazing for all the players and everyone involved to be playing in front of them.”

European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald said: “Edoardo has been a rock of support to me. He has made such a difference to our team. He is invaluable from a statistical analysis perspective, in terms of helping me with the qualification system, navigating the ever-changing world of golf.

“He is a very steady head. I always know where I stand with him and he gives me great advice.

“For me, my Vice Captain appointments are important, so to have his expertise again is key. He is a major factor in our backroom team.

“He works closely with a number of players. He is a numbers guy and he is always looking at how to gain those edges, through statistics, through looking at the golf course and how you can set it up to give yourself just a little bit of an edge, which you have a little bit more control over as a home team.

“I’m excited to work with him again. He is so committed, so dedicated and he loves what the Ryder Cup represents. It’s an honour to having him by my side once again.”

Molinari’s first time as Vice Captain was on home soil in Italy, contributing to Team Europe’s memorable 16 ½ – 11 ½ victory against the United States at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

He then returned to the backroom team for the 15-13 win at Bethpage, New York, last September and will resume the role for the 100th anniversary of the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.

Molinari featured as a player in the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales alongside his brother Francesco, who was also a Vice Captain in Rome and New York.

The Molinaris became the first brothers to compete against the United States since Bernard and Geoffrey Hunt played in the 1963 Great Britain & Ireland team. They halved their fourballs match against Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar, while Edoardo contributed another crucial half point in his singles match against Rickie Fowler as Europe triumphed 14½-13½.

In addition to his three victories on the DP World Tour, Molinari was also the Challenge Tour Number One in 2009 and is a respected member of the DP World Tour’s Tournament Committee.

Before turning professional, Molinari won the 2005 US Amateur Championship and alongside Francesco, claimed the World Cup of Golf for Italy in 2009 at Mission Hills in China.

Visit RyderCup.com

CPG Collection Member Sotogrande offers a compelling case study in how this can be done well. With its combination of world-class golf, modern academy facilities, wellness, and a broader lifestyle ecosystem, it provides a blueprint for how destinations can support pro-led travel – and how professionals can, in turn, elevate the experiences they offer their clients.

In this conversation, Sotogrande’s Marketing Director, Rita Jordão, shares how the destination has been shaped to support both elite performance and group-based experiences, and what PGA Professionals, clubs and academies can take from its approach to building loyalty, engagement, and long-term value through travel.

1. How do The Alto Club and the new Golf Academy reinforce Sotogrande’s positioning as a fully integrated golf and lifestyle destination?

The Alto Club and Golf Academy adds a different element to the golf offering that Sotogrande didn’t necessarily have before: a more relaxed, open, and enjoyable way into the game. It is modern, current, and more casual in spirit.

Sotogrande is already a renowned location as Spain’s hub for world-class golf, and among the best in Europe and globally. That positioning is unquestionable.

What we wanted to do with The Alto Club was complement that existing offer with something fresh and, importantly, something that, from a local community perspective, allows a segment of people who may never have embraced golf to engage with it. As golfers, we all know the barriers to enter the sport. Our aim is to break those barriers and make it easier and more fun for people to take up the game in a relaxed way.

That is particularly relevant for younger generations or children and, without falling into clichés, also for female golfers who are sometimes left out because they didn’t start young or don’t yet have the same level of play as their partners. We want to give them the opportunity to embrace golf in a natural, casual, and fun way.

2. With Suzann Pettersen as Global Ambassador and Mimi Rhodes now on the LPGA Tour, how important is elite performance in shaping Sotogrande’s brand story?

Elite performance has always been woven into the fabric of Sotogrande. It’s not a new chapter we’re adding to the story, it has always been there.

Mimi Rhodes is a perfect example. She grew up here, learned the game here, and developed her talent within this community. Today, at just 24, she’s competing on the LPGA Tour as one of Europe’s most exciting young players. That journey, from local fairways to the world stage, says a great deal about what Sotogrande represents. It shows that this is not only a destination for great golf, but it can be a place where great golfers are formed.

Historically, between Real Club Valderrama, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, and La Reserva Club, Sotogrande has consistently been connected to elite competition, both at professional and amateur level. But what makes it meaningful is that this commitment has never been limited to elite sport in a purely commercial or social sense. It has always been extended to the grassroots.

La Cañada, for example – the oldest public golf course in Spain – is unknown to most on an international level, but this local club that was created through a collaborative effort between the town hall, Sotogrande, and Valderrama to ensure that the local community had access to the game, continues to generate top players in the professional game. Angel Ayora is one of the most recent examples, and this is a powerful reminder that the foundations of excellence are built locally.

Our new academy at The Alto Club, and ambassadors such as Suzann Pettersen alongside Mimi, reinforce that journey from grassroots through to global stage. Elite performance strengthens the brand, of course, but more importantly it reflects our long-standing philosophy to nurture the game at every level.

Golf in Sotogrande is for the future major champion and equally for the 20-handicap player who simply loves the game. That inclusivity alongside quality, is what defines us.

3. What makes Sotogrande and The Alto Club a credible long term training base for touring professionals like Mimi Rhodes?

Sotogrande is not a destination that has appeared overnight. It has been shaped over six decades around the game of golf. That heritage carries weight with touring professionals.

Then there is the quality. When people speak about the south of Spain, there is often a predictable reference to sunshine and climate. Of course, the weather matters, but the sun is just an expectation here. Players who choose Sotogrande are looking for something far more substantial. World-class conditions, year-round consistency, and facilities that genuinely support performance.

In terms of golf courses, I don’t need to say it myself. It’s the rankings and the raters who consistently position the courses within Sotogrande at the very top of Spanish golf. Between La Reserva Club, Real Club Valderrama and Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, we have three courses at the very top of the national rankings. That concentration of quality within one destination is extremely rare, anywhere in Europe.

The practice facilities are equally important. Touring professionals need space, precision, and variety in their training environment, and that infrastructure is embedded here. From short-game areas to performance gyms and recovery facilities.

But what truly differentiates Sotogrande, and The Alto Club in particular, is privacy. Players can step away from the intensity of tour life and focus completely on their preparation. There are no distractions, no interruptions, just the space to work. That same discretion extends beyond the fairways. Many professionals choose to live here and raise their families here because the sense of calm, security, and privacy is consistent throughout the community.

4. How does SO/ Sotogrande Hotel & Spa complement the golf offering for players looking to train, recover or host groups?

All elements that are complimentary of golf are becoming increasingly important not only for professional golfers, but also for amateurs.

Having a top-quality spa and gym as part of the overall offering here is really significant. When you combine the SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort with the 18 holes of The Alto Club, the new Golf Academy, and one of Spain’s top courses, La Reserva Club as a complementary course, there are very few places that can compete. Particularly from a professional perspective and for professional groups.

We are receiving hundreds of requests from professional golfers, as well as from coaches of professionals and elite players, to use Sotogrande as a base. That demand is one of the biggest proofs of the quality that we have to offer.

5. How do you balance Sotogrande’s role as a high-performance golf environment with its appeal as a luxury resort destination?

I see those two elements as very compatible and complementary. A high-performance golf environment does not clash with a resort lifestyle, in fact it’s quite the opposite.

In actual fact, I think that elite golf is increasingly moving in that direction. Professional golfers are travelling more and more with their families, partners and children, and with that there is a requirement for wider resort and lifestyle amenities.

That is also why The Alto Club feels so relevant now. Golfers are not simply looking to hit balls on a range, play 18 holes, and repeat the same, day after day. They want to get more out of their trip, and more from the overall experience. We are seeing more couples and families travelling to golf destinations than ever before.

The traditional image of golf as a male-dominated sport has changed, it is changing, and will continue to change.

Our objective is to offer a product that is genuinely relevant to that evolution, and it is being extremely well received internationally, nationally, and within the local community.

For more information visitors can book limited tee times and curated stay and play packages at: sotogrande.com/packages