For years, South Africa’s elite amateurs have considered a college scholarship in America as the only viable stepping stone to an eventual professional career in the game.

But the PGA of South Africa’s Diploma in Club Professional Golfing and elite coaching at an academy is fast becoming a viable alternative to this approach.

“This is important because it allows these students to remain amateur golfers for longer while focusing on improving their games. So we’re seeing a lot of top amateurs now staying in South Africa instead of heading off to American Colleges. The result is that not only is the quality of our amateur golf so much higher, but we can also offer our golfers a real education in the game, in addition to the traditional method of qualifying as a PGA member through the three-year apprenticeship programme,” says Andrew Gunn, the Education and Training Manager for the PGA of South Africa (pictured below).

“The PGA is now recognised as the leader of golf education in not only South Africa but Africa.”

The PGA World Alliance has now given the PGA of South Africa the mandate for the entire Sub-Saharan Africa in this regard, which Gunn says is helping to raise the standard of golf education in the rest of Africa.

“We have had apprentices from Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria who have been through the three-year programme and qualified as full members of the PGA of SA. There are currently four fully qualified PGA of SA members working in Mauritius. We have four Mauritians doing their apprenticeship and a further four Mauritian students at The Golf School of Excellence in South Africa.

“The PGA of SA will also be managing a Level 1 coaching course in Kenya at the end of June for 22 Kenyan coaches, many of whom are looking to start their apprenticeship with the aim of qualifying as PGA of SA members.”

The PGA also has a mandate through the Confederation of Professional Golf and the R&A to assist with projects in Botswana and Madagascar. Through this, Botswana has eight fully qualified PGA members at present and Madagascar will require the establishment of golfing structures and Level 1 coaches.

“In addition, the PGA of SA has adapted its constitution to allow members from all African countries to become members of the PGA of SA.”

The PGA of SA will also be hosting an international golf coaching conference in June, with the R&A sponsoring 15 African coaches from Sub-Saharan Africa to attend

“It’s all great recognition that what we’re doing in South Africa is impacting the rest of Africa as well and helping to develop the game throughout the continent.”

This article original appeared at http://eur.pe/1QHGpMz.

The duo was presented with a letter from the Chairman of the PGA, Paul Marks and Honorary Member player badges by PGA of SA chief executive Ivano Ficalbi during the final round of the European Tour’s Volvo Golf Champions at Durban Country Club.

Ficalbi said the PGA of SA is proud to acknowledge Els and Oosthuizen for their achievements, their service to the game of golf and their ambassadorship of South Africa.

“The PGA of SA honours those professional golfers who have achieved extraordinary heights in golf, like winning a Major or a World Cup of Golf, with Honorary Membership,” Ficalbi explained.

“Ernie was first presented with Honorary Membership when he won the World Cup of Golf with Wayne Westner in 1996, but the Board unanimously agreed that we should honour Ernie again after his fourth Major victory at the Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes last year.

“Louis won the 2010 Open Championship with a runaway victory at St Andrews and came agonisingly close at the Masters last year. Both players are also heavily invested in the future of South African golf – Ernie through the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation and Louis with his golf academy in MosselBay.

“The PGA of South Africa believes that it is critical for our up-and-coming stars to have their own heroes. As young golfers, Louis, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace looked up to Ernie for inspiration and it’s wonderful to see how, in turn, they have become the inspiration for the younger generation. Both Ernie and Louis are doing an incredible job in making sure that South Africa will remain a strong contender on the world stage for years to come.”

Els, the owner of 65 international career victories, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2010. He won the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the Open Championship in 2002, a feat he repeated in 2012 at the age of 42.

“This means so much to me because South Africa was where it all started, it was my stepping stone,” said Els. “Winning here in South Africa opened a lot of doors for me. The support of the fans over the years has been incredible. I’m proud to be honoured in this way, and it’s nice to know I will always have somewhere to play when I retire one day.”

Oosthuizen, who has claimed nine of his 11 career victories in South Africa, was equally thrilled.

“This was a big surprise and I feel very honoured,” he said. “It’s really great to see how heavily the PGA of SA is invested in professional golf and that they are also looking after us. This is such a big honour; to have this award is really special.”

The pair join an illustrious list of South African golfers who have already received Honorary Membership of the PGA of SA, including Grand Slam champion and nine-time Major winner Gary Player, World Cup of Golf winners Westner and Rory Sabbatini (2003), and Major champions Retief Goosen (US Open Championship in 2001 and 2004) and Trevor Immelman, who won the Masters in 2008 and partnered Sabbatini in South Africa’s 2003 World Cup victory.

“Our other Honorary Members have ensured that South Africa has gained a reputation as a breeding ground for some of the greatest talent in world golf. We are immensely proud to reward Ernie and Louis with this honour.”

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For more information on the PGA of South Africa visit www.pga.co.za.

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