EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association) is proud to announce the release of its latest film project, You Can, a powerful 30-minute documentary that showcases the transformative impact of golf for individuals with disability around the world.

Building on the success of previous acclaimed projects such as Mulligan and Living Our Best Lives, You Can is the next stage in EDGA’s mission to promote genuine inclusion through honest storytelling. The film is supported by The R&A and narrated by multiple major champion Pádraig Harrington, a long-time supporter of The R&A.

Filmed across several countries, You Can celebrates the diversity of the global G4D (Golf for the Disabled) community. Among those featured are:

• Issa Nlareb, a double-leg amputee from Cameroon
• Chris Willis, a Canadian golfer born with VACTERL syndrome and a rare association of birth impairments
• Torbjörn Svensson, a blind and deaf golfer from Sweden
• Melody Roccaz, a seated golfer from France.

Together, their stories highlight not only the diversity of disability, but also the rich tapestry of gender, race, nationality, and personal experience—all unified by the joy, freedom, and empowerment found in golf.

Tony Bennett, President of EDGA, said: “This film is a statement of possibility. It’s not just about golf, it’s about showing people what they can do, who they can become, and how sport can unlock confidence, community, and opportunity. We believe it will inspire more people with disability to pick up a club and take that first swing.”

EDGA’s wider You Can campaign aims to be both highly encouraging and also practical, to empower viewers through the knowledge of how to get involved, whether through local golf programmes, national federations, or the growing number of G4D events across the world.

Pádraig Harrington added: “Four amazing people, and four amazing stories. Their message to you: you can play golf. I hope they’ve inspired you to take up this wonderful sport.”

EDGA internal teams created the film alongside Big Bounce Productions. It will be broadcast on Sky Sports on December 3, at 7.30pm, with additional international airings planned. The film will be available on EDGA’s website and social media channels, providing a valuable tool for golf clubs, coaches, educators, and advocates to help spread awareness and opportunity.

See more on EDGA at edgagolf.com

“You Can” seeks to encourage brand new golfers with a disability through the shared personal experiences of established players. Their highly positive messages and stories aim to ignite the imagination of others to join in and try the game.

While “You Can” is all about putting each golfer first, inspiring each individual to dream, it enhances EDGA’s mission to make golf truly inclusive for people with a disability.

The campaign launch coincides with the EDGA Algarve Open at Pestana Vila Sol and the organisation’s 25th anniversary celebrations. During the event, a new EDGA book will be seen for the first time – called Changing Lives – that tracks the evolution and key milestones of EDGA, while players will be presented with a memento to commemorate a quarter of a century and the launch of “You Can”.

Now live across EDGA’s digital touch-points and rolling out through member countries (EDGA advises and supports 50 national golf federations), the “You Can” campaign is designed to empower individuals with disability to see golf as a sport where they truly belong. Its central message, “You Can Play Golf”, is supported by three powerful themes: Make Friends, Compete, and Improve Health. Together, these emotive messages reflect the broader impact of golf beyond the course.

“With ‘You Can’, we’re flipping the script,” said Scott Bennett, Head of Marketing at EDGA. “This isn’t about inclusion as an afterthought, it’s about representation that feels real, powerful, and personal. Golf can offer confidence, health, community, and competition, and this campaign reflects exactly that. We wanted to make sure this project speaks to people with disabilities, not just about them.”

The EDGA team feels that unlike many sports campaigns in which disability is added almost as a side note, “You Can” was built by, and for, the G4D (Golf for the Disabled) community.

Crucially, every image, message, and story is drawn from real players and their lived experiences. It highlights the diversity of disability, not just the most commonly represented, and brings to life the barriers, breakthroughs, and benefits that only those with first-hand experience can truly articulate.

Rita Sampaio, the designer who created the campaign for EDGA pro bono, said: “The concept behind this campaign is ability, regardless of the limitations each person may have. The focus is on the player and their skill in the game of golf. ‘You Can’ is a message of empowerment, an invitation for more people with disabilities to experience this inclusive sport. We want every person with a disability to see it and think, ‘Yes, I can do that too.’ Everyone featured is a real golfer, with a true story. That’s what gives the campaign its strength.”

With QR codes on all materials linking to deeper content: videos, interviews, and written stories, “You Can” encourages confident participation through honest storytelling. The campaign is designed to reach future players where it matters most: including in rehabilitation centres, hospitals, and community spaces. And thanks to its adaptable branding, member countries can tailor the messaging while staying aligned to a unified, global movement.

The “You Can” materials are now integrated into the EDGA 8-Stage Programme, which is supported by The R&A and explores: getting started; locations (assisting venues); the workforce; communication; encouraging new and regular players; competitions and events; professional coaching education; and legacy.

Through this programme, EDGA aims to support the growth and capacity of national federations as they work to attract individuals with a disability to the game of golf.

See more on EDGA at edgagolf.com

The RCEDT is dedicated to enhancing lives through golf and encouraging people to engage with the sport, including by promoting its health benefits. This challenge embodies those values by showcasing the physical and mental health benefits of golf.

The challenge takes place on June 20th at Little Aston Golf Club, UK, starting at first light at 4:30am, and will see Ian and Aston play over 5.5 rounds of golf over an approx. distance of 35 miles/56km!

We need your support! Here’s how you can help:

• Donate: Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference.
• Share: Spread the word about our challenge to your friends, family, and social networks.
• Participate: Consider taking on your own 100 Hole Challenge at your local course.

How Your Donation Helps:

Funds raised from the 100 Hole Challenge will support the RCEDT’s ‘health and wellbeing’ strategic pillar. Your contributions will go towards projects that not only promote the health benefits of golf but also enhance the sport itself. Every donation helps us make a significant impact on communities, promoting healthier lifestyles through golf.

Find out more and donate at rctru.st/100

These outputs – available to view online at edugolf.eu – are openly accessible for all individuals and organisations across the golf community to inform systems and structures for innovation in golf education.

EDUGOLF, funded under the Erasmus+ Sport Programme of the European Union (Call 2020), was founded on the principle that adapting to change can revitalise the sport and allow it to meet its potential to improve the lives of individuals and society as a whole.

The Project’s stakeholders were tasked with exploring and providing solutions to issues of workforce development, skills and education in golf, with a focus on skills development and education reform, firmly rooted in the belief that those working in golf, in both paid and voluntary positions (and those wishing to do so in the future), are the key to the future of the sport.

The Project was coordinated by the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment [EOSE] with the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] working as Technical Lead, alongside multiple partners from a variety of areas of the golf and sport worlds – PGA of Belgium; Polish Golf Union [PGU]; French Golf Federation [ffgolf]; Real Federación Española de Golf [RFEG]; PGA of Sweden; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam [ESAB]; National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport.

“Through the EDUGOLF Project, we’ve seen the power of collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of golf education,” said CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell. “The valuable outputs produced will not only benefit golf professionals but also contribute to the overall growth and development of the sport. We’re proud to have led this project with EOSE and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the golfing community.”

EOSE Director, Aurélien Favre, added: “EDUGOLF has been a journey of discovery and progress, showcasing the potential for education reform to drive positive change within the golf industry. The collaboration between EOSE, CPG, and our esteemed partners has resulted in invaluable resources that will shape the future of golf education. We are grateful for the opportunity to work on this project and excited to see the lasting impact it will have on golf’s workforce across Europe.”

STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS

The Project built upon strong foundations of work from across the partnership and another Erasmus+-supported programme, Golf Stand. The outputs from that project were game-changing and have shown an impact in education activity across the whole of Europe, but EDUGOLF was able to provide a basis for many of the Golf Stand outputs to be modernised and advanced even further ensuring a continued forward-thinking and future-proofing legacy of the work.

PROJECT OUTPUTS

The outputs generated by the Project are designed to be leveraged by all parts of the golf industry to help inform and align the development of various occupations.

Outputs 02 – 05 are largely built on the research and insights generated by the Research Report in Output 01 made up of literature review, partner desk research across Europe, surveys, interviews and focus groups for a wide-ranging and holistic view of the workforce landscape.

1 – A research report on changing realities and tendencies of the golf labour market and education requirements.

2 – New occupational standards that show clear benchmarks of excellent practice and knowledge specification for golf facility staff to be competent in their jobs.

3 – An Education and Training Handbook that provides advice, direction and guidance for the development of learning programmes.

4 – Innovative online learning modules built on the principles of the handbook in relevant topics areas with detailed content in an e-learning format.

5 – A strategic action plan to ensure continuity and implementation of the Occupational Standards, Education and Training Handbook, and online learning.

NEXT STEPS

Now the Project has concluded, it is Output 5 that will be put into action to initially share the Project’s findings across the continent and drive awareness of its work, closely followed by practical applications.

The Project’s partners have already begun to incorporate the occupational standards within education frameworks and programmes, alongside provision of the content generated as part of the online learning modules developed.

All outputs from the Project are open-access and representatives from the Project Partnership are available to support those who wish to utilise them within their work and activity.

Thanks on behalf of the Project goes to all those involved in the partnership, all who contributed and supported the research and output creation activities, and to the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme.

. . . . .

Outputs from the Project are already available to view at edugolf.eu and queries or requests to access the full online learning elements can be directed to info@edugolf.eu

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Belgium; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federación Española de Golf [RFEG]; PGA of Sweden; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport.

The golfers with a disability coming from 10 countries and four continents were revealed today. They will assemble at Quinta do Lago, Portugal, in January (21-25), 2024, for the first Player Development Camp of its kind, supported by the European Tour Group.

In a planned intense week of learning, professional specialists in their field, including coaches, nutritionists, performance experts and marketeers, will offer training and advice to the promising players, who have all qualified to take part via the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD).

The 12-player group, none of whom have played in a previous G4D Tour or EDGA Professional Tour event, will be made up of the eligible top five players in the Gross Ranking, the leading three eligible women players and four emerging talents.

It is anticipated that the level of assistance offered to the emerging talent pool in this first and subsequent PDCs will only serve to energise further the competitive pathway in G4D (golf for the disabled) created by EDGA over the last decade or so. The international golfers taking part can gain the tools to challenge the leading lights on the already successful G4D Tour, while showing a great many other players in the World Ranking that there is a route to the very top open to those who are dedicated to work on their game and improve.

Launched in 2022 by EDGA and the European Tour Group, the G4D Tour sees golfers with a disability compete on the same course and in the same week as the professionals on the DP World Tour.

The following players will be welcomed by the EDGA team of experts to Quinta do Lago:

Russell Aide (aged 16, Canada), Thomas Colombel (aged 21, France), Heather Gilks (aged 18, England), Casper Holst-Christensen (aged 27, Denmark), Mehmet Kazan (aged 42, Turkey), Tycho Kuiper (aged 14, The Netherlands), Rene Schwenk (aged 24, Germany), Daniel Slabbert (aged 32, South Africa), Natasha Stasiuk (aged 25, Canada), Gustav Stigsson-Andersson (aged 18, Sweden), Natascha Tennent (aged 16, Australia), and Chris Willis (aged 43, Canada).

Invitations were sent out to the leading eligible players in the World Ranking from the 39 EDGA member countries (who had not competed in a previous G4D Tour or EDGA Professional Tour event), and also included highly rated emerging female G4D players and leading young talent.

EDGA President Tony Bennett said: “We are delighted with the cross-section of talented and switched-on players taking part in our first EDGA Player Development Camp from 10 countries, who have all exhibited a thirst to learn and a joy in pushing themselves on. Although the G4D Tour is an understandable draw for players to test themselves over championship golf course set-ups in the exciting weeks of the DP World Tour, the PDC is about helping these players to develop skills to take on any test in golf. The specialists on site and the wonderful facilities at Quinta do Lago, will give the players the opportunity to explore their potential.”

Tony added: “Our work is to make the journey from sampler to competitive golfer seamless. Not everyone wants the same thing from golf, and that is the overall message for an inclusive landscape, which is to provide choice across the player pathway. There has never been greater opportunity for golfers with a disability, but G4D is still young in its development and there is a lot more to come. The PDC is just one of our initiatives that will help the whole player pathway, while we can see the number of golf courses improving their facilities increasing, more professional coaches learning how to better train players with disabilities, and an increase in the number of tournaments available at every level.”

During the PDC week players will have the opportunity to learn from others how to develop their knowledge and skill sets, and how they can use these to add fuel to their career development.

More details of the line-up of specialists who will support the PDC will be revealed soon, as will thoughts and expectations of the players taking part.

See more on EDGA at www.edgagolf.com

Impact on recreational game kept to an absolute minimum

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The R&A and USGA will update the testing conditions used for golf ball conformance under the Overall Distance Standard (ODS), which will take effect from January 2028. The decision aims to reduce the impact increased hitting distances have on golf’s long-term sustainability while minimising the impact on the recreational game.

The revised ball testing conditions will be as follows: 125-mph clubhead speed (equivalent to 183 mph ball speed); spin rate of 2220 rpm and launch angle of 11 degrees. The current conditions, which were established 20 years ago, are set at 120 mph (equivalent to 176 mph ball speed), 2520 rpm with a 10-degree launch angle.

The revised conditions are based on analysis of data from the worldwide tours and the game over several years and are intended to ensure that the ODS (whose limit will remain unchanged at 317 yards with a 3-yard tolerance) continues to represent the ability of the game’s longest hitters. An analysis of ball speeds among golf’s longest hitters in 2023 shows that the fastest ten players had an average ball speed of 186 mph, while the average ball speed of the fastest 25 was 183.4 mph (the very fastest averaged 190 mph).

The longest hitters are expected to see a reduction of as much as 13-15 yards in drive distance. Average professional tour and elite male players are expected to see a reduction of 9-11 yards, with a 5-7-yard reduction for an average LET or LPGA player.

The change in testing speed is expected to have a minimal distance impact, 5 yards or less, for most recreational golfers. Research shows an average swing speed of 93 mph for male golfers and 72 mph for female players.

Existing balls approved for conformance in 2027 may continue to be used by recreational golfers until January 2030 to give golfers, manufacturers and retailers additional time to adjust. These decisions are in line with the commitments made by the governing bodies at the project’s inception.

A significant portion of golf ball models that are currently in the market – and more than 30 percent of all golf ball models submitted for conformance across the game – are expected to remain conforming after these changes are applied.

Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said, “We are convinced that this decision is one of the key ways of achieving a sustainable future for golf, protecting the integrity of the game and meeting our environmental responsibilities. The measure we are taking has been carefully considered and calibrated while maintaining the ‘one game’ ethos deemed to be so important to the golf industry. Importantly, it also keeps the impact on recreational golfers to an absolute minimum. We are acting now because we want to ensure that future generations can enjoy the unique challenge of golf as much as we do.”

“Governance is hard. And while thousands will claim that we did too much, there will be just as many who said we didn’t do enough to protect the game long-term,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “But from the very beginning, we’ve been driven to do what is right for the game, without bias. As we’ve said, doing nothing is not an option – and we would be failing in our responsibility to protect the game’s future if we didn’t take appropriate action now.”

The Notice of Decision follows the most thorough and comprehensive examination of the issue in the game’s history through the Distance Insights project, which was launched in 2018 and gathered data, shared research and solicited feedback from golf course owners, players, and stakeholders across the game. Data provided by the seven major worldwide tours has also been analysed by the governing bodies, who have published Annual Driving Distance Reports every year since 2015.

The reports followed the governing bodies’ joint Conclusions from the Distance Insights Project: Implication of Hitting Distance in Golf, which shared the reasons why addressing the continuing trend of hitting distance increases and subsequent course lengthening is critical to the game’s long-term sustainability.

All golf ball and club manufacturers were advised of the decision on Tuesday and were given full technical details and an implementation timeline. The Notice of Decision takes into account the extensive research and feedback received from manufacturers and other industry stakeholders throughout the six-year process and following multiple Areas of Interest and proposals starting in 2021 as part of the Equipment Rulemaking process.

A copy of the letter and technical documents can be found at www.RandA.org/distance-insights.

The extensive feedback received showed worldwide sentiment that the retention of a single set of playing rules and equipment standards is critically important to the sport and should apply across the game. Feedback from manufacturers resulted in the timeline being extended to 2028 to allow more time for innovation and production of new products for elite and recreational players.

In addition to the new ball-testing conditions, the governing bodies will:

Expand the testing approach to better detect ‘Driver Creep,’ which can result in drivers exceeding the limits set out in the Equipment Rules. This is a change in the testing methodology for submitted drivers, to identify and proactively address driver models that are within current tolerance levels and have Characteristic Time (CT) values that are more likely to exceed the limit through regular use.

Continue to monitor drivers and explore possible additional options related to distance. Specifically, we will research the forgiveness of drivers and how they perform with off-centre hits. This is an ongoing review and we will seek input from and continue to work with the industry, including manufacturers, to identify driver design features that can be regulated as a means to reward centre impact position hits versus mis-hits.

The R&A and the USGA are guided by an overarching principle to continue to preserve the fundamental elements of golf – protecting the integrity of golf courses, including their overall length, and ensuring that a variety of skills are needed to be successful.

Longer golf courses require additional resources such as water, the cost of renovating or moving elements like tees and bunkers continues to rise and other long-term impacts have been identified as a result of increased distance. The governing bodies believe that if the sport is to enjoy a sustainable long-term future then these economic and environmental impacts have to be kept under control.

The Overall Distance Standard was first introduced in 1976 and has been updated on three previous occasions (1980, 2002 and 2004). This is the first time that test speeds have been updated since 2004, when the current standard was set based on the longest hitters at that time.

Details on the study and complete technical data on the Distance Insights project can be found at www.RandA.org/distance-insights.

RECEIVE FUTURE CPG NEWS

VISIT THE R&A

The event was organised as part of the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] Learning and Performance Summit which took place over several days.

The event began with EOSE Director of Standards, Ben Gittus, introducing the EDUGOLF project and involving the audience with a series of interactive polls linked to the themes of the EDUGOLF project which aimed to modernise education and training in golf. Ben also presented the key results from the Research Report produced as an output of the project.

Next, Wojciech Waśniewski, CPG Executive Director – Knowledge Development, presented the new Occupational Standards for Professionals in Golf. The standards describe the competences, skills and knowledge needed for effective performance in various job roles in golf. Wojciech also presented the EDUGOLF Education and Training Handbook which aims to support the modernisation of golf education in line with the key aim of growing the game.

Participants took part in group work to test their understanding of the outputs and describe how they could be used by different parts of the golf industry, including employers, training providers and individual coaches or manages.

Look out for the publication of all the EDUGOLF outputs in the New Year!

Visit the project web page at edugolf.eu to learn more about the project. You can contact the EDUGOLF project and ask to be kept informed about developments by contacting info@edugolf.eu or subscribe to project updates on the website.

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Sweden; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federacion Espanola de Golf (RFEG); PGA of Belgium; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES).

According to new research undertaken by the governing body, there are now 39.6 million on-course golfers (9 and 18 hole) in R&A affiliated markets.

The research figures indicate that the growth trend began before the onset of Covid-19 and continued during the pandemic – up 34% from 29.6 million on-course golfers in 2016. The sport has since continued to increase in popularity post-pandemic, up 15% from 34.5 million on-course players in 2020.

The data is provided in a new Global Golf Participation Report, which, for the first time, collectively measures The R&A’s affiliated markets in Asia, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania.

The report also highlights that 61.2 million adults (outside the USA and Mexico) engage with the sport in some format, which is the first time an estimate has been made beyond on-course activity to include alternative-only formats, such as par-3 golf, indoor simulator golf and driving range use.

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “Golf’s popularity has surged in recent years, which is reflected in a notable increase in the number of people playing the sport in both traditional on-course and alternative formats.

“It is significant that ten million more golfers are playing on the course since 2016, but it is also important that millions of others are engaged in golf through many other alternative formats, such as driving ranges, which are so vital to the growth of the sport.

“It also underlines why effective and impactful participation programmes are important for encouraging more people into the sport and retaining them in greater numbers. We are working closely with our affiliated national federations and stakeholders within golf to sustain this momentum. We thank them for their efforts as we aim to ensure that golf is thriving for years to come.”

The top five on-course adult golfer markets overall in 2023 are in Japan (8.1 million), Canada (5.6 million), Republic of Korea (5.4 million), England (3.4 million) and Germany (2.1 million).

Asia is the leading region for people engaging with golf among R&A affiliated regions, with total adult engagement of 22.5 million. Europe is next highest with 21.1 million adult engagement.

Women make up almost a quarter of adult registered golfers in R&A affiliated markets worldwide, demonstrating the positive impact of initiatives focused on promoting greater diversity and inclusivity in golf.

The R&A is continuing its commitment to invest £200 million over ten years in developing golf, including sustained work to encourage participation by promoting the health benefits of the sport through a global campaign.

View The R&A’s Global Golf Participation Report here

This article originally appeared on dpworldtour.com

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Wil Besseling and Lars van Meijel were on hand to support the running of a GolfSixes League event taking place in advance of the KLM Open as the popular format continues to be introduced to more and more young people.

Ahead of the 103rd edition of the Netherlands’ national open this week at Bernardus Golf, the two home stars joined a local coach on Tuesday in organising playing opportunities for youngsters with little golfing experience.

GolfSixes League started as a grassroots version of the short-form GolfSixes professional team event, which the DP World Tour created in 2017.

It has seen great success across Great Britain and Ireland where it is administered by the Golf Foundation, England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf.

Since last year, GolfSixes League, and its off-course version GolfSixes Mini League, has expanded to also run across a host of other European countries, including the Netherlands.

“This is a great way with the KLM Open to get [children] involved in golf,” said Besseling, who is among those flying the home flag this week.

“Hopefully it is a good start and can help to get them to play golf and have some fun together with other kids.”

Since its inception, the number of participants in Great Britain & Ireland alone has grown to over 6,000, from 524 clubs forming part of 117 leagues in 2023.

GolfSixes League pilots were run in the Netherlands in 2018 and 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic put a pause to them.

Reflecting on the interest of the short format, European Challenge Tour winner Van Meijel added: “18 holes is almost five hours these days and for kids it is not really appealing.

“But it is always really good to play with friends and have a group of kids that you grow up together with and play together. That is the reason I started playing golf.”

The programme is led by the PGA and supported by the Dutch Golf Federation in Holland ensuring the project has become a great success.

In 2022, GolfSixes was played in 5 regions in Holland with 25 teams, involving 170 children, with the aim of increasing that to 250 kids this year.

For more information on GolfSixes League please visit cp.golf/golfsixesleague

At the end of March 2023, EDUGOLF project partners from across Europe convened in the beautiful city of Malmö, Sweden, for the 5th full partner meeting, hosted by PGA of Sweden. EDUGOLF runs from January 2021 – December 2023 and is jointly led by the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) and the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). EDUGOLF is co-funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Sport programme.

With a clear focus on growing the game, EDUGOLF’s overall aim is to modernise education and training to meet the changing skills needs of golf in Europe.

PROGRESS SO FAR: RESEARCH AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS

As the project enters its final year, Wojciech Waśniewski (CPG) was pleased to report that the first planned output from the project, the European Research Report on the Changing Realities and Tendencies of the Golf Labour Market and Education Requirements, was now finalised and being prepared for publication in the summer of 2023.

Geoff Carroll (EOSE) updated the partners on the second main output, a comprehensive framework of occupational standards, knowledge and skills for the industry. The framework contains over 100 standards covering all key areas of strategic and operational management, sales and marketing, community engagement, game development, events, and all levels of coaching from introductory to elite performance. The standards, skills and knowledge framework is almost ready, with only some minor reformatting and amendments to be done.

NEW EDUCATION AND TRAINING

With outputs 1 and 2 almost ready, the partners turned their attention to the third output, an Education and Training Handbook for Golf in Europe.  The handbook will provide advice, direction and guidance for the development of learning programmes to help professionals in golf (both paid and volunteers) reach the competence required to work in a variety of roles in golf matching the requirements of the occupational standards.

Having endorsed the structure and content of the handbook at their last meeting in Warsaw, the partners divided into breakout groups to begin developing a series of learning module outlines for coaching, game development and management. These module outlines will form a vital section of the handbook by giving training providers guidance on topic areas, learning outcomes, European Qualification Framework (EQF) levels, credit values, suggested content, delivery and assessment methods for each of the modules.

Each group used the occupational standards to identify priority topic areas, developed some preliminary module outlines and agreed a process to complete the task through future online meetings.

INNOVATIVE ONLINE LEARNING

The next major task for the partners in Malmö was to finalise arrangements for the development of innovative online learning courses to support continuing professional development in the industry. The project will use an external online course designer to put the courses together once the partners have identified appropriate content. Three potential topic areas were initially agreed for further development and all partners undertook to seek additional content from their own organisations.

DISSEMINATION

Finally, the partners planned some key dissemination activities to ‘spread the word’ across the golf industry. These activities include national stakeholder workshops in seven European countries in the summer and a final European conference – Modernising Golf Education and Training in Europe – in the last quarter of 2023 which will bring together the industry’s main education and training leads.

After the meeting, Wojciech Waśniewski, Executive Director – Knowledge Development of the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) said “From a CPG perspective, it’s really satisfying to see how the key outputs of EDUGOLF are coming together as planned. We can now see how the building blocks for the project’s original vision – growing the European game and retaining the new wave of golfers through more market driven and modern approaches to education and training – are falling into place. With the right support from the industry going forward, EDUGOLF will transform the way we prepare and develop our workforce for many years to come.”

Geoff Carroll, EOSE’s Director for Skills Development commented “EDUGOLF continues to demonstrate EOSE’s fundamental philosophy that workforce development must be firmly based on industry needs and up-to-date flexible approaches to education and training which match those needs. It is pleasing to see how the partners, who represent key national and international stakeholders in the game, have united behind this philosophy and are beginning to see the concrete outcomes.”

Visit the project web page at edugolf.eu to learn more about the project. You can contact the EDUGOLF project and ask to be kept informed about developments by contacting info@edugolf.eu or subscribe to project updates on the website.

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Sweden; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federacion Espanola de Golf (RFEG); PGA of Belgium; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES).

Acknowledging the substantial efforts in supporting young golfers that have been displaced by the war in Ukraine, ‘Project Ukraine’ has been awarded the CPG’s 2022 President’s Award for Golf Development at the CPG Annual Awards Supported By Rolex.

The Project has so far delivered on its first aim of bringing players in the Ukrainian Golf Federation’s development pathway back together after being separated across the continent for a development camp in late 2022.

The next step, which is already underway, is the raising of funds for those players in the National programme looking ahead to their post-secondary education opportunities with scholarships that will fund this education.

Project Ukraine was created by an international group of female leaders from The R&A’s Women in Golf Leadership Development Programme – Molly Bullard (Excel Sports Management); Toni Zverblis (England Golf); Joelle Efford (Golf Canada Foundation); Lauren Witherspoon (The R&A); Zoe Thacker (Wales Golf); Emma Corless (Golfbreaks); Polly Clark (Ladies European Tour); Magdalena Villar (Peruvian Golf Federation); and Veronika Rastvortseva (formerly Ukraine Golf Federation) – wishing to provide support the Ukrainian member of the group, Rastvortseva, and her Ukrainian friends and colleagues.

“Words fail me – getting this award, it means a lot for my country, for myself and for my team,” said Rastvortseva who collected the award on behalf of the project at the Gala Awards Dinner at Costa Navarino in Greece. “Everyone invested massive effort towards the camp and towards the support of Ukraine. So I would like to thank all the girls that are part of the initiative, The R&A, Jackie Davidson and mentors, Alison Townson and Jenny Denyer.

“Seeing what was happening in Ukraine at the time, I realised we might be losing golfers because everyone was trying to escape…so it was critical to bring these kids together. My biggest worry was that they were not thinking about dreams….or about normal teenager things…they were always thinking about war.

“We managed to organise the camp so they could get some training, have fun, and help them with their emotional well-being, and it was a huge success. We changed lives – and that’s what we keep hearing from all the players that participated. We really hope to extend the project to more families and juniors, and support more juniors with education.”

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, more than 6.8 million people have fled the country and a third of the population have been displaced. PGA of Ukraine Professionals, Federation employees, members of the golf community and relatives of national team players have lost jobs, homes and in some cases have gone to the front line to fight for their country.

Towards the end of 2022 the Project was able to generate enough funds to for the national junior players and their chaperones to travel to Scotland from across various locations in Europe they had fled to for a week-long camp. The camp provided high-quality coaching and clinics, health and nutrition sessions, mental skills and Rules of Golf workshops, and was followed by the visit to St Andrews where the players were able to meet Rory McIlory, Adrian Meronk and Ryan Fox.

The scholarship fundraising efforts aim to raise enough to for 17 students to pursue their post-secondary education dreams, with all funds being managed and dispersed by The R&A once the individual receives their relevant institution acceptance letter.

To support Project Ukraine then you can donate to the fund at https://cp.golf/3F1N2MH, or contact ProjectUkraine@randa.org to discuss organising an event, inviting juniors to participate in events, fundraising or any other help you wish to offer.

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For more information on the CPG Annual Congress visit https://cp.golf/2022AnnualCongress.

With thanks to the CPG Annual Awards Partners – Rolex, the Ryder Cup European Development Trust [RCEDT], Aegean Airlines and Costa Navarino. 

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A key ambition is to further enhance the current classification of players with different impairments into ‘sports classes’ that will ultimately help the golf industry to understand and attract more of the 15% of people worldwide who have a disability.

EDGA believes that it will not only be the players who benefit from the research findings, as tournament organisers, national governing bodies, PGA coaches, professionals working in sports medicine, and equipment manufacturers will also find the results of this study valuable in helping support the growing market of G4D (golf for the disabled).

The research began during back-to-back EDGA Tour events at the Amendoeira Golf Resort in Portugal in January. The EDGA development and eligibility team used a Trackman launch monitor to record an initial 1,100 golf shots from 25 EDGA golfers with a range of impairments, including paraplegia, limb amputation, limited mobility and neurological weakness. Metrics included capturing ‘smash factor’, spin rate and clubhead speed.

The plan is to analyse at least 200 golfers over the next year, including players with visual impairments. Research will continue at key EDGA Tour events in Scotland, Ireland and England, including at the inaugural The G4D Open, staged by The R&A with support from the DP World Tour, at Woburn in May. Video will also be used as the project grows, and it is hoped this initiative will continue far beyond the initial 200 players.

EDGA has extensive knowledge accrued over 22 years in the classification of golfers with a disability and their eligibility for different forms of competition. The not-for-profit organisation created many of the medical protocols used in player assessment worldwide, set up the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (now run by The R&A and the USGA), and stages, or is associated with, more than 100 international G4D tournaments in a calendar year.

Ethics approval

Professor Eric Wallace from Ulster University helped develop the protocols of the new research, and gave ethics approval. The first results are expected to be published in 2023.

Leading the project, Dr Roger Hawkes, EDGA Executive Director of Eligibility, said: “To examine in detail the swing characteristics of a large cohort of players with a disability should give the golf industry far better understanding of how different impairments influence a golf swing, thus unlocking a door to the needs of more golfers.

“This research will help golf’s governing bodies in the important areas of classification, and sports classes, around different player impairments for events. Meanwhile, we can all help to include more new players with a disability to start in golf. This project can help more people with different health conditions to enjoy all the great things that the sport offers.”

PGA coach Mark Taylor, Head of Development for EDGA, led the first player session at Amendoeira. Mark said: “The ball flight and impact data collected from the cohort of players with various impairments will form a starting point for the ongoing research. Analysis of the data, specifically impact data and subsequent ball flight patterns, will help collate – as the research progresses and the cohort of players analysed increases – valuable information in categorising the sports classes.”

Evidence based research

Mark added: “The recognition of impact commonalities across the various impairments will also hugely assist in providing evidence based research to support our coach education programmes, subsequently better positioning coaches to provide improved coaching to golfers with limitations.”

Mark Taylor wanted to give special thanks to The R&A, and leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK, for their continued support in EDGA’s research, and also to Srixon for providing golf balls throughout this intensive testing programme. All are strong supporters of EDGA as it seeks to change the lives of people with disability through the power of golf. The objective is to help 500,000 people with disability to try the game.

William Wynter Bee is a Sports and Exercise Medicine doctor based at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), and is the Medical Lead for the Legends Tour. Will is helping EDGA for the year to maximise the health benefits for the golfers taking part in the research.

Will said: “The opening of this research has already put us together with some competitive and talented golfers who love the game. Looking ahead, through the data and also the insights of 200 or more golfers, this will provide some fantastic learning for us. We hope we can support the players by way of strong findings from a health perspective, including advancing the cause of fitness and avoiding injury. It will be great if this leads to the golf industry being able to welcome more people with chronic health conditions to play, where regular exercise can make a major difference in their lives.”

See more on EDGA at www.edgagolf.com

The survey is anonymous, takes approx. 10 minutes, and will allow the voices of PGA Members to be heard alongside other coaches from around the world. PGA Members that complete the survey will also be provided with information on the findings of the research when available.

PhD student, Callum Ferguson, said, “As part of this four-year project, my supervisors and I are working on a study that looks to understand how coaches perceive and respond to their players’ mistakes in practice. This is an important area of research, as previous studies have shown that the frequency with which players experience errors in practice can have lasting positive and negative effects on their game. As such, we are interested to hear PGA Members’ opinions on this matter that we are gathering through this survey.”

Find Out More and Complete the Survey at https://cp.golf/3ZvZm0j

On the 3rd and 4th of November 2022 the partners in the EDUGOLF project met for their fourth meeting in Warsaw, Poland, hosted by the Polish Golf Union. The EDUGOLF project runs from January 2021 – December 2023 and is jointly led by the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) and the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE). EDUGOLF is co-funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Sport programme.

RESEARCH

The research phase of EDUGOLF is exploring topics such as the economic and social value of golf, successful initiatives for growing the game, trends which will impact on the golf market, traditional and emerging occupations, and key competences for the golf workforce.

The partners reviewed and discussed the first draft of a full Research Report including findings from a desk research, successful survey of national golf organisations, interviews with effective golf employers as well as a focus group of young people’s perceptions of golf. Most importantly, the report presents implications for the next outputs of the project. The project’s research working group will now incorporate all project partners’ feedback on the draft, consult on the draft with the wider industry and publish the report in 2023.

STANDARDS

A core output from EDUGOLF will be a new set of occupational standards for the golf industry made up of competences required of the golf workforce.

At the meeting, the partners reviewed a draft of the industry’s functional map and over 100 individual standards in the areas of golf management, coaching, game development and events. The standards include key competences, good practice indicators, skills and knowledge required to fulfil the key functions in golf organisations.

Similar to the research report, the standards working group will now implement the partners’ feedback on the draft, re-write the standards to an agreed format, and run a round of external consultation with the industry to ensure that the standards are comprehensive, clear and represent best practice in golf in order to become a useful resource for golf employers, training providers and individuals working in the industry.

EDUCATION

EDUGOLF will produce a Training Handbook for the golf industry as well as new e-learning modules for professionals in golf. At the meeting, the partners initially agreed on the content and key areas to be included in the EDUGOLF Training Handbook, including updated role descriptors for key occupations, a range of example module outlines, example qualifications structures, as well as guidance on development and delivery of effective golf education and training. Partners also started to identify potential topics that could be developed into e-learning modules for the industry, based on the findings of the research phase of the project as well as the updated occupational standards. A working group will continue working on the handbook and start developing e-learning modules with the aim of discussing the outputs at the next partner meeting hosted by the PGA of Sweden in March/April 2023.

After the meeting, Wojciech Waśniewski, Executive Director – Knowledge Development of the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) said “As a Pole, I hope the attending representatives enjoyed their time in Warsaw both in and outside of the main meetings. During the workshops we have received valuable feedback from all project partners, allowing us to continue the development of outputs for the benefit of the golf industry”.

Geoff Carroll, EOSE’s Director for Skills Development commented “This was a really positive and dynamic meeting which showed the fantastic progress the partners have made in developing these important products for the future of the game and the education of its workforce. Everyone present was highly motivated and made valuable contributions to the discussions. I feel confident we are heading for even greater achievements in 2023. Watch this space!”

Visit the project web page at edugolf.eu to learn more about the project. You can contact the EDUGOLF project and ask to be kept informed about developments by contacting info@edugolf.eu or subscribe to project updates on the website.

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Sweden; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federacion Espanola de Golf (RFEG); PGA of Belgium; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES).

Following on from the success of its launch in 2017 in the UK by the Golf Foundation, GolfSixes League, backed by a host of organisations including The R&A, the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG], the Ryder Cup European Development Trust [RCEDT], DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour, will involve an estimated 10,000 young people across eight countries and over 950 golf clubs participating by the end of 2024.

The league provides juniors the chance to play in a competitive golf environment with other local clubs and involves playing six holes in pairs using a highly inclusive Texas Scramble format, powered by bespoke Golf Genius Software.

When it comes to a league or organisation set up, Golf Genius provides a solution to reduce administration time, whilst increasing the connection and communication that organisers can have with participants. Through interactive digital messaging, Golf Genius offers GolfSixes League a personalised and engaging way of running events to keep juniors coming back – with parents highly engaged in the process.

“GolfSixes League has gone from strength to strength across the UK over the past five years, and we are proud to have been selected to work on this initiative as it rolls out internationally. We facilitate millions of golf rounds each year across a wide variety of formats, so it is great to showcase our leagues solution with an activity committed to offering a unique experience for those just starting their golfing journey,” commented Craig Higgs, Managing Director of Golf Genius International.

Customised user forms, online training guides tailored to the League, live scoring technology and interactive communication channels are just a few of the ways that Golf Genius are providing a solution to creating a memorable junior community.

Golf Genius Partner, the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG], join a leading group of bodies that are working together in this way for the first time:

Christiane Stenger, CPG’s Director – GolfSixes, Community Coaching and Tournaments; “We are pleased to be working with Golf Genius, who have created a solution that facilitates both the on-course Leagues and off-course GolfSixes Mini League. As it has launched internationally this has allowed for a smooth and efficient implementation of the GolfSixes League.”

The Golf Genius solution will be used across GolfSixes League in countries including, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

 For more information about Golf Genius, please visit GolfGenius.com/tm and get in touch at intlsales@golfgenius.com. For more information on GolfSixes League visit cp.golf/golfsixesleague or contact cs@cpg.golf.

GolfSixes League will expand across Europe in 2022 in a continuing drive to encourage young people into playing, enjoying and remaining in the sport.

The expansion is a collaboration between The R&A, the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG], the Ryder Cup European Development Trust (RCEDT), DP World Tour and Ladies European Tour – the leading bodies aligning in support of a development initiative for the first time.

GolfSixes League has seen great success across Great Britain and Ireland where it is administered by the Golf Foundation, England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf.

In 2021, across GB&I, 386 golf venues offered 74 GolfSixes Leagues in which 5252 players participated with 30% of those being girls. Following on from the GolfSixes League there was a 35% increase in junior membership at participating clubs.

GolfSixes League, and its off-course version GolfSixes Mini League, will now expand in 2022 to also run in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.

An estimated 8,000 young people will experience the sport this year thanks to GolfSixes League, which will be played across the ten countries with around 750 golf clubs participating in events this summer.

Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “We are very supportive of initiatives that encourage young people into golf and be retained within the sport and GolfSixes League has already shown itself to be a popular and enjoyable short-form activity with both young people and their parents.

“It is important to build on the early momentum gained in Great Britain and Ireland and introduce the initiative to more countries throughout Europe so that more opportunities to enjoy playing golf in this format are offered to young people and they can experience the health and social benefits that we know it can provide to them.”

Ian Randell, Chief Executive of the CPG, said, “This Project between international organisations with local delivery via PGAs and National Federations is a great example of the collaboration that is possible within our sport.

“We have long been advocates of short-form team golf, in both an on-and off-course environment, as a fantastic vehicle to promote both the values and enjoyment of the sport and encourage participation in a quick, fun format, particularly amongst juniors and beginners. We are excited to be able to drive this project forward internationally and demonstrate the success that can be achieved when national and international organisations work together.”

Ben Cowen, DP World Tour Chief Tournament Business Officer, said, “One of the main aims of the GolfSixes League is to bring golf to new and younger audiences, and what better way to engage young people than to get them involved in playing this exciting new short format.

“Using the platform of the DP World Tour with the innovation, inclusivity, and global reach it already has within the game, the expansion of the GolfSixes League to more European countries further highlights the success of the concept and we hope to continue building on this momentum to encourage more junior golfers to enjoy our game.”

Mike Round, Director of Administration at the Ladies European Tour, added, “The development of the GolfSixes Leagues demonstrates how golf is introducing innovative and engaging formats that are reaching new audiences and attracting new participants. The positive impact of GolfSixes Leagues has already been proven and it is particularly encouraging to see how the initiative is being used to bring more girls and young women into the sport.

“As part of our commitment to the growth of GolfSixes Leagues across Europe, we’ll be encouraging our players to promote and support the initiative in their home countries.”

GolfSixes League is a development initiative which introduces young people to golf in a fun and inclusive environment, along with an added competitive element.

In a short time period, it enables young people to move from beginners on driving ranges or practice facilities to playing golf in teams of six, playing over six holes, using the two-person scramble format on courses adapted to their skill levels.

Evidence from GolfSixes League in Great Britain and Ireland has clearly demonstrated that practicing and playing in teams is a successful way to engage young people and their parents with the sport.

A GolfSixes League digital platform has been developed by Golf Genius to easily enable participating golf clubs to implement and manage their League as it is introduced to other countries this year.

For more information on GolfSixes League please visit cp.golf/golfsixesleague

At a time when record numbers are now playing golf worldwide, ‘Iona Investigates’ is a three-part series where Stephen learns how people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds are reaping the rewards of playing the sport.

Stephen speaks with famous faces from other sports – including former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland footballer Jason McAteer and ex-England cricket international James Taylor – leading medical professionals, fitness instructors and club golfers to understand how golf improves general fitness, eases stress and anxiety, and offers social interaction.

The first episode covers mental health and well-being, the second on physical health, and a final show on strength and balance.

“Working on this series has been a hugely rewarding experience,” said Stephen. “I’ve discovered more about golf’s wonderful health benefits and helped to highlight them by speaking to people from many different backgrounds.

“When I’m playing golf I feel uncomplicated, it’s like your mind is focusing on one objective – to get the ball from A to B. That focus brings you into a place of mindfulness and flow, where there isn’t space for the complications and pressures in our daily lives.

“Golf is for people who are busy working, who have young children, and for those who have retired with more time on their hands. Golf is for absolutely everyone, young and old, and wherever they are from and whatever they do.”

Former footballer McAteer has been instrumental in talking about mental health, especially for young people, and he outlines how he has used golf for his own benefit in recovering from depression.

McAteer, who has been playing golf for around 12 years, says, “Golf has been amazing, certainly from a mental health aspect. I was probably in a bad place when I finished playing football. It left a massive void and my mental health spiraled out of control. I was having a difficult time and I found golf. Golf probably saved my life.”

Taylor’s thriving cricket career was sadly cut short by a life-changing heart condition aged just 26 in 2016, but he also reveals how golf has since benefitted his physical and mental health.

“To have to retire when you are at the top of the game was incredibly hard to take – my life changed forever,” he admits. “The doctor in hospital told me I couldn’t exercise like I used to, but I could play golf. As soon as I took it up I was hooked, what a sport it is. Golf from then changed my life. It gave me a purpose, a technical challenge, the mental stimulation, the exercise and allows me to be competitive.”

St Andrews-based Stephen also tells her own story of coming late into golf and how the sport started to have a positive impact on her life after discovering Ranfurly Castle Golf Club when a student at The University of Glasgow.

In recent years, The R&A has strived to communicate golf’s health benefits to a global audience and underline the role the sport plays in health and social well-being.

Working with organisations such as the World Health Organization, the DP World Tour, other golf bodies and respected medical professionals such as Dr Andrew Murray, The R&A has been involved in various scientific research studies to make the sport more appealing to all.

Research has revealed that, on average, golfers live five years longer than non-golfers while golf, as a physical activity, can help prevent and treat 40 major chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, breast and colon cancer, depression and dementia.

View episode one of ‘Iona Investigates’ here.

On the 24th and 25th of March 2022 the partners in the EU funded EDUGOLF project met for their third meeting in Madrid, Spain, hosted by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation (RFEG). After the first two meetings were held online this was the first face-to-face meeting of the partners.

At the start of the meeting the partners expressed their support and solidarity with colleagues from the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES) which is a full partner in the EDUGOLF project.

RESEARCH

The research phase of EDUGOLF is exploring topics such as the economic and social value of golf, types of organisations in golf, occupations, and key competences for the golf workforce.

The partners considered the first findings from the EDUGOLF survey of golf organisations and made plans for the next stage of research which will be interviews with golf employers about skills of the workforce, successful initiatives for growing the game, and trends which will impact on the golf market. A draft EDUGOLF Research Report will be produced before the next partner meeting in November.

STANDARDS

A core output from EDUGOLF will be a new set of occupational standards for the golf industry made up of competences required of the golf workforce.

At the meeting, the partners considered the key purpose, or mission, of the golf industry and the main functional areas such as events, coaching and management, to produce the “functional map” which is the starting point for the development of detailed occupational standards.

The results from the meeting will be considered by the EDUGOLF sub-groups for golf coaching standards, and golf management standards, which are meeting regularly and will produce new draft standards before the next meeting.

EDUCATION

EDUGOLF will produce a Training Handbook for the golf industry as well as new e-learning modules for professionals in golf. At the meeting, the partners brainstormed the key topics to be included in the EDUGOLF Training Handbook, including:

• Learning outcomes
• Module outlines
• Delivery methods
• Quality assurance
• Accreditation
• Assessment
• Align with career pathways
• Tutors/ assessors
• Align with EDUGOLF standards
• Learning time
• E-learning
• Overlap with other sports
• Theory/ practical
• Selection criteria

The Training Handbook will be an invaluable resource for the golf industry and the future of golf education in Europe.

After the meeting, Ian Randell, CEO of the Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG) said “It was so good to finally get together for a face-to-face meeting with all of our colleagues in the project for two days of discussion and progress in the superb facilities of the RFEG at the Centro Nacional de Golf in Madrid”.

Visit the project web page at https://edugolf.eu You can contact the EDUGOLF project and ask to be kept informed about developments by contacting info@edugolf.eu or subscribe on the website to be kept up to date.

Full list of partners – European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); Confederation of Professional Golf (CPG); PGA of Sweden; Polish Golf Union (PGU); French Golf Federation (ffgolf); Real Federacion Espanola de golf (RFEG); PGA of Belgium; EDGA; University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management Potsdam (ESAB); National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES).

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To ensure this safe environment, the PGA of Canada has updated its code of professional practice and developed the PGA Code of Professional Conduct and Safe Sport Policy, which includes education and policy that will further strengthen our members ability to provide a respectful and welcoming environment for golfers throughout the country.

“As leaders in the golf industry, we must ensure the safety of all of those who enjoy the game throughout the country,” said PGA of Canada President Teejay Alderdice. “The Safe Sport framework developed will serve as a guide for our association to follow and infrastructure we encourage facilities to implement into their policies.”

What Is Safe Sport?

Safe Sport refers to the process and measures implemented to protect and effectively care for the health, well-being, and human rights of all participants in the PGA of Canada community, especially children and youth. Individuals participating in all disciplines of golf in Canada, including athletes, coaches, officials, sport administrators, volunteers and others should be able to engage in a sport environment free from abuse, discrimination and potential harm.

This Safe Sport webpage includes a group of specific policies that collectively promote a Safe Sport environment by communicating expected standards of behaviour. These policies also enable consistent, immediate, appropriate, and meaningful action should any issues arise.

Should any individual wish to report any instance of misconduct or maltreatment, they may do so directly through the PGA of Canada’s independent Third Party as identified in this set of Policies. The Case Manager will then refer to this document to determine the appropriate forum and manner to address the report.

We encourage all PGA of Canada members and anybody involved with golf in Canada in any form to read the PGA Code of Professional Conduct and Safe Sport Policy to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all golfers and athletes.

In addition, there are a few great PGA of Canada courses and resources available to members who would like to learn more about Safe Sport and implementing it at your facility: Respect in the Workplace, Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders, CAC Safe Sport Training.

The Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] are delighted to recognise PGA of France Member Professional, Stéphane Damiano, with the 2021 John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching for his extensive role in nurturing the next generation of golfing talent in France.

READ ALSO: Stefan Quirmbach Honoured with Christer Lindberg Bowl

Created in 2011 to honour one of the most pre-eminent coaches of all time – John Jacobs, OBE, the award recognises individuals for their significant contributions and achievements as golf coaches, and boasts a glittering list of teaching pioneers to have previously received the award including the first Frenchman to do so in 2012 in Dominique Larretche, as well as Phil Kenyon, Neil Manchip and last year’s recipient, Ulrich Eckhardt.

Credited as being the coach that supported the early development of one of France’s most successful and vibrant players in Victor Dubuisson, and as the nephew of the 1993 5-Star Professional Award recipient, Michel Damiano, Stéphane Damiano holds a strong and established reputation throughout French golf. Stéphane now runs the highly-acclaimed Prime Golf Academy, situated at Royal Mougins Golf Resort in the South of France, which provides young people with world class golf coaching and academic teaching to support their progress and development towards excellence in golf and wider academic life.

Damiano received the award at the CPG Annual Awards Supported by Rolex, held at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort, earlier this month: “I am very honoured in becoming the second French recipient of this award and to have been nominated by the PGA of France, as I am so passionate about teaching golf and working with young people to support their golf and academic development.”

“It is an honour to be awarding this year’s John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching to Stéphane Damiano for his incredible work and for the far-reaching impact that he has created for French golf” commented CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell.

“As the sport’s leading influencer, PGA Professionals form the very heart of golf coaching and are at the fore when it comes to developing the next generation of golfers across all skill levels and walks of life. In this regard, Stéphane is an exemplary individual and golf coach whom is responsible for enhancing the lives of many young people through the vehicle of golf and is a credit to the PGA of France.”

Located 20 minutes from Cannes and set up in 1990 by Damiano himself, Prime Golf Academy is a highly-acclaimed golf school and academy that offers aspiring and talented individuals the opportunity to pursue their dreams of becoming a professional golfer or gaining a scholarship in the US, whilst also obtaining a range of full time and post graduate academic qualifications as well. At the core of Prime Golf Academy’s mission is providing each of its students with the necessary tools to help them grow as individuals and pursue their golfing dreams.

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In acknowledgement for its ongoing development activity and delivery of global projects and initiatives related to golf for the disabled, EDGA has been awarded the CPG’s 2021 President’s Award for Golf Development at this year’s CPG Annual Awards supported by Rolex.

EDGA [formerly the European Disabled Golf Association] is a volunteer organisation that aims to make the sport more inclusive for players with disability at every level, through the promotion and delivery of opportunities to sample, participate and compete in golf. It also advises and works with major stakeholders in the game including The R&A, The International Golf Federation, The European Tour and The European Golf Association on various issues related to golf for the disabled.

The President’s Award, which recognises outstanding golf development programmes, initiatives and grassroots projects, was presented to EDGA President, Tony Bennett: “To receive this award on behalf of EDGA and the team of volunteers that work so hard for the organisation and for golf for the disabled is humbling.

“This award vindicates our longstanding work to create change in golf for the disabled, build awareness about it and create pathways to sample, participate and compete in the sport regardless of ability. To be receiving this recognition from a highly respected golf organisation in the CPG is incredible and I offer my thanks to them for this award.”

CPG Chief Executive, Ian Randell, commented: “Just recently at the EDGA Dubai Final, we saw a glimpse of the incredible and far-reaching work that EDGA is involved with around golf for the disabled, as well as getting to hear about the many inspiring stories from the golfers and in turn, the shared support they have for the organisation with the opportunities it has provided them in golf too.”

“Tony and the team of volunteers at EDGA are doing a terrific job to deliver the message of golf being for everybody, particularly in the area of golf for the disabled, so I could not think of a more worthy recipient of the 2021 edition of this award than EDGA.”

Additional to working alongside the DP World Tour to deliver its globally televised events, EDGA has designed and implemented coach education programmes for delivery in rehabilitation centres, hospitals and golf clubs internationally, as well as creating protocols for tournament administration, definitions of impairment and other programmes too. All of these initiatives are available to EDGA members and are designed to grow the number of golfers with disability around the world.

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With the team’s best two 18-hole scores to count in each round, Team Italy’s round-by-round totals of 134, 141 and 141 at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort saw them set an almost unassailable target of 416 [22-under-par] for the rest of the field to try and reach. In the end, their 13-shot victory over Team Germany in second and Team Austria in third was illustrative of their impeccable and consistent performances throughout.

The ITC’s unique team format places emphasis on consistency of performances, ensuring the strongest team of three PGA Professionals from CPG’s 43 Member Countries is found. “Having contributed to the totals on the first two days, I said to the guys it was their turn on the final day” joked Molteni. “Whilst I played well personally, as a collective we were phenomenal this week.”

On the team’s initial reaction to the win, Maestroni commented: “We are obviously delighted by this victory, and for me personally to share it with my friends is fantastic. There is no doubt we will be celebrating over the coming days as we bring the trophy back to Italy.”

Yet despite the initial and inevitable jubilations, team captain Andrea Perrino was quick to recognise the wider significance of this win for golf in Italy: “We really hope this win will put golf on TV screens and on the front of newspapers and across the wider media landscape. We have had tremendous success in other sports like football, but its popularity is more widespread than golf right now. This result can convince many people that golf is a sport for them.”

In the Team Shield – an event that runs alongside the ITC that is specifically for CPG’s smaller Member Country PGAs with 100 members or less – Team Slovakia [Juraj Zvarik, Jan Keher and Adam Puchmelter] defended the title that they won in 2019 in comprehensive fashion, pipping runners-up Team Poland with a final score total of 437 [one-under-par].

For more information visit the Tournament Hub Page https://cp.golf/2021ITC. For more information on the CPG visit cpg.golf, or find the CPG on Twitter (@cpg_golf), Facebook (@cpg.golf), LinkedIn, Instagram (@cpg_golf) and Anchor.fm.

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The members of the PGA of Germany have elected a new board. For the next three years, the PGA of Germany will be headed by Kariem Baraka as chairman and president.

LISTEN ALSO: Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Professional Golf in Germany

The members of the PGA of Germany have elected a new board. For the next three years, the PGA of Germany will be headed by Kariem Baraka as chairman and president; the 43-year-old has been a member of the PGA of Germany since 2000 and is currently managing director of the GC München-Ried-hof. Baraka’s deputy on the PGA board is Oliver Neumann, and together with Ralf Pütter both form the executive board of the PGA of Germany. Anthony Lloyd, Marco Kaussler, Paul Dyer and Florian Fritsch serve as assessors.

“I am very happy to accept the election!”

The PGA of Germany has had a new board since September 19, 2021. During the general assembly, which was carried out online for the first time in the history of the association, the PGA of Germany members voted for Kariem Baraka as the new chairman and president. “I am very happy to accept the election and thank you for the trust you have placed in me and my colleagues,” said Baraka.

Until the 2008 season he played on the Challenge Tour and the European Tour, and in November 2007 he competed for Germany at the WGC World Cup in Spain and finished 7th together with Marcel Siem. Until 2013, Baraka worked for Langer Sport Marketing GmbH in action as tournament director of the Pro Golf Tour, since then the certified R&A Referee has been managing director of the Munich-Riedhof golf club. He has been a member of the PGA Board of Directors since 2018.

The new PGA Vice President ,Oliver Neumann, was born in 1974 and has been a member of the PGA Board of Directors since 2003, and is also a member of the PGA teaching team and the examination board of the PGA of Germany. He is the managing director of Tourbrassie GmbH and is based at GC Starnberg. Treasurer Ralf Pütter, 53, heads the golf school at Bochum GC and has been an assessor on the board of the PGA of Germany since 2008. Englishman Anthony Lloyd (GC Domain Niederreutin) has been a member of the PGA Board of Directors since 2018. Marco Kaussler (Munich), Paul Dyer (Eutin) and Florian Fritsch (Neckarge-münd) complete the management board of the PGA of Germany as newcomers.

“Thank you, dear members of the PGA of Germany, for the great trust you have placed in me as the first chairman of our professional association. I am happy to take on this position and the associated task of leading and developing the PGA of Germany together with my colleagues on the board and to represent our profession on the national and international golf stage in a dignified and effective manner ”, said Baraka.“As a member of the board of the PGA of Germany, I have been able to help shape the future of our association since 2018, which I have always found to be a beautiful and exciting task. At the same time, I am aware of the responsibility that is now associated with this new office of Chairman – not least because the footsteps I am following with my team are great: Stefan Quirmbach, together with Guido Tillmanns and Achim Lehnstaedt has developed the PGA of Germany into a professional association that is highly recognised worldwide. The PGA of Germany gathers golf professionals under its roof and is firmly anchored in the structures of the golf market. I look forward to continuing this legacy and creating a professional association on your behalf that is equipped for the challenges that the golf market will undoubtedly hold in store in the years to come! “

With President Stefan Quirmbach, his Vice Guido Tillmanns and Treasurer Achim Lehnstaedt, the incumbent executive board of the PGA of Germany resigned from the Presidium on September 19, 2021 and no longer stood for re-election. “Every time we stood for election in the past 21 years, we carried forward new projects that were close to our hearts,” says Stefan Quirmbach. He sees the hiring of Rainer Goldrian as full-time managing director in 1994, the founding of the Aus und Fortbildungs ​​GmbH in 1996 under the management of Ines Halmburger and the founding of Professional Golf in 2004 as milestones in his presidency, which has lasted for more than two decades AG, which brought economic security and freedom of action for day-to-day business. “With the purchase of the EPD Tour at that time, today’s Pro Golf Tour, we committed ourselves to promoting professional tournament golf in 2005, and in 2012 we finally changed and modernized the structure of the training decisively,” said Quirmbach.

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The PGA of Sweden has entered into an agreement with the municipality of Trelleborg for a new Swedish junior venture based on three legs, where a retake of the popular PGA Junior Pro Am is the big news.

After millions of investments the ‘PGA Junior Pro Am – the road to Trelleborg’, will be launched in 2022.

“We are doing this for the benefit of golf. Basically, it is about helping children and young people to grow as golfers and people” Johan Hampf, CEO, PGA of Sweden.

“Affects citizens across the board”

The competition is for juniors born after 2001 and consists of district and regional qualifiers before the Swedish final is played at Trelleborg Golf Club. The municipality has invested resources for something that affects citizens across the board; regardless of age, gender and physical ability. “The aim is to stimulate active leisure and everyday life, and this is part of that vision”, says Fredrik Geijer, Trelleborg municipality Director.

In addition, the series will showcase the municipality’s golf offerings and demonstrate its ability to host an event of this kind. There are three great golf courses in the municipality that have each received significant investment, and the Municipality sees golf as a way to strengthen our destination.

“Helping children and young people grow”

The Pro-Am format consists of juniors qualifying at clubs around Sweden. From there, they go to district qualifiers where they play together with their coach to reach the Swedish final. The final will then be played in Trelleborg in August.

“We are extremely happy to collaborate with Trelleborg Municipality. We share the vision of doing good things for society, achieved through the vehicle of golf” Johan Hampf added. “It is a perfect collaboration where we complement each other well, which enables really strong events to be delivered. The PGA Junior Pro Am is one of the most popular junior competitions but was unfortunately cancelled last year due to the pandemic. With this agreement we are breathing new life into the event. We do this for the benefit of golf, but it’s basically about helping children and young people grow as golfers and people.

In parallel with the competition, a junior development conference will also take place and the existing PGA Championship will be further developed.

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The focus of EDUGOLF is skills development and education reform, but before the work on education and skills can begin it is vital to set the project on a solid foundation of knowledge and understanding about the current situation regarding golf in Europe and consider key issues for the future of golf. This is being facilitated through the research phase of the project.

Prior to the meeting, the partners completed a major desk research activity to input all relevant data from their country, including new types of facilities, skills requirements, and examples of successful interventions to grow the game. All submitted data was analysed by the lead research partner National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPPES).

The November meeting gave the opportunity to present key themes from the research findings so far and debate them with partners.

The group discussed the following issues in relation to the future of golf in Europe:

• What is the golf industry and how does it link to other sectors?
• Economic and social value of golf
• Evolution of the golf industry and what does it seek to achieve today and in the future?
• Types of organisations and operating models
• Occupations in the golf industry
• Key competences, skills and attributes
• Recruitment, training and progression

Key issues debated by the partners at the meeting included

• The need to recognise and support the volunteer workforce to grow the game and ensure a healthy future, including the new role of “activator”
• The impact and challenges related to Covid and how it affects the future of the game
• The benefit for the future of golf which could be derived through sharing education with other sports and other disciplines
• What skills are needed by professionals in golf in order to grow participation and widen the customer base for the future?

These issues will also be covered in the next phases of EDUGOLF research including a survey of golf organisations and interviews with golf employers.

The partners now look forward to using the solid research foundations to define standards and education for golf in Europe through the innovative outputs of the EDUGOLF project.

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For the first time in two years, the Confederation of Professional Golf [CPG] will bring together representatives from its 43 Member Countries for the Annual Congress and International Team Championship [ITC] hosted by Penina Hotel & Golf Resort and supported by Turismo de Portugal, Turismo do Algarve and the Ryder Cup European Development Trust.

The Annual Congress is a fabulous environment for sharing knowledge across National PGAs and collaborating on activities outlined in the CPG’s five-year strategic plan – CPG Thrive – that is built on the guiding principles of Togetherness, Collaboration and Development to enable the strength and influence of the organisation’s collective membership to thrive.

Chief Executive of the CPG, Ian Randell, gave comment on the news: “Whilst staging a virtual congress in 2020 was hugely successful, it just cannot compare to the opportunity to spend time with the leadership, both in and out of the conference room, from across our 43 Member Countries. Furthermore, the International Team Championship has been an integral part of our tournament schedule since 1989, so the opportunity for PGA Professionals to compete in this prestigious championship was also sorely missed last year.”

“We are hugely excited to be returning to Penina and the Algarve and our thanks go to the Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve for their fantastic support in bringing this to fruition”

Located in the Algarve region of Portugal and two hours from the country’s capital Lisbon, Penina Hotel & Golf Resort provides an idyllic location to host the series of seminars, presentations and delegate activities that are synonymous with the Annual Congress.

Penina’s 18-hole championship golf course, dubbed ‘The Home of Portugal Golf’ will also offer an enticing stage for the ITC. In its 32^nd edition, the tournament provides some of the CPG’s Member Countries’ best PGA Professionals with the opportunity to represent their country in a team format.

Regional Director of Sales for JJW Hotels & Resorts, Pedro Garcia e Costa, said: “It is a great pleasure to once again host the CPG’s Annual Congress and International Team Championship. Historical Penina has hosted so many professional golf events over the years, so Golf is on our DNA. That is why we are very proud to be staging this event and supporting the CPG on their mission to bring their members and industry representatives together and better the golf industry.”

Find out more about Penina Hotel & Golf Resort at Penina.com and more on visiting Portugal and the Algarve at VisitPortugal.com.

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For the first time in the history of Ukrainian golf, golf coaches were trained in line with the Confederation of Professional Golf’s [CPG] international level 1 coach education program.

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Together with the Ukrainian Golf Federation, the PGA of Ukraine (a CPG Member Country) coordinated and contributed to the delivery of the programme in collaboration with the CPG. Beginning in June online and culminating in a 5-day in-person workshop, students were involved in a number of different activities including theoretical classes and additional external learning. Each trainee also had access to the CPG Learning Institute, which contains training materials, assessments and deadlines to ensure high quality training and educational delivery for their personal development.

On October 24, the 5-day training at the H Club concluded. Led and managed by PGA of Holland members Jim van Heuven van Staereling and Wiebe Gisen, as well as the CPG’s Director for Community Coaching & Parents in Golf, David Kearney, the workshop was attended by 29 participants in total, consisting of both current and future coaches.

The training included theoretical, practical parts and assessment. For the first three days, there was a lot of tutor-led insight and information, alongside discussions and application. The trainees then focused on improving their own coaching delivery through the application of visual, kinesthetic and audio teaching aids; they studied the impact of ball flight laws; and also developed their coaching delivery skills for juniors, adults, beginners and more.

At the end of the 5 days, each participant was then assessed on various disciplines including golf clubs and technology, the rules of golf, and a group coaching lesson. Upon successful completion of the programme, each participant receives official certification of their Level 1 training.

Ruslan Harkavenko, President of PGA Ukraine, said, “Since my presidency at PGA Ukraine, the number one task has been to give every coach the opportunity to receive an international education. It took us two years to do this, first, it was the Parents in Golf training program and seminars for golf coaches and activators. And this year – Level 1 for coaches. I am grateful to my team for the organization. And most importantly, such training makes us and all members of the PGA even stronger as a team, as we learn to work together and help each other. Thank you to the CPG, all the tutors for their cooperation and impeccable work, as well as the management of H Club for the opportunity to conduct training on the golf courses.”

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Golf’s new Rules of Amateur Status have been published by The R&A and the USGA ahead of coming into effect on 1 January 2022.

The work is the latest step by the governing bodies to make the Rules easier to understand and apply and follows the modernisation process of the Rules of Golf in 2019. The new Rules were informed by golfer and golf industry feedback as part of a comprehensive review, to ensure they continue to reflect how the modern game is played by millions of golfers around the world.

This review, along with global feedback received when the proposals were publicly shared earlier this year, reaffirmed amateur golf’s important position in the game and the value in maintaining amateur status Rules.

The result is a set of Rules that removes many of the restrictions that previously applied to amateur golfers, while ensuring that the integrity of the game is protected by limiting the form and value of the prizes an amateur golfer can accept.

As part of the modernisation effort, the new Rules identify only the following acts that will result in a golfer losing their amateur status:

• Accepting a prize with a value exceeding the prize limit (£700/$1000) or accepting prize money in a handicap competition.
• Playing as a professional.
  Accepting payment for giving instruction (although all current exceptions still apply, such as coaching at educational institutions and assisting with approved programmes).
• Accepting employment as a golf club professional or membership of an association of professional golfers.

To achieve this simplified approach, the following key changes have been introduced:

• Distinguishing between scratch and handicap competitions in terms of the prizes that may be accepted.
• The prize rule applies only to tee-to-hole competitions played on a golf course or a simulator but no longer apply to long-drive, putting and skills competitions that are not played as part of a tee-to-hole competition.
• Eliminating all advertising, expense-related and sponsorship restrictions.

The new opportunities provided by lifting sponsorship restrictions and the ability to accept prize money up to the increased limit of £700 or $1000 in scratch-only competitions will be of significant benefit to elite amateur golfers looking for ways to fund golf-related expenses.

Grant Moir, Director of Rules at The R&A, said, “We are delighted to be rolling out the modernised Rules of Amateur Status today. These Rules play an important role in protecting the integrity of our self-regulating sport but the code must evolve to meet the needs of the modern game. This is particularly important for modern elite amateur golf, where many of the players need financial support to compete and develop to their full potential. The new Rules give them this opportunity and will help to make the game even more inclusive.”

“Golf is unique in its broad appeal to both recreational and competitive golfers,” said Craig Winter, USGA Senior Director, Rules of Golf and Amateur Status. “This was emphasised in the feedback we received earlier this year and we believe these updates will help simplify these Rules and ensure the long-term health of the amateur game not only to those who compete at the highest level of amateur golf but for the millions of golfers at every age and skill level who enjoy competitive events at their home courses.”

The new Rules are accompanied by guidance notes, an overview document and explanations that detail the rationale for why changes have been made and, in some instances, why they have stayed the same. These materials can be found below.

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In June of 2020, the PGA of Canada released a statement, and promise, to look inwards, recognize our shortcomings and put words into action to drive meaningful change for a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable Canadian golf industry.

LISTEN ALSO: The Diversity & Inclusion Panel

As leaders in Canadian golf, we have a responsibility to our members and the golfing public to act as a positive catalyst and role model for change within our industry. We hope that not only will the enclosed report set the tone for the industry in Canada, but for golf associations across the globe.

Late last summer we organized a group of 17 dedicated volunteers to comprise our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force. These 17 individuals broke into working groups to focus and report on six areas: New Canadians; Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC); LGBTQI2S+; People of Different Abilities; Women; and Socio-Economic Status.

The taskforce was assembled to provide a forum focused on ensuring the PGA of Canada’s values of inclusiveness, equal opportunities and trust are inherent in all the work we do and all policies and procedures result in safe sport and fair employment, industry wide.

After a 12-month journey, during which the Task Force spent hundreds of hours reviewing the PGA of Canada’s governance, operations, and industry workforce & participation, the group has completed its report and has provided 88 recommendations back to the association.

First and foremost, we must give our utmost thanks to the members of the Task Force, which includes: Graham Coulter; Aristotle Domingo; Emma de Groot; Liz Hoffman; Saj Jamal; Jason Logan; Nicola McGovern; Samba Niang; Gord Percy; Wenqin Shao; David Sheman; Stephanie Shostak; Cindy Soukoroff; Jaime Steedman; Dr. Laura Upenieks; and Chris Ward.

With support from the PGA of Canada National staff, PGA of Canada Chief Innovation Officer Matt Allen served as chair of the Task Force and can be contacted for any questions at Matt@PGAofCanada.com.

Inside this report are the recommendations from the Task Force, which the PGA of Canada has committed to adopting within a four-year time frame.

Implementing the recommendations, we hope to:

• Create an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of all team members are recognized and valued and will create an environment that promotes dignity and respect for every employee and member.
• Expand the diverse perspectives within the leadership of the PGA of Canada.
• Ensure that equity, diversity, and inclusion principles are incorporated into all strategies, plans and actions of the PGA of Canada.
• Promote an inclusive community within the membership of the PGA of Canada in which diversity is valued, and all members feel included and respected.
  • Diversity includes but is not limited to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, language, age, geography, religion, and socio-economic status.
• Promote diversity by working to improve opportunities for participation and leadership for all, but especially for designated groups who have traditionally experienced societal and workplace discrimination, women, visible minorities, and people with visible and non-visible disabilities.
• Continue to create and promote programs and policies to develop and support underrepresented groups within the golf industry.
• Encourage equitable recruitment and retention practices to ensure diversity among the workforces in golf.
• Develop and communicate policies, as well as promote values that discourage intolerance and discrimination.
• Encourage a commitment from all PGA of Canada professionals to develop, foster, promote, and maintain a work environment and golfing experience that values and respects diversity.

The PGA of Canada has committed to providing bi-annual follow ups on the status of the report and the headway we make in implementing the important changes for our association. We hope you will take the time to review the report and consider how you can help make the Canadian golf industry more inclusive, equitable, and diverse.

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This article is available in The Insider by CPG magazine, click here to download your digital copy.

Brands are acutely aware of the need to give back to society in a variety of different ways and as a socially responsible business, there has never been a better opportunity to support a cause in golf than the Ryder Cup European Development Trust.

What is the RCEDT?

The RCEDT is a registered charity that supports the development and progression of golf throughout Europe by assisting and guiding various projects, initiatives and programmes in the sport.

It was formed as part of a three-way partnership within Ryder Cup Europe, comprising the European Tour as its managing partner, the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland as its founding partner, and the CPG through the vehicle of the Trust. It continues to ensure that the Ryder Cup invests back into the game and plays a significant role in the ongoing development of golf across the continent.

As sole partner of the Trust, the CPG, which has over 30 years’ expertise in the provision of golf development expertise and delivery on a global basis, is responsible for the control and management of the RCEDT.

Why was the RCEDT set up?

The RCEDT was created in order to allow the Ryder Cup to put even more back into grass roots golf across Europe. The idea of the Trust is to get more people starting to play golf, continuing to play and ultimately succeeding in the game.

Samuel Ryder started the Ryder Cup in 1927, and after some 65 years of the competition being under the ownership of the PGA of GB&I, the event was then run as a joint venture with The European Tour. In 2004, a new Ryder Cup agreement was drawn up to involve the CPG as sole member of the Ryder Cup European Development Trust, with the European Tour becoming the managing partner.

How does the RCEDT support golf development?

The RCEDT maintains a core focus on 10 pillars of activity, through which its support sees benefit: Participation, Education, Coaching, Junior and Youth, Elite and High Performance, Inclusivity, Improving and Enhancing Lives, Promotion of Golf, Insights, and Sustainability.

The Trust has supported a wide range of projects across Europe, including free lessons at European Tour events, junior golf programmes, disabled golf, educational programmes and more. In all cases, whether large or small, money from the Ryder Cup European Development Trust is being used for the development and growth of the game from grassroots right through to elite levels.

As a result, the Trust’s impact has been considerable and far reaching for golf in Europe. Just recently, Team Europe’s victory in the Solheim Cup – delivered by a team with international representation from no less than eight European nations – was testament to the support provided by the Trust over the years, as well as to the work of many European Federations and PGAs who have contributed to the development and success of each player.

The RCEDT: support your CSR goals.

As a registered charity that supports grassroots golf programmes and golf development projects, your businesses’ support of the Trust will create significant social development opportunities through golf and provide thousands of people from across a diverse range of backgrounds with the chance to participate throughout Europe. The legacy of the RCEDT is unwavering; the impact its support has is far-reaching; the mutual benefit of your involvement will be profound.

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