The 2012 Confederation of Professional Golf Annual Congress, hosted by Hotel Vila Galé Lagos, in Portugal’s Algarve region, was hailed a rousing success by the attending delegates, with over 30 different nationalities represented, making for a truly pan-European and international event.
For 23 years the Confederation of Professional Golf has staged the Annual Congress to give a chance for it’s Member countries, as well as representatives from multiple golfing bodies, from Europe and further afield, to meet and share ideas and knowledge.
The Congress, supported by Glenmuir and the Associaçäo Turismo do Algarve, featured numerous presentations and workshops guided by the themes of leadership of associations and their members, together with a focus towards strategic planning, ensuring associations are planning for the future and can lead their organisations and professionals toward it.
The four-day Congress, which ran alongside the International Team Championship hosted at Onyria Palmares Beach and Golf Resort, included speakers such as Confederation of Professional Golf Director and former Chief Executive of the European Tour, Ken Schofield, speaking on his experience of 19 Ryder Cup matches; General Secretary of the European Golf Association, Richard Heath, detailing the EGA’s own strategic plan; as well as the great honour of hosting European Ryder Cup legend, Tony Jacklin, for a Q&A session with Confederation of Professional Golf Chief Executive, Ian Randell.
Ending the week was the Annual Congress and ITC Gala Dinner in which the Team Champions, Scotland, were crowned winners, receiving their trophies from Ian Randell, Managing Director of Glenmuir, Colin Mee, and Maria Manuel Delgado e Silva, Golf Product Manger for the Associação Turismo do Algarve, alongside the Confederation of Professional Golf awards as well.
Closing the 2012 Annual Congress, Sandy Jones, Chairman of the Confederation of Professional Golf and Chief Executive of the PGA of GB&I, said:
“Everyone tonight, and everyone this week, you are the inspiration in golf, and you are the inspiration back in your own countries…And that is so important for the game and for the work of the Confederation of Professional Golf, because it’s that that will guarantee the great journey Tony Jacklin started is carried on by generations of players to come.”
Finally, delegates, players and guests were treated to a stunning Ryder Cup highlights video reminding all those attending of the influence that the Ryder Cup has had in the evolution of the game in Europe, ending the Congress on an inspirational high note.
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For updates, results and news from the Annual Congress 2012, visit the Annual Congress Hub Page, follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.
The 2012 Annual Congress was supported by Glenmuir, Associação Turismo do Algarve, Hotel Vila Galé Lagos, Onyria Palmares Beach and Golf Resort, the European Ryder Cup Development Trust, and Rolex – For more information on our partners, visit http://bit.ly/SkAMWD.