The 2013 Confederation of Professional Golf Annual Congress returns this week to Portugal’s Algarve region and Hotel Vila Galé Lagos for the 24th staging of the event that sits in tandem with the International Team Championship just down the road at Onyria Palmares.
The Annual Congress this year will be one of the largest pan-European golf events as delegates from across the 39 Confederation of Professional Golf Member countries assemble alongside representatives from many other international golf organisations. The event is once again supported by Glenmuir, the Associação Turismo do Algarve, and the Ryder Cup European Development Trust.
The Congress will have a heavier practical focus than ever before and will give delegates more hands-on assistance, as seminars and workshops will be aimed in generating discussion and ensuring delegates come away from the Congress with actionable insights for the coming year.
Speakers across the week hail from across the industry and begin in Block 1 with Former CEO of the PGA of America, Joe Steranka, alongside Chairman of the Confederation of Professional Golf and Chief Executive of the PGA of Great Britain & Ireland, Sandy Jones, who will be looking at what can be done to influence the development of the game.
Duncan Weir, The R&A’s Executive Director – Working For Golf, will take a seminar together with Confederation of Professional Golf Director of Education & Membership, Tony Bennett, and will focus on PGA Professionals being a workforce for the game.
The final session of Block 1 will look at reputation, branding and how PGAs can become more valuable brands with Whitestone International Ltd Director, Chris Lightfoot, who has worked with the Confederation of Professional Golf on a strategic and branding review, and Confederation of Professional Golf Board Director, Luca Salvetti.
Block 2 will also feature three sessions – renowned golf consultant and non-Executive Director of Goodwood Golf Club in the UK, Eddie Bullock, will line up alongside Vice-Chairman of the Confederation of Professional Golf and Managing Director of the PGA of Sweden, Mikael Sorling to discuss member engagement and services that PGAs offer their individual PGA Professional members.
European Tour Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Roger Hawkes, and Managing Director of LPP Consulting, Dr. Philip Hopley, will look at member wellbeing with specific focus towards issues such as anti-doping issues in golf, and psychological resilience of members.
Focusing on Junior Golf will be CEO of League Golf, LLC, Bob Longmire, and Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, Mike Round, who will discuss potential initiatives for junior golf development and the role of the PGA Professional within those.
The week will be capped off with the Confederation of Professional Golf Gala Dinner and Annual Awards supported by Rolex. The deserved winners of awards such as the Confederation of Professional Golf Lifetime Achievement Award and Christer Lindberg Bowl will receive their accolades together with the team that are crowned 2013 champions at the International Team Championship.
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For updates, information and news from the Annual Congress 2013, visit the Annual Congress Hub Page (http://eur.pe/11EGYgM), follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the Hashtag #AnnualCongress, or like the Confederation of Professional Golf Facebook Page.
For more information on the 2013 International Team Championship, visit the ITC Tournament Hub Page (http://eur.pe/11EBSkF).
The 2013 Annual Congress & ITC are supported by Glenmuir, the Associação Turismo do Algarve, Hotel Vila Galé Lagos, Onyria Palmares Beach and Golf Resort, and the European Ryder Cup Development Trust. For more information on our partners, visit http://eur.pe/1aaFFgx.