Why the PGAs of Europe was Formed & How it Supports its Member PGAs

It was back in 1989, with the development of the European Union, when it was recognised that one body was required to be the official ‘voice of golf’. If national PGAs did not combine to take the initiative, it was possible that some other lesser body would do so.

This is why the PGAs of Europe was born. In 1990, when inaugurated at Wentworth, UK (headquarters of the PGA European Tour), it had just ten member countries. Nearly 20 years on it has blossomed into its current important status in world golf.

To understand how this comparatively new body fits into the structure of golf it is necessary to appreciate that while the PGA European Tour specialises in the needs of the touring professionals, the PGAs of Europe provides career services for ‘teaching’ and ‘club’ pros.

Another major difference is that the members of the PGAsE are countries not individuals and with that membership now totalling 37 countries, the principle has been established of some 15,000 PGA professionals, sharing their knowledge and speaking with one voice.

The Board of Directors consists of 11 members from eight different countries under the chairmanship of the experienced Sandy Jones and including Jean-Etienne Lafitte (France), Donato di Ponziano (Italy), Heinz Fehring (Germany), Norman Fletcher (Great Britain & Ireland), Frank Kirsten (Netherlands), John Little (Luxembourg), Jonathan Mannie (Austria), Leif Ohlsson (Sweden), Mikael Sorling (Sweden) and Guido Tillmanns (Germany)  
In a series of strategy meetings staged by the board to coincide with the appointment of Ian Randell as chief executive in January 2007 and afterwards, the original Mission Statement was adapted and upgraded to meet the challenges of a changing industry.
As a result, the six strands of the Association’s operation on behalf of its membership are Education, Professional Services, Communication, Tournaments, Development and Partnerships.

The extent of the services provided within this framework are too wide to cover in full here but Education is inevitably the No.1 priority since it is the solid foundation of the profession for all its practitioners.
An Education Committee comprising chairman Leif Ohlsson (Sweden), Filippo Barbe (Italy), Tony Bennett (Portugal), Nicky Lumb (GB & I), Jonathan Mannie (Austria), Kyle Phillpots (GB & I), Jim van Heuven van Staereling (Netherlands) and Martin Westphal (Germany) provides help and support to all PGAs who request it.

Over a period of some 18 years the Education Committee has developed a system of three-pronged support to PGAs, for those who ask for it, of ‘talking to’, ‘working with’ and becoming ‘recognised’.

This procedure is especially attractive to new and under-developed PGAs in countries where previously there has not been a golfing culture since it presents the chance to benefit from more than a century of experience and progress elsewhere.

Starting off on the right foot and introducing tried and trusted administrative and educational methods can be a major asset for any fledgling PGA with ambitions to develop along a proven route.
Educational opportunities arising from PGAs of Europe membership are many and varied. Every two years, for instance, a member country hosts a Teaching and Coaching Conference featuring leading specialists from around the world giving presentations on their specialist subjects.

In 2007 Malmo, Sweden, was the location while in 2005 and 2003, approximately 1,000 PGA professionals from all around the world visited Munich, Germany, to hear some of golf’s most knowledgeable presenters.
As a means of providing the chance to share experiences, debate important topics and generally enjoy meeting up to work, network and socialise an Annual Congress takes place, usually in December, featuring a different theme each year, sometimes with guest speakers and occasionally to concentrate on ‘in-house’ matters.

Alongside the Congress is the 72-hole International Team Championship. A record 28 countries took part at Roda Golf and Beach Resort, when Austria won for the first time last December while, in the last ten years, PGAs who once trailed behind the stronger nations have crept up leader boards impressively, as a reflection of huge improvements in technique.
This Congress/ITC week comprises possibly the most important one in the PGAs of Europe’s annual schedule, ending has it does with the Annual Awards Dinner.

Every effort is made to provide suitable playing opportunities for PGA pros. When a sponsor is forthcoming  a PGAs of Europe 72 hole Strokeplay Championship and a Fourball Championship are staged plus endorsed pro-ams  including the Beko Classic and  the Avea/ Kempinski ‘The Dome’ in Antalya Turkey and the Aegean Airlines event on the Greek Island of Crete.
Obviously, a major part of many professionals’ operation is merchandising, and for this purpose a partnership was forged 16 years ago with Messe Munchen in Germany to stage the annual Golf Europe Trade Exhibition, the biggest of its kind outside of Orlando.

This has prospered impressively to the point where the 16th will be staged in October 2008 and will, as always, attract exhibitors and purchasers from all around the world, usually in increased numbers compared to a record-breaking attendance the year before. In addition to showcasing the equipment and services that PGA pros and High Street stores can display the following year, it features a series of Educational seminars by experts in their field.

Under the heading of the Golf Development Programme comes the joint-initiative with The R&A by which consultants/tutors selected by the PGAs of Europe and funded by surpluses from The Open Championship are sent to under-developed golfing nations around the globe who seek support in starting from scratch with a golfing structure.

Another hugely important function carried out by the PGAsE is in administering the Ryder Cup European Development Trust into which is paid 20% of Ryder Cup profits to finance grants for ‘grass roots causes’ and thereby ensuring that the bi-annual Matches potentially benefits the wider golfing community.

In addition to all this, the Mission Statement enshrines the need for the association to communicate with its members, and their members, in a thoroughly modern hi-tec manner, including a monthly-e-Newsletter entitled Working Together, and a Website www.pgae.com (currently in the stage of being improved), and to offer help in all career requirements.

All this, of course, necessitates income streams and these come from member PGAs paying an annual subscription based on its number of individual members, from forming Corporate Partnerships with leading companies in the industry and with some backing from The R&A.