The document discusses the role of golf associations in growing the game. It outlines challenges like time, difficulty, cost and perception that prevent growth. Associations are working to address these barriers through programs, education, and events. Their goals are economic and social benefits from increasing golf participation. Key initiatives include the Ryder Cup Development Trust and R&A Working for Golf program that provide funding and expertise globally to develop the sport.
1. The role of The PGAs of
Europe in Growing the Game
Ian Randell
Chief Executive
23rd April 2012
2. Objectives
• Why do we need to grow the game?
• What are the barriers preventing growth?
• What are the PGAs of Europe and PGA’s
around the world doing to drive growth?
3. Why grow the game?
• Economic benefit
• Employment
• Social and Health benefits to society
• There are lots of people who want to play but
can’t!
4. Golf is a simple game!
“Golf is a simple game. You’ve got clubs and a
ball. You have to hit the ball into a series of
holes laid out in the middle of a large, grassy
field. After you reach the 18th hole, you may
want to go to a bar and tell lies about your on-
course feats to anyone you didn’t play with
that day.” Anonymous
5. Challenges
• Time
• Difficulty
• Cost
• Perception
6. The original objectives set out by the fifty or so professionals that attended
a meeting of the 9th September 1901 were as follows.
• To promote interest in the game of golf
• To protect and advance the mutual and trade interests of all its members
• To hold meetings and tournaments periodically for the encouragement of
the younger members
• To institute a Benevolent fund for the relief of deserving members
• To act as an agency for assisting any professional or club maker to obtain
employment
• To effect any other objects of a like nature as may be determined
from time to time by the association
7. PGAs of Europe
The European voice of Professional
Golfers’ Associations
Developing, sharing and advancing the standards of golf
professionals
38 National PGAs
Collective membership of in excess of 21,000
PGA Professionals
8. Setting & Advancing Standards
• Membership Mentoring
• Education
• Events
A strong PGA complements the work of national amateur
bodies in development work and national programmes,
bringing specialist expertise and access to a wide range of
benefits and knowledge that otherwise would be unavailable.
9. Educational / Development services
Setting & Advancing Standards
DEVELOPMENT WORK EDUCATION PROGRAMMES EDUCATION SERVICES EXTERNAL RELATIONS
• Membership Mentoring
Access to a full range of PGAs of Co-ordination of continuing Heads of Training meeting External promotion of the PGA
professional development and the opportunities - sharing of good organisation and the PGA
• Education
Europe services professional
teaching & coaching conference practice
• Events
Application leading to PGAs of Re-evaluation of educational Preparation of documents for
Advice on the development of a
Europe membership programmes European community
national education programme
consumption
AAdvice on structure,PGA complements the work of national amateur
strong constitution
Initial Professional Education Recognition process of Support at National and
bodies asettingdevelopment work and national programmes, level
and
in
up PGA programme (IPE) educational programmes European political
bringing specialist expertise and access to a wide range of
benefits and knowledge that otherwise would be unavailable.
Golf development work: Ryder Advice on the development of
Introducer coach programme Tutor / Assessor training
Cup European Development National institutional relationships
programme
Trust and R&A
10. Ryder Cup Europe LLP
The Olympics and Football World Cup are the only sporting events that have a greater
economic impact
2004 – Formation of Ryder cup Europe LLP
Partnership: European Tour (60%), The PGA (20%),
The PGAs of Europe (20%)
The Ryder Cup European Development Trust
The professional game giving back
11. The Ryder Cup
• Bidding Process
• Legacy
• Ryder Cup European Development Trust
12. Ryder Cup European Development Trust
Aid distributed through grants for grass
roots schemes in Europe
Over €2 million distributed to grow the game
Funding now granted to 22 projects of varying
size including Germany, Ireland, Bulgaria,
Italy, Czech Republic , Poland,
Holland, Hungary and Russia
13. R&A Working for Golf
Programme
Provision of Golf Development Expertise on a
Global Basis
• Consultancy
• Specific Intervention
• Coaching
14. R&A Working for Golf
• ARGENTINA – CHILE – BRAZIL – COLUMBIA -
COSTA RICA - HONG KONG – GHANA – INDIA –
MYANMAR – PANAMA – TANZANIA -
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
• 0ver 50 countries visited in all
15. Working Together
• PGA World Alliance
• Pan-European Golf
Organisations
• European Commission
• Other Sports
Thank Doug for the invitation to join you all today. Grow the game is a real buzz phrase at the moment and probably the one single objective that all areas of the golf industry share
Valuable industry Employment for all our members It teaches social skills and has health benefits PGA of America’s Golf 2.0 strategy has identified that in America based on a population of 253 million, 36% or 90 million people are interested in golfing or playing more golf but run into barriers And that’s just america – what about all the less developed golfing nations
Golf is a simple game so what’s standing in the way of more people playing? Our game is a great one – respectable and respectful. Should be a game for all – all ages, all genders, all races, all social sets.....but is it?
Takes too long! Is it too difficult to be fun? too expensive – recouping costs for design, maintenance etc and equipment Golf started from common roots – sticks and stones, shepherds and sheep. Not fundamental to golf so must come from the attitudes within
So what are we doing about it To promote interest in the game of golf has been at the top of agenda since the formation of the original Professional Golfers Association in 1901
What is the PGAs of Europe?
With our membership – development is at the fore
Education and Services for all countries
We’re proud stakeholders in the Ryder Cup Has become a massive global event and united europe like no other major sport To a lesser extent add Solheim Cup Total economic impact on Irish Economy was €240million Television exposure to 1.5billion people in over 70 countries Generated €14million in TV exposure for Irish National Development Authority Showcased the nation as a significant player on the world economic and business scene
Golf Development at every stage
Particular responsibility for the management of the Ryder Cup European Development Trust
Firstly, The PGAs of Europe are the service providers for The R&As Golf Development work. Our “Golf Development Consultants” visit host countries and work closely with the national Federations and PGAs to identify a strategy for the development of the game. Golf Development Professionals then follow up and deliver the necessary services. The PGAs of Europe then act as project managers for each development visit. 3 forms: Consultancy: Advise Federations and PGAs on structures and strategies Specific Intervention: Junior Golf Development, Coach Education Programmes etc. Coaching: Pro, Junior teams, National Team Preparation etc
Countries visited in 2011 and this was reduced due to unrest in Northern Africa and parts of middle east
E.g. Grow the Game website GolfStand – Occupational Standards for Golf Professionals Economic Impact Report
we are now doing more to promote the Pro as a Golf Development Director or Officer Since writing the article in 2009, Ian James, from Retail Tribe, has developed a ‘Rainmaker’ philosophy. A Rainmaker is defined in Chambers Dictionary as being “ a high powered employee who generates a great deal of income for his or her employers” . James defines the golf version in his paper ‘Rainmakers at the Golf Facility’ as someone who “is responsible for creating more members; encouraging more members to play golf and participate at the facility more often; attracting more visitors and casual golfers to play golf at the facility more often; and to find more people to take up the game” . Discussions that we have had with a number of different individuals, club managers and organisations within golf also clearly articulate that not only are golf clubs suffering from declining memberships, but also that they see the PGA Professional as one of the few key people within the club who is best placed to halt this decline. Clubs can do much more to make themselves more welcoming and market themselves more effectively, but as learning to play and playing golf are amongst the main drivers to attract and retain golf club members, it is only the PGA Professional that has the skills and knowledge to achieve this.
In conclusion – it is obvious that lots is happening and we’re working together to try and grow the game. How do we all focus this...........by placing an emphasis on fun! Fun means different things to different people. Lets give access to golf and meet the needs of people to have fun!