PGAS OF EUROPE NEWS
Continuing our new monthly series, PSE teams up with the PGAs of Europe to keep readers
informed about what’s going on in professional golf around the Continent
Drimmer brimming with hope
JUDIT DRIMMER, of carried out by KPMG The PGAs of Europe’s
business consultants KPMG “Following any big four-year strategic plan
(right), gave an encouraging downturn there is a big was approved during the
forecast for the future of the upturn,” was her message as congress. Entitled ‘Working
golf industry at The PGAs she pointed out that the 40 Together for the Benefit of
of Europe’s 18th annual per cent economic decline Golf’, the plan is based on
congress in Murcia, southern during the Great Recession fact-finding initiatives by
Spain. of the 1930s was followed by a member PGAs over the last
Ms Drimmer teamed up 147 per cent upturn. two years and aims to “ensure
with Lodewijk Klootwijk, chief This positive glimpse into that the administration of the
executive of European Golf the future was preceded by professional game throughout
Course Owners’ Association, statistics which emphasised the continent delivers
to give the keynote address. the importance of golf to excellence” and “highly
Her presentation, ‘The economies across Europe, qualified, highly skilled PGA
Value of Golf to Europe’, where 6,000 golf courses professionals who lead the
used details from the recent accommodate 5.6 million advancement of the game
economic impact study of golf golfers. around the world”.
Irish Victory
DID YOU KNOW?
President
n Half Moon, the luxury
YORKSHIREMAN ROBERT at Roda Golf & Beach Resort
resort in Rose Hill, Jamaica
Giles played a starring role for than the other 23 teams.
with a course designed
Heinz
Ireland as his adoptive nation They were four ahead of
by Robert Trent Jones Sr,
HEINZ FEHRING (centre),
for the past decade turned the Scotland and England after
has joined the PGAs of
the elder statesman of German
annual International Team the first round and went
Europe-endorsed Prestige
Championship (supported by into the final day with an
professional golf, is pictured
Collection
Glenmuir and Calidona) into unassailable 10-shot lead.
with Ken Schofield (left),
a procession. Finally, as more clement
whom he succeeded as PGAs of
In wet, windy conditions weather surfaced, they cruised
Europe president for a two-year
that were alien to southern to a 10-under-par winning term on 1 January 2009, and
Spain, Giles (Greenore), a total of 556 - eight strokes chairman Sandy Jones.
member of the last winning clear of the Scots, for whom
Fehring, who once
Irish team in 1999, Eamon Sam Cairns carded a closing
employed Bernhard Langer
Brady (Clontarf) and John 67.
n Gary Allis, the GB&I
as his trainee, completed a 15-
Kelly (St. Margaret’s) were far England were third, a
PGA Cup captain and
year spell as a PGAs of Europe
more consistent over 72 holes further five shots adrift.
head pro at The Belfry,
director before undertaking his
recently visited Israel to
new role.
Torrance award
advise the country’s 16
professionals as part of a
* Sandy Jones has been
joint educational venture
presented with the Murcia Golf
FEW COACHES can deserve a ProSport Media 5-Star Professional
between the PGAs of
Federation’s gold medal award
Award more than the man whose ‘student’ has won three major
Europe and R&A.
for services to European Golf.
championships in the last 18 months.
n Ken Schofield, former
Past recipients include Seve
Padraig Harrington’s stellar achievement was just one of the executive director of Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus and
factors behind the nomination of Bob Torrance as one of four the European Tour, Emma Villacieros (president
teaching pros to be honoured during The PGAs of Europe’s 2008
has switched from the
of the Spanish Golf Federation
awards dinner.
presidency of the PGAs
for the last 20 years).
In the citation outlining Torrance’s lifelong achievements, PGAs
of Europe to a place on a
of Europe chief exectuvie Ian Randell likened him to John Jacobs
board reduced from 12 to
seven directors.
for “the wisdom and simplicity of his teaching”.
“The changes have been
Torrance, whose son Sam has been a legendary figure in
introduced to provide
European golf for three decades, is in his 50th year as a PGA
us with a more efficient
professional.
decision-making process,”
The other award winners were Jean-Etienne Lafitte (France),
explained chief executive
Gunter Kessler (Germany) and Timo Rauhala (Finland). Ian Randell.
January 2009 PRO SHOP EUROPE 19
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