The TGI Golf Partnership, Europe’s leading golf retail services group, owned by PGA Professionals, has enhanced its presence in Ireland by merging with the country’s largest independent buying group EurPro.
The Irish group’s 32 high quality PGA Professionals became TGI Golf Partners from January 1, 2014, enabling them to utilise all the retail and marketing benefits available to Partners and swelling the group’s numbers to a record high in its 30-year history.
Eddie Reid, TGI Golf Partnership Managing Director, said: “We are always looking to recruit high quality PGA Professionals to further enhance our reputation and we have admired the work EurPro has done in Ireland for some time – there is a huge amount of synergy between the two groups.”
EurPro was founded – as Pro 7 – in 1999 by former PGA Captain and current Board Member Gavin Kavanagh, who wanted to bring together Ireland’s top PGA Professionals to combine their buying power with the major suppliers. As time went on more and more Pros joined and the group changed its name to EurPro.
Gavin, Head PGA Professional at Delgany Golf Club, said: “EurPro has always been run voluntarily by the members and as we have grown it has become harder for guys to run their own businesses as well as driving the group forward as a sideline. It became apparent that we needed someone to be a professional driving force for us.
“We looked at merging with other groups but having met with Eddie and discussed everything the TGI Golf Partnership could do for us as PGA Professionals it was a fairly simple choice who we wanted to work with.
“The whole package on offer from TGI Golf, from the marketing solutions such as the Enewsletter Programme, Online Print System to the expert Retail Consultants, including one that is based in, and dedicated to, Ireland will help us to enhance our professionalism and drive profits.”
Peter Smyth, TGI Golf’s Retail Consultant based in Ireland has already visited all new Partners, passing on his expertise and assisting them in every aspect of their business.
“We are serious about our commitment to Irish PGA Professionals,” added Eddie Reid. “By bringing Peter on board and now absorbing the country’s biggest buying group we have shown that commitment.
“Many people will admit the Irish golf market has been through a tough time and we recognise these quality PGA Professionals will require professional external assistance. That is something TGI Golf will always provides to its Partners.”
TGI Golf Partnership www.tgigolf.com