At the close of one of the greatest-ever years in European golf, the key authorities dedicated to the future of the sport are to meet in Spain for three-days of presentations and debate designed to safeguard and build on an unprecedented spirit of unity.
The PGAs of Europe’s 15th ‘Festival of Golf‘ at the Atalaya Park Hotel, Costa del Sol, 8th to 11th December will feature the Annual Congress attended by professional and amateur authorities from 34 countries, all conscious of the continent’s growing stature in world golf.
Following the Ryder Cup success over the United States at Detroit in September and the encouraging growth of the sport throughout Europe, an awareness of the need for solidarity of decision-making has never been higher.
The agenda includes presentations by the PGAs of Europe, who are Ryder Cup Partners, the R&A, the PGA European Tour and the European Commission.
Also in attendance in possibly Europe’s most comprehensive gathering of authorities, will be the European Golf Association, representing the amateur federations and unions, the European Institute of Golf Course Architects, the Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers‘ Associations and a whole array of presidents, past and present.
An open forum staged to discuss major issues will include Sir Michael Bonallack (President of the PGAs of E and former R&A secretary), Bjorn Nordberg (EGA President), Jaime Ortiz-Patino (Immediate Past President PGAsE) and Manuel Agrellos (Immediate Past President EGA and President-elect PGAsE.)
Also, by working collectively with a unified voice, golf is exploring its suitability and readiness for support and recognition of its qualification, by the European Union. The current situation in this regard is to be outlined in a presentation by Marianne Hildebrand, Head of Sports Unit, European Commission.
Golf tourism, new European legislation and its effect on golf, the future role of the golf professional, the ‘third tier‘ professional tours and many other similar topics will be presented and debated.
For the full programme visit web site www.pgae.com
European golf bodies in Congress
