Ryder Cup winning captain Colin Montgomerie is encouraging golfers to have lessons with a PGA professional in an advertising campaign that premieres on national television this week and runs throughout the summer.
The advert, screened for the first time on Thursday, June 16, on Sky Sports US Open coverage, highlights the role played by PGA professionals in the careers of the players involved in Europe’s stunning success at the Celtic Manor Resort last autumn.
Viewers will see Montgomerie describing the importance of the team ethic in Europe’s victory over the United States before telling them to develop their own games by receiving coaching from a PGA professional.
“Every player on the European team has been coached and mentored by a PGA member throughout their golfing career,” Montgomerie says in the advert, adding, “If you want a winning game then see a PGA professional.”
One of the best-known coaching relationships exists between the 22-year-old Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy and Michael Bannon, his long-time mentor. Bannon, the PGA professional at Bangor Golf Club, County Down, has coached McIlroy since he was eight-years-old.
PGA professionals play a key role in promoting and growing the game at grass roots level, helping golfers of all ages and abilities to both enjoy the game and play the game to their potential with the right instruction and equipment.
Commenting on the campaign, PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: “It is aimed at highlighting the benefits golfers of all ages and abilities can derive from regular lessons with their local PGA professional – from Ryder Cup stars to newcomers to the game.
“We are very proud of the PGA training programme that ensures coaching standards are the very best in the world. This is reflected not only in the success being enjoyed by British golfers at world level but also in laying the foundations at grass roots level.”
The PGA’s highly regarded training programme sees PGA professionals take a three year Foundation Degree and participate in continuous education aimed at ensuring they maintain the very highest coaching standards.
High achieving members also earn additional recognition with categories of PGA Advanced Professional, PGA Fellow Professional, PGA Advanced Fellow Professional and PGA Master Professional.
Further showings of the advert will be screened during the BMW International Open (June 23-26), the Alston Open de France and AT& T National (June 30, July 3), Barclays Scottish Open (July 7-8), Irish Open (July 28-31) and the USPGA Championship (August 11-14).
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