The Confederation of Professional Golf has given PGA of France Member Professional Stéphane Damiano the 2021 John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching in recognition of his extensive role in nurturing the next generation of golfing talent in France.
Created in 2011 to honour one of the most pre-eminent coaches of all time – John Jacobs –boasts a glittering list of past winners, including the first Frenchman to do so in 2012 in Dominique Larretche, as well as Phil Kenyon, Neil Manchip and last year’s recipient, Ulrich Eckhardt.
Credited as being the coach that supported the early development of one of France’s most successful players, Victor Dubuisson, and as the nephew of the 1993 5-Star Professional Award recipient Michel Damiano, Damiano holds a strong and established reputation throughout French golf. He now runs the highly-acclaimed Prime Golf Academy, situated at Royal Mougins Golf Resort in the South of France, which provides young people with world-class coaching and academic teaching to support their progress and development towards excellence in golf and wider academic life.
Damiano, who received the award at the CPG Annual Awards Supported by Rolex, held at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort earlier this month, said: “I am very honoured in becoming the second French recipient of this award and to have been nominated by the PGA of France, as I am so passionate about teaching golf and working with young people to support their golf and academic development.”
CPG Chief Executive Ian Randell said: “It is an honour to be awarding this year’s John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching to Stéphane Damiano for his incredible work and for the far-reaching impact that he has created for French golf.
“As the sport’s leading influencer, PGA Professionals form the very heart of golf coaching and are at the fore when it comes to developing the next generation of golfers across all skill levels and walks of life. In this regard, Stéphane is an exemplary individual and golf coach who is responsible for enhancing the lives of many young people through the vehicle of golf and is a credit to the PGA of France.”