The PGAs of Europe has a comprehensive strategy to gain European Union recognition for PGAs and their members and has engaged a specialist to advise on representations to the European Commission, European Parliament and other bodies.
Contact with the Sports Unit of the Commission has been made in a letter setting out the PGA’s status in golf and calling for a meeting in Brussels at which this can be further explained and emphasised.
Ian Randell, chief executive of The PGAs of Europe explained, “When I was appointed to this role last January political matters were identified within our overall strategy as one of our six priority activities. To this end we are fully committed to the aim of being recognised by the EU as the official voice of professional golf and gaining recognition for the PGA professional.
“We have told the Commission that one of our key objectives is to unify and improve standards of education and qualification to increase quality and provide the ability for PGA Professionals to work across the continent irrespective of their country of qualification. Currently 18 of our national PGAs have mutually recognised education programmes.”
Among the issues for discussion with Commission the PGAs of Europe has identified education and training; recognition of qualification; public health and physical activity; economic impact of sport; protection of minors; sharing of values with other parts of the world.
One of the crucial issues at stake is the right to apply for grants towards the cost of funding educational schemes and development programmes across Europe and beyond.
“Political recognition was one of the founding reasons for the setting up of The PGAs of Europe,” concludes Ian Randell. “We now have the infrastructure and body of evidence to take this forward.”
PGAs of Europe www.pgae.com