Following the PGA of Europe’s week of educational seminars and workshops for golf professionals during the Munich Golfest, a double bill of similar learning opportunities is now on offer on the Costa del Sol, Spain, in February.
As part of the PGAE’s ever-widening involvement in the Atalaya Park Golf Resort-based ‘Festival of Golf‘, now increased to four months commencing at the beginning of November, seminars entitled Golf Health, followed by Director of Golf II are to be staged. This particular slot in the annual schedule, beginning Monday 15th February, is designated as ‘Education Week’.
The Golf Health session arises from the PGAE’s recently acquired link with the Golf Health Foundation, comprising practitioners and clinicians from throughout Europe, while DoG II is a natural follow-up to a similar conference presented in December 2001.
“Our educational programmes are now firmly recognised as an essential part of a culture of upgrading the knowledge and expertise of the 12,000 club golf professionals from our 33 member PGAs,” said PGAE general secretary, Lawrie Thornton.
“During the Munich Golfest, at the TCC and Golf Europe, there has been a theme of the ‘Complete Golfer’, concentrating on preparation for golf, studying swing technique and various allied subjects, followed by merchandising and marketing.
“At the Atalaya Park Hotel in February we offer the chance to take on board a wider understanding of golf health and fitness followed by an in-depth look at the role of the director of golf, with presentations by individuals who have first-hand knowledge of the subject.”
During the course of the last three years, the ‘Festival of Golf’ has become a most important part of the PGAE’s yearly programme. This year the festival takes place simultaneously with a programme being staged by the European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA). Once again the Annual Congress, International Team Championship and Gala Dinner will take place in December, followed approximately one-month later by the 3rd Don Miguel Fourball Championship staged over 54 holes at Atalaya Park and Los Flamingos, which immediately precedes the Media Masters tournament for the golfing and travel press and the Media Starter Clinic.
PGA of Europe www.pgae.com
Festival of Golf www.selected-hotels.com
EIGCA www.eigca.org