PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka and Director of Consumer Marketing, Player Development and Research Paul Metzler made up the U.S. delegation at the third World PGA Conference, April 25-28, in Sydney, Australia.

The conference included representatives of 10 PGAs from around the globe: America, Australia, Canada, Europe, Germany, Great Britain & Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden. The 30-person delegation addressed a host of issues including educational standards for golf professionals, the importance of the PGA brand, the economic impact of golf and best practices for research and growing golf participation.

"While the language and customs may be different, the great respect for the game is universal among all PGAs," said Steranka who presented updated economic impact data on the American golf industry, which makes up almost half of the global golf economy. "There is also a growing understanding that our industry is global in its appeal as a recreation activity for people of every age, a catalyst for each nation's economy and an important contributor to charity."

Metzler, who directs the Association's research and player development programs, presented an overview of PGA PerformanceTrak in cooperation with NGCOA, the U.S. golf industry's leading source of monthly rounds and revenue data, and Play Golf America, the allied industry-supported player development campaign which is led by The PGA of America. The PGA of America announced at the conference its plans to export the programs to allied PGAs to serve the golf industry in specific international territories.

"The leadership of each PGA recognizes the value of operating data to measure the vitality of the business of golf and to validate the efforts of PGA Professionals to grow interest and participation in golf," said Steranka. "Our Board recognizes the importance of sharing our knowledge and, where appropriate, our programs with fellow PGA organizations. In return, we are also receiving insights and information from these PGAs on how to better serve our customer; be they PGA Professionals, employers or the golf public."

On April 29, at Sydney's Lakes Golf Club, Steranka, PGA of Australia CEO Max Garske and PGA of Great Britain & Ireland Chief Executive Sandy Jones attended an industry luncheon that featured 150 leaders in Australian golf and addressed the economic, human and environmental impact of the game.

"We are extremely proud of the game of golf, its grand traditions and the values it instills," said Steranka in his remarks, recognizing Australian golf legend and World Golf Hall of Fame member Kel Nagle in the audience. "We have also found great value in educating local, state and national government officials and agencies on the substantial impact golf has on jobs, tourism and the overall economy."

The conference is the third in modern history and resulted in several formal and informal agreements on matters ranging from an evaluation of training programs in each territory which would help determine reciprocal privileges for PGA members working abroad, to the management of global trademark registrations of the PGA brand and the creation of a new television ad campaign to promote the leadership of PGA Professionals in every developed golf nation.

Steranka also commented on the different nuances of these leading golf associations, particularly the role they have in working with national governments and sports federations which support sport in their countries.

"The PGA of Sweden, like many PGAs in Europe, works closely with its national government and sports federation on the proper methods of coaching youth. In the U.K., the PGA's work with government led to a national golf in schools initiative in Scotland. Our relationship with government is much less formal as our game is really privately funded by the leading golf associations and their grass roots members.

The World PGA Conference was conducted at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney and at Royal Sydney Golf Club. In addition, a number of the international delegates also visited the PGA of Australia's National Office at the Sandhurst Club, which is southeast of Melbourne.