World PGA Alliance Members Embrace Olympic News

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- When the World PGA Alliance was launched this past August during the 91st PGA Championship in Chaska, Minn., there was one stunning signal that the game was beginning to experience yet another breakthrough and give new meaning to the term a "global game."

South Korea's Y.E. Yang, who boldly charged past Tiger Woods on a Sunday afternoon to become Asia's first male major champion, became a lightning rod that the game's next frontier in popularity was upon us.

Then, on Oct. 9, in a news flash from Copenhagen, Denmark, the World PGA Alliance got an even bigger boost. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had voted approval -- after more than a century -- of returning golf to the Olympic Games in 2016.

Those developments built further momentum for the World PGA Alliance, which was formed to establish teaching, playing and educational standards for the golf profession in developing territories and share best practices. The alliance also will ensure continued management and development of the PGA brand as it expands across the world.

The Alliance's first formal meeting will be held immediately following the 57th PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, 2010, in Orlando, Fla., and will include a global symposium on junior golf.

Its membership is comprised of the Professional Golfers' Associations of America, Australia, Canada, PGAs of Europe, Germany, Great Britain & Ireland, Japan, South Africa, and Sweden. The membership base believes their foundation will be increased dramatically in the coming years thanks to the Olympic endorsement.

"This is an exciting time for our sport, and we can see some wonderful things taking place among countries that are eager to build their golf programs and become a part of a future Olympic competition," said PGA of America President Jim Remy. "What makes the Alliance's mission so exciting is how PGA Professionals around the world can now complement the growth of the game in territories that previously had limited no access to golf and training."

The World PGA Alliance currently has organizations representing 56,000 PGA Professionals and more than 22,000 PGA-member golf facilities worldwide.

"We believe that there is never a better time to promote golf as a sport given the level of play on both the men's and women's tours," said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka. "What the Olympic approval means is that every developing golf territory would have support from both the government side and the sporting infrastructure in those countries to promote our sport.

"There are some 90 million people playing the game worldwide, and we anticipate that is going to grow in the years to come."

The IOC news of golf's approval for the 2016 Olympics was met with "tremendous excitement" in Europe, according to Professional Golfers' Association Chief Executive Sandy Jones.

Since 1990, when the PGA's of Europe was formed, some 31 PGAs have emerged, and Jones said some 18 countries feature approved training programs.

"I would say the news was met with even more excitement over here," said Jones. "Every sport in the countries of Europe is structured, and we are independent of America. What happens now is that the sports federations of those countries can now receive monetary support from their governments as golf becomes an Olympic sport.

"We believe the Alliance can be a tremendous aid to those countries. Many of them were inhibited by a weak professional game, but now we have the opportunity to let PGA Professionals share the knowledge and help build their golf infrastructure."

Jones said the Olympic approval of golf now "magnifies the economic impact of the game."

"Suddenly we will find how a grassroots program in training and player development carries new weight," said Jones. "This opens potential pathways for growth, the inclusion of PGA Professionals at the forefront of training, player development and allows for new facilities to be built and accommodate the added interest.

"Many of us recall how the Eastern Bloc countries were among the greatest in coaching any sport. With golf suddenly becoming an Olympic sport, those same countries that have never had golf, will now reach out for support in training. It is our hope through the Alliance that PGA Professionals will be there to help."

The World PGA Conference began in 2004 and was conducted for a third time in April, 2008, in Sydney, Australia, and is led by the chief executives of The PGA of America, The Professional Golfers' Association (of Great Britain & Ireland) and the PGA of Australia.

With the 2016 Summer Olympic Games set for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, invitations will be extended to nationally-recognized professional golf associations and emerging South American PGAs to engage in further discussion and planning.

The Alliance's agreement on standards for golf professionals in emerging markets will result in shared membership programs in education, employment, marketing and research with new or existing Professional Golfers' Associations in those countries.

The World PGA Alliance is also sharing best practice player development programs such as the United States' "Get Golf Ready" and junior golf content incorporating training on golf skills, rules and etiquette.

"With golf being accepted for the 2016 Olympics, and the timely formation of the World PGA Alliance, this means there is a significant global services and support base to harness the Olympic announcement and grow the game at the grass roots,." said Max Garske, chief executive officer of PGA of Australia. "The Olympics golf re-introduction should create greater national government funding for emerging golfing nations, the World PGA Alliance will enhance this opportunity for the growth of the game from its collective expertise."

Information on the members of the World PGA Alliance is available at PGA.com/global.