Professional Golfers' Association of Malta
The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) of Malta was founded in 1997 – 7 years after the PGA of Europe was formed. It enjoys full member status as a member of the PGA’s of Europe. The founding members were Mr. Richard Davies as its first President, Mr. Henning Schulze-Doering, Vice-President and the late Mr. Alex Mangion as Secretary. The PGA of Malta has been chaired by Mr. Henning Schulze-Doering since the year 2000 and is recognized by the Malta Golf Association as the professional body within Malta.Members
Individual membership of the PGA of Malta can only be granted to an individual that meets all the entry criteria as agreed by the PGAs of Europe Board of Directors/Education Committee. Individuals must have reached 18 years of age, prior to the application for membership as well as the individual must have received the leaving certificate awarded to students who complete the full circle of compulsory secondary education. Furthermore individuals should be able to demonstrate accurately and effectively a range of predetermined golf shots. Individuals should be able to provide evidence of a playing ability (PAT) that meets or exceeds the PGA of Malta entry criteria, which currently stands at 6 over Par for male players and 10 over Par over 36holes for female players.
PGA of Europe
The three letters P.G.A. have stood as a mark of quality, contribution and service for over 100 years. The first Professional Golfers Association was formed in 1901 in London, England. The objectives of the original PGA were: "To promote interest in the game of golf; to protect and advance the mutual and trade interests of all its members; to hold meetings and tournaments periodically for the encouragement of the younger members, to institute a Benevolent Fund for the relief of deserving members; to act as an agency for assisting any professional or club maker to obtain employment; and to effect any other objects of a like nature as may be determined from time to time by the Association" Membership of the PGAs of Europe is essential for any national PGA offering, as it does, the benefit of being part of a ‘family’ of 35 PGAs, from around the continent and beyond, all dedicated to the principle of working together to mutual benefit. It was back in 1989, with the development of the European Union, when it was recognised that one body was required to be the official ‘voice of golf’. If national PGAs did not combine to take the initiative, it was possible that some other lesser body would do so. This is why the PGAs of Europe was born. In 1990, when inaugurated at Wentworth, UK (headquarters of the PGA European Tour), it had just ten member countries. Nearly 20 years on it has blossomed into its current important status in world golf. To understand how this comparatively new body fits into the structure of golf it is necessary to appreciate that while the PGA European Tour specialises in the needs of the touring professionals, the PGAs of Europe in the needs for ‘teaching’ and ‘club’ pros, assisting the National PGAs. Another major difference is that the members of the PGAs of Europe are countries not individuals and with that membership now totalling 37 countries, the principle has been established of some 15,000 PGA professionals, sharing their knowledge and speaking with one voice. Over a period of some 18 years the Education Committee has developed a system of three-pronged support to PGAs, for those who ask for it, of ‘talking to’, ‘working with’ and becoming ‘recognised’. This procedure is especially attractive to new and under-developed PGAs in countries where previously there has not been a golfing culture since it presents the chance to benefit from more than a century of experience and progress elsewhere. Starting off on the right foot and introducing tried and trusted administrative and educational methods can be a major asset for any fledgling PGA with ambitions to develop along a proven route. Educational opportunities arising from PGAs of Europe membership are many and varied. Every two years, for instance, a member country hosts a Teaching and Coaching Conference featuring leading specialists from around the world giving presentations on their specialist subjects. Under the heading of the Golf Development Programme comes the joint-initiative with The R&A by which consultants/tutors selected by the PGAs of Europe and funded by surpluses from The Open Championship are sent to under-developed golfing nations around the globe who seek support in starting from scratch with a golfing structure. Another hugely important function carried out by the PGAs of Europe is in administering the Ryder Cup European Development Trust into which is paid 20% of Ryder Cup profits to finance grants for ‘grass roots causes’ and thereby ensuring that the bi-annual Matches potentially benefits the wider golfing community. In addition to all this, the Mission Statement enshrines the need for the association to communicate with its members, and their members, in a thoroughly modern hi-tec manner, including a monthly-e-Newsletter entitled Working Together, and a Website www.pgae.com (currently in the stage of being improved), and to offer help in all career requirements. All this, of course, necessitates income streams and these come from member PGAs paying an annual subscription based on its number of individual members, from forming Corporate Partnerships with leading companies in the industry and with some backing from The R&A.
External Links
Royal Malta Golf ClubGolf School Malta
Malta Golf