The PGA of South Africa have assembled an impressive array of star, international presenters for their inaugural Coaching and Fitness Conference in Johannesburg on May 17-20.

Keynote speakers in the two-day ‘coaching specific’ section of the conference are Frank Thomas and Dr.Karl Morris, two world-renowned experts in their specialist field.

Equipment guru Frank Thomas (pictured) is a South African who was formerly the technical director of the USGA, before his retirement, and also invented the graphite shaft.  A scientist who has enthralled audiences of PGA professionals at PGAs of Europe teach-ins, he lives in the USA where he runs a putter business and a popular inter-active website.

Karl Morris is a ‘mind games’ coach who has taught many leading players including Darren Clarke on the psychology of preparing for competition and the essential nature of pre-swing routines and mental readiness.

It’s NOT too late to make a reservation….for more details of the South Africa Coaching and Fitness Conference, and the full programme, click here

Srixon staff player, Peter Lawrie (pictured) broke his European tour duck, with victory last weekend in a dramatic play off for the 2008 Spanish Open at the Real Club de Golfe,  Seville.

A closing round of 67 saw him tied after 72 holes on 15 under par with local favourite Ignacio Garrido and with fellow Srixon player Miguel Angel Jimenez 2 strokes further back. After sharing pars on the first extra hole, a spectacular fairway bunker shot with an 8 iron saw Lawrie find the heart of the green as Garrido’s approach landed pin high but agonizingly spun back into the lake.

This maiden victory for the young Dubliner saw him jump 76 places to 12th in the 2008 Order of Merit and completed a hat trick of victories in the last 3 weeks for Irish Golfers, coming on the back of wins for Damien McGrane and Darren Clarke.

Like most of Srixon’s staff players, Lawrie uses the Z-URS ball. This was the company’s 7th international victory this year. It was a good weekend for Srixon with Jimenez finishing in 3rd place in Seville while, on the USPGA Tour, Robert Allenby was 4th and Jim Furyk 7th in the Wachovia Championships

For further information on the Srixon range of products, please visit www.srixon.co.uk

The Beko Classic 2008, endorsed as always by the PGAs of Europe, will be staged on November 26-29, 2008, at the Cornelia Faldo Course, Antalaya-Belek, in Southern Turkey.

This will be the third  different course in as many years on which the increasingly-prestigious event will be played, following the adjacent Antalya venue last year and, for many years previously, the Kemer G&CC, Istanbul.

Designed by Nick Faldo and featuring a David Leadbetter Academy, Cornelia is one of the latest of the superb array of  facilities that constantly grows in this ever-expanding golfing destination.

During its lengthy association with the PGAs of Europe, this International Pro-am has increased the quality of its field year by year and the organisers plan to continue their policy of advancement for 2008.

Several former Ryder Cup players have appeared in the Beko Classic while, in 2007, it was graced by the for US Master winner and World No.1, Ian Woosnam. It is anticipated that other leading Senior Tour players will be in this year’s field.

The G9 PGA World Summit, hosted by the PGA of Australia in Sydney on April 25-28, will be attended by two representatives of the PGAs of Europe, in director Mikael Sorling (PGA of Sweden) and chief executive Ian Randell.

The G9 organisation comprises nine of the world’s leading PGAs, including Great Britain and Ireland, Germany, and Sweden from Europe, along with such countries as America, Australia and Japan and South Africa.

The purpose of the Summit is to discuss a wide-ranging agenda of topics affecting the present and the future of golf on a global perspective.

The thirst for knowledge goes into overdrive in less than two months when the PGA National Training and Coaching Conference sponsored by Glenmuir docks at Coventry's Ricoh Arena, UK.

Player development, putting and the mental strength are just three key areas that come under the spotlight during the must-do event of the golf season.

PGA professionals both home and abroad are being urged not to miss out the bi-annual event, which again brings together some of the best golfing brains in the world - along with a wide range of exhibitors.

Among those that will be sharing their experience, which all PGA professionals can benefit from, are world-renowned experts Sir Clive Woodward, father and son team Tony and Howard Bennett, Dr Paul Hurrion, Jamil Qureshi and American Chuck Cook.

Each and everyone has played in guiding individuals to the top of their field - be it technically, physically or mentally.

Cook holds the distinction of having guided five players to major success including Corey Pavin, Tom Kite and the late Payne Stewart.

His arrival at Coventry is a coup and one he is very much looking forward to between May 7 and 8, when he will be part of the PGA's star-studded cast.

Among the exhibitors are Diamond Golf, Gasp Systems Ltd, Sonic Golf Ltd, Paul Affleck (Core Golf Ltd), Smartpro Consulting Ltd, Dave Hicks Golf, Glenmuir.

To secure your place at the conference and join hundreds of professionals seeking to improve their knowledge, download the booking form or contact Debbie Stockton on 01675 470 333 or at debbie.stockton@pga.org.uk

Golfsmith Europe are pleased to announce that PGA Professional Steve Hatton has joined them as their Agent for Switzerland.

Steve (pictured) who played on the Challenge Tour, is based in Zurich and has worked in Switzerland for the past 12 years.

He speaks fluent French, Swiss and German and will be a great asset to our company selling Snake Eyes Custom and Golfsmith Components throughout the whole of Switzerland.

Steve can be contacted on:
Tel: 0041 794163713
Email: info@golftrade.ch

For more information on Snake Eyes Custom or Golfsmith Europe Components:
Tel: 01480 308800
Fax: 01480 800801
sales@golfsmitheurope.co.uk
www.snakeeyescustom.com

The UAE Professional Golfers’ Association have launched their own website – www.pga-uae.com – which will grow into an essential resource for all people interested in and involved with golf in the UAE and the Region.

The site contains news and pictures of UAE PGA activities as well as an events calendar. It provides links to all golf club and governing body websites in the UAE together with one click access to important international resources such as the European Tour website, The R&A site and the USPGA Tour.

As the site grows in the future it will include a database of all the UAE PGA Professionals, with biographical details, information on their clubs and teaching facilities and their teaching specialities in order to provide a unique one-stop directory for anyone wishing to learn, improve their golf or find a PGA Professional near to their place of work or home.

Chairman of the UAE PGA Adrian Flaherty said: “The website is designed as a vehicle to share information throughout all categories of our organisation, promote our Patrons and associate sponsors and be the corporate face of our association.
“We are very proud of the achievement and sheer hard work that has gone into creating this new resource for our members and the golfing public.”

Other areas of the site contain a members newsletter, picture galleries, news of the PGA’s sponsors and patrons and information on the PGA Personal Development Programme (PDP) which provides continuous training for all PGA Professionals in the UAE to ensure they continue to work to the highest industry standards.

For further information or media inquiries contact media@pga-uae.com

For more information on the UAE PGA, activities and sponsorship opportunities please contact Julian Danby, UAE PGA Secretary, on 050 456 0779 or email jdanby@dubaigolf.com or julian@pga-uae.com

Chervò, the Italian clothing specialists in style and chic, have launched their Spring/Summer Collection with golf clothing that combines seductive good looks with the latest fabric technology, and all-weather comfort, fit for any leisure pursuit.

As always Chervò’s range of colours is designed to please the eye and is ‘drawn from the palette of nature’… merging them with judgment and balance in order to ‘accentuate femininity in women and virile, strong forms’ for men.

 The colour range and styles co-ordinate attractively with garments from the rest of their extensive range. The 2008 collection consequently benefits by the inclusion of the best from the past with exciting new lines hot from the workshop.

This mingling of design style and fabric technology has earned the Italian golf fashion leaders the nickname ‘Chic-Tec Chervò’ with a range described as leading golf fashions onto the catwalks mingling as they do the modern with the traditional and the classical with the casual.

While placing fashion and appearance to their forefront of their planning they also introduce the most-up-to-date means of protecting the wearer as much as possible from wind and rain, hot sun, perspiration and even the odd mosquito!

In addition to a stunning g selection of tops for both genders and for juniors, Chervò specialise in trousers and skirts, sweaters, jackets, caps, gloves and socks.

For full details see 2008 brochure - www.chervo.it