Nine PGA's Form Global Alliance to Direct Professional Standards

NINE PGA'S FORM GLOBAL ALLIANCE TO DIRECT PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

CHASKA, Minn. (August 17, 2009) -- A new World PGA Alliance, including organizations representing 56,000 PGA Professionals and more than 22,000 PGA-member golf facilities worldwide, has been formed to establish and guide teaching, playing and educational standards for the golf profession in developing golf territories and shared best practices in player development for adults and youth. The alliance is comprised of the Professional Golfers' Associations of America, Australia, Canada, Europe, Germany, Great Britain & Ireland, Japan, South Africa, and Sweden.

Born from the World PGA Conference which began in 2004 and was conducted for a third time in April, 2008, in Sydney, Australia, the alliance will be led by the chief executives of The PGA of America, The Professional Golfers' Association (of Great Britain & Ireland) and the PGA of Australia. A fourth gathering, and the first formal meeting of the new Alliance, will be held during the 2010 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., and will include a global symposium on junior golf.

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.

"The World PGA Alliance is an exciting and important step in the on-going development of golf across the globe, giving the PGAs a platform to influence and drive the game in new and existing golf markets," said Professional Golfers' Association Chief Executive Sandy Jones. "The Alliance also fulfils a crucial role in establishing standards across the golf industry, pooling resources and sharing ideas with the long-term aim of strengthening the position of PGA Professionals throughout the world as experts in their field right at the heart of golf."

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

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