Olympics ‘offers once in a lifetime’ opportunity

DELEGATES from across Europe gathered at Wentworth Club for a European Golf Federations’ Conference exploring some of the challenges and key opportunities for the sport – particularly through its reintroduction into the Olympics.

Hosted by The European Tour and chaired by chief executive George O’grady, representatives from 16 European Federations, the International Golf Federation, The R&A, European Golf Association, Ladies European Tour and PGAS of Europe joined The European Tour for a series of key note presentations and discussions focused on the future of the game at both the professional and amateur level.

Some case studies centred around golf participation, with insights being provided into initiatives such as the short courses in France, trends in “pay-andplay” and opportunities to attract more juniors into the game.

Golf Europe – a group of European golf stakeholders collaborating to grow golf and enhance the sport’s contribution to European society – concluded the conference by outlining its plans and objectives for the future and to introduce Gogolf, an Erasmus+ funded initiative designed to engage young people in golf at a pan-european level and enhance the evidence base of the health benefits of golf.

“I would like to thank all the Presidents of Federations and other stakeholders for their time and making the effort in coming here to Wentworth for what I am sure all will agree was a very useful and enjoyable experience,” said O’grady.

“The timing of this conference heralds golf’s return to the Olympics, a once in a lifetime opportunity for our game and today highlighted many ways we can work together to collectively drive golf forward.”