PGASOFEUROPE The R&A and PGAs of Europe
– A Harmonious Partnership Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Working for Golf, The R&A
In a fi st for the British golf trade, SGB will provide a monthly exclusive from the PGAs of Europe. This month Duncan Weir, the Executive Director- Working for Golf at The R & A, speaks about the growing relationship between The R & A and the PGAs of Europe
‘W
orking Together' has been a phrase used in and around the PGAs of Europe for a
number years - a 'mantra' in some ways showing that the collective energies and thoughts of multiple organisations and individuals are perhaps better than a single entity's. This thought process is likely not
better shown than by Association’s relationship with the global amateur golfing body, The R&A. For a large proportion of the PGAs of
Europe’s history, the two organisations have worked alongside each other in the arena of golf development across Europe, but also in every corner of the globe, carrying out golf missionary work in places such as Latvia, Brazil, Argentina and India. The missions are put together by The
R&A's 'Working for Golf' department led by their Executive Director – Working for Golf, Duncan Weir. Duncan is responsible for distributing a proportion of the funds generated via the Open Championship each year and is based at the Home of Golf and The R&A, St Andrews, Scotland. IGPN recently had the opportunity to speak with Duncan about how the relationship has grown over time and is now stronger than ever…
IGPN: The R&A is tasked with distributing funds for golf development across the globe – how do these funds get spread across the game?
DW:We spend up to £10 million a year on golf around the world – 50% goes into governance for example, looking after the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status and Equipment Standards. The other half is spent with many of
our affiliates. We have 149 as we speak and we support them in various ways. It could be by sending Golf Professionals to teach teachers, sending golf equipment, or it could be sending greenkeeping machinery, or even supporting an international championship they are running. Equally our support could cover a whole range of initiatives, all of which are covered under our ‘Working for Golf’ remit.
IGPN: Where does the £10 million of funds come from?
DW: I think I should probably highlight that The Open Championship is The R&A’s only source of income – it’s a significant source of income but it’s our only one. So the sport is largely
www.pgae.com 4 SGBGOLF
DUNCAN WEIR, Executive Director- Working for Golf at The R & A
dependent on the success of The Open Championship annually, and without it we wouldn’t be in a position to help golf, work with the PGAs of Europe and do all the things we try to do on behalf of golf.
IGPN: The R&A and the PGAs of Europe have worked very closely together for a number of years now so how did the relationship come about and how has it grown over time?
DW:The relationship between The R&A and the PGAs of Europe I’m sure pre- dates me in my role and would go back from what I’ve read into the early nineties when The R&A started making a significant surplus from running The Open Championship. Today’s relationship is regular,
productive, and harmonious. We now
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