The Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI), the body set up to support, promote and develop the game of golf on the island of Ireland, is running a series of golf related business and marketing seminars in Cork ahead of the Irish Open, which is taking place at Fota Island Resort from June 19th – 22nd.

 The Business Planning and Marketing for your Golf event will take place on Monday, June 16th at the Lee Valley Golf Club. Aimed at managers of Irish golf clubs and their management committees, the purpose of the event is to stimulate thinking on the challenges facing golf clubs and to offer advice and ideas on actions that clubs may take to positively address these issues. Topics to be covered include the challenge of membership retention, business planning and managing change, as well as communications options for golf clubs. The seminar will run from 9.00am to 4.30pm. Speakers include:

• John Roche, CGI Director of Golf and Business Development
• Franco De Bonis, Director of Digital Marketing Services at Snap Ireland
• Ronnie Malcolm, leading golf business consultant
• Patsy Ryan, General Manager, Mardyke Arena University College Cork
• Wayne Falvey, Marketing Coordinator, Mardyke Arena University College Cork
• Patrick Mullins, Partner, Mullins Lynch Byrne Solicitors and 2014 Vice-Captain, Lee Valley Golf Club

The second seminar, The Pathway to Excellence, Conditioning, Fitness and Screening for Golf, will take place on Tuesday, June 17th at the Mardyke Arena. Hosted by the CGI and the European Tour Performance Institute, the session is targeted at both professional and amateur golfers looking to improve their game, golf coaches, golf teachers, fitness professionals, physiotherapists and physical therapists. Attendees will receive expert advice on coaching amateur and professional golfers, best practices in physical therapy management and nurturing world class talent. A discussion on nurturing world class talent and the role of physical development and conditioning will also take place. 

The seminar will run from 9.00am to 4.30pm and speakers include:

• Jussi Pitkanen, the PGA Coach Education Manager for Ireland
• Daryl Coyne from the European Tour Physiotherapy Unit
• Shane Lawlor from sports medicine company, ProGolf Health
• Orlaith Buckley, Chartered physiotherapist from Dublin’s Golf Physio Clinic
• Andy Morrison, a PGA Professional and PGA Sports Science Tutor
• Neil Manchip, GUI, National Head Coach
• David Kearney, ILGU, High Performance Director

For more information or to purchase tickets for either of these events, check out www.cgigolf.org/news  or contact Jennifer Hickey, Golf and Business Development Officer, CGI on Jennifer@cgigolf.org.

A not-for-profit body, the CGI was created by the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI), the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU) and the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) to complement the work of the three associations in advancing the sport of golf in Ireland. Working in partnership with Irish golf clubs, the CGI provides support services aimed at broadening club memberships and driving greater participation in the sport at every level.

For more details about the Confederation of Golf in Ireland, check out www.cgigolf.org