“We will see the game grow in Bulgaria ” Neil Turley

							PROGRESS REPORT
                                                                 PGA Of BULGARI A
                                                                 The 19th in the series that takes a random
                                                                 look at our member PGAs in turn.




                  “We will see the game
                  grow in Bulgaria,”- Neil Turley                                                                                                                                                               (l to r) David Eddiford, Neil Turley and Nikolay Stanev.




Among the thirty-six countries that form              Where a ‘role model’ type of format for other      This is one example of an ambitious pursuit        Ryder Cup Trust Takes Golf
                                                                                                                                                            to 3000 Schoolchildren
The PGAs of Europe there are examples             beginners could be emerging is that, since the      of quality and a sign that Bulgaria is developing
of every phase of development, from GB&I          experienced UK pro Neil Turley moved to the         a whole new section of its tourism industry.
in its second century to new international        St Sofia club in 2004, and the BGA responded        Another similar example is the Pirin G&CC,
members, Hong Kong.                               positively to his arrival, Bulgaria has pursued     an Ian Woosnam course, established in its             The belief that golf will grow steadily, and           The Ryder Cup Trust also helps to fund a
   Of these none illustrates the benefits         the tried and trusted route to growing the game     early days with PGAs of Europe Education              for the long haul, in Bulgaria is based on          bus that is used to transport the children from
of working together with more advanced            with sound foundations.                             Committee member Martin Westphal at the               vision, rather than mere optimism and,              Sofia to the golf course, 35 minutes from the
professionals from other nations who, in              Bulgaria has a population of approaching        administrative helm.                                  in particular, the initiative in seeking and        centre. Others projects on the horizon are:
modern parlance, have ‘been there, done it’       eight million but, currently, fewer than 200           Here, in the appointment of indigenous             acquiring of an appropriate grant from the             n the announcement shortly of a
than BULGARIA who are currently in only their     registered amateurs, five courses and a PGA         pro Nikolay Stanev to succeed Westphal, lies          Ryder Cup European Development Trust                Development Manager, with a full-time
fourth year of membership.                        membership of five pros. While this means that,     another example of how, one day, Bulgarian            in 2006.                                            team supporting him to grow the game
   As an indication of the young nature of golf   in terms of facilities, players and professional    golf can become self-sufficient. While                    Due to the BGA’s awareness and forward          dramatically over the next two years,
for the masses in this region of Eastern Europe   personnel they are a little behind some of             it’s true that, at St Sofia, another experienced   planning (in providing a workable scheme for        helping the school programme to become a
where the sport is promising to blossom in the    their Eastern European neighbours, they have        UK pro has been recruited in David Eddiford,          the committee to consider and pass), Bulgaria       nationwide project.
years ahead, The Bulgarian Golf Association       planted the necessary roots, that’s for sure.       more home produced PGA professionals will             was one of the first countries to benefit from         n On-going work with the National
was only launched in the year 2000 and The            “Yes, we are a small PGA but we are really      without doubt emerge eventually.                      surplus income generated by Ryder Cup               Sports Academy to develop sports teachers
PGA followed five years later.                    trying to grow the game here…” said Neil               “Through a few very enthusiastic                   income to fund ‘grass root’ schemes.                to help with the coaching of golf and, from
                                                  Turley, the PGA Chairman.” He is Director of        people involved I am sure we will see the                 Over the past two years this programme          this, to educate coaches.
                                                  Golf at the magnificent BlackSeaRama Resort         game succeed in Bulgaria, even though it              has introduced the sport to 3,000 children in          n Formation of a National squad
     PGA of Bulgaria                              with its range of impressive facilities and Gary    may take a few more years yet,” stressed              schools and has then taken the next step of         encompassing all age categories
                                                                                                                                                            introducing those wishing to continue to the golf
     The Facts                                    Player Championship Course.                         chairman Turley.
                                                                                                                                                            course.
     Number of facilities
     Number of players
                                          5
                                 170 approx.
                                                                                                                                                                “For example the programme staged a               Tournament Schedule
                                                                                                                                                            summer school attended by around 150
     Number of PGA Members:               5                                                                                                                 children, and around 35 of them continued to          Planned
                                                                                                                                                            the next level of using the academy course,”          As The PGA of Bulgaria website
     OFFICIALS
                                                                                                                                                            explained Neil Turley, who supervises the PGA         indicates, several business associates
     President: Krassimir Guergov
                                                                                                                                                            input to the scheme.                                  are now ‘on board’ and a programme
     Chairman: Neil Turley
                                                                                                                                                                “These 35 young golfers will be continuing        of tournaments is taking shape as the
     Board Members: Alan Rogut.
                                                                                                                                                            into 2009 with the necessary encouragement            exciting prospect of golf claiming yet
     General Secretary: Successor to Pascal
                                                                                                                                                            and coaching to obtain an official handicap           more new horizons opens up.
     Simard to be appointed. (Pascal is
     concentrating on some new projects in                                                                                                                  along with full use of a regular golf course.                Meetings have taken place
     Rumania).                                                                                                                                                  “The BGA is now finalising a deal with the        with potential sponsors with a view
                                                                                                                                                            Municipality to develop a area in the middle of       to hopefully staging a Pro-Am at
                                                                                                                                                            Sofia for a 4 hole pitch-and-putt course with a 9     BlackSeaRama this summer.
PGA is a trademark used under licence                                                                                                                       hole putting green.”