In their own words: Robert Maxfield

Writing exclusively for The Golf Business, the CEO of The PGA details what the association’s members can look forward to in 2020.

As a leading members’ organisation, we train PGA professionals with the skills to flourish in many different areas of the game, but we continue to provide playing opportunities for all age groups at both national and regional level.

Last year, around 20 per cent of our membership played in PGA national tournaments and once again we’re offering a wide variety of playing opportunities to PGA members of all ages and gender.

In 2020 our members will be competing for a slice of a £330,000 prize fund on offer from national tournaments this season. A big chunk of that will be up for grabs at the association’s flagship tournament, The PGA Professional Championship, where the winner will take home a cheque for £10,000.

We’re proud to offer more playing opportunities for our female members and this year sees the Women’s PGA Professional Championship played alongside the men’s equivalent on The Dukes Course at St Andrews in June.

The rise of women’s golf and its popularity led to the introduction of the first ever Women’s PGA Cup. The inaugural tournament was played in Austin, Texas last year and it was a proud moment for me to watch the Great Britain & Ireland team finish third overall at Barton Creek Resort.

As an association with a wide age demographic, we make sure our senior members are well looked after. The PGA Super 60s Championship came about in response to the increasing popularity of senior’s golf both at professional and amateur level. It remains one of the most popular events on the circuit.

For the next generation of PGA professionals, the PGA Assistants’ Championship is open to students during their three years of training. Some of the greatest names in golf, including Dai Rees and Tony Jacklin, have their name engraved on this historic trophy.

Getting amateurs to play alongside professionals is a key aspiration for the association and one of our newest tournaments, The Staysure PGA Trophy, lets amateurs over the age of 50 do just that. And if they qualify for the tournament’s grand final, they will have the opportunity to play alongside a leading Staysure Tour player in the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship.

For golf club captains, we have the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge. This follows a similar format to the Staysure PGA Trophy but it allows the club captain to play alongside their PGA professional. One big incentive to enter is that this year’s final returns to the stunning PGA National – Italy, Argentario Golf Resort & Spa, in Tuscany.

Ian Poulter was previously the assistant professional at Chesfield Downs Golf Club, Hertfordshire before earning his European Tour card in 1999. He made his Ryder Cup debut four years later. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

We can also be proud of those PGA members who showed great promise as tournament players early in their career before enjoying huge success on the European and PGA Tour.

Ian Poulter was the assistant professional at Chesfield Downs Golf Club, Hertfordshire and went on to become one of Europe’s greatest Ryder Cup players. Paul Lawrie also joined the PGA Training Programme but excelled as a player and famously won the 1999 Open Championship.

To find out more about The PGA’s 2020 tournament schedule visit the new-look website at www.pga.info