RYDER CUP VENUES GLENEAGLES SIGN 10-YEAR EXTENSION TO CARRY PGA BRAND

            THE PGA CENTENARY COURSE ... Gleneagles Hotel's 2014 Ryder Cup venue

FROM THE WEEKLY PGA E-BULLETIN
World-famous Scottish golf resort Gleneagles has signed a 10-year extension to carry the PGA brand.

The license agreement includes the PGA Centenary Course, host to the 2014 Ryder Cup, along with the PGA National Golf Academy and PGA National Golf Academy Course.

The move strengthens one of golf’s enduring relationships, which will also see the five-star Perthshire hotel continue to house the Scottish office of the PGA, and sees the PGA brand right at the heart of Scottish golf.

PGA chief executive Sandy Jones commented: "The PGA brand is one of the most respected and recognised in golf and to be closely associated with a world-class facility like Gleneagles reaffirms that standing.

"The PGA has been fortunate to enjoy a long and successful relationship with Gleneagles, stretching back many years and we look forward to working closely with Bernard Murphy and his team and seeing the PGA-branded course, academy and academy course being synonymous with the excellence for which Gleneagles is renowned."

With the Ryder Cup in Scotland just over two years away a number of changes are being implemented to the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course in preparation for the 2014 contest.

Gleneagles general manager Bernard Murphy said: "It’s an exciting time for everyone at Gleneagles as we count down to the 2014 Ryder Cup.

"Now, more than ever, it’s important for us to strengthen relationships with industry bodies, so we’re delighted to have renewed our agreement with the PGA this month.

"We’re proud to be home to Scotland’s only PGA Academy and to be recognised as one of the pre-eminent facilities in the country for golf coaching and education.

"The timing is significant as it coincides with the reopening of the PGA Centenary Course after seven months’ extensive remodelling, revealing the final Ryder Cup course two years ahead of the tournament."

It is not just its on-course playing experiences that Gleneagles is renowned for with golf instruction pivotal to its reputation. Having created a purpose-built Golfing Academy in 1994, the facility has gone from strength to strength, evidenced in 2010 when it was selected by the PGA to be the venue for the PGA National Golf Academy for Scotland.

The academy has become a focal point for the game in Scotland with a team of expert PGA professionals and advanced facilities including a 320yd double-ended driving range with capacity for 40 golfers, designated long-game and short-game practice areas, on-course learning environments, technical analysis, including video capture and high performance custom-fitting.

The practice facilities are complemented by a PGA National Academy course for golfers to hone their skills.

In addition Gleneagles is home to the superb Queen’s and King’s courses – the latter host to this year’s Scottish PGA Championship.

The PGA, the world’s oldest professional golfers’ association, having been formed in 1901, has a worldwide portfolio of branded facilities with courses and academies in China, England, Russia, Slovakia and Turkey