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Bulgaria ready to flex its golfing muscles
Informal talks have taken place that could result in Alan Egford (pictured above), who is currently working in the Balkans as the Greek National Coach, taking Bulgaria under his wing to help them to establish a structured education programme. Following a week's visit to Bulgaria in mid-May 2003 he has submitted a detailed, comprehensive and encouraging report on the Eastern European nation's commitment to establishing golf there as a popular sport for all. Alan was working on behalf of the PGA of Europe with the backing of the R&A, who had been approached for support by the newly-formed Bulgarian Golf Association. During a busy exploration programme he was enthusiastically guided around by officials of the fledging BGA. This was a latest, outstanding example of the message broadcast by last December's 'Working Together' Congress in terms of how professionals and amateurs can operate jointly for the good of the sport. Although Bulgaria currently boasts only one course, there are three major projects due to come on stream soon and many other positive indicators. He visited a newly-constructed Golf Centre, gave clinics to existing players, saw several potential sites for course development near Sofia and on the Black Sea and met land owners who are ready and eager to be involved. His fact-finding visit was given top-level approval by a meeting with the Bulgarian Minister for Sport and the Director of the National Sports Academy followed by attending a Press/TV day to mark the opening of a new driving range facility. The President of Bulgaria performed the opening ceremony, flanked by other leading figures, and declared his intention to take up the sport himself. The involvement of the National Sports Academy, allied to a place in the schools curriculum, is essential. The Golf Range/Teaching Centre has been built in NSA grounds, thus being placed alongside the other main sports. "Until my visit no professional coaching had ever taken place in Bulgaria," Alan said. "But, after spending a week there, I returned with a sense of optimism and desire to see them and the individuals succeed with their project," he added. "Bulgaria is now going forward, both economically and politically... the BGA is very much a part of that process." Egford felt, when being told of development plans, that there was a genuine sense of 'we will do' rather than merely 'we wish'. These projects include a basic Pay-As-You-Play course, a Family Golf Centre, and an up-market Country Club. The Black Sea area, he believes, has great potential for golf tourism. One of the projects there is the purchase of some 500 acres with a stunning cliff top location and a Resort comprising Country Club, Championship standard 18-hole course and a Coaching Centre. Alan specifies four people whom he believes are fundamental to Bulgaria's campaign to install golf as an important part of their national culture. They are Krassimir Guergov, the BGA President, Seth Underwood, the BGA General Secretary, an Englishman who married a Bulgarian and settled there, Reny Damianova Ph.D., an Associate Professor at the National Sports Academy, a lady who has already introduced the theory, rules and science of golf to here students, and Stoil Stoilov, a skier with a burning desire to introduce golf to his country. Reny is the intrepid lady who, as reported here previously, travelled by public bus routes international borders, from Sofia to Munich and back to meet General Secretary Mr. Lawrie Thornton and set in motion the production and publication of a dictionary of golfing terms for her university students, endorsed by the PGAE. International GolfPro News look forward to reporting more, in future issues, about their admirable efforts. Source: International GolfPro News, summer 2003. Republished with the kind permission of The Professional Golfers' Associations of Europe (PGAE). Related story:
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