The PGA of America and China-based PacificPine Sports Group are partnering to develop state-of-the-art youth golf development centres in China.

The partnership will offer grass-roots instruction programmes at ‘PGA of America Youth Development Centres’ across China to introduce and grow the game of golf for boys and girls.

PGA Professionals will oversee the development and implementation of the business. In addition, PGA Professionals will also lead instruction programmes at the PGA of America Youth Development Centres.

Raymond Roessel, PacificPine Sports’ Chairman, said that Patrick Quernemoen, who has been based in China for more than 10 years and is fluent in Mandarin, has joined the group as its Chief Operating Officer.

Quernemoen will lead the day-to-day operations of the business, demonstrating the Group’s commitment to hiring PGA Members in senior management roles.

Arjun Chowdri

“China represents a tremendous opportunity for the future of the game of golf,” said Arjun Chowdri, Senior Director for Global and Corporate Strategy for the PGA of America, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

He added: “The country is poised for tremendous growth in the sport of golf over the next several years and, together with PacificPine and the expertise of PGA Professionals, we are excited to support this development.”

Previously, the PGA of America partnered with Roessel and his i3 Sports venture to create a digital media strategy that localises the PGA’s vast library of content and distributes it via wide-reaching platforms, including a dedicated microsite on Sina Sports, Weibo and Wechat platforms.

“We are extremely proud to partner again with the PGA of America,” said Roessel. “As a PGA Professional for 20 years, I know first-hand that the expertise and knowledge of the game offered by PGA Professionals is unparalleled. The PGA of America Youth Development Centres will be designed to introduce a new generation of players to the game across China – one of the fastest growing emerging markets in golf.”