The professional golf association of Slovenia or PGAS was established in 1993. In the same year, the association also became a member of the European multiplier organization of professional golfers, PGA of Europe. The Slovene association currently has 23 regular members, working in Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. PGAS operates according to rules set by PGAs of Europe as the multiplier organization in Europe. At the moment, PGAS has two primary goals that should be realized in a short time. The Golf association of Slovenia is preparing a Program for the technical training of workers in golf, which they will submit to the Ministry of Education and Sport. The second goal is the acknowledgement of the Slovene training system by PGAs of Europe.

PGA of Slovenia was established with the intention to:

• standardize and improve the training and education standards;
• advise and help its members to attain the appropriate employment for professional golfers;
• provide appropriate opportunities for playing golf;
• serve as the center of counseling, informing and support;
• represent an appreciated link to other golf associations across Europe and the world.

PGA of Slovenia should also be supportive of its members and work for the improvement of the game.

Slovene professional golfers are golf teachers, meaning that their principal activity is teaching, while another form of PGAS membership is also known abroad – namely a golf player. This means that golfers play on tournaments professionally. We in Slovenia also want to raise a professional golf player in the future. This will contribute to the identification of Slovenia abroad and increase the interest of golf sponsors in Slovenia.

Nevertheless, our professional golfers do play several tournaments a year. The largest competition in Slovenia is called the Slovene honorary rank and is organized for already 12 years. In the last four years, it took place together with the competition Slovenian Cup, which next to professionals also features Slovene amateur golf players.

Members of PGAS also attend international competitions. The best placement this far was the 6th place at the European team competition Teaching Pro’s held in Spain in 2003. Daniel Kraljič, Janez Grilc and Bogdan Palovšnik are meritorious for the excellent placing of the Slovene team.

PGA members are next to large competitions abroad and at home also active on other areas of golfing and are present at various events, organized by other golf organizations in Slovenia. Every year, they participate at the Junior Pro-Am tournament, where they share their knowledge and experience with young players. They are traditionally present at the Slovene Golf Days, at which they try to convince future golfers to join them with a presentation of their skills. They also attend some ProA tournaments, for which they receive an invitation from the organizers. We should probably mention the participation at the charity Pro AM tournament, prepared by company Summit motors in Arboretum Volčji potok every year.

One should always look into the future and plan activities that will help in the development of basic principles, spread by members of PGA Slovenia: mass golfing and presenting the ethics of golf, which is a basis for our well-being on the grass. Members of the association are, regardless of their status, bound to education and professional training and thus provide for the development and promotion of golf.

PGAS divides its members to regular and special:

• Regular members are those, who bear the title:
  PGA golf teacher – head teacher, PGA Professional - Head Pro
  Or
  PGA golf teacher - trainee, PGA Professional - assistant.
• Special members are all those, who are not golf teachers, but do carry various functions in the PGA working bodies.