The PGA Irish Region will step into history in October with the announcement of its first ever President.
Dr Michael Smurfit, who sponsored the Irish Region Championship for many years, is the man to be honoured with the appointment.
It is felt that his invaluable experience and knowledge of golf, coupled with his years of golf sponsorship, will help to advance the Association further.
To mark this appointment an Inaugural PGA Golf Day & Gala Dinner will be held at The K Club, Co. Kildare, on Monday, October 6.
The Golf Day will take place on the famous Arnold Palmer Course, 'home of the 2006 Ryder Cup', followed by a black tie gala dinner that evening.
In a year during which Irish golfers Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie have all enjoyed success on the European Tour, and others have won on both the Challenge and Europro Tours, the PGA felt it an appropriate time to initiate this project.
The night will include an awards sequence, honouring the merits of some key PGA professionals. Part of the proceeds of this event will go towards supporting assistant professionals in their training programmes.
"'We are thrilled to have Dr Smurfit as our first President. The golf day and black-tie event will instigate the President's programme in creating a higher profile of the PGA in Ireland," said Michael McCumiskey, secretary of the PGA Irish Region.
"This event will be an excellent opportunity for companies to play with a PGA Professional on one of the most exciting courses in the world."
Helen O'Brien Management has been engaged by the Irish PGA to manage and co-ordinate this project and the region look forward to once again working with Helen who carried out the PR work on behalf of Smurfit during their 15 years of sponsorship of the Irish PGA Championship.