• On the occasion of GOLF EUROPE 2007, one of the most important promoters of golf in Germany will be honored
• Thanks to Jan Brügelmann, golf in Germany is no longer a secondary phenomenon of society or sports
• The award will be presented at the VIP dinner on Sunday, 7 October 2007

Jan Brügelmann, president for many years and today honorary president of the German Golf Association (DGV), is receiving the GOLF EUROPE Legend Award this year, which he created in collaboration with the PGAs of Europe and European Golf Industry Association in 2003. Following Peter Alliss (GB – 2003), Sir Michael Bonallack (GB – 2004), Funny Sunesson (SWE – 2005) and Ken Schofield (GB – 2006), GOLF EUROPE is honoring a person for the first time, whose continual dedication to preserving and developing golf in Germany has been of decisive importance.

Even though Great Britain still leads the list of top European golf nations uncontested, the selection of this year's prizewinner shows that well-known golf legends also exist outside of the British borders. With the honoring of Jan Brügelmann as "Golf Legend 2007", GOLF EUROPE is underlining its image as a pan-European trade fair, which considers the development of golf in all countries.

Similar to riding, sailing and aerial sports, golf was considered as a mainly elitist and expensive pastime for a long time. But the sport played on green lawns has developed into a popular recreational activity in the meantime. Regardless of whether on vacation, on weekends or after work – whether traditionally organized club member, taster course participate or guest player on various fairways, golf is more popular than ever today even among young people.

The popularity of golf in Germany is especially thanks to Jan Brügelmann, who has worked to promote it his whole life. Initially involved decisively in the revival of the still controversial sport in post-war Germany, he worked closely with the occupying forces, who wanted to generate enthusiasm among German youths for golf.

The promotion of professional sport was just as important for the former captain of the national team as was the opening of golf for a wider-ranged public. Contrary to the prevailing opinion of that time, according to which Germans were not suited for top-level golf, he supported Bernhard Langer, whom he considered an extremely talented player with a bright future. With private sponsoring, Brügelmann hoped to make golf more popular overall in addition to the breakthrough in sports of Langer.

While he was DGV president, he supported founding of a representative body for golfers not members of clubs (VcG) in Germany. However, his modernization efforts were not always greeted with enthusiasm. Private club boards and treasurers especially expressed bitter criticism of him, because they feared for the existence of the traditional German club system. Brügelmann finally succeeded with a lot of efforts at persuasion and perseverance to soothe the feelings of the club people and increase acceptance of VcG. In the meantime, VcG has become an esteemed partner in the area of promoting membership and the next generation of players. Thanks to the green-card check carried out by VcG, the fear that inexperienced hobby players could plough up the green areas of the clubs could be dispelled. VcG members are welcome in approx. 90% of German golf courses today and often join established clubs after they have gotten to know and love the sport.

In addition to golf, Brügelmann also did volunteer work in many non-profit associations and clubs and was also much in demand in politics and the business world. He was awarded the Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on 30 December 1993 for his social and political contributions.
The GOLF EUROPE Legend Award will be presented at the VIP dinner on Sunday, 7 October 2007.


Brief overview of the personal background of Jan Brügelmann, born on 12 July 1921:

DGV – German Golf Association
2000 – 2007 Member in Advisory Board DGV Chronicle
From 1994 Honorary President of DGV
1982 – 1994 President of DGV
1972 – 1982 Chairman's Committee Member
1964 – 1976 Head of Sports Committee and Captain of the National Team

IGF – International Golf Federation
1991 – 1992 Member in the Administrative Committee

EGA – European Golf Association
From 1993 Life Vice President
1991 – 1993 President
From 1982 Collaboration, e.g., in the Professional Technical & Executive Committee

Marienburger GC
1956 –1986 President

Political Career
1979 – 1984 Mayor of Cologne (FDP)
1969 –1984 Assemblyman in the Cologne City Council

Honors
30.12.1993 Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

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