Golf Australia announced today that PGA Professional Peter Knight has been appointed to the newly created role of National Elite Development Director. Peter will have overall responsibility for leading a High Performance Program for the development of Australian golfers from elite juniors, through to elite amateurs and professionals. Peter has enjoyed a long career in the Australian golf industry; as a leading club professional, New South Wales State Coaching Director and, most recently, as Head Coach (Golf) at the New South Wales Institute of Sport. His r sum declares No development can occur in isolation , a view strongly in step with a recent Australian Sports Commission (ASC) review report into establishing a coordinated high performance pathway for Australian players and coaches. Among the ASC report s 25 key recommendations was the need for the appointment of a National Elite Development Director. The ASC report identified the attributes required of the National Elite Development Director and Peter was the standout selection, said Golf Australia CEO, Tony Hallam. The role of National Elite Development Director is a crucial one. Clear leadership is essential in establishing a fully coordinated, Australia-wide, development pathway for our golfers; it carries the responsibility to ensure our golfers and coaches have every opportunity to achieve their goals. We are thrilled that Peter has accepted the position and he comes into the role with the support of the entire industry. The ASC High Performance Review is all about creating a one-golf approach in Australia and Peter s appointment is another example of the Australian golf industry working together toward achieving that goal. Peter Knight is dedicated to his craft to the point where he learned to speak Japanese to assist in his coaching of Japanese golfers. He also possesses enormous drive on a professional and personal level that can be seen in his approach to everything from acting as a mentor to PGA trainee professionals to competing in six City to Surf 14 kilometre runs. One of the great rewards for me as a coach is to be able to make a difference to the people I work with, says Knight. Those differences may result in lower scores or a lower handicap. They can also be far more significant and lead to improvements in quality of life. The opportunity to contribute on a larger scale with Golf Australia presents a significantly greater chance to provide a positive development platform for Australian male and female golfers and coaches. I am very proud to have been selected for the role. It is a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference by working together to further enhance Australia s international reputation as a golfing nation, stated Knight. Peter s appointment has also been welcomed by Australia s professional golf bodies including the Professional Golfers Association of Australia (PGA), the PGA Tour of Australasia (PGA Tour) Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) as well as all the State Associations. PGA of Australia s, Chief Executive Officer, Max Garske, said, The PGA of Australia fully supports and congratulates Peter Knight on his appointment. The PGA considers the appointment of a National Elite Development Director to the sport as a key role in further enhancing the sport s ability to continue to produce players competing on each of the world s key professional tours. Peter has excellent credentials as a coach in his own right being one of only two PGA Master Professionals in Australia. He brings to the role skills and perspectives he has gained throughout his varied roles within the coaching framework, from PGA club professional through to NSW State Coach and NSW Institute of Sport Coach. It is his understanding of the importance of coaching, which is provided by PGA members at the grass roots level, which will help him enhance this important nursery of player development. Aside from his core role in further developing elite player development structures, Peter will play an important role in working with the PGA to enhance its coach education programs in particular high performance coach development, Garske concluded.
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