PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- When the World PGA Alliance was launched this past August during the 91st PGA Championship in Chaska, Minn., there was one stunning signal that the game was beginning to experience yet another breakthrough and give new meaning to the term a "global game."

South Korea's Y.E. Yang, who boldly charged past Tiger Woods on a Sunday afternoon to become Asia's first male major champion, became a lightning rod that the game's next frontier in popularity was upon us.

Then, on Oct. 9, in a news flash from Copenhagen, Denmark, the World PGA Alliance got an even bigger boost. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had voted approval - after more than a century - of returning golf to the Olympic Games in 2016.

Those developments built further momentum for the World PGA Alliance, which was formed to establish teaching, playing and educational standards for the golf profession in developing territories and share best practices. The alliance also will ensure continued management and development of the PGA brand as it expands across the world.

The Alliance's first formal meeting will be held immediately following the 57th PGA Merchandise Show, Jan. 30 to Feb. 2, 2010, in Orlando, Fla., and will include a global symposium on junior golf.

Its membership is comprised of the Professional Golfers' Associations of America, Australia, Canada, PGAs of Europe, Germany, Great Britain & Ireland, Japan, South Africa, and Sweden. The membership base believes their foundation will be increased dramatically in the coming years thanks to the Olympic endorsement.

"This is an exciting time for our sport, and we can see some wonderful things taking place among countries that are eager to build their golf programs and become a part of a future Olympic competition," said PGA of America President Jim Remy. "What makes the Alliance's mission so exciting is how PGA Professionals around the world can now complement the growth of the game in territories that previously had limited no access to golf and training."

The World PGA Alliance currently has organizations representing 56,000 PGA Professionals and more than 22,000 PGA-member golf facilities worldwide.

"We believe that there is never a better time to promote golf as a sport given the level of play on both the men's and women's tours," said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Joe Steranka. "What the Olympic approval means is that every developing golf territory would have support from both the government side and the sporting infrastructure in those countries to promote our sport.

"There are some 90 million people playing the game worldwide, and we anticipate that is going to grow in the years to come."

The IOC news of golf's approval for the 2016 Olympics was met with "tremendous excitement" in Europe, according to Professional Golfers' Association Chief Executive Sandy Jones.

Since 1990, when the PGA's of Europe was formed, some 31 PGAs have emerged, and Jones said some 18 countries feature approved training programs.

"I would say the news was met with even more excitement over here," said Jones. "Every sport in the countries of Europe is structured, and we are independent of America. What happens now is that the sports federations of those countries can now receive monetary support from their governments as golf becomes an Olympic sport.

"We believe the Alliance can be a tremendous aid to those countries. Many of them were inhibited by a weak professional game, but now we have the opportunity to let PGA Professionals share the knowledge and help build their golf infrastructure."

Jones said the Olympic approval of golf now "magnifies the economic impact of the game."

"Suddenly we will find how a grassroots program in training and player development carries new weight," said Jones. "This opens potential pathways for growth, the inclusion of PGA Professionals at the forefront of training, player development and allows for new facilities to be built and accommodate the added interest.

"Many of us recall how the Eastern Bloc countries were among the greatest in coaching any sport. With golf suddenly becoming an Olympic sport, those same countries that have never had golf, will now reach out for support in training. It is our hope through the Alliance that PGA Professionals will be there to help."

The World PGA Conference began in 2004 and was conducted for a third time in April, 2008, in Sydney, Australia, and is led by the chief executives of The PGA of America, The Professional Golfers' Association (of Great Britain & Ireland) and the PGA of Australia.

With the 2016 Summer Olympic Games set for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, invitations will be extended to nationally-recognized professional golf associations and emerging South American PGAs to engage in further discussion and planning.

The Alliance's agreement on standards for golf professionals in emerging markets will result in shared membership programs in education, employment, marketing and research with new or existing Professional Golfers' Associations in those countries.

The World PGA Alliance is also sharing best practice player development programs such as the United States' "Get Golf Ready" and junior golf content incorporating training on golf skills, rules and etiquette.

"With golf being accepted for the 2016 Olympics, and the timely formation of the World PGA Alliance, this means there is a significant global services and support base to harness the Olympic announcement and grow the game at the grass roots,." said Max Garske, chief executive officer of PGA of Australia. "The Olympics golf re-introduction should create greater national government funding for emerging golfing nations, the World PGA Alliance will enhance this opportunity for the growth of the game from its collective expertise."

Information on the members of the World PGA Alliance is available at PGA.com/global.

About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

About The Professional Golfers' Association
The PGA was formed in 1901 and is the world's oldest professional golfers' association. Based at Centenary House at the famous Belfry, the PGA now has more than 7,500 members including more than 1,500 working overseas in more than 60 different countries. The PGA is one of golf's leading bodies and committed to growing and developing the game nationally and internationally through its academies and the expertise of its professionals.

The PGA nationally and through its seven regional offices administers almost 1,000 golf event days annually. The Association was in conjunction with Samuel Ryder and The PGA of America, the creators of the now world-renowned Ryder Cup Match. The Association remains a lead partner in these Matches and is the trustee of the Ryder Cup trophy.

About The PGA of Australia
The PGA of Australia and its members are the cornerstone of the Australian golf industry, and are regarded as "The Experts in the Game." The PGA has played a significant role in the popularity and promotion of the game from televised international events through to the local club or driving range where the PGA members introduce and service the 1.2 million Australian golfers who play the game each year.

The PGA of Australia has a membership that comprises all Australian professional golfers and includes tournament professionals, club professionals, assistant professionals, teaching professionals, senior professionals and trainees. The PGA's core aim is to help more Australians enjoy golf more often. In doing so, the PGA aims to deliver more business opportunities to its members. Each year the PGA of Australia stages over 430 tournaments from the Australian PGA Championship to the state based Pro-Am circuits that take professional golf to the masses. The PGA of Australia is the official sanctioning body for all elite male professional tournament golf in Australasia.