TGA, one of the largest national youth sports franchise companies specializing in after-school golf and tennis enrichment programs, announces it has launched its first international franchise outside the United States.
Ramon Luengo, a successful Madrid real estate developer who played a role in bringing the Coldwell Banker Franchise to Spain, has acquired the TGA sub-franchise for Spain, and is launching the first TGA Premier Junior Golf program in Madrid.
"As our unique youth sports franchise model continues to evolve and grow, we recognized that our replicable and scalable model could be duplicated not only across the United States, but also in other countries around the world where golf needs to grow," explains Joshua Jacobs, chief executive officer of TGA.
Luengo, the chief executive officer for Sotogrande S.A., a Spain-based real estate company, which he is still fully committed to, always had a passion to be involved in the golf industry. He began researching oversees golf opportunities in Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States. When he discovered the successful TGA franchise golf program, he recognized the need for golf in schools in Spain.
"I have been passionate about the game of golf since I was a young boy, had a successful college golf career and still play to a scratch. When I recognized the opportunity to expand my business and bring my entrepreneurial skills into the golf industry with TGA, I was very excited about the opportunity," says Luengo. "The TGA model is very innovative and has a proven track record in the United States. It will be quite feasible to run the same programs in our schools and impact youth and grow the game of golf in Spain."
Taking the concept even further, Luengo has developed the first international sub-franchise company of TGA. Together with a group of private investors, Play TGA Espana will be positioned to grow the brand throughout Spain. While the first franchise will be in Madrid, other suitable cities include Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Bilbao, Zaragoza, Málaga, Santander, Valladolid, Alicante and others.
"TGA will have a very positive impact on the growth of golf in our country. In Spain, public courses are rare, so kids and youngsters cannot learn golf unless their families are members of private golf clubs," said Luengo. "This model will quickly become the best way to introduce the sport to many kids that otherwise would have never had any contact with golf. This is a way to make golf more accessible and we are very excited with the idea of having an important role in the growth of the game in Spain."
Guillermo Aguirre, one of five investors in the company with a background in asset management, will be the managing director of operations for TGA in Spain. Aguirre earned Bachelor degrees in Economics and Business Studies from Alcala University and Leed Metropolitan University, UK. His financial and business management experience will help him develop the business in Spain. "In Madrid, we will start with schools located in the northern and western part of the city. These are the areas where golf is better known and the schools are more receptive to the activity," he explains. "Once we have successfully developed Madrid, we will move into the other cities."
Play TGA Espana and TGA of Madrid is expected to impact thousands of youth annually by introducing the game of golf to children at pre-schools (ages 3-5) and primary Schools (ages 6-12), child care centers and community centers through a multi-level enrichment program. TGA will then transition students to local partner golf courses through a variety of camp programs and parent-child clinics, creating new golfers.
