The PGA Professional - February 2019

The

Professional T H E

O F F I C I A L

P G A

M E M B E R S ’

TOP TRENDS

M A G A Z I N E

Volume 15 Issue 1 February 2019

What’s hot in 2019

IT’S SHOWTIME!

Full report from The PGA Show

HOT STICKS

Game improvement irons in the spotlight

WORKING ABROAD Focus on China and Vietnam

MAJOR PLAYER

Denis Pugh in profile

TAKING STOCK

How to clear the shelves ahead of the new season

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The

Professional

CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2019

17

THE OFFICIAL PGA MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE

14

Editor: Jane Carter Managing Editor: Nick Bayly managing.editor@pgapublishing.co.uk PGA News and Features: steven.carpenter@pga.org.uk Contributors: Phil Barnard; David Colclough; Antje Derks; golfbreaks.com; Nicole Wheatley; Angela Youngman

47 42

Photography: David Brenes Photography; Getty Images, Adrian Milledge Editorial assistant: Kelly Lewis Design: Barbara Stanley

37

Advertising Sales: keith.foster@pgapublishing.co.uk ben.foster@pgapublishing.co.uk Recruitment Advertising: recruitment@pga.org.uk PGA National Headquarters Centenary House The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B76 9PT Tel: 01675 470 333 Fax: 01675 477 888 The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited accepts no responsibility for the products or services offered by the advertisers in this publication nor does it necessarily agree with any views expressed, statements or claims made by the advertisers in this publication. ©The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited 2019 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photography and recording, without the written permission of the copyright holder, application for which should be addressed to the copyright holder (PGA). ®PGA, the Crest and PGA Pro – the Heart of Golf are registered trademarks of The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited.

Prostate Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1005541) and in Scotland (SC039332).

Registered company 02653887

FEATURE

TRAVEL

17 TRENDS FOR 2019 Hot topics in the golfing year ahead INSIDE THE PGA 5 ROBERT MAXFIELD COLUMN A message from The PGA’s Chief Executive 8 PGA NEWS 13 INVESTING FOR A STRONGER FUTURE Steve Phillips, PGA Finance Director

39 BUSINESS Plan ahead and book early for successful trips COACHING 42 THEORY Making a success of national coaching programmes PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

INTERNATIONAL 14 WORKING ABROAD Focus on Vietnam

44 HIT REFRESH How to re-energise your personal brand

16 MEMBER Q&A: DAN BEATTIE Teaching Professional, China

45 MASTER PROFESSIONAL Q&A Denis Pugh MARKETING

TRADE 21 SKY’S THE LIMIT Interview with SkyCaddie European MD James Holmes 22 TRADE NEWS The latest product launches 26 PGA SHOW REPORT 28 EQUIPMENT Game improvement irons 32 APPAREL The latest in layering 35 RETAIL Predictions for the season 36 BEING YOUR OWN BOSS Budgeting when you’re freelance 37 PRO SHOP Adding value through ‘experiences’ www.facebook.com /thepga

Front cover: Denis Pugh p45

The PGA Professional

38 DESTINATION Mauritius: a jewel of an island

| February 2019

47 PUTTING CUSTOMERS FIRST Are you marketing the wrong way round?

CLUB MANAGEMENT 49 ONLINE TEE TIMES Tips on maximising green fee income MEMBERSHIP 52 YOUR BENEFITS A selection of special deals and offered secured for you by The PGA RECRUITMENT 54 SITUATIONS VACANT FINAL THOUGHT 58 BRENDON PYLE, GOLF FOUNDATION CEO

www.linked.com/company/ professional-golfers-association

www.twitter.com /thepga

www.instagram.com /thepga

3

Business rule #1 Surround yourself with good company

Helping the golf industry do business

Centenary House, The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B76 9PT www.pga.info PGA is a registered trademark of The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited.

#makinggolfhappen

T H I S M O N T H F RO M T H E C H I E F E X E C U T I V E CO LU MN

It’s a changing world

I

PGA Chief Executive Robert Maxfield reflects on the changing nature of the PGA Professional’s role now that more and more Professionals are following different career pathways

t’s already February and as I write more and more PGA Members are this we are in the in the middle of making their mark. CEOs of some of our series of Regional Meetings the country’s top golf clubs started as where we present to you, our Members, PGA Professionals and today remain on the work of the Association, its proud Members. progress and its objectives for 2019.

It is important that we begin to Whilst “improving the personal and recognise these changing roles and professional lives of our members” that someone following a career in remains our core purpose, there is no the game can take many paths. We doubt that we are increasingly mindful have challenged ourselves on whether of ‘change’. the Association is supporting these Education remains one of our Members and those of the future, core functions and as we all face a and it is a debate which will no doubt changing – indeed, changed world – continue as the year unfolds. then it is beholden on us to ensure that Towards the end of last year, in a Members, new and long-serving are debate with colleagues around the role supported in their efforts to keep pace Robert Maxfield of the Association and its Members I with the demands the industry is was stuck with one core thought. facing. Continuing Professional We make golf happen. The golf Education lies at the heart of this industry could not thrive without Club Management is an area and 2019 will see a renewed focus you. It is inconceivable that on ensuring that our CPD offer anyone starting the game, playing where more and more PGA is fit for purpose – a balanced it regularly, joining a club does not Members are making their programme of learning which encounter a PGA Professional. mark. CEOs of some of the seeks to equip Professionals with Men, women, children, young, an ever-changing set of skills and country’s top golf clubs started old, from all backgrounds. All at establish their continued relevance some point will cross the path of a as PGA Professionals and today PGA Member. and importance in the industry.

Dealing with change is always That core thought remains remain proud Members. a two-way conversation and as uppermost in my mind as we we tour the Regions and you hear begin another year. You are at more about our plans for CPD the heart of the game, making it and our Foundation degrees, we need your feedback more than happen. Ensuring that our Members receive the recognition for ever before. that work and garnering support from employers and the entire Engaging with our Members at all levels remains increasingly industry, is a fundamental objective of our work. We, in turn, important to us and over the many months I have been pleased to need your support as we work together to improve your personal meet so many of you and hear your thoughts about the game, the and professional lives, now and for future generations. role of the PGA Member and how best we can support you. I am increasingly reminded that the traditional role of the Professional has changed. It is now almost impossible to put Members in the previously defined ‘boxes’. We now have more than 1000 Members of the Association in jobs outside of the ‘traditional’ Robert Maxfield role of Club Professional. Club Management is an area where Chief Executive

‘‘

‘‘

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

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P G A N E W S A round-up of what’s happening across The PGA and its regions

Westwood heaps praise on PGA coaches EUROPEAN TOUR star Lee Westwood has praised the work of PGA Professionals after being presented with the Association’s Recognition Award for this services to golf.

The 45-year-old collected the prestigious honour from PGA Captain John Heggarty at the Association’s annual fundraising lunch, held in London in December.

“Anytime you get an award it means a lot especially when it comes from your fellow pros,” said Westwood, who was awarded an OBE for his services to golf in 2011.

“I’ve been playing golf for a long time. When I first started out, I was having lessons with my local PGA Professional.

So I’ve had a connection with them all through my career and it’s great to be recognised by the Association.

“Ever since I first started playing golf I’ve had a lot of interactions with PGA Professionals. Whenever I’m asked the question, ‘I’ve got

a young son or daughter who wants to play golf what’s the first thing I should do?’ I always say take them to a PGA Professional and have lessons straight away so that they’re doing the right thing. I try to promote them as much as I can and they do a great job.”

One of the greatest Scottish Golfers of all time, Catriona Matthew, was also presented with a PGA Recognition Award at the Association’s annual Lunch in Scotland.

A Solheim Cup stalwart with nine appearances in the competition, the 49-year-old is well placed to lead Europe when she captains the team at Gleneagles in 2019.

Matthew has four LPGA Tour victories to her name, as well as six Ladies European Tour wins and five top-five finishes in major championships, including a win at the 2009 Women’s British Open.

Lee Westwood receives his PGA Recognition Award from PGA Captain John Heggarty

Right: PGA Chief Executive Robert Maxfield pictured alongside Catriona Matthew

PGA announces new Fellowship Members Jamie Cundy (left) has described being made an Advanced Fellow of The PGA as his ‘greatest golfing achievement’.

The 49-year-old has been a PGA Member for almost 30 years and has always been passionate about career development.

8

Based at Calderfields Golf & Country Club in the West Midlands, Cundy is a fully-qualified PGA Director of Golf, and last year became the first PGA Member to pass the new ASQ Level 5 Golf Management Qualification.

“I am absolutely

delighted,” said Cundy.

“I am an extremely proud PGA Member and will continue to become the best professional I can be.”

David Armitage, Geoffrey Dixon and Clive Tucker have also been made Advanced Fellows of The PGA.

www.pga.info

| #makinggolfhappen

N E W S PGA

England Golf announces Coach of the Year shortlist

Phil Kenyon

PHILP AKERS, Stuart Disney, Mark Johnson and Aaron Lansberry are in the hunt to be crowned England Golf’s Coach of the Year.

All four PGA Members have been announced as finalists for the accolade, which will be presented along with eight other awards at a glittering black tie awards dinner on March 21.

“I’m so honoured to be shortlisted for the award, it’s lovely to be recognised for all the hard work we do to promote the game,” said Akers, who is based at The Belfry,

Warwickshire

and is also a graduate

PGA Member Stuart Disney, Mendip Golf Club

of

the

Applied

Management

Golf

Studies

(AGMS) programme.

Disney,

head

pro-

fessional at The Mendip Golf

Club,

said:

“I

Somerset,

can’t

thank

all those who put my name forward enough.

I just love being a PGA Fellow Professional and to be recognised for the work I do is awesome.”

Lansberry,

of

Hatchford

Brook

Golf

Centre,

Warwickshire, is also an AGMS graduate. He said: “A lot of people have helped me along the way, everyone at Hatchford Brook, all the parents of the kids I coach and my brilliant team of coaches and volunteers.”

To

buy

tickets

to

the

awards

dinner,

visit

www.englandgolfawards.org.

Armitage has worked with the likes of Justin Rose and Thorbjorn Olesen, while more recently he has increased coaching revenues by more than 50 per cent at La Gorce Country Club, Miami Beach as the facility’s Director of Instruction.

The PGA Professional

Dixon has been head coach for the Norway national team since 2016, and is also personal coach to Ladies European Tour players Madelene Stavnar and Celine Borge.

As head coach at Mannings Heath Golf Club in Horsham, Tucker has delivered

| February 2019

Kenyon collects John Jacobs award PHIL KENYON, putting coach to some of the world’s top golfers, has become the latest winner of the prestigious John Jacobs Award for Teaching & Coaching.

The John Jacobs Award is the PGAs of Europe’s highest coaching accolade and is presented to a PGA Professional who has excelled as a golf coach at all levels of the game.

PGA Master Professional Kenyon was selected by the awards panel in recognition of his continued success working with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood.

“It is obviously a great honour – John Jacobs is a pioneer of golf coaching, so to be even just associated with John is fantastic,” said Kenyon. “There’s many things that I’ve enjoyed, and got a lot of satisfaction from, in my career. Being involved with guys that have won majors have been great experiences. I’ve really enjoyed the Ryder Cups that I have been involved with as well.

“But I just enjoy working in golf, and week-to-week there are highlights for me. Helping players have good tournaments or keeping their tour card, or simply helping aspiring amateurs knock shots off their handicaps – I enjoy it all really and I am very lucky in that respect.”

a hugely successful coaching programme and has helped raise the club’s profile.

Other Advanced Fellows working overseas include John Laws (Germany), Andy Griffiths (China) and Mark Jones (UAE).

The following Members

have been accorded the status of PGA Fellow Professional: Rhys Beecher (Education City GC, Qatar), Stephen Clay (Blackmoor GC), Scott Clelland (Hayston GC), James Lee (Lansdown GC), Donal McSweeney (Lahinch GC) and Gavin Robinson (unattached).

9

P G A N E W S

On the move…

News of the latest PGA Member appointments across the UK Fletcher for president PGA stalwart Norman Fletcher is to become the new president of the Lancashire Union of Golf Clubs.

Fletcher, who was a Ryder Cup referee in 1985 and 1989, and has been a member of Chorley Golf Club for more than 58 years, will take on his new role in March.

Mitchell goes back to school Glenalmond College in Scotland has appointed PGA Professional Tim Mitchell to drive plans for a world-class golf training facility.

Mitchell, 43, will be responsible for developing a programme at the Perthshire-based independent school aimed at providing pathways for students to achieve excellence in the sport, as well as creating more opportunities for golfers in the community.

Myers gets Guernsey gig A golf coach who prides himself on an ability to teach players of all ages and abilities using modern coaching methods has taken over as head PGA Professional at The Golf Club, St Pierre Park in Guernsey.

Andy Myers will lead a young, but experienced team at the Guernsey Golf Academy at Pierre Park.

Northridge bags Burhill role PGA Fellow Professional Ashley Northridge brings more than 25 years’ experience to Burhill Golf Club after taking on a new role as head of golf operations. Northridge will oversee all golfing events and act as the first point of contact for the day-to-day management of both championship courses at Burhill at the Surrey venue.

10

Yarwood picks up Top 100 US Teacher Award PGA MASTER Professional come as a by-product. Having Jonathan Yarwood has picked said that, it is a nice feeling to up another coaching award in be recognised by your peers, America, after being presented and to be added to the most with Golf Magazine’s Top 100 prestigious list in US coaching Teacher Award at last month’s is very special. However, my PGA Show in Florida.

PGA Master Professional award In receiving the award, will always have a place in my he joins a list of coaching heart, and is definitely a career luminaries that includes the highlight.” likes of Sean Foley, David He added: “I never imagined Jonathan Yarwood Leadbetter and Butch Harmon. that I would do what I have Yarwood, who hails from Skegness in done in my career when I was cruising Lincolnshire, moved to America in 1996 around on my bike and over the last 25 years has coached many in Skegness as a elite amateurs and professionals to success, small boy. It proves including such two US Amateur champions, that anyone can a US Open champion, and winners on seven do it with a bit of major professional tours. hard work, riskYarwood, who received PGA taking, talent and Master Professional status at the Open dedication.”

Championship in 2011, said: “I’ve never Yarwood coached Michael Campbell when he won the 2005 US Open been one to covet awards – these things

PGA in Ireland honours Eamonn Darcy IRISH GOLFING legend and long-standing PGA Member Eamonn Darcy has been presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to the game.

The 66-year-old received the accolade at the Golfer’s Guide to Ireland PGA Awards Presentation evening, which were held at the luxurious surroundings of Druids Glen Hotel in December.

Darcy turned professional in 1968 and played on the European Tour from 1972, winning four events. The County Wicklow-born player was a member of the Ryder Cup team on four occasions, playing a crucial role in the 1987 success at Muirfield Village.

Darcy was the long-time professional attached to Eamonn Darcy, Delgany Golf Club before later moving to Druids honoured for Glen, a venue he continues to represent. services to golf There were six other categories up for grabs, with David Kearney taking home the Coach of the Year accolade, while Gordon Smyth won the Development Award. David Keating was the Five-star Professional of the Year, Simon Thornton was named Player of the Year, Trainee of the Year went to Richard Kilpatrick and David Rock was the Toby Sunderland award winner. www.pga.info

| #makinggolfhappen

N E W S PGA

Bowood joins PGA Properties group THE PGA has added Bowood

Hotel Spa and Golf Resort to its growing portfolio of Branded Properties worldwide as a PGA Golf Course and PGA Golf Academy.

The Wiltshire based venue, which forms part of the historic Bowood Estate, joins the elite group of PGA Branded Properties around the world, including past Ryder Cup venues The Belfry and Gleneagles, together with other exceptional resorts like Aphrodite Hills as the PGA National Cyprus and Antalya Golf Club as the PGA National Turkey.

Bowood’s golf academy and comprehensive practice

Sian Evans: Tour dream has come true

facilities boasts a team of five PGA Professionals with over 50 years’ experience and offers the perfect environment for golfers of all ages, gender and ability to develop, learn and have fun playing golf.

As part of its new relationship with The PGA, Bowood will also become the home of the English PGA Championship for the next three years.

The PGA’s Executive Director – Commercial, Liam Greasley commented: “Bowood has been long recognised as a first class golf course which will be tested to the full as the host venue for the final of the English PGA Championship in July.”

Evans earns Tour card KENT PGA professional Sian Evans earned her Ladies European Tour card after finishing fourth at the Lalla Aicha Tour School in Morocco.

The 27-year-old, who works full-time as a PGA Professional at Kings Hill Golf Club, finished on 16 under par at Amelkis Golf Club in Marrakesh to win her playing rights to the 2019 LET schedule.

Evans, who turned pro last year and has been competing on the LET Access Tour and PGA South/WPGA tours, had set up a Just Giving page to fund the trip to Tour School, and was overwhelmed when she finally managed to achieve her long-held ambition of playing on tour.

She said: “This means the world, it’s what everyone dreams of.

Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to do this and to shoot 16 under, it’s my lowest tournament score, so I’m just really happy.”

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

Nicoll’s capital choice Highly experienced PGA Professional Callum Nicoll has plans to make The London Club a more ‘inclusive’ facility after taking on the role as Director of Golf. The 36-year-old has built up a track record of working in elite venues, with his previous role being Director of Golf at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the UAE. Huncheon to teach at Torphins Greig Hutcheon, the man who sunk the winning putt for Great Britain & Ireland at the 2017 PGA Cup, has taken on a new role as teaching professional at Torphins Golf Club, Banchory.

And in other transfer news…

• Jon Woodroffe, an Advanced Fellow of The PGA, has become the new Director of Golf at London’s World of Golf facility.

• After almost three years at Preston Golf Club in Lancashire, Gary Edge is now the head teaching professional at Ashton & Lea Golf Club.

• Simon Williams has been appointed as the general manager at Sherwood Forest Golf Club, Mansfield.

• Lee Morrisoe and David Tottman have started new head professional roles at Garforth Golf Club, Leeds and Wrotham Heath Golf Club, Kent respectively.

• Andrew Stocks, 26, has started his first head professional role at Kilnwick Percy Resort.

• Gary Martin is the new custom fit specialist at American Golf’s Meadowhall venue.

If you would like to feature in this column, or would like to highlight a new appointment, please send details to Steven.Carpenter@pga.org.uk.

11

P G A N E W S

Alison gets GB call up NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

ALISON JOHNS has high hopes of defending her world champion status after being selected to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland for her third 2019 World Transplant Games.

Johns, who is a PGA teaching professional at Woodhall Spa,

Alison Johns: World Transplant Games defending champion

The National Golf Centre in Lincolnshire, won gold in her age group at the 2017 Games, which were held in Malaga, Spain.

Great Britain and Northern Ireland finished top of the medal table two years ago and will boast a team of more than 300 transplant athletes in Newcastle next August, including around 40 children.

“I’m so proud to be representing GB again,” said Johns. “These

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ThirtyFourth Annual General Meeting (the “Meeting”) of The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited (the “Company”) will be held in The Worcester Suite, The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B76 9PR on Wednesday, 3 April 2019 at 3.00 p.m., to transact the following business: • To receive and adopt the Annual Report and Special Purpose Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2018.

games are all about awareness for the donor register and to show people that there is still a good life you can live after a transplant. Also without my donor and family I would not be here today.”

P r e m i e r A l l - We a t h e r S u r f a c e s f o r G o l f

For Year Round Practice Huxley Golf specialises in the design, supply and installation of all-weather surfaces for golf. From practice tees to putting and golf greens, golf course tees, paths and even golf courses.

• That Sir Nick Faldo be accorded the privilege of Life Membership of the Association The Annual Report and Special Purpose Financial Statements of the company will be available on the Company website (www.pga.info) from Friday, 1 March 2019 until the conclusion of the Meeting. The documents can be found on the members’ area of the Company website www.pga.info - log in then go to Information and Resources. If you have any difficulty accessing the website, or require a hard copy of the documents ahead of the meeting, please contact Emma Hadlow on 01675 470333.

Information on how to appoint proxies will also be available on the Company website from Monday, 25 February 2019 until the conclusion of the Meeting.

This information can be found on the members’ area of the Company website www.pga.info – log in then go to Information and Resources – AGM. Registered Assistant Professionals are permitted to attend the Meeting but are not entitled to vote.

By order of the Board

UK and Overseas Enquiries: Tel +44 (0)1730 829608 Email: sales@huxleygolf.co.uk www.huxleygolf.com

Robert Maxfield Company Secretary 4 February 2019

12

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www.pga.info 16/05/2018 13:02

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S E N I O R T E A M CO LU MN

Investing for a stronger future Steve Phillips, The PGA’s recently appointed Finance Director, reveals how The PGA’s solid financial footing is resulting in more learning opportunities, a wider range of business support, and more financial benefits, for The PGA’s growing membership

W

hen the opportunity to work for The PGA came investment engagement with my way in 2007, I had no hesitation in making the members ensuring that PGA short journey across the car park from my previous Professionals remain the beating role as Finance Director at The Belfry. heart of the industry.

It was at The Belfry that I first became accustomed with the Whilst the finance function work of PGA Professionals, and the association The PGA has with is to ensure compliance and the Ryder Cup, and I was privileged to be part of the management sustainability for The PGA, team there for the 2002 Ryder Cup matches. Working with PGA PGA Members also have Professionals at The Belfry I soon discovered the diverse range of support available from a skills that PGA Members require and deliver on a daily basis to financial and legal perspective Steve Phillips make golf happen across the industry. as additional benefits of PGA Despite the knowledge of PGA I had gained while at The Belfry, membership: it was still a steep learning curve as I began to understand the scale – Ernst and Young assist myself, and my team, in the delivery of a and diversity of The PGA and its members; I had no idea that VAT helpline. We have assisted around 300 Members with golfThe PGA had 8,000 Members and over 1,300 of those operating related VAT issues. in 80 countries across the globe. I learned – Advisory firm BDO supports The PGA quickly of the world-leading educational and the business relationship officers with programmes and the rich history and tax advice.

This strong financial heritage that we continue to protect as – For members in GB&I, ARAG provide custodians of the brand. a free legal helpline. Public liability base is now allowing insurance is provided for members The PGA to invest STRONGER FOUNDATIONS permanently resident in the EU, covering in improving the When my predecessor, John Yapp, stepped coaching and playing for the individual down from the Group Finance Director member. personal and role last year, I was delighted to take up the – Our IT provider, Silverbug, offers a professional lives position and continue to build on the strong free IT business health check to PGA foundations of the association.

Members. of our members In the past decade, The PGA’s finances Please see the benefits section in this have strengthened, with growth in magazine (pages 51-52) in order to see how membership, increased education funding, to get the most from these benefits. and commercial and branding revenue streams. This, along with With an uncertain political and economic outlook, the the PGA involvement as founding partner in the Ryder Cup, has association needs to ensure a robust financial plan to ensure PGA resulted in the Association building a strong financial base.

Members continue to receive the appropriate level of service and This base is now allowing The PGA to invest in improving the support to stay at the forefront of the industry. I look forward to personal and professional lives of our members. You will have read playing my part in the challenges that lie ahead and the continued on this page in recent months about these investments as described pride I have in working for The PGA. by my colleagues in the senior team.

‘‘

‘‘

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND SERVICES Investment in more member benefits and services, the business relationship officer programme, the educational review and development of education programmes are examples of this The PGA Professional

| February 2019

Stephen Phillips PGA Finance Director 13

I N TER NATIONAL S O YO U WA N T TO WO R K I N . . .

Vietnam

With stunning beaches, vibrant cities, an affordable cost of living and an excellent climate, Vietnam is fast becoming one of the world’s most popular tourists destinations, while the construction of dozens of golf club and luxury resorts is spearheading a growing demand for qualified PGA Professionals

GOLF STRUCTURE The Vietnam Golf Association (vga.com.vn), which was set up in 2006, operates under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and is essentially the governing body, overseeing all golf-related activities in Vietnam, with members being local golf clubs and courses all over the country. The VGA currently boasts over 10,000 registered Vietnamese golfers, while a further 7,000 ex-pat workers play on a regular basis.

GOLF PARTICIPATION More than 250,000 rounds of golf were played on Vietnam’s 55 courses in 2018, with most overseas visitors coming from Japan and South Korea. Vietnamese golfers are largely drawn from the country’s wealthy – male – business elite. Very few women play golf, although almost all the club’s caddies – which are a requirement for every player – are women. Over 15 million tourists visited Vietnam in 2018, of which around 0.5% played golf.

COURSES & RESORTS Although the first golf course in Vietnam was built in the 1930s, golf was banned by the socialist government in the 1980s due to its Western influences, and it is only in the last 14

five years that the golf boom has taken hold.

There are now around 55 courses open for play, and a further five either under construction or in the planning phase. Licenses have been granted to build a total of 100 courses.

TOP: The Montgomerie Links at Danang ABOVE: Greg Norman has designed 27 hole KN Golf Links which opened last October LEFT: The Nick Faldodesigned Laguna Lang Co is located on one of many luxury golf resorts to have sprung up along Vietnam’s dramatic coastline

There are, of course, numerous developers involved, but the largest three are ViN Group, FLC Group and the BRG Group, with the latters portfolio of resorts including Legend Hill, Kings Island and Ruby Tree.

The main concentration of resorts is located on a 35-mile central coastal area which encompasses the cities of Danang, Hoi An, Hue and Lang Co, where golf www.pga.info

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WO R K I N G A B ROA D I N T ER N AT I O N A L FACT FILE CLIMATE: Vietnam has a largely tropical

climate in the south and monsoonal in north. The summer months (May-Sept) are hot (35°c+) and humid, although the coastal courses often enjoy cooling breezes. The late winter/early spring months (Jan-April) are warm and less humid, and make for ideal golfing conditions. October to December is storm season, with unpredictable weather, especially on the coast.

LANGUAGES: Vietnamese is the official language, although English is spoken in the major cities and tourist destinations.

Most ex-pat pros employ a translator to give lessons to local golfers.

CURRENCY: Vietnamese Dong is used for day-to-day items, while US Dollars are used for luxury items. The current exchange rate is approx. £1 = 30,0000 Vietnamese Dong.

FOOD & DRINK: Eating out and

drinking in local bars and restaurants is very cheap, while shopping for food in markets is even cheaper. Hotels and Western-style venues are more expensive.

Wine is pricey wherever you buy it, beer and spirits less so.

resorts operated by the likes of Intercontinental, Hyatt and Accor are interspersed at regular intervals along the shore.

Dubbed ‘Golf Coast Vietnam’, the region includes Nick Faldo’s course at Laguna Lang Co; the Montgomerie Links at Danang, the Dunes Course at Danang Beach Resort, Luke Donald’s Ba Na Hills Golf Club near Danang, and the Bluffs Course at Grand Ho Tram Strip, which was designed by Greg Norman, who has recently been appointed as a tourism ambassador for Vietnam.

Norman’s newest design, KN Cam Ranh Golf Links, is a 27-hole layout located in

the south of the country, which voted best new resort in Asia last year, while Hoiana Shores is expected to be the most significant opening in 2019.

Elsewhere, an Ernie Els Performance Academy opened in Hanoi last year, which offers state-of-the-art coaching facilities and serves as a training base for Vietnam’s national teams, while The David Leadbetter Academy, also based in Hanoi, has been approached to help train Level 1 and 2 golf professionals with the aim to recruit local talent and eventually join as a certified Leadbetter instructors and interpreters.

PGA Members view Simon Mees, General Manager, KN Golf Links Cam Ranh

“Vietnam is certainly a beautiful country, but having

only been here for a little over a year, and with much work to do in the pre-opening of KN Golf Links, I have sadly not had too much time to see the sights or visit many of the other golf courses. The people are generally very open and welcoming, but the language barrier provides a daily challenge, and you have to be very careful that things don’t get lost in translation. I have to rely a lot on my PA, who is like my right arm at times. Most expat coaches working here often have a translator when teaching.”

Matthew Rea, Head of Instruction, The Leadbetter Golf Academy, Hanoi

“As a PGA member working in Vietnam it has taken VISAS: Visitors need a visa for stays of

less than three months, while overseas employees require a work permit and a work visa, which can be obtained through submitting a written contract of employment with their application.

DRIVING: Foreign visitors and workers

require a Vietnamese driving licence to rent or buy a car, which can be obtained through government transport offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Driving is on the right hand side of the road.

WHAT TO PACK: Sunscreen, pollution masks (for use in cities), and plenty of mosquito repellent.

Golf clubs in Vietnam generally only employ female caddies, while PGA coaches will often require a translator when giving lessons to local members

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

time to adjust to the pace of life and the lifestyle, as this country is markedly different to other parts of Asia I have visited. As a qualified PGA Coach and LGA Certified Instructor, it is my responsibility to collaborate effectively with Vietnamese interpreters and to develop and nurture existing Leadbetter Golf Academy coaches.

The LGA Academy is well positioned to educate all golfers and help shape and cultivate their thinking, learning and focus towards practicing better habits.”

Jonathan Garratt, Director of Academies & Instruction, BRG Group

“Most Vietnamese golfers seem to play for the

enjoyment factor, not just the prestige, so conducting lessons can be very rewarding.

My employers, the BRG Group, have provided me with a very good ex-pat package, which is great and covers some of the huge costs involved with living abroad. ”

15

I N TER NATIONAL I N T E RV I E W

Q&A Dan Beattie, teaching Pro In the first of a new series focusing on PGA Members who are working overseas, we talk to Dan Beattie, who is a teaching professional based at Sheshan International Golf Club in China

hosted an HSBC junior day, where we took groups of the kids from the academy and set tasks and challenges for them to complete around the facility. It was a special week, and I’m already looking forward to this year’s tournament in October.

What do you think the future

Why did you decide to look for

holds for golf development in

employment overseas?

China?

Having graduated from the University of

Golf is still in its infancy in China at club

Birmingham in 2012, I spent five years

level, but the market is very strong, and I

working in Dublin, but in 2016 some friends

PGA Professional Dan Beattie

feel that we, as PGA Professionals, have a opprtunity to make a positive impact through

moved out to China and that created the chance for me to go out there see what job

getting good advice and guidance from my

management and coaching to help bring the

opportunities might be out there.

fellow PGA Member and director of golf,

game on here.

Andrew Laird.

How did you find out about your

I’m heavily involved in growing the

Golf in the Olympics could potentially provide China with a platform to shine

current position at Sheshan?

business at our golf academy. We’ve just had

globally, with players llke Li Haotong and

My current role was advertised on APAC’s

a record year in terms of revenue generated

Ashun Wu both winning Tour events in

website and the PGA website and I

through coaching, and we are benchmarking

2018. In addition to the WGC-HSBC

applied through both. I think my AGMS

to increase that in 2019. My job largely

Champions, China will be hosting the

qualification really helped me stand out, as

consists of junior coaching, teams, groups

Volvo China Open in May, the Buick LPGA

well as my experiences at different venues

and one-to-one. More recently I have been

Shanghai at Qizhong Garden in October,

worldwide.

running ladies beginner classes, and have also

while Sheshan is hosting the Asia-Pacific

acquired some adult clients working every day

Amateur Championship in September, all of

with Trackman.

which are positively influencing golf at the

What have been the biggest challenges settling into life in

I’ve also been lucky enough to get involved

professional and elite amateur level.

China?

with the WGC-HSBC Champions touanent,

Initially, the time difference was tough, but

which is held at Shenshan. Last year’s event

What advice would you give to

the language barrier was perhaps the biggest

was an incredible experience. I met several

PGA Members looking to work

issue. However, I’ve been taking mandarin

players and tournament staff, and I was also

overseas?

classes twice a week since last summer and

able to spend some time on of and off the

I would say research where you are going,

I’m slowly beginning to get the hang of it.

range with Pete Cowan, Mike Walker and

speak to the PGA Members currently based

The people are very helpful and supportive.

Sean Foley.

in the region, and, if you get an opportunity,

I miss my partner, family and friends a lot,

On the Saturday of the tournament we

go for it.

but I was able to come home for Christmas, and my employers are very understanding when it comes to time off, especially in the winter when things are quieter.

What does your current role involve?

My current role is full-time PGA teaching

Sheshan International is China’s premier golf club and host venue for the WGC-HSBC Champion

professional at China’s number one golf club, Sheshan International. Fortunately, I’ve been

16

www.pga.info

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F EAT U R E

Hot trends in 2019 With another golf season already under way, The PGA Professional seeks out the key trends for 2019, from flexible formats to mixed tournaments, and from pricey putters to revised rules, and a whole lot more besides

General trends PARTICIPATION RATES Golf ’s steadily declining participation rates slowed slightly in 2018, and having dropped by almost 30% over the last decade, finally looks to be leveling out. The number of members of clubs in England is now arund 690,000, up by 1.3% on last year’s figures, hinting that the bottom may have been reached – for now.

Golf participation data from Statista reveals that there are currently around 1.13 million UK golfers who play at least once a month, and around 750,000 who manage to play every week.

Of those, two-thirds across the whole of the UK are men, but that figure rises to a rather manly 80% in Wales. Scottish Golf has predicted that in ten years’ time only 4,500 of club members north of the border will be aged under 17, while 44,500 will be between 55-64 and more than 57,000 will be over 65.

GIRLS TO THE FORE The success of female-focused golf programmes such as The PGA’s We Love Golf, This Girl Golfs and Girls Golf Rocks has introduced many more young women to the game, breaking down long-held barriers to the sport and helping to increase female participation.

In 2018, The We Love Golf campaign attracted significantly more women than anticipated, with a substantial proportion of them moving into regular golf coaching. As a result, We Love Golf will be expanding its reach in 2019 by launching a series of events and new social media channels to support and promote them. Social media continues to play an important role in the campaign as it enables The PGA to reach new non-golfing audiences and present a positive, fun image of golf.

The WeLoveGolf PGA Facebook page will continue to be populated with useful information for beginners and improvers, so Members wanting to retain women in the game should encourage their players to follow the page. New resources include a Toolkit that will help Members promote and deliver their own events. There will also be additional The PGA Professional

| February 2019

The PGA’s We Love Golf campaign is to be expanded in 2019

opportunities for Members to get involved in We Love Golf through activity around key dates, including International Women’s Day and the AIG Women’s British Open.

In 2018, over 1,650 girls attended Girls Golf Rocks taster sessions and 1,200 went on to take coaching courses with PGA professionals. This year is it being launched across another five counties in England – Cornwall, Hampshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire and Worcestershire – to add to the 26 counties that offered programmes in 2018. As before, clubs in these counties will offer free taster sessions, starting in May, followed by coaching courses with PGA professionals.

JUNIOR GOLF INVESTMENT INCREASE The R&A has pledged £2 million towards developing junior golf over the next four years and has set an ambitious target of getting 15,000 young people to become golf club members in that period. The Golf Foundation is set to give over two million youngsters the chance to try golf for the first time using its Tri-Golf and Street Golf participation initiatives, while round 180,000 youngsters will also be introduced to coaching through the Golf Foundation’s HBSC Golf Roots Centres, taster sessions in local schools and coaching delivered by PGA Professionals.

The Golf Foundation’s Tri-Golf programme will form part of a £4m investment by the R&A to get more young people taking up golf

17

F E ATURE

On-course trends FLEXIBLE FORMATS: LESS IS MORE The trend towards shorter formats of the game is set to continue in 2019, with more and more clubs offering nine- and six-hole tournaments that can be played in an hour or two.

Texas Scramble, foursomes, par is your friend, and other alternative game play formats are also set to replace the more traditional, timeconsuming four-ball formats.

The professional tours continue to set the trend for new formats, with GolfSixes set to return in 2019, while the par-three Hero Challenge will also reappear at various tournaments across the More of less: Golfsixes has proved a popular format with pros and youngsters alike European Tour schedule.

RELAXING DRESS CODES: NO SHIRT, NO SOCKS BUT YOU STILL GET SERVICE While some golf clubs will never shift from the ‘white socks and tailored shorts’ uniform, the shift towards allowing golfers to wear whatever they like looks set to broaden its reach in 2019.

More and more venues are doing away with all but Anything goes: The days of formal the requirement to wear a pair dress codes are almost over (David Brenes Photography) of golf shoes, and even then the trainer-style designs favoured by many top tour pros are now ubiquitous at club level and have been shown to do less harm to greens than traditional spikes or plastic cleats.

The requirement to wear ‘a collar’ on the course, and in the clubhouse, pervades at most clubs, although that’s mainly because the figure-hugging Nike mock top’s favoured by Tiger don’t suit most golfers’ physiques.

Tour pros continue to set the fashion trends, with Tommy Fleetwood’s Nike jogging pants and pop socks and Rickie Fowler’s hi-top Pumas continuing to push the boundaries of what’s acceptable to wear on the course.

18

MOBILE PHONES: RINGING THE CHANGES With so many golfers having downloaded GPS and shot-monitoring apps, the mobile phone is here to stay on the golf course, and will become yet more visible in 2019 and beyond as the next generation of players, who have grown Smartphones are becoming more prevalent on the golf up with smart phones welded to their course as GPS and data capture apps evolve, while palms, take to the course. players insist on being connected 24-7 With their built-in high-definition cameras, mobiles are also vital for capturing all-important group selfies for instant social media uploads, and for taking slowmotion swing footage for post-round analysis and general banter.

Many clubs now allow mobiles to be used inside too, providing conversations don’t involve Trigger Happy TV-style shouting and the ring tone is kept on vibrate.

FOOD AND DRINK: ANYONE FOR A QUORN BUTTY? While sausages, bacon and burgers have been a half-way house staple for many a year, the growing number of vegetarians – one in eight adults now follow meat-free diets – means that vegetarian meals and more healthy eating options are going to be essential at golf clubs.

The fizz has definitely gone out of the market for sugary drinks and chocolate bars, as more and more healthconscious golfers switch to bringing their own water bottles and munching on nut-based energy bars. Prepare for Quorn sausage rolls and falafel burgers?

In clubhouse bars, the trend for local ales and craft gin continues, while mass-produced lagers and low quality wines falling out of favour as golfers go premium when it comes to post-round tipples.

Birdies, Beers and Burgers: TopGolf is proving a popular activity among millenial golfers

www.pga.info

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MIXING UP THE SEXES: GENDER-FREE TOURNAMENTS Golf at the higher level will break down a few more gender barriers this season with a number of amateur and professional tournaments featuring mixed fields. Last month saw a mixed gender squad of four boys and two girls represent England on a tour of Australia, while the European Tour’s Jordan Mixed Masters, which takes place in April, is a tri-sanctioned event between the Challenge Tour, Ladies European Tour and Staysure Tour that will feature 40 players from each Tour who will compete against each other in a single, mixed field.

Each group will play off different tees, but will compete for the same prize.

Mixed messages: The Jordan Mixed Masters is the first professional event to feature men and women competing for the same prize

THE POWER OF THE PGA TOUR While the prospect of a World Tour grows ever nearer, the juggernaut that is the PGA Tour shows no signs of slowing down, and looks set to grow stronger still in 2019 as more of Europe’s top talent migrate across the Atlantic in search of bigger prize funds, more competitive fields, and more world ranking points.

Rory McIlroy won’t be teeing it up in Europe until July, while we can expect to see the likes Francesco Molinari, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrell Hatton and many of Europe’s Ryder Cup stars Rory McIlroy is among several leading commit to heavier US-based European players set to spend more time playing in America schedules in 2019.

The return of Tiger Woods to the fray has also had a huge impact on the revival of the PGA Tour’s fortunes, with TV viewing figures and spectator numbers up significantly at every tournament the 14-time major champion tees it up.

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

INCREASED PLAYER INTERACTION Sky Sports broke with convention when it introduced mid-round Walking and talking: Mid-round interviews interviews with players at are being trialled on the PGA Tour to the 2016 British Masters at help connect players with the fans Woburn, and it has since become the norm for Nick Dougherty or Tim Barter chat to players as they go about their business. However, this year sees that trend extend to the PGA Tour, which experimented with the concept at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii – although not during the final round.

Most players seemed happy to oblige, but Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas were among several leading players who said that they will never let themselves be interviewed at any stage of a tournament round. Rory’s reaction to being asked how he feels immediately after missing a two-foot putt for the Masters might not make for family viewing.

REVISING THE REVISED RULES? The revised Rules of Golf, which came into effect on January 1, have already come in for flack following their introduction on tour, and its principles will no doubt be tested at elite amateur and club level over the coming months.

PGA Tour player Bryson DeChambeau called the new dropping rule – which requires a penalty drop to made from knee-height – ‘absurd’, while he and many other players wasted no time in taking advantage on the new rules enabling putting on the green with the flag in. Expect the Tours to think again about this rule if players start holing out for fun with the stick in.

In other rules news set to trend in 2019, the new rule on dropping from the edge of the fairway when a ball goes out of bounds or is lost is expected to ignored by most golf clubs for all but friendly games. Clubs will insist that players take a provisional ball off the tee as before for all competitions.

In it to win it: Bryson deChambeau practices putting with the flag in following the change of rules

19

F E ATURE

Off-course trends

Crazy Golf venues are opening up in towns and cities all over the UK

FUN TIMES AT THE RANGE Nightclub-style complexes, with floodlit ranges and banquette seating, combined with cocktails, beers and burgers, are continuing to open around the world as golf takes on 10-pin bowling for family entertainment Toptracer is adding a time. TopGolf is clearly leading the competive and fun element to way for the format in the UK, but spending time at the range it won’t be long before others join the party.

TopTracer, which offers golf ball tracking technology in the driving range environment, is also making practice more effective and fun, with competition and challenge modes adding to golfers’ enjoyment when compared to aimlessly bashing balls.

TopGolf new venue

Pro shop trends PREMIUMISATION: HOW HIGH CAN IT GO? Despite the slowdown in the UK economy, the cost of golf equipment seems to be going up and up, with the price of premium clubs reaching levels not seen since the days of Callaway’s ERC II driver at the turn of the century.

The golf industry is reflecting a growing trend across the wider consumer goods market for ultra-premium products, featuring expensive materials and new technologies, so it is no surprise that high-end equipment brands such as PXG, Honma and XXI0, as well as premium outerwear brands such as Galvin Green, are enjoying significant growth in global markets.

Power at a price: The technology race to eek out a few Callaway’s new Epic Flash extra yards has lead to an upsurge across the driver costs nearly £500 market, with many of the major mainstream brands, including Callaway, TaylorMade and Mizuno, all recently launching drivers retailing at over £450, and iron sets nearing £1,500.

A set of PXG irons starts at around £2,200

20

ADVENTURE & CRAZY GOLF No longer restricted to seaside towns and Butlins holiday camps – Adventure Golf, Crazy Golf, Pirate Golf, Dino Golf, call it what you will, is proving a big money spinner, and will continue to do so in 2019 and beyond.

Central London currently boasts over a dozen Crazy Golf venues, some located in converted warehouses (Junkyard Golf ), others in major shopping centres (Puttshack in Westfield) and public parks, where friends and families can wield a putter without fear of being told off by the secretary for wearing the wrong type of shorts. Throw in some background beats, a postround cocktail and a free-range pulled pork bun, and you have the recipe for a fun day or night out. Traditional golf clubs, such as Hoebridge Golf Centre in Surrey, which also offer adventure golf, are finding plenty of new recruits to the full-size game once they’ve outgrown the joys of holing out through a Tyrannosaurus Rex’s nasal passage or Captain Jack Sparrow’s britches.

Adventure Golf is proving popular with families

Golf Your Way: TaylorMade ‘s‘MySpider’ putters are part of a growing personal customisation trend

CUSTOMISATION: IT’S ALL ABOUT ME Although custom fitting continues to prove popular among a wide range of players, there is also a growing trend towards customisation. So while many golfers chose to have their driver or putter fitted for its swingweight and shaft flex, they also want the grip to match their favourite football team’s colours and the head to match their monogrammed FootJoy MyJoys.

TaylorMade’s new MySpider programme, which enables golfers to personalise the entire look of a putter, launched last month, while Mizuno’s wedge stamping programme is just one of a number of ways that players can build up their personal brand on and off the golf course. www.pga.info

| #makinggolfhappen

Q&A James Holmes

I N T E RV I E W T RA DE

James Holmes, SkyCaddie’s European General Manager, explains why the company’s innovative products are proving a game-changer for golfers and PGA pros alike What makes SkyCaddie stand out

the message to PGA Members?

from its competitors?

Very! We demo SkyCaddie and SkyTrak to

Unlike other GPS brands, we don’t rely

dozens of PGA pros and club captains at the

on cheap, out-of-date satellite images. We

events, and at this year’s Pro-Captain Final

always map on foot, and often the course

over half the field bought an SX500.

changes are on your SkyCaddie before the hole is even back in play. SkyCaddie

How have the recent Rules of

golfers trust their yardages – including a

Golf changes affected SkyCaddie

growing number of Tour players since the

SkyCaddie’s James Holmes

launch of the SX500. Our new Dynamic

users?

Golfers now know that, unless they are told

HoleVue feature is terrific, as is our brand-

selling more SkyTraks, more golf lessons and

otherwise, they can use their rangefinder in

new IntelliPath, which shows you fairway

more club- and ball-fitting sessions. Many

every event – instead of having to check if

crossing and run-out points on your chosen

pros also make money from in-club events

they had permission.

line. Both are terrific additions to a golfer’s

based around the SkyTrak. Over 500 UK

arsenal.

PGA professionals now have a SkyTrak, and

Paul Streeter recently won a

more are joining every week.

Staysure Tour event using a

Why is the SX500 such a game-

SkyCaddie SX500. When will GPS

changer for rangefinders?

How has being a PGA Partner

be allowed in-play on the other

It’s the best SkyCaddie we’ve ever made,

benefitted the brand, and what

major Tours?

and is what you always dreamt a rangefinder

benefits can you offer PGA

Our Staysure Tour work is being noticed by

should be. For the first time, a golf GPS

Members?

others within the European Tour. SkyCaddie

device has the ability to give distances to the

For over ten years it has given us many

GPS has been proven to speed up play in

pin alongside all the other hole information.

extra ways to interact directly with PGA

professional events: tso we expect more Tour

It’s much faster and more useable than

Members, who have always been our key

progress soon.

laser, which needs line-of-sight. SX500 is

customers. Members receive discounts for

a genuine, interactive yardage book with a

own-use SkyCaddies, Showcase Dealer status

What is the future for golf GPS?

huge, five-inch HD screen and incredible

if they want to sell SkyTraks, and also very

Elite golfers are returning to GPS because

battery life. Ergonomically it is brilliant,

strong profit margins.

of the SX500. Others may try to emulate

it updates instantly as you walk, and its

its optimal screen size. We have many more

WiFi signal is powerful. It really is quite

How important is SkyCaddie’s

innovations coming, all to be revealed in

something.

sponsorship of the PGA Pro-

good time!

Captain Challenge in spreading What percentage of SkyCaddie’s GPS sales are wearable vs handheld?

It was up to 70% watch-based, but as SX500 is now bringing laser users back to GPS our handheld sales are increasing again.

What benefits does owning

Skycaddie’s SkyTrak is proving a big hit with PGA Pros and SX500 (below) is bringing back golfers to GPS

and stocking a SkyTrak benefit the PGA pro?

SkyTrak was an obvious winner from day one, as it is such a viable business decision for the PGA pro. You quickly recoup your investment by

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

21

T RA DE N E W S

TaylorMade twists again with new M drivers TAYLORMADE’S NEW M5 and M6 drivers retain the ‘Twist Face’ technology that appeared in last year’s M3 and M4 woods, which is designed to counteract the effects of hooks and slices, but they also boast several new components that combine to increase ball speed.

These include a thinner titanium face with a redesigned inverted cone; a more-flexible Hammerhead 2.0 slot; and internal support foam with variable amounts of injected resin. The injection process utilises two tuning ports on the face, with the appropriate amount of resin injected to dial in the speed for each driver.

A benefit of the thinner, faster face design is that it provides the M5 and M6 drivers with faster off-centre ball speeds on off-centre strikes. The M5’s face boasts a 66% larger sweet spot than the M3, and double that offered by the original M1 driver.

The M5 features a new T-Track sliding mechanism features two 10g weights that combine to offer 1,770 different centre of

M6 driver

M5 driver

gravity configurations. The front-to-back shift allows the golfer to fine-tune their ball flight through launch angle and backspin.

For even further customisation, a 2° loft sleeve allows for the adjustment of the loft, lie angle and face angle.

The M5 has a 460cc head, but boasts a 10% bigger footprint than the M3, while there is smaller version, the 435cc M5 Tour, which retains all of the same technologies

as its larger counterpart, but is designed for the player who seeks more workability with less spin and prefers a more compact look at address.

The M6 and M6 D-Type drivers also feature Twist Face and have been injected with resin to deliver maximum ball speed and distance across the entire face. It differs from the M5 with its carbon fibre sole, which allows more weight to be distributed low and back in the head for maximum forgiveness.

Lofts: M5/M6: 9°, 10.5°, 12°; M5 Tour: 9°, 10.5°. RRP: £499

Titleist adds distance and colour to new Pro V1 range THE NEXT generation of Titleist’s Pro V1 golf balls promise improved performance from tee to green.

Faster from core to cover, the new Pro V1 and Pro V1x have been designed to leave the clubface with more ball speed and lower long game spin for more distance, while providing the best short game control to help golfers shoot lower scores.

The improvements in performance over past models have been achieved through the development of thinner outer urethane cover; a faster, thicker

22

inner ionomer casing layer; and a new core structure. The outermost portion of the solid core Pro V1 and dual core Pro V1x have increased in stiffness, while maintaining their soft centres, creating faster engines with higher ball speed and lower long game spin.

Michael Mahoney, Titleist’s Vice President of Golf Ball Marketing, said: “When we set out to develop the 2019 models, we found that golfers at every level are satisfied with the performance of their Pro V1 or Pro V1x, but at the same time, they kept telling us they would still like more distance – as long as they don’t have to give anything else up. Through the prototyping process, our engineers discovered a way to cast an even thinner urethane cover, and therefore increase the percentage of

speed-enhancing materials in the overall construction. Pro V1 and Pro V1x are now even faster, as a result, all while maintaining the scoring performance and feel characteristics that golfers demand from these golf balls.”

As with previous versions, Titleist says that the Pro V1 flies lower and has a softer feel than the Pro V1x, with the latter offering similar distances, but generating more spin on iron shots.

Titleist has previously offered only white versions of its bestselling ball, but new for 2019 is high optic yellow model which is available for both the Pro V1 and the Pro V1x. Both balls, which are already being played by more than 60 players on tour, have an RRP of £52 per dozen. The white models are on sale now, the yellow versions will be available from March 15.

www.pga.info

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N E W S T RA DE

Callaway unveils Flash Face technology in new Epic range CALLAWAY’S NEW Epic Flash drivers and fairway woods features a new technology called ‘Flash Face’, which is designed to help golfers get more ball speed and more distance.

The face features dozens of subtle ripples flowing from heel to toe that increase the coefficient of restitution in the centre section, which results in a significant ball speed boost for a noticeable distance increase on centre strikes. The face was created using artificial intelligence and ‘Machine Learning’, a field of computer science that uses statistical techniques to give computer systems the ability to learn with data without being explicitly programmed. A new driver face design typically takes eight to ten iterations. Through machine learning, Callaway’s computers cycled through 15,000 different designs, learning from each one, before arriving at the finished product.

Callaway Epic Flash drivers

The rippled inner side of the face is forged from a special titanium and heat treated at 595 centigrade for two hours to create a face that combines flexibility and speed with high strength properties.

The Epic Flash drivers, which will retail at £449, also incorporate Callaway’s Jailbreak technology, which promotes fast, face-wide speed, while the crown is made from new triaxial carbon material called T2C, which has a tighter weave, enabling weight to be removed from the crown and repositioned strategically in the head to create high MOI that promotes better distance and accuracy performance on miss-hits. Adjustable perimeter weighting is offered in the shape of a 16g sliding weight that can be positioned anywhere on the built-in track to promote draws, fades or a straighter flight.

In additional to a standard version, a more compact Sub Zero model features all of the same technologies in a low-spin head design, with the addition of a 12g sliding weight. The closer the weight is positioned to the heel, the more draw-bias; the closer to the toe, the more fade-bias. Additionally, a visible weight is permanently embedded forward in the sole to pull the centre of gravity lower and forward to reduce spin. Heavier or lighter weights can be installed in production to achieve different swing weights.

A matching set of fairway woods (£269) boasting Flash Face and Jailbreak technology is offered in 3+ (13.5°), 3 (15°), 5 (18°), Heavenwood (20°), 7 (21°), 9 (23°), 11 (25°) lofts. They boast thin, forged Carpenter 455 steel faces, and feature Face Cup technology to create fast speed across a large area, while a new, lighter OptiFit hosel makes it easier ball flight to be dialled in.

Odyssey rolls out StrokeLab Putters ODYSSEY’S NEW StrokeLab putters incorporate a new method of weight distribution designed to improve the physical dynamics of the stroke.

The theory behind the design is that most putting strokes are inconsistent, yet most putting technologies focus on improving alignment or improving the quality of roll, rather than consistency. StrokeLab putters helps improve the stroke through a change in weight distribution made possible by an innovative new multi-material shaft which is 40g lighter than standard steel shaft putter.

Featuring a graphite body with a steel tip, the shaft weighs just 75g, with most of the mass concentrated in the tip. The weight The PGA Professional

| February 2019

saved is then moved to the head in the form of two 5g sole weights, and adding 30g to the grip-end via a 10g-lighter grip and 40g end-weight.

The effect of StrokeLab’s weight distribution on the stroke is dramatic. Odyssey studies indicate improvements in the consistency of backswing time, face-angle impact, ball speed, and ball direction when compared to a standard Odyssey #7 putter. Feel for the head becomes more acute, helping the golfer repeat the same smooth stroke.

“You feel the difference immediately,” said Luke Williams, Odyssey’s senior director of putter marketing. “The head moves freely, smoothly, and on a sound path, helping the

StrokeLab putters feature lightweight, tip-heavy shafts to help improve tempo

ball roll accurately while giving greater speed control.”

The Stroke Lab range comprises six mallets and four blades, all of which feature White Hot Microhinge face insert and a choice of pistol grip or oversize grip. All are priced at £239, with the exception of the R-Ball and 2-Ball Fang models, which are £269.

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Big Max covers all the travel bases BIG MAX has launched two new travel covers for 2019, each boasting their own innovative design to ensure clubs arrive at their destination safely and securely.

The Big Max Aqua TCS (£149.99) is a six-wheel cover that combines the brand’s waterproof technology with the innovative Travel Connection System, which enables connection to the golfer’s luggage via the handle that turns two pieces of luggage into one. It also allows upright loading and the internal bag fix system keeps clubs safe and secure throughout transit. Boasting additional space from two shoe pockets, the TCS is available in black, black/lime, and black/ red.

The Big Max Traveller (£129.99) is a

Big Max’s Aqua TCS bag boasts a Travel Connection System

two-wheel cover that allows for upright loading thanks to the EZ-UP-Loading Technology and features an internal bag fixing system to keep all clubs in their place during travel. The durable nylon cover has a robust design that will cope with the inevitable knocks and bumps that occur in transit, keeping the golfer’s gear safe and secure. It comes in black.

SkyCaddie boosts UK sales team SKYCADDIE HAS appointed two new sales agents to sell its range of GPS units and launch monitors.

PGA professionals Ian Singleton and Richard Tinworth are now representing SkyHawke Technologies, which sells the SkyCaddie, SkyTrak and SkyPro brands throughout the UK and Europe.

Tinworth will cover Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Berkshire and Hampshire, while Singleton will travel throughout the North West and North Wales, including Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria.

To make contact with Richard, call 07711 363346 or email richardtinworth1@me.com. To get in touch with Ian, call 07929 084644 or email ian@idsgolf.co.uk.

A C A D E M Y BY

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International: +44 (0) 1903 726999

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www.pga.info

| #makinggolfhappen

N E W S T RA DE

Foremost launches social media service to EMP members FOREMOST IS adding a social media service to its Elite Marketing Programme, which gives members a better way to manage their social content and engage their audience online.

As one of four optional upgrades included within Foremost’s new Elite Marketing Programme Premium service, the social media solution is designed to alleviate the pressure on the retailer by delivering up-to-date brand specific content.

Andy Martin, Foremost Managing Director, commented: “Many retailers don’t have the time to constantly post and tweet the latest product launches or retail campaigns they are running in-store. Using the correct hashtags, handles and web-links are further challenges for already heavily-burdened professionals who don’t necessarily use social media every day.”

The system offers automated key posts aligned with the brand selections and campaigns chosen by the professional. Foremost EMP Members will retain full control of their accounts and the ability to continue posting as much or as little as they want, safe in the knowledge that detailed product posts are covered off automatically with all the correct information and timings.

EMP Social Media also represents a benefit to Foremost’s Premium partner suppliers, as their messaging will directly reach consumers through the retailer’s social channels.

Lynx unveils new premium range balls LYNX HAS launched a new branded range ball collection for 2019 that promise to offer feel, durability and performance at an affordable price point.

Available from April, the two-piece white and yellow full-distance range balls will be offered alongside a limited-flight white ball. The limited-flight ball has reduced compression and is around 25% shorter than the full-distance ball, making it suitable for shorter ranges. They will all feature the Lynx logo, and boast a durable Surlyn cover.

Murray Tonry, Lynx Golf’s UK and European sales manager, said: “Having quality, Lynx-branded two-piece range balls adds value to any range. Unbranded one-piece balls are a false economy, because they have to be changed more often – so the annual outlay is higher.”

Pros who order 200 dozen or more Lynx range balls will be entitled to a discount, while there are also separate prices for PGA Pro who wish to purchase balls for teaching purposes.

For more details, email sales@lynxgolf.co.uk.

www.clubcar.com info@clubcar.com

Club Car Introduces New Tempo™ Golf Cars The PGA Professional | February 2019

Official partner of

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T RA DE P G A S H OW R E P O RT

Where golf means business The 66th PGA Merchandise Show showed an industry working harder than ever to capture the imagination of golfers, with a host of new products and technology innovations, and a seminar programme packed with ideas to help pros improve their teaching skills and grow their businesses

Over 40,000 visitors attended the PGA Show

W

hile the hundreds of UK-based PGA Members who headed over to Orlando hoping to get a brief blast of Floridian warmth were left somewhat disappointed due to some stormy weather, those that attended the 66th PGA Show will hopefully have returned to their clubs, ranges and shops feeling re-invigorated for the new season after having taken the opportunity to check out all the latest equipment and apparel ranges, picked up some business and coaching tips, and possibly enjoyed a round or two of golf.

And with over 1,000 exhibitors, and almost 10 miles of aisles to cover, visitors definitely required a pair of comfortable shoes to cover the hard yards in search of the next best thing.

With most of the major equipment brands following the trend of launching their products before the show in order to avoid potentially having their thunder stolen, there were fewer genuine first-time unveilings than in past years, and many of those that were new were upgrades to

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The PGA Show gave pros the opportunity to test out out all the latest launches at the demo day, and see them in their retail environment at the show itself

pre-existing technologies – adding more bells to the whistles, if you will.

As ever, the show teed off with an en masse exodus to the ever-popular Demo Day held at the Orange County National Golf Centre, an impressive 42-acre practice facility where over 200 hitting bays located in a complete half-mile circle enables PGA to match up real-time performance with some of the equipment companies’ more ambitious marketing claims. Thankfully, today’s hi-tech launch monitors can factor in the effect of the wind and temperature, as it was gusting up to 20mph at times.

LAUNCHES FROM PING & CALLAWAY There were big queues to test Callaway’s new Epic Flash driver, whose face was created using Artificial Intelligence – a golf industry first ¬- as there was for Ping’s new G410 range, whose driver offers movable-weight

technology and a significantly expanded range of custom-fitting options, which will be music to many PGA Members’ ears.

COBRA READY TO POUNCE? There was also a good deal of interest in Wilson Golf’s new D7 woods and irons.

With its keen pricing and solid technology story, the brand favoured by recently appointed Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington could well be in for a good year.

The same could be said about Cobra, whose new King F9 SpeedBack range drew plenty of admirers, as did the appearance of LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson and Blair O’Neal on the stand.

British brand Lynx Golf had a guarded tent to protect prying eyes from its latest launch, the Prowler VT driver, which has a removable face to enable multiple loft options without changing the face angle. www.pga.info

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P G A S H OW R E P O RT T RA DE The other main buzz around the demo day was on the Toptracer stand, where the announcement of a new App-based version of the shot-tracking system will enable golf clubs without covered bays to make use of what is turning out to be a game-changing technology story for the entire industry.

PROV1 HAS PROS IN A SPIN Back in the warmth of the Orange County Convention Centre’s vast halls, among the most keenly anticipated launches was Titleist’s latest ProV1 balls, which have dominated on tour and with the golfing public for coming up to two decades. The stand was busy, as many pros sought to get their first look at the new models, which this time included a new high vis yellow model to go with the traditional white version. It’s a bold move for such a premium brand, but with the trend for coloured balls having taken almost everyone by surprise over the last two years, Titleist could no longer afford to ignore it, even for a ball that costs £52 a dozen. With a new core design and a new cover formulation promising straighter, longer shots, both the ProV1 and ProV1x look sure to get the tills ringing in 2019.

With TaylorMade’s absence from this year’s show creating an almost elephant-sized hole in the room, but the brand’s new M5 and M6 drivers will still command plenty of support from consumers once they hit the shelves.

Mizuno’s return to the show for the first time since 2005 was very much welcomed, and its new ST190 driver, currently in the bags of Luke Donald and Eddie Pepperell, is without doubt its best yet.

CATWALK BRINGS APPAREL TO LIFE Elsewhere, the vast apparel section attracted plenty of attention, especially during the live runway Fashion Show held at the end of the second day. With loud music, bright lights and a raised staged, and insights from industry experts and fashion journalists, the catwalk show really brought the apparel to life, while accentuating the details, attributes and craftsmanship of each piece. Brands taking part included The PGA Professional

| February 2019

SUMMITS AND SEMINARS: LEARNING FROM THE BEST

RUNNING ALONGSIDE the show was a full programme of seminars and forums presented by some of golf’s legendary instructors, players, coaches and specialists from all corners of the industry. PGA President Suzy Whaley set the tone for the week in her introduction to The Future of Coaching, saying: “This is about engaging the consumer, at the right age, during the right time in their golf journey, with you the PGA Professionals, delivering the experience. The future of coaching is in our hands and together we must evolve and adapt to the changes in the game and the new generation of players. So, let’s be innovative like Netflix and Air BnB.” Other headline acts included Greg Norman, who was joined on stage by Solheim Cup star Mel Reid to talk about digital and social branding, while coaching legends Hank Haney, Jim McLean and David Leadbetter were also asked to offer their insights on the latest coaching techniques.

There were a wide range of sessions devoted to strength and conditioning – a fast growing sector of the coaching market, while there were also interesting forums on the power of training aids as teaching tools, while on the business front, there were informative seminarsand forum on merchandising, stock control, tee time management and marketing.

adidas, Callaway Apparel, Under Armour, TravisMathew, Duca Del Cosma and Greg Norman Collection, and afterwards visitors were invited to network with designers and brands one-on-one.

Other noteworthy clothing stories included Galvin Green’s new ShakeDry range, which does just that, while also being incredibly light, while over in footwear, FootJoy’s new Fury shoes, along with new launches from adidas, Puma, Ecco and Skechers, also won over visitors with their comfort-meets-fashion appeal.

On the distance-measuring device front, Bushnell’s new Pro XE laser, which factors in temperature and altitude when calculating yardages, caught the eye, as did SkyCaddie’s SX500 GPS. The on-going search to offer a more fun

and interesting way to get around the golf course than walking was highlighted by a number of companies offering various personal ride-on boards, scooters, and fat-tyred electric motorbikes, but they’re unlikely to make their way across the pond sadly.

In addition to trendy modes of transport, finding new ways of making the learning and playing of the game more engaging for new golfers and millennials was definitely a theme running through the 2019 PGA Show, and the interest surrounding TopGolf, Toptracer and Foresight Sports shows that the industry has woken up to the fact that technology, in all its various forms, combined with the passion and knowledge of PGA Pros, is going to play a pivotal role in ensuring the next generation of golfers become interested in this great game.

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T RA DE E Q U I P M E N T

Room for improvement With higher handicappers most likely to benefit from a custom fitting, it makes sense to stock up on this season’s best game improvement irons, which promise distance gains and easy launch for a wide range of players

CALLAWAY BIG BERTHA THE LATEST addition to the iconic Big Bertha range is aimed at the super game improvement market and is designed to help high handicap players launch the ball high and low with the minimum of effort.

The power behind the new model is a ‘Suspended Energy Core’ which is designed to deliver easy launch; long, consistent distance; and incredible sound and feel. The Energy Core comprises a tungsten weight suspended within a urethane microsphere material located behind the clubface.

Suspending the weight allows the centre of gravity to be positioned deeper in the head, promoting higher launch.

A new thinner and faster 360 Face Cup, boasting a shallow, flexible rim around the perimeter, combines with the high-launch characteristics produced by the Energy Core to deliver long ball flight.

Offered in a smoked PVD finish, they come with a choice of light Recoil ESX graphite shafts or and KBS Max 90 steel shafts and Lamkin S5 Genesis grips.

RRP: £1,149/£1,399, (st/gr, 4-PW), callawaygolf.eu

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PING G410 PING’S LATEST game improvement model comes in a slightly more compact head design than the previous G400 iron, but surprisingly offers more forgiveness and higher ball speeds.

Despite having a smaller blade length, MOI has been increased by 8% through a redesigned cavity that moves weight to the toe and the hosel of the head, coupled with a more flexible face that increases ball speed for greater distance and higher maximum height.

This is achieved by de-coupling the weighting structure from the face to create a larger flexing zone, which performs like a hinge to launch the ball faster and higher with consistency and predictability. Featuring 10% less offset than the G400, and a clean look at address, the higher lofted models in the set (PW-LW) feature the same grooves offered in Ping’s Glide 2.0 wedges to offer high short game spin in a game improvement design.

RRP £126/£136 (st/gr) per club, ping.com

TAYLORMADE M6 THE TAYLORMADE M6 irons feature the brand’s new revolutionary Speed Bridge technology, a redesigned speed pocket and hybrar compression dampner to create its most advanced game improvement iron to date.

The result is a combination of technology that leads to added distance, accuracy and solid feel in a forgiving, confidence-inspiring shape that is easy to hit.

Matt Bovee, Senior Manager, Product Creation says: “Our new Speed Bridge technology allows us to give players maximum distance and forgiveness while improving sound and feel at the same time.”

In addition to Speed Bridge, the M6s also feature an extreme low centre of gravity, an ultra-thin face with Inverted Cone Technology, and a new thru-slot Speed Pocket. There are also new set wedges specifically designed for the mid to high handicap golfer which have been added to the M6 iron set for enhanced playability around the greens.

RRP: £729/£829 (st/gr), taylormadegolf.eu www.pga.info

| #makinggolfhappen

E Q U I P M E N T T RA DE

TITLEIST 718 AP1 THE 718S are the latest generation of the ‘Advanced Performance’ iron that Titleist first launched a decade ago. The latest model takes the AP range in a new direction, with the 4and 5-iron featuring a hollow construction rather than a large cavity back.

The appearance of 52g of high-density tungsten in the toe (up from 42g in the previous model) makes them the company’s most forgiving set of irons yet. The tungsten weights works with the rest of the head design to create a large unsupported face with weight placed around the edges to maximise forgiveness.

The cast stainless steel hollow body has a high strength steel face insert welded on to it and the leading edge has been ground off in order to help it move through the turf more easily.

RRP £699/£749, titleist.co.uk

PING G700 THE G700S borrow the hollow head concept first seen in Ping’s G400 Crossovers and are designed to help golfers with mid-to-slow swing speeds get more distance and height on their shots.

The hollow-body construction creates a frame for driver-like flex to increase ball speed and enhance carry. Shots should also land more steeply than traditional irons, leading to better stopping power on longer shots into greens. A toe weight – either 1g or 6g – serves to reduce twisting at impact as well as customising feel, while a hydropearl finish reduces friction with the turf by up to 40%, so more power is delivered to the ball.

The standard lofts are 0.5 degrees stronger than Ping’s game improvement G400 irons, as the faster face launches the ball higher, so they have to be de-lofted a little to keep the flight the same, but there is a ‘Power Spec’ loft option which is 1.5 degrees lower.

RRP: £149/£159 per club, ping.com

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

WILSON STAFF D7 WILSON HAS taken the appealing aesthetics of its FG Tour V6 irons and game improvement design features of its C300 irons to create the new D7s, a new distance-orientated model.

The clubs couple the thinnest iron face ever produced by the brand in any distance model with the addition of more of the brand’s unique ‘Power Holes’ under the umbrella of new RE-AKT Technology, creating greater ball speeds for longer distances for both centre and off-centre impacts.

The Power Holes that featured on the topline of the C300 irons have been relocated to the sole to create a lower centre of gravity and increased launch angle. The long irons feature three rows of Power Holes for extra forgiveness, the mid-irons two rows, the short irons one, and the wedges none.

The face has been thinned out significantly when compared to the C300 to enhance ball speeds across a wide area of the hitting zone, while the topline has been narrowed to offer a cleaner, more refined look at address. The hosel has also been redesigned and lengthened to allow for a quicker and easier custom fit.

“The D7 is the longest and best-looking super game improvement range we’ve ever produced,” said Doug Wright, commercial director at Wilson Golf. “RE-AKT is a combination of game-enhancing technologies throughout the new D7 range that all add up to delivering greater ball speed, more forgiveness and control to make the game more enjoyable.”

RRP £469/£599 (5-SW, st/gr), wilsonstaff.com 29

T RA DE E Q U I P M E N T

COBRA KING F9 SPEEDBACK THE F9 Speedbacks are Cobra’s most forgiving to date thanks to added weight placed low and back using a belt of steel that wraps around the back of the iron.

The Speedback shaping has allowed more mass to be added low and wide on the heel and toe compared to a traditional iron. When combined with up to 33g of tungsten in the 4-7 irons, the MOI has increased by up to 10 per cent in the long irons, creating more stability for improvements in ball speed, distance, forgiveness, and accuracy.

Cobra’s E9 ‘PWRSHELL’ face is forged and thinner than ever to create high COR, while 1.8mm pockets in the upper heel and toe areas serve to expand the sweetspot. The forged PWRSHELL insert features a deep undercut sole design and an all new 1.2 mm internal Speed Channel absorbs and returns more energy to the ball for faster ball speeds and increased launch angle.

A seven-piece iron set (5-GW) is offered with KBS Tour 90 steel shafts, while a One Length version, where each shaft is the length of a traditional 7-iron, is also in the line up.

RRP £749/£649, cobragolf.co.uk

CLEVELAND LAUNCHER CBX THE CBX irons are a progressive cavity back set whose long irons feature a low-profile shape to help keep the centre of gravity low for higher launch, while the narrow profile also gets extra power from a cupface design (4-7 iron), which provides better face flexing for more ball speed and higher coefficient of restitution or spring-like effect.

The set gets progressively more compact from long to short irons to add playability. They feature the same ‘Tour Zip’ grooves found in the brand’s wedges, which also boast laser-milled lines between each groove to maximize spin.

A V-shaped sole, which features more bounce towards the leading edge and less in the trailing edge, provides smoother interaction with the turf.

RRP £570/£648 (4-PW), clevelandgolf.co.uk

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E Q U I P M E N T T RA DE

HONMA TWORLD 747 P ALTHOUGH WIDELY known for its premium clubs with gold-plated head insets and expensive price tags, Japanese brand Honma’s latest irons are no more expensive than other premium brands, yet their craftsmanship and use of quality materials is often far superior.

This is certainly the case with its new range of TWorld 747 irons, which are offered in a forged players’ model, the 747 Vx, and a cast game improvement design, 747P. The 747 P irons feature an undercut cavity and provide plenty of confidence at address and increased forgiveness on miss-hits. Made from high-strength stainless steel, the sole contains a 20g tungsten weight that lowers the centre of gravity to offer the ideal combination of high trajectory and long distance.

Both iron sets are available in 3-11 irons, plus a sand wedge, with a choice of Nippon Pro steel shafts or Honma’s own Vizard graphite shafts.

RRP: £969, honmagolfeurope.com

PXG 0311 XF THE 0311 XF irons offer extreme forgiveness while maintaining the sleek look and superior feel of a blade. A large internal cavity and slightly longer blade with extra offset mean extreme forgiveness, while a thin top rail maintains a great look.

A moderately wide sole improves impact consistency, while a deeper centre of gravity from a larger trailing edge on the sole make it an easier to get the ball up in the air. The body of the head is hollow and filled with a Thermoplastic Elastomer that supports the thinner face to improve energy transfer and also dampens vibrations to improve the feel.

The back of the head features ten tungsten alloy screws (seven towards the sole and three high on the toe) to position the centre of gravity in the right place and add some visual drama. The weight in the toe combined with the double offset on the trailing edge by the heel helps square the face up at impact and provide that deeper centre of gravity for the extra launch.

RRP: £2,400, pxg.com

MIZUNO JPX919 HOT METAL THE HOT Metal irons are the most forgiving model in Mizuno’s new range of JPX 919 range, and are designed to offer the perfect blend of ball speed and controllable flight.

The use of high-strength steel has enabled Mizuno’s designers to construct a multi-thickness face that promotes high ball speeds, while a seamless one-piece cup face construction ensures generous levels of feedback. It shares the 919 Tour iron’s new stability frame, which is open at the heel portion to enhance stability, launch and a loft-appropriate flight apex for controlled, soft-landing approaches.

Re-engineered ‘sound ribs’ have been developed to hit specific vibration patterns that ensure a satisfying sensation through impact.

The set offers a steeper transition into more compact scoring irons and wedges, with set-matching gap, sand and lob wedges made from a softer X30 steel and featuring precision-milled grooves and faces for improved spin and control around the greens.

RRP: £120/£130 per club, golf.mizunoeurope.com

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

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Layering up

The vagaries of the British weather present an ideal opportunity to sell your customers a wide range of garments to cope with rapidly changing temperatures, writes Angela Youngman

Ping Collection

The Norse Jacket is an ideal winter outerlayer

Ping Collection has layering covered to a tee this season, with its headline outer garment being the waterproof Norse jacket, a quilted polyester top that features lightweight thermal insulation, which will keeps the wearer both warm and dry. Breatheable, windproof, water-resistant and boasting stretch properties for easy swinging, it’s the ideal winter golfing partner.

A key piece in Ping’s Sensor Cool range is the Herman quarter-zip pullover, which made from a performanceblended fabric to provide a soft-cotton touch.

Moisture-moving properties make it the ideal year-round golfing companion.

Mid-layer needs are covered by the Fracture Pullover, a yarn-dyed performance top with zip-neck opening. Moisture-moving and stretch qualities make this a perfect lightweight piece for all seasons.

This also applies to the Constance Top, a half-zip technical top with funnel neck and a contrast colour blocked design.

RRPS: Norse Jacket £140; Herman Pullover £75; Fracture Pullover £65; Constance Top £60. www.pingcollection.co.uk

Herman 1/4 zip pullover

Peter Millar Sheer versatility, combined with a sharp modern look continues to make the Perth mid-layer a best selling garment worldwide. The quick-drying, easy-care Legacy sweater fleece vest and jacket make a great combination with suede detailing for a sophisticated touch.

Equally useful as an intermediate layer is the All Day lightweight MicroFleece quarter-zip (pictured left), as the easy-care fabric provides exceptional warmth and convenience as it is brushed both sides for optimal softness.

Definitely worth considering is the men’s Deuce reversible, lightweight vest (bottom left), which combines a quilted stretch knit shell and a microfibre woven face that’s windproof and waterresistant, with a smooth jersey face fleece interior.

For women, the lightweight, hybrid cotton plaited vest complete with slight drop tail is set to be a winning option. It is made from an innovative cotton-polyplaited windbreaker fabric that provides a slick interior surface for good layering and protection from the elements. The Snake Print reversible vest (top left) makes a stylish alternative. Made from premium polyester fabric with a sleek snake print design, it reverses to a solid navy thus creating endless layering options.

RRPS: Legacy Sweater Fleece Full-zip vest £125; Legacy Sweater Fleece Full Zip jacket £140 www.petermillar.com

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www.pga.info

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A P PA R E L T RA DE

Glenbrae

Women’s merino 1/4 zip jersey

Glenbrae’s new baselayer has been several years in the making, and is said to be unique compared to any other knitwear garment in the world. Knitted integrally, so that there are no seams to irritate, with ergonomic ribs and cubs to add extra compression and grip, it also features a panel of pointelle to provide extra breathability and greater stretch.

Glenbrae’s Alan Purdie says: “Merino has always been the ultimate performance fabric, and combined with our seamless technology and 3D manufacturing technique, this garment is the finest garment we have ever produced.”

Other merino products include a classic roll neck jersey and a full-zip top. These can be usefully combined with a water resistant, windproof gilet to provide the ideal answer for variable weather conditions. Equally eye-catching are the ladies textured lambswool zip neck tops in colourful pinks, purples and blues, while Glenbrae’s pretty lambswool gilet has already proved to be one of their most popular new launches.

RRPS: Merino Base layer £80; Men’s merino jersey £85; Women’s merino contrast neck £86; Women’s lambswool gilet £75; Women’s lambswool jersey £80. www.glenbrae.com

Galvin Green Galvin Green is calling younger golfers to attention with its militaryinspired Edge collection for 2019.

The radical styling of the new range features an unconventional selection of jackets, jumpers, shirts, caps and belts in green, grey and blue colour variations, many with a fashionable camo look.

In keeping with the military theme, each of the garments has a name that would resonate with service personnel.

Leading the new collection is the Captain Green waterproof

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

full-zip jacket in Gore-Tex fabric with a lightweight mesh lining. The jacket features articulated sleeves, adjustable cuffs, plus front inside, chest and sleeve pockets. The Captain Blue jacket offers similar features in blue camo tones.

The Commando is styled as a camouflage grey crew-neck jacket in Insula warm layer fabric. The full-zip jacket features two front pockets and an elasticated hem and cuffs for comfort as well as warmth.

Another standout Insula jacket is the Major, with an olive green,

quilted design that resembles a jacket worn by a test pilot. It also has an unusual off-centre full-length zip. A similar design has been applied to the versatile Interface-1 full zip jacket called the Semi-Biker.

There are also seven Ventil8 shirts in the collection offering a high level of breathability, excellent moisture wicking properties and UPF20+. They include Armed Force, a long sleeve shirt in striking plain blue with a camo band along the arms. www.galvingreen.com.

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T RA DE A P PA R E L

FootJoy FootJoy have focused on new technologies and innovations to enable golfers to ‘layer up’ with baselayers, polos, layering pieces and outwear carrying consistent themes throughout.

Several stylish textured items appear within Footjoy’s Autumn/Winter collection, notably the Thermal Quilted Jackets and Vests, and Fleece Quilted Jackets, which offer maximum warmth for the coldest months. The latter is made from a durable woven shell fabric that features a water-repellent finish to deliver excellent protection from the rain and wind. Strategicallypositioned fleece panels have been added to trap, retain and circulate heat without sacrificing the jacket’s breathable and moisture-wicking properties. A golf- specific stretch shoulder insert offers complete freedom of movement to swing.

Combining these with FootJoy’s outer, mid and base layers enables golfers to create a comprehensive wardrobe suitable for Britain’s unpredictable weather.

The sky blue Textured Dot Jacquard top, manufactured in an adaptive textile, provides a great fashion statement, which looks fantastic with the darker coloured tops and vests. While the women’s brushed chill out layer incorporates a higher collar at the back to protect the neckline for cold breezes.

RRPS: Men’s Fleece Thermal quilted jacket £140; Men’s Fleece quilted jacket £120; Men’s Thermal Quilted vest £110; ProDry Performance Base Layer £50; Long Sleeved Dot Geo Jacquard £65; Chill-Out Xtreme Pullover £85; Women’s Fleece thermal quilted jacket £110; Full zip branded Chill-out £65; Thermal quilted vest £100; Full zip brushed Chill-Out Vest £60; Performance Base Layer £50. www.footjoy.co.uk

Top left: FootJoy Baselayer Above: Fleece Quilted Jacket Left: ChillOut Xtreme pullover

Bunker Mentality Vibrant reds and blues combined with accent shades or darker colours characterize Bunker Mentality’s intermediate ranges. The 1/4 zip Enduro top (near right) has become an iconic, best selling piece constantly in demand.

The super stretch fabric is a softly brushed inside and is available in black/red and blue/navy.

A slightly different style has been adopted by the Sports stripe mid layer, which combines blue, navy and white colouring for a traditional style with a sporty, contemporary twist. An extra benefit is that the Sports Stripe is made in a high performance wicking fleece lined polyester fabric possessing an exceptional 360 degree stretch.

Bunker Mentality has also teamed up with Clo Insulation to develop the warmest gilet the brand has ever produced in the form of its warm, quilted Kai (far right), which provides breathable protection from the elements while keeping arms and shoulders unrestricted.

RRPS: Kai Gilet £85; Enduro £69 www.bunker-mentality.com.

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R E TA I L WATC H T RA DE

Taking back control in 2019 Phil Barnard, chairman of golf retail consultancy Crossover Technologies, assesses the retail prospects for 2019. And, yes, it does involve Brexit

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HOW WILL BREXIT IMPACT SALES? The key thing on everyone’s mind for 2019 is how Brexit is going to shake down.

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

‘‘

The key thing is to control what you can control. Focus on your customer, stock sensibly and respond to whatever the year throws at us

‘‘

ell, 2018 was an interesting year, wasn’t it? England did well in a football tournament. Europe thrashed the US in the Ryder Cup. The Beast from the East caused havoc, only to be followed by a heatwave that got us all in a sweat. And finally, the political system imploded, with talks around Brexit, referendums and general elections leaving the general public in a spin. It’s no wonder we saw the worst Christmas sales for 10 years. But, what does this mean for golf retail in 2019?

The beginning of 2018 saw a terrible start to the year, with the golf industry down double digits by the end of Q1. The weather is a key driver in golf and much of the rot in 2018 had laid roots during a poor Q4 in 2017, which was very wet. Thankfully, Q4 2018 was pretty good, with rounds-played up, year on year. While not as good as 2017, last year still showed solid improvements on previous years overall, with nearly a 17% increase in sales on 2014.

Fingers crossed we should see an improved start to 2019, with dryer courses and a better weather pattern. There’s every chance of an uptick in Q1, compared to last year.

Later in the year, it’s unlikely we’ll see another heatwave, and we won’t have the World Cup to contend with. While I wouldn’t bank on beating last May’s numbers, – the biggest we have ever seen – there’s a strong chance that the rest of the summer might produce some good results in most categories.

While the current uncertainty is bad for spending, life still goes on, and I have a feeling that it’ll have less of an effect on golf retail than we fear. It’s possible big purchases – clubs and trolleys – might be delayed while people wait for an outcome, although I expect less impact overall. By the end of Q1, we really should have a better idea about what’s going to happen with Brexit.

GREATEST CHALLENGE IN 2019 The biggest challenge in 2019 will be the shake-up in general retail. Last year was a killer year, in a bad way, with a record number of high street stores falling into administration, including American Golf.

One of the core issues for most struggling retailers is their biggest expense: retail space. Many retailers have too many shops and need to reduce the number of stores.

Luckily, this isn’t a problem for most golf retailers, as they operate independently, and at a club or driving range, that covers the rent. So, for most, the mechanics are different.

Another factor affecting retail overall, is that people are starting to favour what retailers do, and not what they sell. Again, this is an opportunity for pro shops to provide activities and experience. Golf retailers must ensure they deliver on both fronts: offering coaching to help improve the golfer’s experience, whilst providing a strong retail proposition, with advice and convenience.

Retailing is becoming more complicated, with consumer habits changing quicker than ever. However, customers continue to look for value and service, and that is something every golf retailer has a chance to deliver. The key thing is to control what you can control. Focus on your customer, stock sensibly and respond to whatever the year throws at us.

Good luck!

Phil Barnard is Chairman of Crossover Technologies and European Partner at Golf Datatech.

Follow him on Twitter @phil_barnard and LinkedIn 35

T RA DE B E I N G YO U R OW N B O S S

Budgeting advice for freelancers Budgeting for freelancers doesn’t follow a conventional path. After all, how can you plan your future if your income is irregular? In the second part of our Being Your Own Boss series, Mark Hopkins catches up with freelance PGA Professional Emma Brown

“I

Making a budget

1

DO YOU HAVE A GOAL? The first step is to work out where you want to be in two, three or even five years.

Do you have ambitions to be a Director of Golf, or do hanker after a new house?

If you’re financially motivated, for example, work out what you need to save to achieve your goal, and work back from there. Your long-term goals should be the motivators to do the ‘boring’ stuff, like setting a budget.

Once you’ve done this, you can look at your expenses against your average income, and make your budget.

3

Budgeting is crucial to freelancers like Emma Brown

‘‘

Budgeting is an essential part of running any business, but the fact that Emma’s income is irregular makes the process even more important

‘‘

’ve never budgeted,” says PGA Pro Emma Brown. “I know I’m supposed to do it, although I’m not sure why, but I can’t afford to waste time doing something I might not need.”

For many, the word ‘budget’ is a real turn-off, with connotations of paperwork and hassle. However, having a budget can actually save you money and, whether you’re a lover of Excel sheets or scraps of paper, it doesn’t need to be complicated.

A budget is really just knowing how much money you have coming in (income), how much money you have going out (costs/expenses), and working with what’s left.

Budgeting is an essential part of running any business, but the fact that Emma’s income is irregular and unpredictable makes the process even more important.

2

HOW MUCH DO YOU SPEND? Track your expenses for about three months to start with. For freelancers like Emma, these might include overheads such as rental at the club, use of facilities, hardware, demo clubs, and the cost of her own equipment and clothing.

KEEP TRACK OF PAYMENTS As a freelancer, it’s essential for Emma to stay on top of money she’s earned, and have systems in place to check invoices have been paid.

“I’ll admit when I first started out, I wasn’t that great at looking back at what lessons I’d given, against what payments I’d received,” Emma admits. “So last year, I asked clients to sign up to a three-month package by direct debit, which most people did, and it worked really well. And, because I’ve linked the system to my bank account, I can look to see if payments have gone through.”

4

ALLOCATE SPEND Financial advisors generally suggest we work to the 50/30/20 rule: living on 50% of your income, and dividing the other 50% between spending (30%) and saving (20%).

If you can stick to those proportions, and follow the steps above, you should have enough money to live well and also work towards for the goals you’ve set yourself.

Next edition: Planning and Marketing for Freelancers

We believe every golf Professional can run a successful business, whether you are a freelancer coach, or running a retail business. Follow us on social for business advice, tips and news.

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R E TA I L WATC H T RA DE

The lull before the storm Things may be quiet in the pro shop this month, but spend the time wisely and you’ll be ready to hit the ground running when the season gets into full swing

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tatistically speaking, February is the quietest month of the year for retailers in the UK golf industry.

We’ve shut the door on the festivities, the sales are over, but sadly the weather isn’t enticing people back to the courses.

It’s the lull before the storm, and there’s plenty to do during the second month of the year to prepare for the months ahead.

Savvy retailers should be preparing the shop and establishing good habits now, before footfall increases and the shop gets busier.

So what should pros be doing to get ready for the upcoming season?

Final clearance of excess stock This month, it’s likely you’ll be receiving some new stock, such as clubs, balls, bags and clothing, and you’ll need space to put it in. Apart from taking up room, excess stock ties up capital that you could otherwise be re-investing.

The average Pro Shop has approximately £16,000 too much stock. Use February to clear the decks and review any forward orders.

Crossover’s ‘Golden Rule’ is that no stock items should have a birthday, and ideally you should be turning over stock every three-to-four months. But if you do have any surplus stock, there are proven techniques you can try.

1

IDENTIFY It might seem obvious, but make sure you know what your excess stock is. Don’t guess. A good epos system will be able to tell you which products are unpopular or haven’t sold.

Set up stocks of new products on your EPOS system ahead of their arrival into the shop

2

REMERCHANDISE Replace worn-out price tags, try a new layout in the shop, move things around and reposition categories. It’s amazing what a ‘re-jig’ can do!

3 Bundle up cheaper items with more expensive products to encourage sales of end-of-line products

BUNDLING Bundle certain items so they’re cheaper together than if they were sold separately. This is a popular tactic and means your average order will increase, while you clear surplus stock. Try bundling slowmoving stock with faster-selling items, or

complimentary items, such as socks with golf shoes.

4

SELL SURPLUS STOCK ONLINE Heavy discounts on stock items set dangerous precedents for your customers.

Instead, have a look at selling excess stock off-site – perhaps on eBay or Amazon.

5

HOLD A ‘FLASH’ SALE Sales are the most common way to get rid of excess stock, but try not to be predictable with events, or customers will wait for the sales before purchasing certain items.

New stock delivery The clock starts ticking as soon as stock comes in and you want to aim to sell it before the next batch of stock arrives in three months’ time. Preparation, in anticipation of new stock arrival in February and March, is key.

Where will the new stock go? It’s a good idea to have a merchandising plan already in place, and if possible, allocate responsibility to a member of the team.

Best practice would mean that by now, you’ve already created new stock items on your epos system, ready for the new stock products. So, when they arrive, you can easily log them against the order.

It may seem obvious, but always check the order as soon as it arrives, to ensure you haven’t got less, or more, than you ordered.

It’s also important to review how much the order cost you. It’s easy to forget a few days or weeks down the line, when the invoice comes in.

Crossover Technologies provides epos and business solutions, designed specifically for pro shops. Golf retailers around the world benefit from working with our expert, friendly teams. Visit www.crossovertec.co.uk, or call 01454 418395

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

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T RAV EL  D E S T I N AT I O N G U I D E

Magical Mauritius With turquoise seas, white sands and emerald fairways, the tiny tropical island of Mauritius is a golfing paradise, and there few better resorts to take a golf group to than the five-star Constance Belle Mare Plage

FACT FILE The best time to travel Mauritius is a great all year-round destination but the most popular time to travel for pro groups are between the months of November and March, where temperatures reach up to 28 degrees C making it perfect opportunity to escape the UK for some winter sun!

Getting there Ten direct flights per week operate out of London hubs, with British Airways and Thomson Airways departing from Gatwick, while Air Mauritius flies from Heathrow. The average flight time is 12 hours and most resorts are only a short transfer away.

T The luxurious 5-star Constance Belle Mare Plage Resort

The undulating Links course

The Legend course is home to MCB Tour Championship Practice facilities at the Legend course are perfect for coaching

here are many fabulous resorts on the island of Mauritius, but none more popular with pro groups looking to mix luxurious accommodation and service with tour standard golf than the 5* Constance Belle Mare Plage. Ideally situated on one of the most beautiful white sandy beaches in Mauritius on the northeast coast of the island, it is only a 60-minute transfer from Sir Rangoolam International Airport or a 15 minute helicopter ride!

The stunning resort boasts two 18-hole championship golf courses, the Links and Legend, the latter being home to the Staysure Tour’s seasonal finale, the MCB Tour Championship.

The Legend golf course designed by South African Hugh Baiocchi, is located along one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius and right outside the hotel.

Watch out for the herds of Java deer as they strut about the championship layout, surrounded by water and laid in the heart of an indigenous forest. The 6,579-yard course is built to USPGA specifications and will provide a stern but enjoyable test for each member of your group.

The 6,500-yard Links course, designed

by Rodney Wright and Peter Alliss was

opened in 2002 and is a challenging 18 hole course also built to USPGA specifications.

In contrast to the Legend course, the Links has been laid out over beautiful undulating terrain with raised tee boxes and greens.

Facing the setting sun, it is perfect for an afternoon round after coaching your group in the morning.

Both courses are well equipped with excellent practice facilities including a range, practice area and putting green if you are planning on offering tuition for your members. Unlimited balls are complimentary and an area of the practice facilities can be reserved on request for your group.

When not playing golf, the highly acclaimed resort offers an extensive array of amenities. 6 trendy bars and no less than 7 restaurants can also be found at this 5-star resort. With a wide variety of international cuisine on offer, there will be something to please even the pickiest members of your group. A trip to the hotels fine dining restaurant, Blue Penny Cellar is also a must visit for your group at least once during your stay.

The exclusive a la carte restaurant is located in a sophisticated wine cellar and houses around 15,000 bottles of wine from more than 1,300 wineries around the world!

To find out more about Mauritius or any other destination worldwide please get in touch with the Golf Pro Travel team at Golfbreaks.com on 01753 752 880 or email golfpro@golfbreaks.com

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B U S I N E S S T RAV E L

The early pro catches the birdies!

When organising an overseas trip for a group of members, whether it’s a coaching camp or an escorted holiday, it’s vital to plan ahead and book early to secure the best deals at the best venues

Give your group plenty of notice

The earlier you plan your trip, and promote it to your members and clients, the better chance you have of filling up the places and getting a good size group to increase your profit margin.

We often hear when a pro advertises their trip too late that they have a number of members that wanted to attend, but they already had something else in diary. Had the trip been planned and advertised earlier, it would have taken priority in most of their members’ diaries and their trip would have been filled easily.

Bearing this in mind, it is vital to give your clients plenty of notice, so that they avoid clashing commitments, and secondly, so they can budget for the trip well in advance.

Secure the best price

Hotels and resorts like to get bookings in early and are often willing to offer significant discounts for doing so. There is

Great deals can be found by booking early at popular resorts like Islantilla

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

Amendoeira in Portugal is Golfbreaks.com most popular venue for pro groups

a popular myth that if you wait until the last minute to book you will get a better deal. This is very rarely the case, especially at the most popular hotels and resorts, unless there is a late cancellation, so you are far better off planning your trip and booking early.

Early booking discounts can save up to 30% off the standard rate, with some venues offering added deals on green

fees and buggies, so securing the best possible price for your group will help get customers interested.

Secure the best tee times

As with hotels, tee time availability at popular courses book up very quickly, so it is vital you book early to not only secure the best price for your group, but guarantee the best tee times.

This takes on additional importance if you are running a coaching break for your members, as you will need to work the tee times around your coaching requirements.

If you leave it until a couple of months before you travel, you are likely to get stuck with very early or very late tee times. No one wants to be teeing off at the crack of dawn when they’re on holiday. Equally, you don’t want to be teeing off late in the afternoon and struggling to get around before the light fades. The later you leave it, the harder it is to book consecutive times so your group can all play together, so it is advisable that you book as early as possible.

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T RAV EL B U S I N E S S

A small deposit secures the best tee times for your group

Hotel availability

Popular hotels and resorts book up very quickly now, particularly in sought-after destinations such as Portugal, Spain and Turkey. So if you want to make sure your requirements can be met, if you have a large group, or have a number of clients that want a single room, then, yes, you’ve guessed it – book early or be prepared to stay at your second or third choice resort.

Book early to get the best deal for your members

room for your groups’ clubs, meaning you will have to hire a set once you are out there.

Golfbreaks.com have a partnership with award-winning airline Jet2, which has a wide range of flight routes to popular destinations throughout Europe, and can help with bookings of 10 or more people.

Reserving the practice facilities

Practice facilities at popular coaching resorts, such as Amendoeira in Portugal or La Manga in Spain, tend to get booked up well in advance. You may find, particularly during the winter months, that there are other pros attending with coaching groups.

Therefore, the earlier you book, the more likely your coaching requirements will be prioritised and you will be able to secure the facilities at the times you want, making it far easier to plan your coaching/playing itinerary.

Get the best deal on flights

Another common myth is that flight prices will drop drastically closer to your travel date.

While this may be true in some cases, you are

more likely to find that the plane is full on popular routes to places such as Faro, Malaga and Antalya, rather than saving a few pounds on the price. I f you book your hotel and golf early to secure the best deal, but wait until the last minute to book your flights, then you are asking for trouble. In fact, you will often secure the best deal early on, just after the flights have been released by the airlines. As the number of seats on the plane decreases, the price tends to go up. Most airlines also have a maximum number of golf bags they allow in the baggage hold, so if you leave it until the last minute to a popular golfing destination, you may find that there is no

Secure your booking with a small deposit

When booking with the Golf Pro Travel team at Golfbreaks.com, you only need to place a small deposit per person to secure the best rate and availability of rooms, tee times and coaching facilities for your group. Deposits start from as little as £35 per person for a UK booking, and once this has been paid your booking is secured and your group’s final balance will be due 10-12 weeks before travel, depending on your destination. With such a small deposit, it makes sense to plan in advance so you and your group can get the most out of your break.

For more information on how the Golf Pro Travel Team at Golfbreaks.com can help with your next trip, or if you would like a visit to your home club or facility by one of the team to discuss your travel options, call 01753 752 880 or email golfpro@golfbreaks.com

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O F F E R S T RAV E L

Tropical flavour Does tropical island golf in the Indian Ocean float your boat? Then look no further than our most popular Golf Pro Travel stay & play packages in Mauritius.

Don’t forget, you receive 5% commission* as a PGA Professional when booking with Golfbreaks.com as well as benefiting from our Breakpoints loyalty scheme!

Constance Belle Mare Plage 5★ Key facts

• Luxury resort for golfing or coaching break • 1 hour from Sir Ramgoolam International Airport • Legend & Links - 2 championship golf courses on-site • Legend course hosts Staysure Tour event • Excellent practice facilities – FREE unlimited balls for coaching • Selection of 7 restaurants & 6 bars • Host of activities including water sports, tennis, gym & spa

★ PGA Pro Package

• 7 nights half board • Golf (Legend & Links) payable direct to hotel at 600 MRU (£13) per round • From £755 per amateur – Pro goes FREE with 7 amateurs

Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort 5★ Key facts

• Luxury resort for golfing or coaching break • 1 hour from Sir Ramgoolam International Airport • Heritage GC - 18-hole championship golf course on-site • 9-hole par 3 course, short game area & double-ended grass range • Selection of 12 bars & restaurants • Host of activities including water sports, tennis, gym & spa

★ PGA Pro Package

• 7 nights all inclusive • 7 rounds of golf (Heritage GC) • From £1289 per amateur – Pro receives reduced rate

Anahita Golf & Spa Resort 5★ Key facts

• Luxury resort for golfing or coaching break • 1 hour from Sir Ramgoolam International Airport • Anahita GC – Ernie Els design 18-hole championship golf course on-site • Anahita GC host to European Tour event Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open • Excellent practice facilities • Selection of 7 bars & restaurants • Host of activities including water sports, tennis, gym & spa

Golfbreaks.com Quinta do Lago Pro-Am 2019

★ PGA Pro Package

• 7 nights half board • 7 rounds of golf (Anahita & Ile aux Cerfs) • From £1015 per amateur – Pro goes FREE with 7 amateurs

★ There is still time to enter our annual Overseas Pro-Am to Quinta do Lago from 1-4 March 2019

• 3 nights’ accommodation at Monte da Quinta Resort • 3 rounds of golf – North, South & Laranjal including buggies • Welcome dinner at Bovino Steakhouse and prize giving lunch at QDL • Plus goody bags, golf transfers, practice balls and £8,000 Professional prize fund** • Amateur price from £949 – Pro Free with 3 amateurs *Overseas Pro-Am excluded from 5% commission. **Prize fund based on 20 teams, fund will be altered pro rata dependent on final number of teams.

For more information on how the Golf Pro Travel Team at Golfbreaks.com can help, please call 01753 752 880 or email golfpro@golfbreaks.com The PGA Professional

| February 2019

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COACHING O P I N I O N

National Coaching – some dealbreakers for success PGA Advanced Fellow Jonathan Wallett, Head Coach to the Hong Kong national team and development programme, and founder of the Elite Coaching Golf Academy, provides an insight into national coaching programmes and the ‘deal-breakers’ for success

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ith new funds becoming available to golf through its Olympic status, the coaching programmes of county, regional and national golf associations are ever increasing.

Back in the late 1980s, I vividly remember attending a two-day English Golf Union coaching camp in the spring and autumn with national coach John Stirling at Meon Valley. John would walk down the line on the range giving us the once-over with our set ups, then organising some competitive practice games with the group, and finishing off by telling us some jokes!

These days, most national coaching programmes involve biomechanics, physical competency testing and psychology in order to strive to optimise player development.

Often there have been many challenges for regional and national coaching programmes, with overlap and friction with club coaches. It often leaves players confused and unsure of who to listen to and, sometimes receiving contradictory advice.

It can be frustrating for club coaches, who may have been on a lengthy journey with the player and having some success, hence why they have been selected for the squad or

Teenager Leon D'Souza became the first Hong Kong-based player to make the cut at the European Tour Hong Kong Open in November 2017

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Hong Kong's junior golfers have benefitted from a coherent coaching structure that sets defined and measureable targets

team – only for them to be relegated to the backbench, while an ‘expert’ coach is parachuted in above them.

So this begs the question – what makes for a good national coaching system, and what creates a bad one?

I think the starting point is defining roles.

Primarily, I believe that national, regional and county coaching programmes should be focused on performance coaching. What is performance coaching? Let’s first define the difference between ’coaching’ and ‘instruction’. For me, the difference between instruction and coaching is that instruction is ‘telling’ and coaching is ‘asking questions’.

So coaching questions could look like: - How do you feel the season is going?

- What have been the challenges so far?

- If you are able to start again, would you do anything different? If so, why?

- What are the potential obstacles in the future?

- Define the difference between a ‘great,’ ‘good’ and an ‘OK’ three months?

- What are the deal-breakers in moving from ‘OK’ to ‘Great’ in your opinion as you see it today?

- How can you stay accountable to these deal-breakers moving forward?

Examples of instruction could be: - You need to turn your shoulders more.

- Your clubface is too open on the takeaway.

So the next step is to define the term ‘Performance Coaching’. For me, Performance Coaching is based around building skills, and skills which are quite directly correlated to scoring. So for example: - Self-efficacy (building the belief to achieve).

- Assisting players build a practice system. www.pga.info

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O P I N I O N COAC H I N G

3D Biomechanics expert Ryan Lumsden working with Hong Kong national team player Chloe Chan

- Assisting players build their tournament system – before (preparation), during and after (review).

- Assisting players build their thinking systems (and understanding their trust breakdowns).

- Coaching players to build and understand their technical systems.

- Building their ‘plan for success’.

- Create an environment for success.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it gives you an idea. So, does that mean there is no instruction? Definitely not. In Hong Kong, we brought in specialist consultants who can give a level of expertise to players that some club coaches are unable to deliver. However, the player’s club coaches are always invited to these sessions. I believe there should be space for these consultants to work with the home coaches separately to the player in order to upskill them – the coaches in Hong Kong have welcomed this initiative, and it has created an inclusive environment where they feel part of the national programme with an opportunity to give their input into brainstorming sessions.

BUILD A SUSTAINABLE PLAYER FUNNEL I’ve often seen committees of national golf programmes endure a roller-coaster of emotions – when one player does well, suddenly everything is good and proof that things are working. The next month results are poor, and then suddenly knee-jerk crisis The PGA Professional

| February 2019

management decisions are being discussed.

A common mistake is that success of a programme is based on the success of one or a minority of players. But if the success of one player is the defining criteria, then surely every country represented by a player who gets to No.1 in the world could claim to have the best player development programme in the world?

So how you define success? I think this is a critical question every coach, player and programme should address. There must be a measurement instrument. Just imagine the CEO of a company not having any measurement instruments to define the success of their strategy?

In Hong Kong, one of the first things we did was to create a defined ‘Player Funnel’.

Every three months we measured the number of players at each stage of the funnel.

The markers we chose for Hong Kong – let’s remember there are just five golf clubs in the region – were: - Players in top 500 WR - Players in top 1000 WR - Players in top 2500 WR - Players on WR - Players with handicap 5 or less (U15/ U18) - Players with a handicap - Players enrolled in schools programmes

directly involved in regional or national coaching, I believe the concept of creating a ‘Player Funnel’ applies equally. Your funnel may look like this: - Number of new Juniors trying golf for the first time - Number of Juniors joining your ‘Starter Programme’ - Number of Juniors with a handicap - Players with handicaps below 18 - Players with handicaps below 10 - Players with handicaps below 5 - Players with handicaps below +0.1 Keep measurements for each stage of your Player Funnel every quarter, and it is amazing how this sharpens your focus and your mind into a result-orientated landscape.

Just imagine if you improve every stage of the Funnel every three months, your programme will be the standout programme in your region in three years time.

County, regional and national coaching can really contribute to a player’s development, but it can also be a hindrance. It requires all coaches to understand their role, create an inclusive environment, and to build a measurable Player Funnel.

Interested in becoming an Elite Performance Certified Coach? Jonathan has run a certification programme since 2014, but now this programme

Then we created a specific input map, reviewed every three months for each stage of the funnel, based around my model for Player Development (the four quadrants of player development – Instruction, Coaching, Environment, Experiences). I then looked at the numbers the previous two years in order to understand trendlines.

Critical to this strategy was to create a think tank of the local experts to assist me to shape our strategy to make it work in the local environment. PGA Professionals in key roles in Hong Kong golf such as Dean Nelson, Peter Downie, Grant Gibson and Paul Riley have been invaluable, and I would implore any regional or national coaching program to involve all relevant stakeholders in the decision making process.

If you are a club coach, but are not

will be offered online from April 1, 2019. For more details, visit, https://elitecoaching.lpages.co/ become-a-certified-elite-performance-coach/ Are you managing a County, Regional or National Coaching Programme? Jonathan offers a consultancy service. Sign up here to learn more. https://elitecoaching.lpages.co/ national-golf-programs-consultancy/

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P E R SONA L D E V E LO P M E NT YO U R B R A N D

New Year, New You Brand consultant Antje Derks offers some New Year’s resolutions for making your business the best it can be in 2019

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e’re a month into the New Year, which means you still have 11 left to make this the best year yet for your golfing business. You’ve likely had some downtime to reflect on 2018 – what went well and what didn’t quite hit the mark. If you haven’t, now is a good time to review things and set some goals to work towards. Here are five things you should focus on to step up your game in 2019.

1. Killer web content Your website is your digital shopfront – and you should treat it as such. Think about the frustrations you have when you visit other businesses sites. Are their articles littered with errors? Is the content outdated?

Is the site difficult to navigate?

Now, take an objective look at your own site, and get one of your colleagues or friends to give it a critical review. Fine-tune your copy and ensure you’ve included a ‘call to action’. Have a look at your search engine optimisation keywords – are they still relevant? It’s important to integrate them into your writing in an organic way that allows the piece to flow, but means that search engines can find you. Remember, your web content writing is a sales pitch to clients – would you hire you?

2. Social media marketing Social media marketing is here to stay.

Indeed, a lot of small businesses are allocating more and more budget to marketing on Facebook and Instagram by boosting posts to reach targeted audiences. If you’re not active on social media, then you absolutely need to be – you are missing out on opportunities that your competition is taking advantage of.

You don’t need to be a tech genius to be successful. You just need a smartphone or a tablet and make use of one of the free scheduling tools – like Buffer – that we

44

reviewed last year. If your accounts are up and running, use the new year to revamp your banner images and put a call to action in your biography.

3. Backlinks One of the best ways to boost your all-important search engine rankings is to have other websites link to yours – these create backlinks that proves to Google that your content is relevant enough for people to want to share. The first place to start is to make sure your home club links to your website. Writing guest blog posts for the local paper or lifestyle magazines, can also generate backlinks.

4. Being your own PR machine You don’t have to hire an agency to do some solid PR work. It’s easy enough to do it yourself. Naturally, it may take a bit of extra time, but it is well worth the effort.

Aside from writing the odd guest blog, try and write something for the local newspaper or lifestyle magazine. Also, sign up to HARO – short for ‘help a reporter out’. It’s a great way to kick-start your online PR mission. With the free e-mail newsletter service, you can contact journalists and writers who are looking to highlight products, companies and services in their articles. It’s free exposure for you, but, of course, it might take a few attempts before you get a call back.

5. Blog like a champion Lastly, if you have a website, you should have a blog. It is the easiest and most effective way of putting fresh content out in a steady stream, not only on your site, but on social media and newsletters.

Make sure that all your blog posts link back to your site – and include a call to action. Get some guest bloggers too, so there are some different voices, and don’t forget that images and video are also great engagement tools.

Get it done this month ✓ Revamp and proof your website content – ditch anything that’s not evergreen or relevant and make sure what’s on your site is error free and includes a call to action

✓ Set up or refresh your social media feeds – use a free scheduling tool to help you manage your posts

✓ Backlink all your articles to your own website

✓ Be your own PR machine and sign up to HARO

✓ Blog like a champion – commit to – and hold yourself accountable – to writing at least one new post a month

www.pga.info

| #makinggolfhappen

I N T E RV I E W PER S O N A L DEV ELO PM ENT

Q&A The pro’s pro PGA Master Professional Denis Pugh is one of the most highly respected coaches in the game, having taught players at all levels of the game during his 40-year career, including the likes of Colin Montgomerie, Francesco Molinari and Ross Fisher. We caught up with the man in question to find out more about his rich and varied career

but the fact I kept having to qualify showed

How did you get into golf?

mini tours in Florida and received coaching

What do you enjoy most about

I watched golf on television as a youngster,

from Phil Ritson, who had David Leadbetter

your job?

and when Peter Oosterhuis played as a

as his assistant. I returned to Wanstead as club

Seeing the development of players at every

schoolboy in the 1967 Walker Cup I asked a

professional from 1983-88, where I ran the

age and every standard.

family friend if I could caddy for him. I was

shop, as well as playing and coaching.

14 aand have been hooked ever since.

its 15th year. We develop youngsters, aged between 16-20, who love the game and want to find out how to ‘be the best you can be’ through our coaching, education and structured college programme.

What does being a Master Professional mean to you?

Denis Pugh: one the world’s most respected coaches

Being a Master Professional means I have been accepted and respected by my peers for the work I have done over a long period.

a lack of progress! From 1980-83, I played

I became a full-time independent coach

What steps should PGA

at the Warren Golf & Country Club from

Professionals take to help grow

Who gave you your first golf

1991-99, where I specialised in working with

the game?

lesson?

elite players on the European Tour. I started

Develop a combination of school visits and

Freddie Sunderland, who was the professional

coaching Colin Montgomerie in 1996, and

female-friendly clinics at the clubs as part of

at Upminster Golf Club in Essex. I had only

was also national coach from to the Italian

the retainer duties.

junior group coaching from Freddie, because

Golf Federation from 1991-96, which was

I couldn’t afford private lessons. I was a junior

to have huge implications on my career with

Favourite tour pro swing?

member there until I was 17, after which

my later link up with the Molinari brothers,

Among my group it’s hard to pick between

I turned pro. My first proper one-to-one

Francesco and Edoardo.

Ross Fisher and Francesco Molinari, but

coaching was from the legendary Phil Ritson

I accepted the position of head professional

outside of my clients, it’s got to be Robert

at Disneyworld Orlando in Florida. He sadly

at The Wisley in Surrey in 2000, where

Rock – his swing is technically sound and

died a couple of years ago having been a

I continued to coach elite players at The

pleasing to my eye.

coach for 67 years.

Wisley, but it wasn’t until 2007 when I went out again on tour, travelling with Francesco

Most common swing fault you fix?

Who have been your mentors?

[Molinari], who I had started coaching in

Flicking hands through impact.

Phil Ritson, David Leadbetter and Alan

2004 on a trip to Abu Dhabi, and I have

Walker, the former PGA Captain.

being doing so ever since.

Alongside my tour life, I helped set up

What has your career path been?

The Golf College in West Sussex with PGA

My career has covered all aspects of being a

Professional Paul Lyons, which is now in

Park in Brentwood, from 1972-75. I was then

The Wisley is my favourite, but I like my regular visits to Lake Nona in Florida.

What would you have done if you

PGA Professional. I did my training as an assistant to Reg Plumbridge at Thorndon

Favourite golf course?

Working with Open champion Francesco Molinari

hadn’t been a PGA Professional?

I would have been an architect or interior

an assistant pro at Wanstead Golf Club in

designer, as I enjoy being creative at home, but

London, where I worked under Alan Walker

my wife thinks I should have been a barrister

from 1975-78.

or a politican given that I spend so much time

I got through the European Tour’s qualifying school for three consecutive years,

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

arguing with people on Twitter!

Follow Denis on Twitter @dpugh54.

45

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PART OF

M A R K ET I N G

Is your marketing being done the wrong way round ?

John King, co-founder of Golf Marketing University, says that instead of focusing on themselves and their products and services, the golf industry – PGA Professionals included – would be better off concentrating their marketing initiatives on putting the needs of their customers first

)

)

I

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

Focus your marketing message on the customer

I’ve witnessed, first hand, the day-to-day struggles of clubs trying to keep their head above water and not only stay competitive,

‘‘

Imagine you’re having a conversation with someone and all they do is talk about themselves…

‘‘

magine you’re 18 years old, you’ve left home and you’re in Costa Rica, and you’re the co-owner of the most popular bar in town. Every night the place is packed out and every morning, the cash registers are full and the money just keeps on rolling in. You’re living the dream, right?

Well, that was my life after leaving a comfortable, but mundane Ireland 15 years ago. And I lived that dream for three fun-filled, but exhausting years, until it turned into a nightmare.

You see, one day, after noting our success, other bars started opening up, and they were bigger and better than our place. And our loyal customers turned out to be, well, not so loyal.

I didn’t take this new competition lying down, though. I did what anyone would have done. I discounted to attract people back to my bar. But it was all in vain. I only succeeded in attracting the price-sensitive, bottom-feeders and within six months we were out of business. It was devastating at the time, but in the long term, a great lesson.

Fast-forward to today, and I’ve been working in the golf industry for the last eight years, specifically marketing the game we all love. Or, at least, it was the game we all did love ONCE. The golf industry is really having a hard time at the moment, especially golf clubs and, consequently, PGA Pros.

<

>

1.

Products

but survive in a rapidly changing market.

And, as I saw with my bar, pressure to get money in the door means the irresistible temptation of discounting. Today’s discounted membership and half-price green fees are like my happy hour drinks and halfprice entry promotions. It’s obvious and frustrating to see the same things happening in the golf market as I faced in Costa Rica,

2.

Customer with the inevitable same conclusions.

So I became determined to put an end to this struggle and became fascinated with ‘why people buy’, immersing myself in all the psychological aspects of marketing and consumer behaviour. Having studied everything that is modern marketing, and trying and testing countless campaigns and strategies in real golf environments on the ground, it became obvious that there was ONE FUNDAMENTAL roadblock to marketing golf – 99% of marketing is done the wrong way around.

Let me explain. When it comes to marketing, most clubs – and pros – spend their time and resources coming up with and promoting products and services to sell to potential customers.

Basically, the ‘product’ – be it a membership, a green fee, new equipment or lessons – is the priority, and given all the marketing focus, instead of the actual paying ‘customer’. It’s what we in the marketing business call ‘Product before Customer’. When marketing is done the wrong way round, a number of symptoms start to appear: 1. YOU END UP TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF Imagine you’re having a conversation with someone and all they do is talk about themselves…what they like, what they do, 47

M A R KETING their background etc. You wouldn’t stay interested for too long.

When marketing is so focused on ‘product’, the customer gets forgotten and it becomes like that one-sided conversation.

You must have seen countless examples, such as: ‘This is what WE offer’; ‘These are OUR values’; ‘OUR club is the best thing since sliced bread’; ‘We’ve been the best for 100 years’.

Here’s a top tip to keep customers interested – try dropping the ’I’, ‘we’ or ‘our’, and sprinkle in a little bit more ‘you’ and ‘your’ into marketing copy.

Customers need to feel you understand them, so talk about what they want and what they need. They’ll feel much more involved and appreciated.

Marketing the ‘right way round’ with ‘Customer Before Product’ means you can create unique products, specifically designed for a target market you’ll be able to set prices which suit your business because no one will be able to compare what you offer with anyone else; your services will be unique.

3. YOU ATTRACT THE WRONG TYPE OF CUSTOMER Only 10 per cent of people buy purely on price. If you don’t believe me, have a look on the road. How many cars are bought simply because they’re cheap? A tiny percentage. People buy cars for reliability, for looks, for speed, for the badge, but rarely on price.

When you market based mainly on price, you’ll attract only the bottom feeders and deal hunters, just like my happy hour brigade back in Costa Rica. As well as compromising profitability, bargain hunters drive away the right type of customer.

Going back to our car analogy, do you think a potential Mercedes, BMW or Audi owner wants to think of their pride and joy as cheap? Unlikely.

2. YOU START THE DISCOUNTING DEATH SPIRAL When businesses don’t truly understand their target market, and they don’t build products to match their customers’ needs, they end up selling stuff that’s exactly the same as everyone else. They don’t stand out from the crowd.

And when this happens, the only way a rational-thinking consumer can differentiate between two identical products is 4. YOU CREATE A ‘VALUE GAP’ on the basis of price. That’s a weak posiThe final and worst symptom of marketing tion to be in and technology has made the wrong way round is you create what we price-comparison so quick and easy these call a ‘Value Gap’. That’s the gap between days, everyone does it. what you know you’re worth and what It’s why third party tee time resellers your customer is prepared to pay. How are having their day many times have in the sun, it’s why you asked yourself, online-only equip‘What we’re selling Try dropping the ’I’, ment warehouses are is surely worth more seeing an increase in ‘we’ or ‘our’ from your than the price we’re their market share. getting?’ marketing copy, and It’s why golf is being The bad news is sprinkle in a little bit devalued. Everyone your customer will more ‘you’ and ‘your’ only part with their is selling the same thing and competing hard-earned money only on price. when they underAnd it’s why so many stand the true value golf businesses are selling their goods and you can offer them – and I don’t mean services below a sustainable level – and a value as in ‘cheapness’. I mean other values price war is terrible for everyone, even which are much more important to people, those few who manage to survive. like status, respect, a sense of satisfaction,

‘‘

‘‘

48

A race to the bottom on price is not a sustainable business model

achievement, peace of mind.

In fact, there is a whole heap of values that consumers are prepared to pay for and which are way more important than just price. And the good news is you can bridge the value gap provided you do your marketing the right way round. Just remember - Customer before Product.

Marketing isn’t simple, but equally, it doesn’t need to be super-complicated either. You just need to stick to certain rules and avoid some obvious pitfalls – and marketing the wrong way round is the first, and biggest, pitfall of them all.

If you’re looking for marketing advice and training, take a look at the Golf Marketing Masterclass, a 10-week, selfpaced, online marketing training course created by Golf Marketing University.

To find out more, and to take advantage of a limited-time PGA Member discount, visit www.golfmarketingmasterclass.com/ pga-masterclass. www.pga.info

| #makinggolfhappen

O N L I N E T E E T I M E S C LU B M A N AG EM ENT

Maximising green fee income in the digital age PGA Professional Chris Knight, director of The Revenue Club, a leading golf marketing consultancy, discusses the increasingly important role of online tee time platforms in generating income and how their implementation can free up the PGA Professional to increase revenue across the board

T

here has been global explosion in online usage in the last 15 years.

The importance of a digital presence when marketing green fees can be related easily to digital growth. In 2000, about 361 million people were online worldwide, today there are nearly four billion.

In Europe, the numbers are even more significant. Over 75% of Europeans have internet access, and, on average, they have more than one mobile subscription each.

Across various devices, internet users spend over 30 hours per month online.

If you want to know how these statistics influence the golf market, you need only know that over the last 10 years the two

The Revenue Club

largest tee time marketplace/third party websites grew from booking just 20,000 rounds to over 900,000 rounds per year.

Despite the scale of these figures, the adoption of online booking technology in golf has been relatively slow compared to other industries. Estimates suggest

‘‘

Progressive golf courses ... are seeing the benefits of increased efficiencies, improved customer service, targeted marketing, reduced manpower requirements and better data collection

that over one million visitor rounds were booked online directly with golf clubs in 2018. This means there are around two million rounds of golf being booked online by visitors in the UK each year.

Progressive golf courses have realised the benefits of moving more of their operations online, and are subsequently seeing the benefits of increased efficiencies, improved customer service, targeted marketing communications, reduced manpower requirements, better data collection and the ability to sell at any time of the day.

What are the main digital tools available to a golf course?

• Social media • Email • Online listings • Website • Booking engines • Marketplace/third party websites

‘‘

Online tee booking platforms enable clubs to micromanage tee times and the prices paid for them

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

49

CLU B MA NAG E M E NT O N L I N E T E E T I M E S What are the potential problems green fee market since their introduction associated with selling green in 2007, although the balance is starting fees online? to shift.

There is a suggestion that there are too This dominance has been helped by many golf courses in the UK with too the majority of golf courses being slow few golfers. This oversupply and reducing to react to the online booking trend, and demand has caused high levels of competimany still have no option to book online tion, which is one of through their webthe reasons the price sites. It has also not to play golf has not been helped by the Less time spent increased since the technology, which, dealing with tee time early 1990’s when in comparison to there was a boom other industries, has bookings leads to in golf course develbetter customer service been slow to catch opment. Alongside up with the user in the pro shop, and this, the ease of experience of marcomparing pricketplace websites. more opportunities ing and availability It is important to generate other online particularly to note that third revenue streams through marketparties can be a place/distribution valuable tool in the websites, explains marketing mix for why further pressure has been placed on the golf courses, however, if they are the only importance of having competitive prices. way for a visiting golfer to book online at a In the UK, third parties, or tee-time course and/or the commercial agreement is resellers, have accelerated in the number not right, they can be a costly way of genof golfers booking online over the past erating sales. ten years, which in itself is no bad thing.

Because of their commercial nature, marWhat role can the PGA keting power and ease of use, they have Professional play? commanded the lion’s share of the online Generally speaking, the pro shop is where a visitor booking will happen, either through walk-in customers or telephone bookings; this means the pro shop is faced with decisions on a daily basis about availability and pricing.

There has always been a rudimentary form of revenue management happening with golf club green fees. For example, if the tee sheet looks quiet, and the pro shop receives a phone call asking for a deal on a four-ball, they are more likely to give it, especially if it is on the day of play.

Whereas if the tee sheet is busy, there is no need to discount the fees. This is basic revenue management.

Increasing the number of green fee sales is undoubtedly part of a PGA professional’s job description at most golf clubs. Given the market trends relating to online bookOnline bookings provide the opportunity to target specific times and upsell other services and products ings becoming a larger part of every golf

‘‘

‘‘

50

Over 2 million visitor rounds were booked online in Europe in 2018

club’s green fee business, an opportunity to manage this is increasingly apparent.

Generally speaking, pricing is now being managed through a golf club’s tee sheet software. This provides an opportunity to create a new offer when the course is quiet, or to increase the price when it is busy in order to maximise revenue. Once an offer has been created, it is important that the local golfing audience is aware of it. This is where digital marketing comes into play, a post on social media, an email to the visitor database, or asking the third parties to promote it through their channels are all helpful routes to market.

Growing the number of online bookings has a number of benefits for the PGA professional: • Reduced phone calls for bookings, leading to better customer service in the pro shop and more opportunities to generate other revenue streams – coaching, retail sales etc.

• The option to take pre-payment reduces the administration of taking various forms of payment on arrival for each golfer, and can increase the potential of up-selling buggies and other additional services.

• Local golfer data is captured at the time of booking, meaning that the PGA Professional can promote their lessons or retail offering to a local audience via email/SMS. If you want to learn more about how to maximise online green fee sales, visit www. therevenueclub.co.uk/blog, email info@ therevenueclub.co.uk or call 07468 564555.

www.pga.info

| #makinggolfhappen

A D V E R T O R I A L

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rather than later.

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make you money – it’s as simple as that. Passing IT to an external source allows you to free up resources and team members that were wasting their time, allowing them to

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STORAGE WARS Not having enough storage isn’t the worst issue your

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Receive 24/7 support from industry experts who offer jargon-free solutions when you switch to external providers.

Contact Silverbug on 020 7078 3795 to discuss how our IT security suite can help your business stay safe.

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

51

P G A M EMBERS H IP YO U R B E N E F I T S

Save now with your PGA Membership PGA Membership entitles you to take advantage of a host of discounts and incentives, from exclusive contract car hire rates to dental plans and holiday deals, so make sure you start saving now! To access all these benefits and more, log on to PGA Benefits via http://benefits.pga.info

It’s simple to access your PGA Membership benefits All PGA Members have access to a range of benefits through PGA Benefits – visit http://benefits.pga.info/promohomepage – a portfolio of money-saving discounts and offers, designed to support them both personally and professionally.

There is no sign up process, nor any extra charge to access the discounts – they are automatically eligible by virtue of their membership. At a time when every penny really does count, PGA Benefits has been designed to make membership more rewarding.

We realise that it is becoming increasingly easy to find ‘competitive’ deals and offers through work or on the internet. That’s why many of the benefits carry a stamp:

National Price Promise

VAT advice For support with golf-related VAT issues, contact Stephen Phillips on 01675 470 333 or: stephen.phillips@pga.org.uk.

PAYE/National Insurance advice BDO LLP offer a free helpline to members. Contact Michael Hepburn on 0131 347 0355 or: michael.hepburn@bdo.co.uk

ARAG If you live in the UK and RoI, free legal advice is available from ARAG plc. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0330 303 1846.

Exclusive 20% discount for PGA Members* Call 0800 023 2020 or visit opticalexpress.co.uk to arrange your FREE consultation or to book your eye test.

BMW Exclusive contract hire rates on a selection of BMW and MINI models through BMW Group.

Visit bmwvip.co.uk/pga, call 0207 514 3599 or email: pgasales@bmw-issd.co.uk

Peugeot

This stamp means that members should be getting the best possible price / deal in the UK, for this product or service.

Preferential rates available on a selection of cars over 24 months. Visit peugeot-contract hire.co.uk/pga, contact your local Peugeot dealership, or call the Peugeot Business Quoteline on 0345 313 3811.

Provider Price Promise

PowaKaddy

This stamp means that members should be getting the best possible price / deal that this company makes available.

Account holders personal use trolley at a discounted rate of 15 per cent off trade price (non-account holders are eligible for trade price).

Call 01795 473 555 or email sales@powakaddy.co.uk quoting membership number.

SkyCaddie Public liability insurance Cover is included in your subscription fee (if you are resident and working in the EU). Contact emma.hadlow@pga.org.uk or call 01675 470 333 for your individual certificate.

For any claims, contact Howden on 0121 698 8050.

Visit the dedicated PGA insurance site at: pgainsurance.co.uk.

52

Heavily-discounted personal use prices start at £60† for a SkyCaddie GPS or £70† for the SkyPro. Get yourself a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and receive a free metal case and first year software saving £239. Become a SkyTrak Show Case Dealer and earn a bonus 40% affiliate fee (about £600†) on your first sale and 20% fee on any future sales. †+VAT Email sales@skycaddiegps.co.uk or call 01844 296 358.

www.pga.info

| #makinggolfhappen

YO U R B E N E F I T S PG A M EM B ER S H IP Virgin Atlantic

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Virgin Atlantic are delighted to offer all PGA Members discounted airfares across the whole of their network. Destinations include Orlando, Barbados, Dubai, and New York with many more to choose from. Checked golf bag clearance can also be looked at subject to availability. Discounted flights are available in all three cabins, Upper Class, Premium and Economy. For assistance, contact the dedicated sports team at Traveleads on sport@traveleads.net or 01132 422 202, quoting PGA and your membership number. They offer a 24hr emergency out of hours service should you need to use this.

Special packages on products and coolers.

For more information visit coca-colapga.com

Crossover Technologies Golf-specific EPOS system.

The technology manages stock levels, reducing dead stock and therefore helping to increase profit margins.

Contact: 01454 418 395.

Silverbug Silverbug are IT experts who do things a little differently. Other companies talk about what they can do – but we want to focus on the issue you’re facing, and then fix it. We offer Members: Free IT health check of your business; Up to three months free managed IT services when taking out a contract; Option to leave within the first three months if you change your mind. For more information contact us on 0207 078 3795, quoting PGA.

Birdietime Offering all Members a free 1-hour marketing consultancy session to identify practical step to increase your tuition revenues.

To book your session, email us at info@birdietime.com Visit birdietimepro.com to learn more about our online booking and payment system.

Huxley Golf Incentive programme of up to £500 in commission when recommending customers to purchase an all-weather home putting green.

Call +44 (0)1730 829 608 or visit huxleygolf.com

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For further info, contact richard.hobday@effem.com

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For an exploratory meeting at your club contact Ben Foster on 07471 034 852 or email golfpro@golfbreaks.com

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Pestana Vila Sol, Vilamoura, Algarve Luxury five-star resort, host venue for the Lombard Trophy grand final 15 per cent discount to Members and amateur participants in each regional final. Book direct through pestana.com/en/hotel/ pestana-vila-sol using promo code: 20516W0LX.

Antalya Golf Club and Sirene Hotel Attractive all-inclusive rates for you and your family. Contact volkan.cavusoglu@sirene.com.tr

Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa Newly refurbished, luxurious four-star accommodation from just £78 per room B&B (max. two occupants) and includes use of the upgraded pool and health club. Member deals available Sunday to Thursday for business or leisure. Contact Mark Williams on 01704 875 699 or reservations@formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk

To access all of these benefits and more, log on to http://benefits.pga.info *Terms and conditions apply to all benefits. Offers correct at time of print. See website for details. Offers and prices subject to change without notice. PGA Benefit web pages are managed and run by Parliament Hill Limited. Within those benefits are some benefits negotiated directly by PGA, and these are identified on the benefit web page.

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

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SI TUATIO NS VACANT Gleneagles Be part of ‘Our Glorious Playground’…

We are currently looking for an experienced Golf Operations Associate Manager to join our management team.

We offer a highly competitive salary and excellent company benefits.

Overview: Passionate about your golf career and keen to develop and gain key skills and experience from working within a first class team. Part of the dynamic team dedicated to caring for the three championship golf courses at Gleneagles.

Do you want to further your golf career at a world leading golf venue and one of the most exciting facilities in Europe?

Then read on…

We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated, engaging professional to join this large and internationally experienced operations team. The role is ideally suited to individuals with a couple of years’ operational experience and looking to develop and progress their Golf careers.

This could be your first management position. Through leadership and people development you will play a key part in ensuring the highest levels of service are delivered, and play a key part in this leading team within a growing and evolving hospitality brand. Experienced within golf operations and will have the right persona to be part of the management team.

Forward CV to Stephen.hamilton@gleneagles.com

In just under two years, Bunker Mentality has made enormous strides in developing our wholesale business.

We have generated some great PR coverage in the trade, consumer and social media, launched a vibrant, stylish collection for 2019 and secured a significant number of key retail partners in both the domestic and international markets. As a result, we are now looking for selfemployed Sales Agents to represent us in 1) Midlands and 2) South West England.

Do you share our love of golf and a passion for fashion?

And the drive and determination to help build and share our success. Are you a PGA Professional perhaps looking for a career change? If so, we want to hear from you.

Contact Brian Mair, Sales Director at: brian@bunker-mentality.com but only if you have the right Mentality.

Devoted to golf. Dedicated to style.

Closing date 18 February 2019.

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Pitlochry Golf Club PGA Qualified Assistant

Exciting opportunity for a highly motivated PGA qualified professional to join our team.

One of Scotland’s most scenic, Pitlochry was recently named Scotland’s best course under £50. The role includes retail sales, custom fitting advice and coaching, along with welcoming member and visiting golfers. The successful candidate must have good product knowledge and offer first class customer service. 30-hour contract (annualised), unlimited coaching out with those hours. With driving range, short-game area and 6-hole par 3, there’s great opportunity to grow your coaching business and develop your career in golf. Covering letter and CV to niall@noahsarkgolf.com by 11th February.

Sidmouth Golf Club seeks to recruit an individual to enter training as a PGA Professional golfer undertaking the Foundation Degree in Professional Golf whilst working 30 hours per week for the Club. The Club seeks an outgoing individual satisfying the minimum playing criteria (handicap 4 for men, 6 for ladies) who will work in retail and reception roles as well as coaching and playing golf.

Apply with details of background and experience to Tim Aggett, Manager Sidmouth Golf Club by email at secretary@sidmouthgolfclub.co.uk

PGA Professional & Custom Fit Specialist eGolf Megastore, United Arab Emirates eGolf Megastore is the UAE’s largest golf retailer and Middle East distributor of TaylorMade, PXG, Cobra, Srixon, Cleveland & Puma.

We’re seeking an enthusiastic, driven individual for the position of Sales Associate / Custom Fit Specialist. You will need to maintain customer service standards, generate sales, custom fit, manage inventory and attend fitting days. Package includes competitive tax-free salary, target based commissions and other benefits including medical and annual return flight home. Applicants should send their CV and covering letter to: careers@egolfoutlet.ae and can visit www.egolfmegastore.ae/careeropportunities for more info. Applications close: 8/2/2019

La Moye Golf Club, Jersey

Mike Lavers Pro Shop at La Moye Golf Club requires an Assistant PGA Professional that is either registered or qualified.

The ideal candidate will be a hard-working individual with a keen interest in retail and customer service. They would also need to build and develop teaching with emphasis on junior groups.This is an opportunity to work in a modern, vibrant shop and make use of excellent teaching facilities. The applicant must be smartly presented, well-spoken and a motivated individual. Please send CV and cover letter to Mike Lavers at mikelaverspgapro@hotmail.co.uk by 8th February 2019.

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S I T UAT I O N S VACA N T Hartsbourne has been bucking the trend by growing its membership over the past 3 years. This is due to a complete modernisation programme of both the facilities and approach of the management. Now, due to the increase and high demand in golf coaching, as well the recent investment in an indoor swing academy, the Head Professional is seeking to add to his team with a highly motivated, qualified pro.

Why Hartsbourne Country Club – www.hartsbourne.co.uk • 27 holes of golf and one of the premier Clubs in Hertfordshire – within the M25 and easy reach of London.

• An exclusive private members club with country club facilities and over 750 members • Recently redeveloped practice area with dry range and separate teaching bays • Indoor swing room with flightscope • Custom fitting • Recently redeveloped golf shop and systems Purpose of the role • To provide coaching to groups and individuals that is of a consistently high quality and meets or exceeds customer needs and expectations.

• To be involved in all aspects of the golf pro shop which includes sales of golf related equipment and clothing as well as internal golf operations systems.

Contractual details • Full time – 80% coaching, 20% golf operations • Majority of earnings via self-employed coaching • A retained/fixed element of remuneration for golf operations • High and unlimited potential earnings • In addition to coaching, you will be expected to be a “playing” pro in external tournaments, as well as internal Hartsbourne golf events.

• To be an active playing professional in external “East Region” events as well as internal Hartsbourne golf events.

Qualifications and skills required • PGA qualified • Passion for teaching • Excited by working in a highly motivated and experienced Golf Operations team • A good communicator who enjoys engaging with members and being part of club life eg. Playing in Captain and Pro competitions.

To apply please email your CV and covering letter to the Head Professional, Nathan Stephens nathanpgapro@btinternet.com by no later than 9 February.

PGA Professional, Carmarthen Golf Club, South West Wales Established in 1907, Carmarthen Golf Club is a stunning parkland course with amazing mountain views over Carmarthenshire countryside.

Designed by J H Taylor the course is considered one of the premier courses in South Wales. Located just outside the vibrant historic town of Carmarthen and a short drive away from the South West Wales coast line, this would be an ideal relocation for the right candidate.

Carmarthen Golf Club requires an experienced PGA Professional to run a fully stocked shop, a covered driving range with short course.

The successful candidate must be a self-motivated high achiever with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills, with an overall focus on excellent customer service. IT literacy and good numeracy skills are essential.

Key responsibilities; • To establish and operate a well-stocked shop with appropriate staffing levels.

• To ensure staff provide excellent service levels to members and visitors at all times. The ability to provide members with first class tuition is essential.

• To develop a thriving Academy to provide a path-way from beginner to Elite player programmes. The club already has an established junior section with international team honors.

• To work closely with the club directors on sales and marketing strategies, focusing on income generation.

• To ensure competition responsibilities are carried out on competition days (club, corporate, society and open days).

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

In first instance, please send a covering letter and CV demonstrating your suitability and experience to Colin Lewis, Chairman, Carmarthen GC Trading Ltd, Carmarthen Golf Club, Blaenycoed Road, Carmarthen SA33 6EH or info@carmarthengolfclub.co.uk Deadline for applications: Monday 18th February 2019.

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SI TUATIO NS VACANT PING Europe Ltd Job Vacancy Product Specialist: South of England PING, a brand with a renowned heritage and synonymous with performance and innovation in golf, is looking to appoint a Product Specialist for the South Region of England. This role covers the counties of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire & South London. The successful applicant will report directly to the European Fitting Manager and must have a profound understanding and expertise in golf equipment.

The main responsibilities will include: • Stage custom fitting days with our PING customers at designated locations • Provide custom fitting recommendations for consumers for all golf clubs • Help to train our customers in custom fitting • Convey the benefits of PING products and service • Able to interact and work effectively with different types and level of people • Will be required to attend various PING supported events and golf shows • Available to work outside normal office hours including weekends and bank holidays

• Must have extensive PING product knowledge • Must be able to manage own time effectively The ideal candidate must possess the following skills: • Custom Fitting Experience • Strong organisation, administration and planning skills • Excellent communication and product presentation skills • A passion for quality and service • Full UK driving licence

The successful applicant will need to live within the designated territory, therefore re-location may be required.

Candidates that meet and exceed these attributes should send their CV and application letter to SophieJ@pingeurope.co.uk Closing date for applications is Monday 11th February 2019

Golf Development Professional at Mill Green GC Mill Green GC (Hertfordshire) part of the Crown Golf Group, has a strong membership and is well situated. Facilities include 18-hole championship golf course, 9-hole par 3 golf course, expansive grass tee driving range with covered teaching bays and planned indoor swing studio.

Crown Golf have re-defined the role of the Golf Professional with the introduction of a new position - Golf Development Professional (GDP), releasing the Pro from everyday operational tasks allowing engagement and time with members and new customers.

A fully self-employed position with great earning potential made up of performance payments, commissions and coaching, designed to introduce new golfers and provide a first-class service.

The opportunity includes: • Coaching, including one to one lessons, adult groups and junior academy • Support through academy management software GLF.LOCKER, and marketing • Equipment provided such as SkyTrak with iPad • Performance payments Qualities and attributes required: • You must love engaging with customers, have a passion for coaching and be well organised • A team player working with the company’s management team to create, engage and retain customers • Have a ‘can do’ attitude • Good IT skills To apply email CV to Phil Stokes, General Manager at millgreen-manager@crown-golf.co.uk

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Established in 1906, Enmore Park is one of Somerset’s premier championship golf courses.

Our members club boasts high quality golf facilities with panoramic views over Britain’s first area of outstanding natural beauty.

We have a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded, ambitious PGA Qualified Professional to join our club on a self-employed basis. This role will suit a customer focussed, committed individual who will lead a team, building strong relationships with members and visitors whilst enhancing the services and reputation of Enmore Park.

Key Responsibilities • Maintain a well-stocked shop with appropriate staff levels • Develop and manage a team to deliver excellent customer service at all times • Provide high quality coaching for players of diverse age, gender and ability to increase participation • Engage in close working relationships with the club to develop strategies on member recruitment, retention and income generation • Actively assist the club in the delivery of a full schedule of club competitions, open competitions and society/charity days • Continually align the professional services to the wants and needs of the club Applications close on 22-03-2019 and must include a covering letter with full CV. Email to Simon Rendle, Club Manager manager@enmorepark.co.uk

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EM PLOY M EN T O PPO R T U N I T I E S UK AND IRELAND Knock golf club, Belfast

A fantastic opportunity is available for a PGA Assistant/Training Applicant required to work with a pro-active PGA Professional.

Excellent customer service required to work in a busy members club.

Additional earning potential through custom fitting, teaching and taking a lead role in developing a junior coaching programme.

Email letter and CV to: rickywhitford@tiscali.co.uk.

Muswell Hill Golf Club, London

Registered PGA Trainee / Assistant required to join the retail and professional team at this premier club. Training and responsibilities include Proshop retail hours, customer services, custom fitting and coaching. We will assist you with initial local accommodation search.

Please send your CV to proshopmhgc@gmail.com.

The Alwoodley Golf Club, West Yorkshire

Ranked in the top 50 courses in Britain, Alwoodley is seeking to appoint a Training Applicant / Registered or Qualified Assistant. The applicant must be positive, friendly and outgoing, an effective team member and enjoy providing an excellent level of customer service.

C.V. and cover letter to: John Green, Alwoodley Golf Club, Wigton Lane, Leeds, LS17 8SA or john.green@foremostgolf.com.

Tee To Green Coaching, Enfield

Growing, forward-thinking academy seeks like-minded coach to join existing team at Trent Park. Opportunity for high earnings with flexibility to control your own diary and lifestyle. Full training provided, Junior development coaching and all adult coaching readily available at North London’s business pubic facility.

Contact grant.sayer@teetogreencoaching.com before 28-02-19.

Effingham Golf Club, Surrey

Wonderful opportunity to join our 2019 Top 100 Course in England (Golf World). This role provides excellent training on retail, golf operations, coaching, repairs and custom fitting. Fantastic coaching and practice opportunities using Foresight GC2.

Please send letter and C.V. to jgunning@effinghamgolfclub.com.

Cuckfield Golf Centre, West Sussex

Cuckfield Golf Centre require an enthusiastic trainee/registered professional to join our friendly, hardworking team. This is a great opportunity for the right candidate to enjoy plenty of time to coach and play at our busy centre set in the heart of the beautiful Sussex countryside. Please email CV to David@cuckfieldgolf.co.uk.

Kings Hill Golf Club, Kent

We are looking to appoint a year 2/3 PGA Trainee Professional to join the dynamic Proshop team. The ideal candidate must be hard working, a keen interest in retail and customer service.

The successful individual will have an opportunity to coach, custom fit and play. Please send CV with covering letter to Chris Pearson office@kingshillgolf.co.uk.

Elderslie Golf Club, Renfrewshire

Fantastic opportunity available for an enthusiastic individual looking to start their PGA Training degree or already fully qualified. Working alongside a pro-active PGA Professional to help assist in CoachingCustom Fitting-Junior Development-Club V1.

Send CV to professiona@eldersliegolfclub.com.

The Berkshire Golf Club, Ascot

An excellent opportunity is available for an assistant/trainee (ideally 3rd year or recently qualified) at one of the country’s most prestigious golf clubs. The position will allow considerable free time to teach and play golf. Accommodation is available.

Applications with CV to Paul Anderson at berksgcpaul@aol.com.

Hadley Wood Golf Club, Hertfordshire

Our thriving private members club requires an enthusiastic PGA Trainee. The role will consist of shop duties, coaching and playing.

This is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to develop a rounded career as Club Professional.

Please send CV and Cover Letter to Head Professional alastair_archibald@hotmail.com. Applications closing date: 28-02-19.

OVERSEAS Pun Hlaing Golf, Myanmar

I am looking for 2 self-employed PGA Qualified Golf Coaches. I have 2 sites in Teesside to coach at with heavy footfall in both. Amazing opportunity to build a great coaching business with my support and experience. Lots of individual, groups and junior coaching.

Email cv and letter to craigdmygolf@icloud.com.

Teaching professional for Pun Hlaing Golf Club. Exciting opportunity for enthusiastic / ambitious candidates. Growing the game of Golf teaching club members, public and junior programs / schools. The successful candidate will be instantly busy with many students and an important part of the prestigious club in Myanmar.

Email: stephenchick@yomaland.com.

Blackmoor Golf Club, Hampshire

Pacgolfschule, Germany

Middlesbrough Municipal Golf Centre

A busy private heathland course in Hampshire has an excellent opportunity for an Assistant/ Trainee. Applicants should be motivated, enthusiastic, customer focused and keen to learn.

Please submit your CV and covering letter to PGA Fellow Professional Stephen Clay at: steveclay@blackmoorgolf.co.uk.

Metro Golf Centre, London

Coaches needed for role at a premier golf facility in North London.

The two-tiered floodlit range with AstroTurf outfield with heated bays as well as a 9-hole par three course. The position consists of coaching only OTE £35-40k.

Please send CV to mark@metrogolfcentre.co.uk.

The PGA Professional

| February 2019

Full time Teaching position from March to November, on a self employed basis. Private members club with 700 members. Main tasks teaching Juniors Program, Groups and members. Must be a passionate coach with good communication skills, German language is advantageous. Team orientated, ready to build up a new clientele.

To Apply: phillipacourt@gmail.com.

Michael International Golf Academy, Shanghai

Teaching professional required. Suitable candidate will be PGA qualified, possess a bachelor’s degree, self-motivated, possess good communication skills and a positive attitude. Passion for high quality work, an eagerness to learn, improve, be amenable to different cultures and work as a team. For more information, CV to mwjdickie@hotmail.com before 11-02-19.

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COLUM N F I N A L T H O U G H T

Putting the heart into junior golf

A

Brendon Pyle, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, highlights the vital role that PGA Members play in fulfilling the charity’s ambitions of introducing more youngsters into the game

s the national golf charity, the Golf Foundation has level with the Youth Sport Trust, made significant recent progress in encouraging more at club level with the PGA and young people from different backgrounds to enjoy all the the Home Golf Nations and, benefits of golf, with PGA professionals at the heart of delivery. from the sport as a whole, with Our aim is to help 500,000 kids to experience golf annually, The R&A. 50,000 to visit golf clubs, 25,000 youngsters to enjoy a series of Our resources are therefore coaching sessions, 15,000 to become regular players and 5,000 to tailored to help the busy PGA join a golf club. pro, all of which are backed And we couldn’t do this without the help of the committed up by an energetic team of 10 PGA professional who understands the benefits of introducing the Regional Development Officers Brendon Pyle next generation to the sport. If you haven’t seen our work recently, (RDOs), who are tasked with visit our website and see how your coaching business can benefit working closely with the network of PGA coaches in their region. directly from working with the Golf Foundation. PGA pros remain The RDOs really value their working relationships with PGA pros. at the heart of Foundation programmes I started my career with the Foundation as and this positive role is set to grow in the a RDO and prize the relationships that I time ahead as we enjoy an excellent working made with many PGA coaches. Today, the Our aim is to help relationship with the PGA and share many ability to form open and productive working of the values of the modern PGA Member. relationships with PGA coaches is a key skill 500,000 kids to sought in any RDO. experience golf GRASS ROOTS FUNDING annually ... 15,000 This charity’s flagship initiative, HSBC Golf SKILLS FOR LIFE Roots, supported more than 400 juniorThe Golf Foundation has created an online to become regular friendly golf clubs in 2018, with the PGA communications network of HSBC Golf players and 5,000 pro firmly at the centre. He or she receives Roots coaches to develop these relationships funding and resources to reach new children and to seek advice from the network about to join a golf club in schools and community groups using new development ideas. Four PGA pros ‘Tri-Golf’ and ‘StreetGolf’ equipment, have assisted the Foundation to design and before bringing them back to the golf club test its new ‘Skills for Life programme’ based for coaching. Supported by club volunteers, these youngsters on helping juniors develop their confidence, commitment and are now on a pathway to membership with the help of other emotional control for golf and the wider world. (Watch this space!)

Foundation initiatives such as the Junior Golf Passport, the ‘Box The PGA is also a core funder of the Foundation – £50,000 per of Tricks’ (a resource with more than 50 top all-year-round ideas year – showing its commitment to the charity co-created by Sir for junior sections) and, new in 2018, the GolfSixes League – the Henry Cotton in the 1950s. Looking forward, the Foundation team, six-hole inter-club league format which was a big hit with and the PGA are looking to work even more closely together, kids and parents, and more than 100 clubs in its first full year. and ensure that the PGA pro remains at the heart of this charity’s Many people make the mistake of thinking the Foundation delivery. simply provides grants to clubs. However, the aforementioned initiatives support PGA coaches and their clubs, and are borne If you’re a PGA Pro keen to widen your scope and get more out of your out of the continuing growth of our sports development expertise junior offer, check out www.golf-foundation.org or give the Foundation which we have built up with valued partners; including at school a call on 01992 449830.

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