The PGA Professional magazine - August 2021 by The PGA

THE OFFICIAL PGA MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE

PROFESSIONAL VOLUME 17 ISSUE 7

AUGUST 2021

RIDING THE ROLLERCOilAReSvieTwER Mid-Year Reta

CAMBODIA CALLING

Working in golf’s hottest new destination

FASHION FORWARD

SS22 Golf apparel meets the High Street

LET’S GET DIGITAL Creating competitive advantage

GPS DEVICES Going the extra mile

a brand new service JUST for Pro Shops !

Instant prices 24/7 Whenever and wherever you need them!

Set up your free account today ! www.golfbidderpro.com 020 8401 6900 | pros@golfbidder.co.uk Partner

CONTENTS FEATURES

LET’S GET DIGITAL

RIDING THE RETAIL ROLLERCOASTER After a bumpy 18 months, we assesses the prospects for the rest of 2021 and beyond

How your EPOS can give you a competitive edge with little effort from the pro shop team

INTERNATIONAL

CAMBODIA’S CALLING PGA Members working in golf’s hottest upcoming golf destination

TRAVEL

SUNNIER CLIMES

With travel restrictions easing, what do the new measures mean for jetting away?

EARLY BIRDIE DEALS

INSIDE THE PGA

05 06 12

ROBERT MAXFIELD

Get some dates in the diary with the latest offers

COACHING

Editor: Jane Carter jane.carter@golfconsulting.co.uk PGA News and Features: steven.carpenter@pga.org.uk adrian.milledge@pga.org.uk

Equipment and Trade Editor: nick.bayly@pgapublishing.co.uk Advertising Sales: commercial@pga.org.uk Recruitment Advertising: recruitment@pga.org.uk Contributors: Golfbreaks, Crossover Technologies Photographers: Getty Images, Adobe Stock, Production Assistant: Kelly Lewis Design: Andrew Beavis andy@whiteshadowmedia.co.uk

This month from The PGA’s Chief Executive

PGA NEWS

PGA National Headquarters Centenary House The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B76 9PT Tel: 01675 470 333

A round up of what’s happening across The PGA and its regions

CROFT RELISHES INCREDIBLE OPEN EXPERIENCE

This magazine contains images taken prior to Covid-19

Daniel Croft qualified for this year’s Open the hard way

THE OFFICIAL PGA MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE

PROFESSIONAL

TOUR TECHNICIAN TO THE STARS Matthew Cuthbert hasn’t looked back since joining PING

PGA RETAIL

28 32 40

TRADE NEWS Latest industry news

SPRING FASHION Check out next year’s fashion-forward Spring/Summer ranges

MY TEN GOLDEN RULES OF THE COACHING BUSINESS

MARKETING

FIND A GOLF LESSON

TRADE RETAIL Q&A

In the year that ECCO Golf celebrates 25 years in golf, we talk to Michael Waack

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

With the latest GPS tech there’s no excuse to be out of position on the course

JACK OF ALL TRADES Jack Frances, Head Professional at North Middlesex Golf Club, provides an insight into his retail operation

The PGA Professional

Ian Clark, World of Golf New Maldon

The PGA will soon launch a new digital search engine that will connect golfers looking for lessons with PGA Professionals.

MEMBERSHIP

YOUR BENEFITS A selection of special deals and offers secured for you by The PGA

RECRUITMENT

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SITUATIONS VACANT All the latest recruitment opportunities

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 2021 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 is a registered trademark 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 www.facebook.com/thepga www.linkedin.com/company/ professional-golfers-association www.twitter.com/thepga www.instagram.com/thepga www.youtube.com/thepga

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FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

he year now seems to be flying by. The Open at Royal St George’s was a real landmark event for the golf industry and optimism was high, and I know from talking to many of you that life is very busy with long hours working on behalf of your golf facilities. It is also important to focus on your own business needs. With any increased participation comes the opportunity to sell more equipment and importantly, for coaching beginners and those golfers coming back to the game. This month we have launched our ‘Find a golf lesson’ initiative to PGA Members ready for the launch to golfers later this year. It will be a focal

provide. The PGA is rightly proud of its training programme which is the most sought after in golf. Many of the likely recruits will be members at your own golf clubs and by sharing details of our recruitment draft through your own social media channels or word of mouth, we can ensure that the future generation is made aware of the fantastic career opportunities the game offers after qualification. Along with the welcome boom in golf, another opportunity has presented itself with the number of women golfers taking up the game higher than they have ever been as we recently covered in great depth in the GBQ magazine.

It is vital that you take the time to complete your profile on The PGA website, so your ‘Find a Golf Lesson’ directory entry is ready for the launch and promotional activity point on our website, replacing the ‘find a golf pro’ section and will provide a direct channel to golfers searching for lessons and game improvement. With the development of swing studios and all-weather bays, coaching is now an all-year round activity and an important revenue stream for most PGA Professionals. It is vital that you take the time to complete your profile on The PGA website, so your directory entry is ready for the launch and promotional activity. Our website receives a huge level of web traffic thanks to the PGA brand and each and every Member can use it to best promote their services. Please do look out for the emails and references in PGA Connect asking you to complete your directory details. Another area where we need your input is the support of our ‘Draft’ campaign to encourage recruits to our Trainees programme starting in the autumn. They are the future of golf and of course the Association. They also provide an important support service for busy PGA Professionals in their pro shops and ultimately for the wide range of services Professionals are now being called on to

August sees the staging of Women & Golf week involving all of the governing bodies and which The PGA is proud to support. We are also supporters of the R&A’s ‘ForEveryone’ campaign launched earlier this year and PGA Professionals probably more than any other group are well placed to ensure that the important messages of golf being open and welcoming to women get across to this huge audience. I know that it is a real focus for many golf clubs and by supporting them in their efforts to increase female participation and membership, you are once again providing a vital service to the overall future health of the game as well as enjoying significant business opportunities as PGA Professionals. The summer is well underway and whilst we can never be complacent about the threat of coronavirus or the impact it has had on our lives, the future of the game has never looked brighter or the opportunities greater for PGA Members.

Robert Maxfield CHIEF EXECUTIVE The PGA Professional

#makinggolfhappen

NEWS

World of golf mourns

Clare Lipscombe Marathon man Wright wins Toby Sunderland Award A PGA Member who raised more than £30,000 after running 31 marathons in 31 days has won the Association’s Toby Sunderland Award. James Wright, the head professional at Penn Golf Club, Wolverhampton, ran 26.2 miles each day in August last year to raise valuable money for a fundraising appeal launched by Acorns Children’s Hospice. The fundraiser clocked up an impressive 812.2 miles over the course of his marathon challenge, running some days after finishing work in the evenings. The dedicated runner was supporting the Save Acorns Black Country Hospice Appeal which needed to raise £2 million to save Acorns hospice in Walsall – which the charity had initially proposed for closure due to lack of funds. The 41-year-old commented: “This is a charity close to our hearts and I knew I had to play my part to help raise some money towards Acorns fundraising appeal. “When I heard the charity needed help it spurred me on to do something about it – and this challenge is what I came up with!” Wright added: “Hopefully my runs will inspire other people to take up their own fundraising challenge in aid of this fantastic charity. It doesn’t have to be as crazy as 31 marathons in 31 days – every little helps whether large or small.” In addition, Wright added to his fundraising total by running 135 miles along the Grand Union Canal and he also ran 100 miles on a treadmill. The Toby Sunderland Award is handed out each year to celebrate the many wide-ranging charity achievements by PGA Members across the UK. James Brown, PGA Regional Manager – Midlands, added: “What a wonderful achievement for James in his support of the hospice. “Many of our Members do fantastic charity work every year raising thousands for all sorts of charities and is it wonderful for them to be recognised for such contribution through the PGA counties, regions and the national Toby Sunderland Award.

The world of golf is mourning Clare Lipscombe, a much-loved and hugely respected PGA Member following her untimely passing at the age of 43. Clare passed away in the Czech Republic after medical staff were unable to reverse the catastrophic effects of a cardiac arrest. She was in the country working at a European Challenge Tour event, her latest role in a career that demonstrated the diversity of paths a PGA Professional can tread following qualification as a Member. Clare, a former Ladies European Tour member, joined The PGA in 2008 and was elected to Membership in 2015, a year after starting work with the European Tour. Initially she was PA to David Garland and John Paramor as well as being a tournament coordinator. Then in 2020 she began working in the field, taking on the responsibilities of tournament office manager and recorder at events across all three of the European Tour circuits. Prior to joining the Tour, Clare had brief spells at Al Hamra Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates and Blue Mountain Golf Club, Berkshire, before being appointed golf event manager at Wentworth Club. Sam Smith, PGA South regional manager, recalled: “Clare was always so helpful to us at The PGA, particularly when it came to organising our annual dinner. “She also went out of her way to help any PGA Professional playing in a Tour event. Her radiant smile and ever-present cheerfulness will be remembered so fondly by us all.” Clare won the English Ladies Stroke Play Championship in 1999; two years later, in tandem with PGA Professional Stuart Little, the pair won the prestigious Sunningdale Foursomes. She turned professional in 2003 and was a Ladies European Tour member for seven years.

Senior series launched to support Down Syndrome Centre The PGA in Ireland has revealed details of a new Seniors Pro-Am series – The Race to the K-Club. The series will be played over the months of August and September, consisting of five Pro-Ams at some of Ireland’s leading venues including Mount Juliet, Druids Glen, Powerscourt and the two courses at The K Club. The grand final will be played over the spectacular Palmer Ryder Cup course, host to the 2006 Ryder Cup. PGA in Ireland Manager, Conor Dillon, commented: “The concept of this new proposal is two-fold; to provide competitive playing

opportunities for our esteemed senior members and amateur guests, while at the same time supporting our partner in this new initiative, The Down Syndrome Centre Charity.” The leading team in the series will win the ultimate prize, a place in the Abu Dhabi PGA in Ireland Pro-Am, which will be held in October 2021 in Abu Dhabi and will include free flights, hotel, B&B and Gala Dinner. The senior professionals will be competing for a share of a prize fund in excess of €25,000. To enter a team briege.conlon@ pga.org.uk.

August 2021

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NEWS Ryder Cup ticket arrangements for PGA Members The PGA is delighted to confirm that PGA Members will be able to attend each day of the 2020 Ryder Cup for FREE. Members are entitled to one free ticket for each day of the event at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin where Europe will be looking to retain the Ryder Cup from 24th - 26th September, 2021. Members will also be able to bring one additional guest for each day at 50 per cent off the full ticket price.

Guest Ticket Pricing: Tuesday - Practice Day

$40.00

Wednesday - Practice Day

$40.00

Thursday - Practice Day

$78.00

Friday - Match Day

$108.00

Saturday - Match Day

$108.00

Sunday - Match Day

$108.00

Members can also take up to two children (under 17) free of charge on nonmatch days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). There is no need to pre-order tickets as they can be collected daily from the PGA Members’ will-call office which will be located on site. Please note that tickets will only be released upon presentation of your PGA Membership Card along with an additional form of photo identification. It is also suggested that you have US Dollars Cash to pay for any guest tickets. Complimentary onsite parking is also available for PGA Members. For event details, including information on gate hours, items to leave at home, transportation and parking, visit www.rydercup.com/spectatorguide in August 2021. Should you require any further information or assistance please contact the Membership Department by emailing membership@pga.org.uk.

Golf course courtesy for PGA Members PGA Members are reminded to follow the latest regulations and ensure the correct process is followed when visiting other golf establishments. While it is important for you to speak to a resident pro if you wish to visit/play their course, you must also adhere to the full regulations in The PGA’s Code of Ethics. The PGA’s Code of Ethics (2.4/2.5) states: If a Member wishes to visit or play on a course or golf establishment other than their own, they should adopt the following procedures: if they are engaged in any professional activity whatsoever (being any activity carried out in their capacity as a Golf Professional and/or Association Member whether or not for profit) they must discuss the nature of the visit and any business they plan to transact at the establishment with the resident PGA Professional or facility representative before confirming their arrangements; telephone the resident PGA Professional or facility representative the day before or earlier to ensure the visit can be accommodated. make the appropriate introductions to the resident PGA Professional or facility representative and Club Secretary on arrival; and produce a PGA current membership or registration card to substantiate identity. If a Member wishes to play a courtesy round on a course other than their own they should contact the Head PGA Professional at that course at least one day in advance to advise that Professional of their wish to play a courtesy round and seeking that Professional’s approval for the round.

David Snell (1933 – 2021) The PGA is saddened to report that David Snell, an Honorary Member and acclaimed course designer who excelled at the game’s elite level, has passed away at the age of 87. Although short in stature, David was a larger-than-life character who was as funny as he was intelligent according to his great friend and contemporary Hedley Muscroft. He is also described as one of GB&I's best players never to have played in the Ryder Cup. That should have been his reward for winning the News of the World Matchplay in 1959. However, unlike the winners of the 1957 and 1961 editions of the tournament who earned automatic selection, David missed out.

The PGA Professional

“He crossed swords with one of the officials and was not selected,” Muscroft explains. Away from the golf course, David was a keep-fit fanatic and an accomplished poker player. In which case, his decision to lease land from Worksop College, Nottinghamshire, and build College Pines Golf Club in the early 1990s and run it with his family could be construed as a gamble. Not least because Worksop Golf Club and Lindrick – clubs David had been attached to for 24 and five years respectively were neighbours. “The eighth green at Worksop and our sixth green are probably only a good nine-iron apart,” explains Oli Simms, a PGA

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Professional who has risen from trainee to become the club’s manager. The venture has proved a resounding success, however, and David was involved with it until shortly before his passing. “David was very hands-on,” says Simms. “He was quick-witted and a very kind gentleman. No one had a bad word to say about him. “What’s more, founding your own golf club and knowing it’s going to be here for decades after you’ve gone is quite a feat.” David is survived by Ann, his wife, daughters Juliet and Rebecca, and sons David junior and Charles, a fellow PGA Professional. The PGA extends heartfelt condolences to them on their loss.

NEWS ON THE MOVE The latest PGA Member appointments across the UK, Ireland and overseas. Jack Roberts has joined The Belfry Hotel & Resort a PGA Professional at the on-site PGA National Academy. “It is an honour to join The Belfry team as a PGA Professional,” said Jack. “I am excited to help our players develop their golfing talent and showcase The Belfry’s world-class golf facilities.” Also in the Midlands, after more than a quarter of a century based at Rufford Park, James Thompson has moved to Nottinghamshire Golf & Country Club to become their new Director of Golf. An 11-year spell at Buxton & High Peak Golf Club has come to an end of Nicholas Berry as he takes up a club professional job at Shirland Golf Club. Julian Clay is the new Golf Operations Manager at Lincoln Golf Centre, while Lee Brothered has joined Olton Golf Club as their head professional. In Scotland, Simon Stevenson is Downfield Golf Club’s new general manager after spending more than 16 years at Taunton & Pickeridge Golf Club. Elsewhere in the region, Jennifer Potter has left the TGI Golf Partnership to take up an assistant professional role at Gullan Golf Club and Alan Reid is Glenbervie Golf Club’s new general manager. After a decade as Kileen Castle’s head professional, Paul McCanny has started a new chapter in his career as head professional at Portmarnock Links. Other moves in Ireland sees James Orchin move to Whitehead Golf Club and Cathal Barry

Catriona Matthew leads the newcomers out onto the golf course

Gleneagles welcomes new female golfers Playing at Gleneagles, the iconic Scottish hotel and global luxury destination, is on many a golfer’s bucket list, but a group of 19 female newcomers to the sport have already chalked it off thanks to a love.golf taster event. love.golf, an empowering group coaching experience for women which takes place on the golf course, and Gleneagles, teamed up to offer the fun-filled experience, which sold out within 12 hours of being advertised. It was led by Gleneagles’ PGA National Academy Manager, Matthew Reid, and PGA Professional, Gilbert

Hepburn. There was even a surprise visit from Catriona Matthew, returning to the 850acre Perthshire estate, scene of the famous European Solheim Cup victory she orchestrated as captain in 2019. Andrew Jowett, Gleneagles’ PGA Head of Golf, said: “love. golf is a fantastic concept which is perfectly aligned with one of Gleneagles’ wider objectives to give more women, families and children an enjoyable and accessible route into the game. “Every woman who took part has signed up to a follow-on programme, which is the best feedback we could

have wished for.” Alastair Spink, Head Coach and Founder of love.golf, added: “Our taster events introduce women to the game in a safe, outdoor, distanced environment with supportive, like-minded people, which puts participants at ease. And what better place to try the game than the incredible location of Gleneagles.” Gleneagles plans to host more love.golf taster events in the near future, ahead of ongoing programmes to welcome more women to the iconic venue and provide a progressive gateway into the game.

Hancock in prostate cancer fundraiser Josh Hancock, a PGA Professional at Newquay Golf Club, has raised almost £5,000 to help beat prostate cancer after learning a close family friend and club member had contracted the disease. The cash, which will go to PGA Partners Prostate Cancer UK, has been raised by an auction and a raffle that included prizes donated by 2016 US Masters champion Danny Willett, a charity ambassador. The key fundraising element, however, was a golfing marathon undertaken by Hancock that involved him completing 101 holes in a day on the Cornish course. He was joined for the opening and final two holes of his golfing marathon by Keith Entwhistle, the friend who has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

“Keith was the inspiration for the fundraising drive,” explained Hancock. “When I came up with the idea we didn’t really know what his physical health would be like, so have him join me and see him birdie the first and last holes was truly magical.” Hancock weighed in with 24 birdies which were sponsored at £3 each and 60 pars which were worth £1 a go. In total, he walked 26.3 miles in just over 14 hours, completed the 101 holes in level par and was joined by 11 different playing partners. “I had unbelievable support throughout the day with different members coming out to cheer me on,” Hancock added. “I don’t know if I’d been able to keep going without them.”

August 2021

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NEWS

‘Golfway’ can grow school golf and reach more youngsters New easy-to-play Golfway equipment is at the core of the Golf Foundation’s HSBC Golf Roots programme which will give a first go at golf to two million children from all backgrounds, in 7,500 schools, over the next five years. Launched by PGA Trainee and Golf Foundation Ambassador Nicola Bennett at the 149th Open Championship, ‘Golfway’ has been created to play a key role in the Foundation’s major new schools’ programme that has started in 2021 and runs for five years. Designed and produced by The Masters Golf Company, the programme links schools and local PGA Professionals together and provides four coaching sessions which progress children through to a fifth session at an accredited local golf club. Within this new model, a local competition framework has been created that encourages schools to deliver inter-competition with

neighbouring schools, either in physical fixtures or through online virtual leagues. Golfway will also be used widely across the national extensive School Games network run by the Youth Sport Trust. The schools programme and Golfway all help to bridge the gap between those first hits in school and the first lesson at a golf venue with a PGA Professional coach. Brendon Pyle, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “Our charity is delighted to be working with Masters Golf and delivering the new Golfway equipment, which is also the preferred schools’ kit for The R&A and PGA Tour. “The Open provides a wonderful platform to showcase our new adapted equipment that will enable us to introduce more young people to golf from all backgrounds through schools and community projects.” To find out more about Golfway visit golfway. com.

ON THE MOVE is now a club professional at Balcarrick Golf Club. Roy Williams has left North Wales Golf Club after 16 years to become a club professional at Henllys Hall Golf Club. Also in the North region, James Wadsworth is an assistant professional at Moortown Golf Club, while Ganstead Golf Club has welcomed Matthew Ombler to its coaching team. In the East region, Brett Taylor is the Owner/ Director of Golfin Simulators, Breckland Pines Golf club has hired Gary Kitley as its new director of golf, while Richard Kay moves to East Herts Golf Club. In the South region, Joseph Biggs is the new head professional at Berkhamstead Golf Club, Luke Willett has joined Darwin Escapes, James Rich is now a custom fit specialist at Kings Golf Studio, and Georgina Mundy is Stoneham Golf Club’s new

Nicola Bennett joined boys and girls from Sheldwich Primary School in Kent to officially launch all the new kit.

Women and Girls in Golf Week 2021 The PGA is supporting ‘Women and Girls in Golf Week’ – an online campaign promoting female participation at all levels and challenging negative perceptions about the game. This year’s campaign runs from 16-22th August and is once again timed to coincide with the staging of the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie Golf Links. The week aims to unite the golf industry and celebrate the successes of women and girls both on and off the course. As well as involving media outlets in the promotion of the women’s game, there is the chance for PGA Members and the golfing public – both male and female – to join in the online fun. There are three ways to get involved: • Use the #WhyIGolf in posts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. • Share your #WhyIGolf stories now for an opportunity to be featured in England Golf’s national videos or on the England Golf website. • Clubs and facilities can deliver activities during the week. There are seven themes for the week – one for each day of the campaign – and these cover all areas of the game and the golf industry. For more information visit englandgolf.org/WhyIGolf.

The PGA Professional

#makinggolfhappen

Three moves in the West region sees Duncan Moore become the owner of Play MooreGolf, Tracey Lovey is now a teaching professional at Thurlestone Golf Club and Caroline Griffiths is the new general manager at Cotswold Hills Golf Club. Steve Munro is the new commercial director at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and Gavin Campbell joins Velaa Golf Academy in the Maldives. If you would like to feature in this column send your details to membership@pga. org.uk.

NEWS

PGA pros are a swinging success at Royal St. George’s such an amazing event which produced an outstanding champion golfer.” Joanne Taylor commented: “Such a great week @TheOpen representing @ThePGA in the @RandA Swingzone #golfswing #golfcoach #golfcoaching #pgapro #theopen Kevin Caplehord said: “An absolute pleasure to be part of, thank you again for this wonderful opportunity, such an amazing experience.” PGA Captain Elect, Sarah Bennett, added: “It has been an absolute privilege to deliver and interact with many golf fans but just as important is the team camaraderie. #Thankyou @ThePGA.”

While Colin Morikawa made Open history on the course, The PGA’s dedicated team of coaches delivered thousands of free golf lessons across eight days off it at this year’s Open Championship. The R&A Swingzone, situated on the 18th fairway at Royal St. George’s, was once again another popular attraction at this year’s Open Championship. More than 1,500 people, of all ages, ability and gender, took advantage of a free 15-minue golf lesson from a dedicated and passionate team of PGA Professionals. Number of lessons delivered at the 2021 R&A Swingzone: Adult male

Adult female

Junior male

Junior female

Total

1047

276

131

1,546

Jonathan Wright, External Relations Executive at The PGA, commented: “Our team of wonderful PGA coaches delivered hundreds of high-quality coaching sessions at St George’s this year. “We took a number of steps to ensure everyone stayed safe, including regugarly sanitising equipment, and the professionalism of the team in testing conditions was outstanding - I’m so proud of what they delivered. “The R&A Swingzone is now a well-established and much-loved part of The Open experience, and it was fantastic for us to be part of

INSPIRED?

If you would like to sign up to be part of the R&A Swingzone at St Andrews next for the 150th Open Championship, please email swing.zone@pga.org.uk.

Loch Lomond Whiskies partner with Lee Westwood PGA Honorary Member Lee Westwood has partnered with Loch Lomond Whiskies to help promote its award-winning single malts across the world. Westwood, who has won on five continents in his decorated 28-year professional career, has worked with Loch Lomond Whiskies’ Master Blender, Michael Henry, to create and select the ‘Lee Westwood Single Cask’, 1st Edition. The single cask has been aged 25 years to mirror Westwood’s 25 wins on the European Tour. Commenting at the launch of the partnership ahead of this

year’s Open Championship, Westwood said: “I’ve been hugely passionate about single malts for many years, so to see an outstanding whisky bearing my name is a huge privilege and a great pleasure. “It’s been a pleasure to work with Michael and the team at Loch Lomond Whiskies to develop the Lee Westwood Single Cask Edition. I can’t wait for fans to get their hands on a bottle and I’m sure they’ll enjoy a dram as much as I have!” Westwood joins Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke as a Loch Lomond Whiskies ambassador.

August 2021

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ENGINEERED TO PLAY Introducing the new SS22 men’s collection. To see the new range or for more information, please contact your local PING Apparel area sales manager.

AND SENSORCOOL® ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONS.

F E AT U R E

CROFT RELISHES

‘INCREDIBLE’

OPEN EXPERIENCE

Daniel Croft qualified for this year’s Open the hard way, coming through both Regional and Final Qualifying at West Lancs after a late run that saw him birdie six of his last 11 holes. and coaches and you just think ‘what is going on?’ We had the Covid test on the Sunday night so you could only use the outdoor facilities so we went on the range and jumped on a couple of holes and we actually played down the 18th. The result actually came through as we were walking down the 18th that it was negative so we knew that we were in – my caddy Mick Flynn just looked at me and said ‘we’re in the Open!’ His face was something else and it was so great to share it with a mate and also my coach John O’Neill, the pro at Helsby, and my boss at Mersey Valley, Richard Burbidge. Walking down 18 with them on the Sunday night was incredible.

His reward was a spot in the field at Royal St George’s and a week like no other. From getting an ice cream from the Ryder Cup captain to playing a few holes with Brooks Koepka, the 24-year-old from Mersey Valley Golf Club made the most of the best week on the golfing calendar. How strange is it to be thrust into the world of major golf? It’s very, very surreal. All of a sudden you are inside the ropes and in the players’ lounge, in the locker room and on the range and course. I’ll never forget walking into the players’ lounge on the first morning and you’re sitting next to all these tour players

How did you spend the early part of the week? Ian Finnis, Tommy Fleetwood’s caddy, had messaged me after qualifying at West Lancs and he said he’d make sure we got nine holes in, then on the Monday afternoon he texted to say that they had put down to play with Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry and would I want to join them?! We turned up on Tuesday morning and did some practice – we went to the putting green at 11.30, we were teeing off at 11.40 and I walked over the bridge to the first tee and, going out in front of us, were Ian Poulter and Justin Rose. I’m then on the tee and I’ve got half the Ryder Cup team either on the tee

August July 2021

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F E AT U R E or just down the fairway and I turned round and Brooks Koepka was two yards behind. He said ‘hey man, I’m Brooks, I’m going to play the first two holes with you’. So we played two holes as a fiveball before he got across to another hole. Did you make contact with the ball? It was literally like being in the middle of a dream, I was shaking so much but I managed to get it down the fairway and we had quite a big group following us. Then I had just reached the fairway when I heard someone shout ‘Crofty’ and it was Sean Foley running up behind me. He said he’d heard about my story and so, by this point, I was thinking what on earth is going on? We got on the 9th tee and and Harrington just turned round and asked who wanted an ice cream? He sent someone off to get ice creams for everyone. All three of them, and Koepka, couldn’t have been nicer. They all wanted to know where I’d come from and how I’d got there and they were all so talkative and sociable and we had such a good laugh. There’s a rumour going round that some money changed hands? We were playing a match with Tommy and I as a team and they said on the 15th hole that there was a wager on the match which they hadn’t told me. We ended up winning on the 17th, it was probably the best I played all week, and they said double or quits us down the last which we halved. We played for £100 a man and I got Shane and Padraig to sign the money. How much were you able to pick their brains? Padraig was brilliant and he gave me a lot of solid advice which you could only get from someone who had all his experience on how to handle yourself, what to expect and the

shots to practise and the things that you wouldn’t think of. It was the Tuesday before a major so they were doing their own thing and hitting different shots from different places but, in between, they couldn’t have been nicer. I even asked him a few Ryder Cup questions from a fan’s point of view. You were off at 11.30 on your Open debut, how was your opening tee shot? I managed to hit a good tee shot down the fairway and nearly birdied the 1st, then I just hit a few shots into the wrong spots and got on the bogey train a little bit. I managed to compose myself by the 7th and played really solidly after that, I birdied 14 and 16 and just missed on 17 and I made a good up and down from the hollow on the left at the last. So I had a bit of a stinker of a front nine but I still had a fighting chance to make the cut. And then you were off at 6.30 the next morning? We got there at 4.45am and the plan was to play free and try and go as low as I could. I just missed my birdie on the 1st but then had a nightmare at the 2nd; I missed it in the worst spot ever and walked off with a treble bogey after playing the wrong chip, and then getting it wrong again. On both days the 2nd to the 6th holes just killed me and I kept leaving myself with the worst possible approach or chips. If you can get through the first six holes at level then you’d be thinking you could do alright. I did that in practice but it was more the execution of it. Obviously it is a bit down to nerves and being on that stage for the first time, I’m normally quite good trying to manage my nerves but this was a different level of occasion. The objective was to make the cut and I missed it by quite a lot so, for the last half a dozen holes, I was really trying to enjoy it and embrace it as much as I could. You

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PGA Trainee Sam Forgan also made his Open Championship at Royal St. George’s after progressing through Regional and Final Qualifying. His journey was filmed as part of The Open’s ‘The Road to The Open’ YouTube series. With his brother Jack by his side as caddie, Forgan, like Croft, didn’t make the cut but loved every minute of his experience, commenting: “I’m sure in fullness of time I’ll reflect on an amazing experience.”

obviously hope that it happens again but it might not so you really want to take it all in. What is the walk up the 18th like? Absolutely unreal, when you get to the the tee you don’t really face the fairway and then you turn round and it’s like wow. When you get into that last 130 yards it’s just fantastic – you see your name up on the yellow scoreboard and your family and friends are clapping you in, it’s definitely the best walk in golf that I’ve ever had.

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MARKETING

DIGITAL‘FIND A GOLF LESSON’ PLATFORM LAUNCHED COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE TODAY As part of The PGA’s commitment to promote Members to the wider golfing public, The PGA will soon launch a new digital search engine that will connect golfers looking for lessons with PGA Professionals.

eplacing the old ‘Find a Pro’ feature that existed on the old website, the new ‘Find a Golf Lesson’ platform will be embedded into the home page of www.pga.info as well as other external sites, enabling golfers, as well as non-golfers who are looking to take up the game, to search for and contact PGA Professionals anywhere in the UK and Ireland. PGA Professionals will each have a dedicated profile that outlines their areas of expertise, services offered, training qualifications and availability of latest technology, along with location and contact details. Members will be able to manage their profile directly via the Members area on the website – all this information will be integrated within our CRM database and Members will notice a new ‘Find a Golf Lesson’ section on their Member profile

August 2021

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MARKETING

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Golfers will be able to search by a number of parameters including for specific Members, by location or club, or by coaching requirements – and then contact their chosen PGA Member through a dedicated contact form that will go straight to their inbox. The platform is entirely free to use and will enable PGA Members to market themselves directly to the golfing public and increase their reach under The PGA brand. The platform will be supported by a national marketing campaign through golf media to drive awareness of Find a Golf Lesson and drive traffic to the website. Prior to the consumer launch in September PGA Members are now being invited to start updating your ‘Find a Golf Lesson’ profile to ensure you are ready to receive enquiries from day one of the official launch.

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Richard Barker, Executive Director- Business Development, said: “We are living in a digital age where consumers look, find, and want to interact directly with suppliers in every market. Find a Golf Lesson will utilise the power of the PGA brand, backed by a national marketing campaign, will be an important channel in delivering in delivering new customers direct to your inbox. “We hope all PGA Members take full advantage of this new digital platform which will help you Further information regarding the official launch of ‘Find a Golf Lesson’ will be communicated to PGA Members in the coming weeks.”

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F E AT U R E 2 0 2 1 M I D - Y E A R R E TA I L R E V I E W

RIDING THE RETAIL

ROLLERCOASTER It’s been a bumpy 18 months for golf retailers, with course closures, shop restrictions, stock shortages and a global pandemic that refuses to go away all combining to create a perfect storm of uncertainty. In his mid-year retail assessment, Phil Barnard, industry expert and chairman of retail solutions company XPOS, looks back on the last six months of trading and assesses the prospects for the rest of 2021 and beyond

August 2021

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F E AT U R E 2 0 2 1 M I D - Y E A R R E TA I L R E V I E W

ith the challenges that have been thrown our way by the global pandemic, it’s no mean feat for some golf retailers to have made it half-way through the year at all, let alone without showing some heavy scars. Lockdown lows followed by pent-up booms, a smattering of European Championship football and the Olympics, and some typical weather extremes, has all added up to one crazy and unpredictable time. With ‘Freedom Day’ now behind us, let’s take a moment to reflect on how the golf retail industry has fared over the last six months. This year started off with less of a bang and more of a slammed door. Golf, and pretty much everything else in the UK, was closed for three months, and while Lockdown 3 took its toll on liberties, how much did it effect the overall golf economy? Interestingly, the impact wasn’t as bad as Lockdowns 1 or 2, which we can attribute to three things: 1. In the UK, the start of the year is the slowest for the golf economy, so the effect of closed golf shops will have had a reduced impact on total sales for the year. 2. The weather wasn’t great, in fact it was absolutely appalling, so while people couldn’t get out to play, they probably wouldn’t have played that much anyway. 3. Retailers, both on- and off-course, were far more prepared for the shutdown than they were in 2020 and were more inventive when it came to selling their products online and via click & collect. While the totals looked bad – the market was down 47% year-todate by the end of March – the potential impact on the year was far less severe than when we locked down in April and May 2020. This is clearly illustrated by the current numbers. As of the end of June the total sales value for the UK golf market was up 72% YTD on 2020. That’s a big jump. However, we need to remember that percentage changes can be misleading. If we compare both 2020

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and 2021 to 2019, things look very different. Compared to 2019, 2021 is still down in total value sales, year to date, but only by 2.8%. In comparison, 2020 was down 42% at the same time. The figures are much healthier this year, but we are still only getting back to 2019 levels. It’s important to take a bit more perspective when looking at numbers. What can we learn from

a few more data points to establish the trend but, based on what we see at the moment, we’ll be up on 2020 and I also expect total sales to be up on 2019. However, the success may not be distributed evenly across all categories. So, while some categories are going to have a very strong year, others will probably end up down, and, in some cases, considerably down.

this data? Well, there’s lots of talk of a ‘boom’ in golf and, in the short term, there definitely is. However, if we look at it from a long-term perspective, we are currently just level with 2019. So, is there really a ‘boom’ or is this just a return to the status quo? Looking at the monthly data, we can see that there was pent-up demand following the second lockdown and, since then, the market has been very strong. May and June 2021 were the biggest months that Golf Datatech has ever recorded, with record numbers for a range of categories that we track at XPOS. Looking at the sales pattern, I’m confident this is going to lead to a strong year overall, but can we call it a boom? Right now, I think we need

CATEGORY HIGHS AND LOWS At this stage, deciding which categories are performing well depends on the context. And comparisons with 2019, rather than 2020, will enable us to evaluate the real changes in the market. If you look at the year-to-date changes against 2019, there’s a real split in performance. Generally, hardware is doing very well, with trolleys the highest performing group at +25%. Clubs (woods, irons, wedges and putters) are up as well, so hardware brands are having a very strong time. Truth be told, if more production capacity was available, things would be even stronger, which I will come on to later. By contrast, on the two-year comparison, apparel is faring really

F E AT U R E 2 0 2 1 M I D - Y E A R R E TA I L R E V I E W

Compared to 2019, 2021 is still down in total value sales, year to date, but only by 2.8%. In comparison, 2020 was down 42% for the same period” poorly. All categories are at least 11% down, with the worst, ladies’ tops, down 45% in value. If we look at the impact on the proportional share of sales across categories, we can see there has been a significant swing to hardware, with trolley sales increasing by 29%. This has meant that it has overtaken both shoes and balls in terms of sales importance so far this year. DOES THE CHANGE IN SALES MIX SHOW US ANYTHING?

We should consider why some categories are down at this point in the year. Apparel is a big part of the overall mix and is sold mainly in on-course shops. So is it on-course that is struggling or apparel in general? If we look at the overall numbers, the issue seems to be based around how, as well as to whom, the on-course channel is selling apparel. In previous articles, I’ve mentioned that sales decline is down to three things – firstly, reduced stock levels and choice; secondly, reduced comfort for shoppers in smaller, on-course retail environments; and

thirdly, a lack of tourists and visitors buying high-value merchandise. All of these factors are a result of the pandemic’s restrictions and will probably continue to plague the category for a good while yet. The last point has a major impact on a subset of golf courses and accounts for a significant amount of value. In general, off-course stores are leading the race for sales growth, with much of this supported by online channels. In fact, off-course is up 8% in value, year-to-date, versus 2019, whereas on-course is down a similar amount. Part of that difference is accounted for by changes in the sales mix. On-course is hit hardest when apparel drops, which is down around 30% versus 2019. SALES VALUE V UNIT SALES While overall sales value tells us one thing, units can explain other changes, so it’s worth looking at unit sales and Average Sales Prices (ASP) at this point. While sales value is up in many categories, this is not the case in units. In fact, only one category is up year to date versus 2019 – trolleys. All other categories are still down. This might give us a bit more insight as to whether we are, in fact, seeing a boom. Based on units you’d have to say no, but it might be a bit early to tell. Unit sales tell us how many transactions are going on and there are several reasons for change. We know shops were closed for the first quarter, so perhaps we should give them time to catch up. However, there are other factors at play. While the decrease might be the result of a fall in sales, there could also be a leak out of the on- and off-course retail channel to the likes of Amazon and Sports Direct. Unfortunately, I don’t have any data for these organisations, so I can’t provide numbers here. With Amazon’s growth, they have inevitably done well in golf over the last year or two. What would be interesting is to understand if the growth they have seen has come from traditional golfers switching channels, or from new and returning golfers who don’t have a favourite golf retailer yet. I’m sure there are many new golfers that have been a bit

August 2021

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F E AT U R E 2 0 2 1 M I D - Y E A R R E TA I L R E V I E W intimidated by the pro shop, or large golf shop, and have preferred to surf reviews and buy online. Moving forward, they represent a great opportunity for the traditional retailer. If speciality golf retailers can engage with these new customers, they can offer both price, choice and expert advice. Something that the out-of-channel retailers cannot do. Looking further into the decline in units, there is more data to explain what might have happened. Looking at ball units, the drop in sales for the first quarter (during lockdown) was over double the difference we are seeing year to date. This is similar for many of the categories. So, while some categories are down, it’s easy to explain and the reasons may not be so drastic. With much of the season to go, there is a chance for golf retail to catch up, providing we manage to avoid further lockdowns. IF UNITS ARE DOWN AND VALUE IS UP, THEN ASP MUST BE UP? Correct. Price increases tell us one of two things: that customers are either happy to pay more for the same item than they would have paid in the past, or that they could be choosing to purchase more expensive items. The chart shown bottom right reveals the change in ASP between 2019 and 2021. With the odd exceptions, prices are up a good deal compared to two years ago with putters and distance measuring devices leading the way, with 24% and 23% increases respectively.

If speciality golf retailers can engage with these new customers, they can offer both price, choice and expert advice. Something that the out-of-channel retailers cannot do.” remain under control, then hopefully we can get through this spike and everyone can keep golfing. If that’s the case, we should be in good shape to see some solid growth in value. Another issue that may blunt certain categories’ chances of success is inventory. Unit sales in irons and woods have been hampered by short supply this year. Containers that haven’t arrived from China have seriously affected the supply chain. This, along with COVID restrictions at production facilities, has slowed manufacturing. Some brands are now taking anything from six weeks to five months to fulfil custom fit

orders, inevitably leading to a loss of sales as customers go elsewhere or delay making purchases. Even with a few hiccups along the way, I still think we are going to be up on 2019 overall. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that we can keep the economy open, keep people safe, and golfers stay out on the golf courses. Phil Barnard is chairman of XPOS and partner of Golf Datatech. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn for regular industry insights. For more information visit www.crossovertec.co.uk.

WHAT’S DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE REST OF 2021? There are a few things that will determine whether 2021 is a success or not. First of all, as I said, we can only hope to finish the year without another lockdown. I’m writing this on ‘Freedom Day’ (July 19) and there is a lot of speculation in the media about what this could, or should, look like. Yesterday, there were 50,000 new COVID cases, which is the same number as the peak of last winter. The key difference now being that nearly 70% of the adult population has had two doses of the vaccine. This is having a huge impact on the effect that COVID has on its victims. If deaths and hospitalisations

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I N T E R NAT I O NA L

CAMBODIA’S

CALLING

Cambodia is fast developing into one of South-East Asia’s hottest new golf destinations thanks to a growing number of championship layouts and upmarket resorts. Here, we talk to three PGA Members who are using their experience to help their facilities gain a foothold in the domestic and international golfing market later that year separately bought Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club. The opportunity to relocate to Phnom Penh was hugely attractive as again I saw it not only as an exciting challenge, but the chance to take a significant step forward in my career.

ALAN MARTIN General Manager, Grand Royal Golf & Resorts, Phnom Penh What has been your career path to date? I started my career in 2006 as a PGA Trainee at Dunbar Golf Club in Scotland. After four years there I moved to Old Course Hotel in St Andrews as Head Assistant. During my time in St Andrews, I always explored opportunities to travel and work overseas during the winter months. In 2015, I secured a six-week post in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and it was during this time that golf in Cambodia appeared on my radar. The Head Pro’s job at Angkor Golf in Siem Reap was advertised so I took the opportunity to fly from Malaysia to visit and subsequently secured the role.. At the time it seemed like a huge risk, and many asked why I hadn’t chosen to stay in St Andrews, but I felt that working in Cambodia would help me grow personally and professionally at a faster pace and make me a more rounded PGA Professional. As I look back, I am glad I decided to take the leap. How did you find out about your current role? In January 2019, Chip Mong Group, one of Cambodia’s top multi-sector developers, acquired Royal Phnom Penh Golf Club and

What is the remit of your job? As general manager, I’m in charge of full operational management and strategic business development of two golf clubs – Grand Phnom Penh and Royal Phnom Penh – and I report directly to the board of Chip Mong Group. My key responsibilities include the re-structuring and integration of two operational businesses into the Chip Mong Group; managing a staff of 450 between the two properties, and planning and preparing a new masterplan for Grand Royal Golf & Resorts, with a focus on maximising financial performance. As for my working week, like most clubs, weekends are the busier days, but outside of that business patterns are very ad hoc. Time management

is important as I visit Royal Phnom Penh at least twice a week, the corporate office and/ or Chip Mong Land HQ at least once a week, while most of my time is spent at Grand Phnom Penh, which is the head office for Grand Royal Golf & Resorts. Of course, I also ensure I find some time to get out on the golf course for a regular game! What are the main challenges of the job? Managing change. The ownership is highly ambitious and striving to be the best. Taking over two existing businesses and staff who have been with the old company for 5-10 years and pushing them to change to meet new standards and expectations, while still running daily operations, is a huge challenge. And the most rewarding? Everything is positive and progressive, and although that comes with its own kind of pressure to see progress in daily operations, it is also highly rewarding. In addition, to be working on long-term master planning is also very exciting for the future of the two clubs. Cambodia has huge potential to become one of the most popular golf tourist destinations in South-East Asia, and it’s great to play a small part in that. How has the pandemic affected your operations? Starting a new job as the pandemic was arising in Asia was a little stressful, taking over two operational clubs and merging into a new company during COVID seemed like the perfect storm, but it forces you to get your head down and get things done. The workload is heavy at times, but we are fortunate to have only been closed for two weeks in late April 2021. In fact, the courses have been busy with local play. Last year at Royal we serviced 23,000 rounds and at Grand it was 38,000 rounds.

Grand Phnom Penh Golf Club

August 2021

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I N T E R NAT I O NA L

How easy has it been to settle into the local community? The people of Cambodia are very welcoming, making settling here since my move in 2015 pretty easy. My family and I are settled nicely in a compound attached to a British school where my son is currently enrolled. Phnom Penh is a lively city with a great F&B scene and western amenities are everywhere. What advice would you pass on to other PGA Members who may be interested in working in Cambodia? Do it. Like relocating anywhere, you need to understand the history of the country and the culture of its people. Cambodia is certainly a very unique place in that there is poverty and there is extreme wealth. While there seems to be a growing middle class, the disparity between the two are glaring. If you are ambitious and looking to challenge yourself in a rapidly growing market, Cambodia is a good option. It was awarded Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year at the 2019 at Asia Golf Tourism Convention, and I foresee significant growth here for golf over the next ten years.

KARL WHITEHEAD General Manager, Vattanac Golf Resort, Phnom Penh How did you find out about your current role? Vattanac Golf Resort was a newly acquired management contract for Troon. The Els Club Dubai, where I was working before, is Troon’s flagship venue in Dubai, and as such, I was lucky enough to host Vattanac’s owner on his regional visit to the UAE. Over the course of the tour and lunch, Mr Vattanac described the property, the plan, golf in Cambodia and his vision – and I was immediately interested and I subsequently joined in June last year. The scale of the project, the vision of the owner, the excitement that Troon has for the region and the somewhat blank canvas for golf in Cambodia were all majorly inspiring. On top of that, I was excited to move to a new region, and to experience new experiences and challenges.

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Vattanac Golf Resort’s recently opened West Course

What are you main responsibilities? It is a very expansive role, working across almost all departments, but to summarise it comprises: ownership relations; lead the Troon management agreement; short- and long-term business strategy; leadership of over 450 employees; management of the country’s VVIP when on property; project development consultation; daily fee business; international business; events; retail; F&B; instruction; agronomy; finance; HR; procurement; sales; marketing; I.T; security; engineering. It would be too difficult to describe a typical day – every day is vastly different. But that is also the beauty of this industry – especially when working overseas. What are the plans for the facility? Following the opening of our second Nick Faldo-designed Course, the West, last November, the next major milestone is our golf academy and our new clubhouse, both of which are currently under construction. The academy is a 40,000 square foot facility that will host to two instruction rooms, four VIP rooms, three simulators, a retail outlet, gym and a wide choice of F&B options, while the clubhouse is a vast 500,000 sq ft building. Remaining operational with these two projects going is something of a challenge. How has Covid-19 affected operations? The pandemic all but eradicated tourism and large-scale corporate events. However, like most parts of the world, local play has shown huge growth, and many Cambodians have taken up the game for the first time. The challenge operationally is the unpredictability – one day you’re operating in an all but normal fashion – and the next, it’s back to ‘code red’. With so much unpredictability,

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budgeting and forecasting is certainly far more challengingl. With so many of our purchases being overseas, we’re also having issues with procurement and shipping. How do you see the future of golf developing in Cambodia? Participation is on the rise and the future looks bright. Average spends are high, corporates remain strong and there is a clear passion for the game. The golf clubs out here are open and inclusive, and the culture on course is very much driven towards relaxation and fun. For instance, it’s not uncommon to find groups out on the course playing as a five- or a six-ball. Each golfer will have a caddie and often ride in a single person cart, while ‘ready golf’ is the default way of playing. It’s hugely refreshing, with an emphasis on having a relaxed game, with plenty of time given over to the hospitality side of things. Furthermore, the principle of golf being a great place to do business remains strong. Much work is required to grow the game from a grassroots level and once we have our academy we hope to begin exploring that space in greater detail. What advice would you pass on to other PGA Members who may be interested in working in Cambodia? It’s a small network and the GMs are always looking for talent – therefore do not be shy in reaching out and taking the lead. It is not easy to jump into a senior position when making a move international, therefore, be willing start a lower level and work up. One of the best and most exciting things about the international division is how fast you can progress. If you work hard, are reliable and deliver results – the opportunity is endless.

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I spend a lot of my time on the ground, talking to staff, members and guests. Our business is a combination of local and tourist/visitor play, so it is important the club and brand is always represented in a professional manner and visible to international markets. DAVID BARON General Manager Angkor Golf Resort, Siem Reap How did you find out about your current role? The general manager’s job at Angkor Golf Resort was listed with the executive search firm Colt Mackenzie McNair and a member of one of my former clubs encourage me to apply, so I did! I was lucky enough to be offered the job and I’ve now been in the role for nine years. What are your key responsibilites? I oversee the management of the club, particularly from a commercial standpoint. The majority of my time is spent on sales and marketing, together with maintaining the operational standards and services.

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What are your main challenges? As an expatriate worker there are always cultural challenges to overcome and adapt to and, of course, it’s a compromise to be away from family and friends for such long periods. How has the pandemic affected operations? In February last year we were forced to close the course for four months. We re-opened in July 2020 and have remained open since then. We have managed to grow our domestic business, but Siem Reap relies heavily on tourism, so we missed our overseas guests. It’s been a phase of contingency planning and introducing new health and safety protocols into our operations. We also have 300 employees to consider when navigating

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these new challenges. Operations have cbeen scaled back, but we remain optimistic as boarders are beginning to open. How easy has it been to settle into the local community? Cambodia is a wonderful place to live and work, and it was very easy to settle here. The local people are very welcoming and you can get everything you need here and more. Siem Reap is a beautiful town and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some considerations for families moving here would be schooling, healthcare and infrastructure. What advice would you pass on to other PGA Members who may be interested in working in Cambodia? I would say go for it! The golf industry is still in its infancy, but it is certainly developing. As with any new position, I would advise potential candidates to do as much due diligence as possible on the role, location and employer. If possible, I would recommend spending time here first before committing to a long-term move.

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Full Swing simulators swing into the UK

Titleist opens UK Performance Centre at Woburn Titleist has revealed its new home of performance in Europe which is now ready to welcome golfers of all levels for the ultimate fitting experience. The Titleist Performance Centre replicates much of the facilities and technologies on offer at the Titleist Performance Institute in California. Including industry-leading analysis equipment and the same tee-to-green performance evaluation available to the world’s best golfers, the new Performance Centre will provide golfers with the ultimate Tour-level experience to find the best Titleist equipment for their game. The 10-acre site comprises 2,000 square metres of teeing area and a 370-yard fairway with a large S-shaped green to offer multiple shots and pin placements. This is accompanied by a single storey building featuring two product fitting bays, a club building workshop and a brand boardroom. Michael Creighton, Titleist’s Brand Director in the UK, said: “The introduction of the Titleist Performance Centre at Woburn is hugely exciting and underlines our commitment to providing golfers of all levels with the ultimate fitting experience. Our highly skilled fitting professionals have been trained by some of the best in the game and their expertise, coupled with the incredible technology and variety of shots players can hit onsite, will guarantee that any golfer will leave having had the best fitting experience available in Europe.” Consumer fittings are available on an appointment-only basis and can be made at www.titleist.co.uk.

Full Swing, the simulator used by a host of the world’s leading tour pros, including Tiger Woods, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter, is expanding its operations in the UK. Using the fastest and most accurate technology on the market, combining infrared light waves and high-speed cameras, Full Swing offers an immersive practice and gameplay experience and is also ideal for giving lessons and carrying out club fittings. An official partner of the PGA Tour, the Golf Channel, Topgolf and Pebble Beach Golf Links, Full Swing has recently installed its state-of-the-art technology at a standalone suite at Silvermere Golf & Leisure in Surrey, where it is being used for lessons, fittings and game play. The technology creates the most realistic of all the current simulators on the market, with the golf ball

transitioning from the clubhead to appearing on the screen with virtually no time delay at the exact spot that it hits the screen. Every shot is followed by video playback of an aerial view of the clubhead through impact paired with 12 key points of club and ball data for detailed analysis. Putting and chipping, often hard to replicate in simulator play, is also exceptionally accurate, further enhancing the realistic golfing experience. Players can take their pick from over 100 championship courses for simulator play, including almost every PGA Tour venue, as well as global destinations like The Old Course at St Andrews. In addition to golf, Full Swing offers a wide range of other sporting and gaming experiences, including football penalty shootouts, cricket, baseball, American Football and Zombie Dodgeball, with all the necessary equipment and accessories available as part of the purchase package. Ideal for PGA Professionals to use in a swing studio setting where it can generate year-round income, or for golf clubs to set up inside a clubhouse for their members to use, Full Swing is available in a Pro and Sport Series models, with the Pro Series offering faster processing times. For more details, visit www.fullswinguk.com.

August 2021

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TRADE NEWS

Garmin unveils portable launch monitor

Under Armour launches Virtual Store Builder Apparel and footwear brand Under Armour has created a digital platform that allows retailers to virtually stock their own retail space with the brand’s products to see what they would look like in their shop. The new Virtual Store Builder was created during lockdown to help retailers get a better understanding of how Under Armour’s product range would sit in their store at a time when sales reps were unable to visit their customers. The website enables retailers to select individual items or complete ranges and arrange them on a variety of virtual walls to see exactly how their orders would look in their own retail space. The platform also allows retailers to zoom in on each product to check out finer details and see garments from all angles. Richard Palmer Jones, owner of PJH Brand Management, the sales agent for Under Armour in the UK, said: “This technology is unique to the golf industry, and possibly the wider sports and fashion marketplace. It has so many benefits, not least saving time. On average we can build a display wall for a retailer in 11 minutes. Built by colour collection, that is much more efficient that leafing through a sample rail.” He added: “We can build a wall from scratch, or we can present retailers with what we believe the best selection based on what has sold well previously. This has the advantage of helping retailers buy a cohesive collection that will sell well together, rather than choosing products just because they like them. The selection is then uploaded to our ArmourHouse B2B platform, making the order process seamless.” UA’s sale reps will continue to visit customers as before, using the Virtual Store Builder to aid the buying process, while the company also operates five brand show rooms across the UK.

GPS brand Garmin has entered the portable launch monitor market with the release of the Approach R10. Requiring a paired compatible smartphone or tablet downloaded with the Garmin Golf app, and offering 10 hours of battery life, the device costs £529.99 and comes on a tripod which is placed behind the player to track more than a dozen metrics, including clubhead speed, ball speed, spin rates, launch angle, launch direction, smash factor and more. Shots are displayed on a dispersion chart via a smartphone, while recorded video clips of the golfer’s swing with visual metrics can also be similarly viewed. The R10 also has access to a library of over 42,000 golf courses for simulator play for up to four golfers.

SIK Golf rolls out national putter fitting centre at Silvermere Fast-growing putter brand SIK Golf is making its gamechanging technology available on a nationwide scale after the opening of a national performance centre at Silvermere Golf & Lesiure in Surrey. The purpose-built venue – part of a UK network of SIK Golf fitting centres – features the newly installed Quintic Ball Roll putting analysis system and a SIK fitting component bag. Unique in the golf industry, the component bag holds each style

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of putter head, a selection of shafts, hosels and components needed to go through the 138 different options involved in the fitting process. Terry Sims, managing director at Silvermere. said: “We are delighted to partner with YUMAX Golf – UK distributors of SIK Golf putters – in bringing SIK putters to our customer base in a premium style and service. Adding market-leading putter-analysis software to our service here will not only give the golfer a great fitting experience, but it will send them away with a putter that they know could not be more suited to their individual game.” The new national performance centre will be at the forefront of a UK-wide network of SIK Golf fitting centres. PGA Members wishing to know more about how they can host a SIK fitting centre should visit www.sikgolfglobal.com.

TRADE NEWS

Powakaddy unveils new push trolley range PowaKaddy has launched a new range of feature-packed push trolleys designed to meet the needs of all golfers. Headlining the trio of new models is the CUBE (£189.99), a lightweight, compact model with a simple folding mechanism which boasts a compact 3-wheel design with a wide wheelbase for added stability. The soft-touch handle is adjustable, while there’s also mobile phone storage area. The black frame is offered in a choice of yellow, blue or red trims. Next up is the DLX-Lite FF (£209.99), which has been designed with optimal storage in mind. Thanks to an innovative flat fold design, and at only 20cm deep, it can be squeezed into the tightest of spaces. Constructed from lightweight aluminium and designed to tackle all terrains, the DLX-Lite FF offers a host of features, including a drinks holder, water-resistant mobile phone storage area and a footbrake. Completing the range is the Twinline 5 (£159.99), a lightweight push trolley that is simple to set up and folds down quickly and compactly. Offering a smooth, all-terrain ride, features include an ergonomic handle, covered scorecard holder, drinks holder and footbrake. All three trolleys feature PowaKaddy’s Key Lock system which helps to keep bags secure on the trolley.

Zoom’s Weather Style glove range offers one-size-fits-all solution Golf glove brand Zoom is hoping to bring an extra splash of colour to the course this autumn with a new line up of colour options in its one-size Zoom Weather Style range. Men’s gloves are offered in white, grey, lime, navy, orange, red, royal blue and stone; with women’s models in white/ fuchsia, white/light blue and white/navy; and junior designs in white, black or red. The Weather Style range boasts ZOOM’s unique one-size FLEXX-FIT technology, which uses a mix of lycra flex zones to fit the contours of a golfer’s hand. The innovative material also maintains the perfect shape of the glove, staying wrinkle-free even after extended use. “Not only do these new colourful all-weather gloves look great on the course, but they are a fantastic solution for retailers,” said Steve Grant, ZOOM’s UK Sales Manager. “Our one-size-fits-all technology means that retailers don’t have to worry about ordering multiple sizes and getting left with unsold items. And they don’t have to deal with gloves being stuffed back in packaging once they’ve been tried on and found not to fit. The Weather Style line offers something completely different for the golfer and a great solution to an age-old retail problem.” Orders can be made in multiples of six, with retailers offered a free display stand with the first order of 36. For orders, call 0161 886 4010 or email sorders@wwgb.uk.com.

Srixon opens state-of-the-art fitting centre in Cheshire Srixon has opened a new Centre of Excellence at Hartford Golf Club in Cheshire which is open to all golfers looking for the most comprehensive Srixon, Cleveland Golf and XXIO custom fitting experience in the country. The launch of the new facility comes in a year that Srixon celebrates its 20th anniversary and is enjoying strong consumer demand for its ZX series woods and irons and Cleveland wedges following the success of staff players 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama and 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry. The new Centre of Excellence is part of the brand’s strategy to provide flagship facilities across Europe where it can showcase and fit its products in a premium and professional setting. Joe Miller, Srixon’s European Product Manager, added: “The Centre of Excellence at Hartford will allow us to get closer to the end consumer, as well as provide our retailer partners with a facility that they can bring their customers to receive the ultimate fitting experience. In our fitting room we have 38 wood, iron and wedge heads complimented by 210 wood, iron and wedge shafts delivering thousands of combinations to accommodate every type of golfer. It really is an Aladdin’s cave of golf components and technology which anyone can utilise to take their game to

the next level with the best equipment on the market, fitted by specially trained PGA Professionals.” Gareth Taylor, head of the company’s UK & Ireland Sales, said: “The opening of this first Centre of Excellence in Cheshire will be followed by two more facilities later in the year, with one in the South of England and one in Paris. Further centres will be opened across the UK and Europe as we move into 2022.” The Srixon Centre of Excellence at Hartford Golf Club can be booked via www.srixon.co.uk.

August 2021

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ADVERTORIAL

INVESTING IN A FORESIGHT SPORTS SIMULATOR Q&A WITH ROB LEONARD OF HARPENDEN COMMON GC Shortly before the first Covid lockdown, Harpenden Common Golf Club Head Pro Rob Leonard spoke to Foresight Sports Europe about the club’s brand new simulator facility – “The Tour Shed”. HOW IS THE TOUR SHED GOLF STUDIO USED? “The main use of the indoor simulator is custom club-fittings. After the fitting in this environment, after people see their numbers, see their ball flight, and see improvements, conversion of sales is second to none. We’ve got the golf simulator experience for customers as well; you can hire the area for either an evening activity with a few drinks, or just for practice, or if it’s a rainy day. We also sell memberships for practice sessions; members can book a session to look at their numbers, sign up to an FSX online membership and track their data. You’ve also got the Know Your Numbers software as well for gappings, and then you’ve got lessons as well, and you can go into as much data or as little data as you want, especially with your FSX membership.” WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE FORESIGHT SPORTS TECHNOLOGY? “You’ve got to look at camera-based launch monitor technology for inside – radar can’t

is that some members think they potentially hit it a bit further than they do! The numbers are exact. I know the numbers are exact. Tour Pros know the numbers are exact, but a lot of people don’t really know their numbers. So then it’s our job to get them in here and say right, OK, we can see the numbers that you’re doing now and we can improve them. That’s going to help their golf. Generally, most people come up short, so if you’re clubbing up a little bit more, you’re going to hit more greens, you’re going to improve your scores.” WHAT IS YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT TIMESCALE PLAN? “Luckily enough, we had the Quad before we had the simulator, so we broke it up into two payments. Conversion of sales is up. I’ve got a good 10-15 years to get my money back on it. We’re in year two, and we’re not far off that already.” physically do club face. And inside, club face is everything. I don’t understand why people have a radar unit inside. It cannot see the club face, so you need a photo-based system like the GCQuad. If you’ve got that, especially with dots on you’re getting so much data, you’re getting exactly what the head is doing through the impact area. You need it indoors.” WHAT HAS MEMBER FEEDBACK BEEN LIKE? “For the club itself it’s a massive asset, so it’s another sales point over the other local clubs. The only obstacle that we’ve had

WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE SOMEONE CONSIDERING INVESTING IN A GOLF SIMULATOR STUDIO? “I personally would try and invest in it yourself so it’s your own money that’s going into it, because you’re more likely to sell more. You’ve just got to have one. If you’re in the club industry now – club sales, lessons – and you haven’t got an indoor studio with a camera-based technology, you’re behind. You’re definitely behind.”

You can find the full interview with Rob Leonard on

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SPRING FASHION

Next year’s Spring/Summer apparel is set to feature some of the most fashion-forward ranges in years, with the major brands taking inspiration from the high street and beyond

■ FOOTJOY MEN’S COLLECTION FootJoy’s apparel range for SS22 features garments infused with performance innovations such as lightweight materials, engineered fabrics and golf-specific designs to better support golfers on and off the course. The men’s range introduces four new collections – Jackson, Hudson, Duxbury and Deer Park – which balance the popularity of fresh, playful prints with classic styles and a sophisticated palette. Throughout the range, contrast and duality are reoccurring themes with dolphins, fish and abstract hand-drawn motifs adding vibrancy, while elegant detailing adds further interest. The Jackson range is headlined by lavender and sage tones and supported by softer navy and grey colours. The striking designs of the shadow palm print pique polo features in the lavender colourway, with the zigzag print in sage tones, alongside the leaping dolphin print, diamond dot print, and School of Fish print polos in classic navy. The ‘push play’ pique polo adds an element of fun to the range, while the chalk line

print and accented stripes offer a contemporary twist on a classic polo. The Hudson collection uses a striking coral and quartz pink to liven up the range and is framed by the complementing graphite and white secondary tones, offered up in the playful prints and classic striped design polos. Offering more complexity in its tones, the stylish and trendy blue contrasting tones in the Duxbury collection create a sharp looking and versatile offering, with the combination of ink blue and dusk blue, energised by white. Throughout the Deer Park collection, royal blue is used to create an elegant look, while the accents of a tarte lemonade and dove grey add hints of contrast,

LEFT TO RIGHT Hudson – Chalk Line Print Pique. White with Coral Jackson – Leaping Dolphins Print Lisle. Navy with Lavender Duxbury – Shadow Palm Print Pique. Ink with Dusk Blue Deer Park – Engineered Chest Stripe Chill-Out. Royal and Dove Grey

offered up in the leaping dolphin, zigzag, shadow play, push play print polos, alongside the chalk line and accent striped design polos. WOMEN’S COLLECTION The women’s range, headlined by the Watercolour collection, features vibrant coral tones complemented by classic navy and white, with subtle details and flattering silhouettes. This ollection offers an array of stylish polo shirts, mid-layers, cropped pants, and skorts, plus the addition of a golf dress to provide even more choice throughout the Summer. Complementing accessories including braided belts, visors and socks also complete the look. Both new collections will be accompanied by a comprehensive stock supported fashion and Essentials range. These garments provide the perfect additions to complete outfits with easy and coordinating pieces that complement the headline collections, as well as continuing to prove popular with club teams with versatile cresting options.

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■ PING MEN’S COLLECTION Combining the latest premium fabrics with eye-catching and stylish garments, Ping’s SS22 collection for men is its largest to date. Key design trends throughout the range include refined geometrics that reinvigorate pattern and texture and boast clean lines, sharp angles and precise detailing. The new designs are complemented by Ping’s unique Sensor fabric technology which ensures every garment is specifically engineered to respond to the body’s requirements and demands of the golf swing. The collection features three main colour stories – Daybreak offers a refined pastel palette; New Wave focuses on strong blues and firebrick red; while Supercharged sees dragonfly green mixed with softer tone, Blue Nile, while black and a punch of lime creates a crisp, technical edge. One of the standout pieces in the collection is the 1A Putter polo, inspired by the original PING 1A putter. Featuring the clean, angular shapes of the iconic putter design in a modern and timeless look, it is made from recycled polyester and constructed in SensorCool performance fabric with an antibacterial finish and is offered in two colours. Another signature polo is the Geo, which incorporates a repeated hexagonal pattern and the PING Eye Mark logo throughout. The brand-new

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Otto polo is a performance garment that features an eye-catching cubic jacquard fabric throughout and comes in three contrasting colourways: Navy Multi, Black Multi and Blue Surf Multi. Engineered from SensorCool® fabric, it provides comfort in play, with moisture-movement, quickdrying and stretch properties. Created in a unique scattered camo pattern, the Rae polo provides an on-trend jacquard, executed in a subtle and refined manner. The Ping Eye Mark logo on the shoulder contrasts to the camo design and outstanding technical performance comes from the SensorCool fabric with moisture-movement, quick-drying and stretch properties and is also made from recycled polyester. The expanded SS22 collection also features a host of new designs, such as the Focus, Sinclair, Halcyon, Portman, Malvern and Alexander polo shirts, which are all engineered with SensorCool technology to provide moisture-moving comfort in all conditions.

WOMEN’S COLLECTION PING’s SS22 women’s range creates an uplifting summer mood, using colour and performance fabrics in a mix of heritage-inspired patterns that have been modernised to soften

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and update traditional formal looks. The garments showcase a variety of elegant designs in what is Ping’s most diverse women’s offering to-date. There are three main design and colour stories. Digital Check is a print collection that has been engineered with a distorted, optical twist and technical edge to give a sleek looking style. Distressed Houndstooth is a graphic overhaul of a traditional look. The houndstooth patterns have been reworked with exaggerated scales and distorted effects, whilst classic monochrome colours continue, providing a striking timeless look. Modern Deco is inspired by art deco design with patterns that incorporate clean lines, geometric shapes and decorative effects. The blue palette creates a brilliantly chic look. The collection is highlighted by the Etta and Evie polos, which can be paired perfectly with the Saffi skort and matching Birdie visor for a contemporary head-to-toe look. All are available in any of the three colour stories and feature SensorCool technology for moisture-moving comfort in all conditions, providing golfers unrivalled comfort and style. As part of an expanded range, PING has also increased its trouser offering for women with the addition of the new Verity Printed Crop, Short and Skort to complement the Verity trouser range to offer greater outfit combinations.

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■ GLENMUIR and sleeves. Isabella is a new full-length zipped sweater combining a sporty sleeve stripe with sparkling rhinestones.

Glenmuir’s focus for SS22, which will arrive in store in February, remains strong on sustainable performance fabrics as well as luxurious natural fibres combined with contemporary styling. The new collection boasts a range of vibrant colour stories, including cobalt blue as well as Bordeaux red, incorporating a crisp twist of white, navy, and light grey. POLOS Glenmuir’s mercerised cotton polos are made from the finest combed cotton yarn, resulting in a lustrous silk-like feel, luxurious drape and enhanced colour retention. New for SS22 are a range of vibrant new styles, including Kelvin, a cross-dyed, double-mercerised shirt with a striking chest stripe available in three colours. Ardoch is a mercerised pique polo with small, embroidered golf flags print, while Letham provides a new double-mercerised, all-over stripe option, including a solid-coloured, anticurl rib collar. Glenmuir’s Superior Performance polos are made from active fabric which boasts moisture-wicking technology delivering breathability, +40 UV protection, thermo-regulation and enhanced freedom of movement. An all-over micro golf flag design in three different colourways, as well as a tartan print option, are available in the new Crawford shirt, while Cobalt/White and Sorbet/Navy are a vibrant addition to the micro-stripe Torrance. Providing

sporty colour blocking in a performance pique fabric are two new styles – Harris and Hutton, which are offered in three colours. Cobalt/Black adds a new colour option for Brody, a jacquard camo patterned polo. For ladies, the classic Paloma polo sees the addition of a new Bordeaux colour, which is also available in the men’s Deacon, making it the perfect teamwear option. New sleeveless styles are seen in the sporty Priyanka polo, which incorporates piping, panelling and a zipped neck with a stand-up colour, while the Heidi polo is offered in a selection of houndstooth or tropical prints. Heidi shirts feature ruffle detailing and rhinestone buttons and are offered in an additional Cobalt colour option. Perrie and Stella are both sleek and stylish short sleeve pique polos available in three colour options.

TOP Cobalt is a key colour story in Glenmuir’s SS22 ranges for men and women

BELOW Bordeaux is an eye-catching colour for SS22, as featured in the new Paloma polo for women

OUTERWEAR The midlayer and padded range boasts three new products for SS22. Docherty is a padded Storm Bloc jacket available in Navy, Black and Light Grey. It features a water and wind-resistant outer and heat insulating down which retains body warmth. Textured stretch side panels and sleeves add enhanced freedom of movement. Bute is a padded Storm Bloc gilet available in three colours. It has bonded padded zones in a zig-zag pattern, it is wind-resistant and waterrepellent with thermal properties while remaining lightweight. Finally, Callander is a padded Storm Bloc jacket with bonded padded zones on the front and back, it has stretch fleece sleeves and side panels with a ribbed cuff and hem for the perfect fit while providing added warmth, blocking wind chill and repelling showers. For ladies, the Carina Midlayer has two new tropical print options – White/ Cobalt Tropical Print and Navy/Navy Tropical print – while Poppy is a Storm Bloc jacket offered in a new Navy/ Navy Tropical Print colour. SHORTS/SKORTS Rounding out the SS22 collection for men are the Keble shorts, which are made from a moisture-wicking yarn and are offered in Light Grey and Stone, while ladies can take their pick from the Phoebe pedal pusher and Alma skort each have four new colour options; Cobalt, Sorbet, Cobalt Tropical Print and Navy Tropical Print, perfect for outfitting combinations when teamed a seasonal shirt.

KNITWEAR New men’s knitwear styles include Balcomie, Largs and Carrick, all of which are made from pure combed premium cotton from renewable sources. Balcomie incorporates a traditional cable knit with a contemporary twist using bold contrast tipping, whilst Largs and Carrick are sporty designs combining bold colours and sleeve stripes with textured knits. For ladies’ knitwear, Paige has small embroidered flowers with lurex detail, while Silvia is designed with an elegant pointelle stitch on the chest

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■ CALLAWAY APPAREL Callaway Apparel’s SS22 collection is full of bold, fashion-inspired products in response to post-pandemic research which indicates the average consumer is younger than ever before. While staying true to its authenticity and continuing to provide staple pieces for its loyal customer base, Callaway is venturing towards fashion with eyecatching, athletic products. Director of Golf Apparel EMEA, Helen Willsmer, said: “Over the last 12 months we have looked closely at how the golf environment has changed and acknowledged a new golfer entering the market. Therefore we believe the collection meets this new criteria through its broad product offering, whilst remaining authentic and true to golf – which is what we stand for. This collection offers retailers a great opportunity to stock products which will not only appeal to their existing membership, but also the nomadic golfer and indeed those who are new to the game. This aligns with and is reflected in the messaging we are delivering through our campaign of ‘Feel. Look. Perform.’ which is all about inclusivity.” Key technical trends include more Swing Tech garments, which provide noticeably less restriction and more stretch to maximise range of motion on every swing. Featuring across the collection, this trademark technology fuses athletic performance with a classic fit. Sustainability continues to play an important role, with Callaway Apparel

committing to using up to 30 per cent recycled polyester in every garment across the men’s and ladies’ ranges. MEN’S COLLECTION Natural blends of cotton and recycled polyester are at the forefront for luxuriously soft hand feels combined with interesting textured surfaces. There are colour palettes, prints and designs for every mood and every golfer, and the bold floral prints and tie-dye are perfect for that new season spring feeling. Callaway’s SS22 X range is a fashion forward collection that continues to be at the heart of providing the most contemporary designs for men. There is more differentiation than ever before and it’s also the largest collection so far for this slim-fit, modern men’s range. There are also more layering options which tie back into the polo designs and colours. LADIES COLLECTION More aligned to the men’s colour schemes and patterns than in previous seasons, the ladies’ range features a similarly stylish mix of soft pastels, energetic designs and supercharged patterns to create joy and inspire positivity. Sun protection becomes a prominent feature with long sleeve options with UPF fabrics, as well as the trend for athleisurewear with a completely new offering of leggings and joggers which both feature prominently as this becomes an increasing trend.

TOP Geo Print Sun Protection Top MIDDLE All Over Geometric Strawberry Skort BOTTOM Street Blocked 1/4 Zip Pullover LEFT More polos feature Swing Tech for complete freedom of movement

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RETAIL

TIPS

Chris Taylor, TGI Golf Retail Consultant for Midlands and North England, offers 5 top tips for nailing apparel merchandising CONSISTENCY IS KEY If you’re hanging it, make sure all your product is on the same style of hanger rather than a mish-mash of plastic, wooden, branded or unbranded. Hang them on a rail before putting them on a wall, this will make it easier to identify colour stories. Putting it on a rail first makes it easy to change things around if it doesn’t look right on the wall and it’s easier to marry things up on a rail before it hits the wall. Always keep brands together and don’t mix it all up, so if you have an Under Armour display, keep it all UA. Mix the products up too to create an outfit, so customers can see how it looks together. NO CREASES When you take delivery of your products it’s all in boxes and packaged up. Grab yourself a handheld steamer – you can grab one for about £50 – hang the product and remove all the creases. That why once it’s hanging it looks fresh or if it’s folded it looks sharp. PICK YOUR WALLS CAREFULLY You need to have your customers’ eyes drawn to the clothing, so it’s important you keep your backdrops clear with a consistent colour. Avoid bright coloured backdrops and if you have slat wall don’t use brightly coloured inserts – keep the focus on the products. Research shows that more than 90% of people walking through a door look up and to the right, so that’s a hot spot for you. It also shows that customers don’t tend to notice too much in their first two strides into a shop, so avoid putting anything too close to the door. BRIGHTNESS Keep the shop well-lit and avoid hanging products in any dark spots. Adjustable spotlighting is the perfect way to keep it nicely lit and you can give them a spin and change the focus of the lighting if need be. FOLDING TABLE If you’re going to fold clothing purchases properly give yourself the space to do it. A little trestle or camping table along with a folding board will give you consistency in your folding. To add a little touch of quality, buy some folding paper too, as it adds a little class, as well as ensuring any logos sit proud.

■ UNDER ARMOUR As the leading apparel brand in the UK, Under Armour is expanding its SS22 range, with retailers being offered a collection featuring six new colour stories for the season, catering to the increased demand from both retailers and consumers over the last 12 months. The SS22 polo range will once again be led by UA’s Iso-Chill cooling technology in four new styles, while the Playoff Polo collection is enhanced by new bold prints and colours at an entry-level price point. An eye-catching new Storm Midlayer range is among the highlights of SS22 collection, with new designs and colourways across all the brand’s layering pieces with full zip, half zip and vests available in its best-selling Daytona and Storm Sweaterfleece ranges. Moving on to shorts and trousers, there are five news styles in UA’s largest collection in this category to date, with over 20 individual options or colour choices for each of the respective ranges. After enjoying an impressive response from consumers and retailers in SS21, UA’s womenswear collection has also been expanded for SS22 with two main colour stories along with 25 different polos, and a range of 15 different shorts, skorts, pedal pushers and trousers. There is also further growth in the layering category with female versions of popular styles from the men’s range, including Daytona, Windstrike and Storm Midlayer, also being offered for the first time next season. The entire collection can be viewed and ordered through Under Armour’s new Virtual Store Builder platform, which enables retailers to peruse the entire catalogue from the comfort of their desk and build a wall of garments and accessories to suit their specific retail space.

August 2021

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ADVERTORIAL

WHY GOLFERS ARE TURNING TO CBD BD oils are being added into the health regimes of millions of people across the world to try and maintain a more balanced way of life. That is no different in the UK, with over six million Britons now buying CBD products, spending in excess of £150m on the product in the first four months of 2020 alone, and over 23 million people open to trying CBD. Still not convinced? If you would take a swing tip from a pro, why not take a wellness one. We speak to official PGA CBD Partner, Cannaray, to find out more.

CBD IS USED BY BIG-NAME PROS Multiple big-name stars in the game such as Greg Norman, Bubba Watson and Lucas Glover have all openly revealed they regularly use CBD oil to take their game to the next level. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have also reportedly used CBD oil during the 2019 Masters. If it’s good enough for them, why not you or your customers? There has been a strong adoption of CBD in elite-level players and it is now making its way into the amateur golf market, helping golfers of all abilities

APPEALING TO THE AMATEUR GOLF MARKET It’s not just in golfing circles that CBD is making waves. Celebrities from industries far and wide have been coming forward to endorse CBD for its benefits. One of them being Saturday night star, Claudia Winkleman, who was recently unveiled as the official brand ambassador for Cannaray. Claudia quotes, “I’m delighted to be partnering with Cannaray CBD to lead the UK’s CBD revolution. I’ve become obsessed with CBD this year as it really helps me during bonkers days. I use the Cannaray CBD oils and Capsules - I am officially in love with them.”

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH CBD CBD comes in a variety of forms, including Oils, Capsules, Gummies & Balms. Whilst Cannaray has been hailed on the golf course for its high quality, with products free from THC, sulphates and GMOs, users are also raving about their great tasting products. CBD Oil is the most popular way to take CBD as the drops are easy and quick to use. Whilst some CBD oils have a grassy flavour, Cannaray’s zingy juniper lime flavouring is tasty and makes a delicious addition to protein shakes or smoothies. Simply squeeze a dropper underneath your tongue, allowing the oil to absorb for 90 seconds. Cannaray recommend taking the Brighter Days Oil Drops in the morning, during pre-tee preparation or have it on the course with you. And to help with your post-game wind-down, Cannaray has also launched Night-time Oil Drops, flavoured with soothing peppermint, making them the dreamiest drops around.

LIST CANNARAY CBD IN YOUR STORE Cannaray’s exclusive partnership with the PGA has cemented Cannaray’s position as the front-running brand when it comes to CBD and its use in golf. Interested in coming on board? Cannaray is available to be stocked in your store today. All you need to do is reach out to sales@cannaray.co.uk and a helpful member of their team will guide you through the process. Cannaray are also offering 30% off with the code ‘PGAMEMBER’.

Email sales@cannaray.co.uk to find out how you could reach new shoppers today, with this exciting range of PGA accredited products. The PGA Professional

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17TH - 18TH SEPTEMBER 2021 WYCOMBE AIR PARK, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 100+ golf exhibitors & live experiences FREE lessons with our PGA Pros 300-yd outdoor driving range Test the latest equipment Play in golf simulators See golf destinations Try new golf technology Try the amazing Zen Green Stage and other interactive exhibits Plus additional entry to the co-located Elite Events - London luxury lifestyle show 110+ luxury lifestyle exhibitors

SCAN HERE

Y ENTR E E R G E T FI T H C O D E W 20243 BGS

HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UK

THE BRITISH GOLF SHOW IS BACK!

The two-day public exhibition, newly-titled The British Golf Show in association with The PGA, will take place on September 17th and 18th September 2021 at Wycombe Air Park. The PGA’s booth will be located at the heart of the main exhibition hall, with all visitors encouraged to start their day by visiting the stand. The British Golf Show is co-located with the long-running The Elite Events - London (high end lifestyle exhibition), and access to all Showcased areas is open to all visitors. Some of the golf exhibits will also be located in The Elite Events - London exhibition halls. Furthermore, there will be plenty for all Golfers to see and do during the 2 days. Not only just the usual (in golf related experiences) but also across other lifestyle sectors, from Runway Test Drives to Clay Pigeon Shooting, Race Simulators, Wine Tasting and much more. “We intend to make this a truly wonderful day out for all involved. Enjoy the best of what golf has to offer, all at one setting, whilst mixing life's other pleasures at the same venue. We are focussed on making this a productive partnership, highlighting the valuable role which PGA Professionals play in life at almost every British golf club” said Alex Ayling, Managing Director of The Elite Luxury Events. “We are enormously proud to be able to highlight the amazing work that the PGA does in this new association.” Other key industry supporters of the British Golf Show include Europe’s largest golfer network HowDidiDo.com, and the UK Golf Federation which now has a membership of almost 600 golf clubs.

hello@britishgolfshow.co.uk | +44 (0)203 740 6085

T R A D E R E TA I L Q & A

TREADING SOFTLY In the year that ECCO Golf celebrates 25 years in golf, we talk to Michael Waack, the Danish footwear company’s Head of Golf, about the brand’s impact on the golf shoe market, its unique production methods, and why their shoes have become an essential stock item for many golf retailers ECCO has been making shoes since 1963, but only got into the golf business in 1996. What was the catalyst for entering the golf market?

As Dieter Kasprzak, the former CEO of ECCO, says, ECCO Golf might never have been created if his father-in-law and founder of ECCO shoes, the late Karl Toosbuy, hadn’t been given a set of clubs for his 60th birthday. From there, Toosbuy and Kasprzak developed a love of golf, and the ambition of creating golf shoes that would allow the golfer to concentrate on their swing rather than their feet. That’s what set ECCO off on the first step of the journey into the golf shoe market. How hard was it during those early years to break through into such an established and specialist sector?

At the very beginning, making golf shoes was only a side project for ECCO, but it felt as though there was an opportunity to shake things up, as at the time it was just specialist golf shoe companies making golf shoes. Right from the start, others in the industry took notice of what we were doing with our golf shoes. That’s because we stood out. When we turned up at trade shows, the other brands were always fascinated by what we were doing, because we were so different to everyone else and that was a nice feeling.

In the beginning, we weren’t very ambitious with our golf shoes in terms of how many pairs we were hoping to sell. We just wanted to see that it was possible and where it would take us. But the reaction from consumers was very positive, as our shoes were lighter, more flexible, and more comfortable than anything else on the market. With every passing year, and every new design, ECCO Golf became what it is today – one of the biggest brands in the world. How important was Fred Couples’ decision to wear those first ECCO Street shoes at the 2010 Masters in helping the brand get a proper foothold in the golf market?

The launch of the ECCO Golf hybrid, when Fred Couples played in them at the 2010

Masters, was an historic moment for the company and also for the sport as a whole. It really was a true paradigm shift for the entire industry and was the birth of the ‘hybrid revolution’. Couples, and the other golfers he inspired to join him on that journey, knew they could play a round for four or five hours and their feet weren’t going to hurt. They could carry on wearing the same shoes for the rest of the day. From that moment, we never looked back, because we had started a movement that catapulted us into the forefront of everyone’s minds when it came to redefining what a golf shoe could, and should, be. Ecco owns its own tanneries and is in control of the entire production process. How important has that been in ensuring that quality standards are met?

Having our own tanneries allows ECCO to produce leathers that are perfectly suited for our shoes. Our tanneries are revered across the global leather industry for their creativity and innovation. That expertise and experimentation allows us to develop natural materials that are designed specifically for our golf shoes. Any function that an artificial material might have, we can do with leather once we have developed one for that purpose. The leather is often superior to a synthetic material as it is natural, it allows your foot to breathe, and it also adapts to the individual curves of your foot. This attention to detail is reflected throughout our entire production process which ensures that every pair of shoes we manufacture is of the very highest quality.

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T R A D E R E TA I L Q & A Using leather comes with its own set of environmental and ethical issues. Do you see a time when leather will no longer be used in ECCO shoes, and what steps has the company taken to reduce its impact on the environment?

We are a very environmentally focussed company, and we are always looking at ways in which we can help to protect our natural surroundings. In particular, we are very concerned about global water scarcity which is why ECCO has developed DriTan technology, which reduces the amount of water and chemicals that are used in the tanning process. Many of our leathers are made using DriTan and are indistinguishable from traditionally tanned leathers. We pride ourselves on the quality of our leathers, but we know that this also comes with a need for the highest level of corporate responsibility. ECCO’s leather partner, KT Trading, is responsible for sourcing the raw material for leather – animal hides – which are by-products of the meat industry. KT Trading is also responsible for the conversion of hides to leather and we both pursue a policy of high animal welfare standards from suppliers. How has ECCO Golf been affected by the pandemic in terms of both sales, production and order fulfilment?

The last 18 months or so have been a rollercoaster ride. We had an excellent start to the 2020 season, but in April the situation became dramatic and unpredictable. We received many cancellation requests that we agreed to. In April, we also had the Global Golf Conference SS21 in which we received a sales forecast for the coming season from all of our markets. It was, of course, not very satisfactory, as almost all markets could not foresee how the pandemic and our business would develop. When we came out of lockdown, Sweden was the first market to have an incredible boom in golf products, but other markets soon followed around the world and we were sold out very quickly. We are not the company that plans with a mark down strategy; we forecast what we can realistically sell at full price during a season. How important is Tour usage in ECCO Golf’s overall marketing programme?

We are extremely proud of the relationships that we have forged with some of the world’s greatest golfers over the years, both male and female. If you look at any LPGA leaderboard, you’ll see ECCO Golf ambassadors

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showcasing our shoes on the global stage, with the likes of Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee, and Caro Masson all doing us proud. On the men’s side, some of the world’s greatest players have put their trust in our shoes over the years, including Fred Couples, Henrik Stenson, and Thomas Bjorn, who has been with us on every step of our journey. When recruiting a Tour ambassador, the first thing we do is speak to them and ensure that they share our ethos, because we always think long-term when it comes to our recruitment. This also allows us to get their input on future designs and innovation, which has been highlighted recently by the Henrik Stenson ‘Iceman’ version of our S-THREE shoe which came to market earlier this year. We have also worked with Henrik and Erik van Rooyen to produce some very cool limitededition BIOM H4 designs that will be released as part of our SS22 collection. It’s very much a two-way, mutually beneficial relationship that we pride ourselves on with any ambassador that we work with.

definitely opened up our shoes to a younger audience, while still offering the unrivalled comfort and performance that golfers of all ages are looking for. How important are green grass retailers in ECCO ’s retail programme?

I grew up with green grass and still love to discuss golf equipment with pros. This love never dies. This is one of the reasons why the green grass business is very important for us. No on-course sales, no brand. What shoes should PGA retailers be stocking this season and into SS22?

It’s a bit like asking me which is my favourite child. I love them all! But it is also clear that our successful Biom Hybrid 4, whose big brother, Cool 4 (new for SS22) and, of course, the extremely innovative S-Three should not be missing in any pro shop. If the clientele is very fashion-oriented, I recommend the new tray and the slightly more price-sensitive clientele is well served with the new core. What all of our shoes have in common is the art of shoemaking from ECCO and our own extremely high standards of quality, innovation, comfort, materials and style. Where do you think ECCO Golf is headed over the next 25 years?

Is there such a thing as a typical ECCO customer?

It may sound slightly cliché, but we really do cater for every golfer, whether they are older, younger, male, female, new to the game, or a seasoned veteran. In years gone by our shoes were perhaps perceived as being targeted at the older golfer, but contemporary designs such as BIOM COOL PRO and BIOM H4 have

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We are always looking to innovate and to bring out new products. I’m confident that in 25 years the hybrid will still be the dominant golf shoe. We envisage that, eventually, the spiked shoe will disappear because the hybrid is so universal, and it offers so much freedom with design. Over the next quarter of a century, we’ll continue to innovate with leather and continue to explore simplicity and our design language. We are already blending the triumvirate of comfort, performance, and style in every shoe we produce, and we will continue to develop that combination in the future.

P R O D U CT FO C U S : G P S D E V I C E S

GOING THE EXTRA MILE There’s no excuse for your customers being out of position on the golf course if they’re armed with the one of latest GPS devices, which offer so much more than ‘front, back and middle’

SKYCADDIE LX5 The LX5 borrows many of the best features of the brand’s SX500 handheld unit and shrinks them into watch form. Boasting a 1.4-inch colour touch screen, it offers a full screen image of each hole and features SkyCaddie’s Dynamic HoleVue, which gives a full look at the fairway with trees, water and other hazards. It also offers front, centre and back distances based on your angle to the green, while Intelligreen technology accurately maps the green and shows swales, false fronts and other major features. Users can swipe from mode to mode using the touchscreen to bring up scoring and stat-tracking options, while a step counter and heart rate monitor are also offered. It promises 10 hours of battery life in GPS mode and comes with a free three-year subscription to SkyCaddie’s membership programme, offering detailed foot-mapped courses and course updates and SkyGolf’s 360 Cloud Service for performance tracking and analysis. RRP LX5 £299.95/LX5C £349.95

The growth of the golf GPS market may have put a dent in course planner sales in recent years, but with the latest top-of-range DMDs costing up to £300, it doesn’t take a math’s wizard to work out that selling a handful of GPS units a month will more than make up the shortfall. And with the relaxing in the rules regarding the use of DMDs in competitions – they’re even being used on the Legends Tour now – there are still plenty of opportunities for retailers to cash in on this market, especially with the latest devices, many of which offer additional functions, such as stat and shot tracking, swing tempo measurements, wireless connectivity and even built-in cameras. While handheld GPS units are still selling well for those that like the extra information and more detailed hole maps and overhead views that they offer, the GPS market is largely dominated by the more userfriendly wrist-based models. While early models were rather clunky and functional, the latest launches are far more stylish, with slimmer bodies, interchangeable displays and straps and classy metallic finishes. And while they might not cut it for wearing on a dinner date, they are more than acceptable for everyday use, especially those with health features such as a pedometer or a heart rate monitor. Trolleys offering built-in GPS are also proving a boon for retailers looking to increase their trolley sales, with Motocaddy’s new M3 and M5 and PowaKaddy’s FX7 and CT6 all offering GPS functionality with supporting apps for even more detail. All in all, there still looks to be plenty of mileage to be had out of the GPS market, especially given the thousands of tech-savvy new golfers that have taken up the game in the last 18 months, so it will pay to stock a good range of models going forward.

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P R O D U CT FO C U S : G P S D E V I C E S BUSHNELL ION2 Although it’s been around for a while, and boasts a fairly functional design, the Ion2 is still a decent budget GPS option. Preloaded with more than 36,000 courses, it provides front, middle and back yardages, and offers up to four hazard/layup distances per hole. It also features auto-hole advance, shot distance mesasurement, step counter and odometer, and all the normal functions of a watch. It works in sync with the Bushnell App so golfers can make course updates through a smartphone. The battery will last for up to three 18-hole rounds, while a reversible strap offers a choice of black/ blue or silver/green colours. RRP £129

GARMIN APPROACH S42 Offering a 1.2-inch colour touchscreen display with a sleek design that makes it wearable as a wristwatch as well as golf tracking device, the S42 delivers a full array of yardage information and tracks and records shot distances. while activitytracking features include steps, sleep and calories. It can be connected with Garmin’s Approach CT10 club sensors for detailed distance tracking, while the Garmin app automatically uploads scorecards and allows user to participate in leaderboards and tournaments, review live scoring and strokes gained analysis. Battery life is 15 hours in GPS mode and it is offered in a choice of gunmetal, polished chrome or rose gold finishes. RRP £269.99

SKYCADDIE SX550 Boasting a 5.5-inch, high-definition colour touch screen to provide easier viewing of hole maps, the new SX550, which replaces the SX500, provides vivid course graphics and distances you can trust courtesy of its ground-verified course maps. Using multiconstellation navigation satellite systems, it provides enhanced accuracy and faster response times. Featuring Dynamic HoleVue, Intellipath and IntelliGreen Pro technology, it offers distances to up to 40 targets per hole, allowing you to plot your way around the course with confidence. Dynamic Rangevue overlays multiple yardage arcs on fairway landing areas and greens to allow you to quickly select the best club for every shot, with club choice advice offered based on your previous performance. Pinpoint Technology allows the pin positions of the day to be mapped for even more accuracy, while auto-course selection, auto-hole advance and auto-zoom make using the SX500 an almost handsfree experience. A Shot Tracking mode analyses which clubs you used, how far you hit them and where hit them from and will identify which clubs are helping or hurting your game. After a round, users can wirelessly sync their data to SkyGolf 360 to explore their round in yet more detail. RRP £379.95

GOLFBUDDY AIM W11

SHOT SCOPE V3

An upgrade to the Aim W10, the W11 features a new ceramic bezel which gives it an altogether more premium look and feel. Pre-loaded with 40,000 courses, it offers front, middle and back yardages, as well as carry distances to the front and back of hazards, an accurate map of the hole, and shot distance tracking. It automatically locates the course and hole without the need to press the single button which is located on the upper right of the watch. A colour touchscreen enables the user to manage the key functions, as well as zooming in on hole maps. Battery life is 13 hours in GPS mode. RRP £249.99

The V3 combines automatic performance tracking with accurate GPS technology in a stylish new design. Featuring a slimmed-down casing, it boasts a new daylight readable colour screen, as well as ClubSense and PinCollect technologies that automatically detect shots and putts on the course. Accurate to 30cm, it provides dynamic distances to the front, middle and back of greens, as well as front and carry distances for every hazard on over 35,000 pre-loaded courses. Users have access to performance statistics, with more than 100 different analytics able to be reviewed via Shot Scope’s mobile app or an online dashboard on different clubs, tee shots, approaches, short game and putting. The app also has a new ‘Strokes Gained’ feature that enables users to gain a greater understanding of which areas of their game they need to work on to improve their overall scoring. The V3 is available in a choice of five colours and has interchangeable straps. Shot Scope also has the G3 watch, which offers the same features as the V3, but without the shot-tracking data. RRP: V3 £209.99, G3 £169.99

The PGA Professional

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ADVERTORIAL

Are PGA Pros changing their views on GPS? Image courtesy of Stephen Pond / Getty Images

Do you check SkyCaddie’s pre-loaded Pin Yardages against a laser? LB: Yes they are spot on. CC: I double-check them with my laser for a few holes, just to ensure they are accurate. GH: I did initially and they were good. The more I played, the more my faith in their accuracy grew. Have the new SkyCaddies changed your view of GPS?

Liam Bond with the 2021 Senior PGA Professional Championship trophy

SkyCaddie is the only GPS brand used regularly by professional golfers, so we interviewed three recent PGA tournament winners about their views on its newgeneration rangefinders. Have their views on GPS changed recently? Our three subjects each used a SkyCaddie en route to victory: Liam Bond (2021 Senior PGA Professional Championship winner), Craig Cowper (2019 PGA Pro-Captain Challenge winner) and Gavin Hay (2020 PGA Pro-Captain Challenge winner). All three have been habitual laser users – until now. Had you used a SkyCaddie GPS before your recent win? Liam Bond: I’d first tried one at Trevose in the Legends Tour event a fortnight before Craig Cowper: No, the Pro-Captain final at Argentario was the first time. And we won! Gavin Hay: Not the new ones. I’d used the old SGX in the past. Have you used the SkyCaddie since you won with it? LB: Yes. I have been playing competitive golf for decades, but after just two events using a SkyCaddie it has completely changed my tee shot routine. CC: Yes I now use the SkyCaddie in every single game I play. GH: Yes several times. It’s especially useful if you play a lot of different golf courses.

LB: Yes – I honestly didn’t realise the SkyCaddie was this good! It’s the new weapon in my armoury. CC: Definitely. I was sceptical about GPS before, but the new SkyCaddies give you everything you can’t get on a laser, and accurately too. GH: Yes, the SkyCaddie was excellent with The Belfry’s well-guarded greens and it helps a lot with course management. How do you most often use a SkyCaddie? LB: At courses I haven’t played before, and when I’m hitting across dog legs.

CC: Off the tee I check the line I’m hitting on, the through line and carries. If I’m blind behind trees or in a fairway dip, I 100% rely on the SkyCaddie as laser is no use there. GH: Tee shots. The big screens give a great overview of the hole, just zoom in to see the trouble. Do you find the IntelliPath red dotted line showing run-out yardages useful? LB: The SkyCaddie is unbeatable off the tee, you can nail your decision-making and the IntelliPath line gives you run-out yardages to rough and hazards on the far side of the fairway. CC: It’s absolutely invaluable. It’s the biggest aspect of having a SkyCaddie. Laser can’t reproduce it, and I use it on almost every hole. GH: Yes I use it all the time off the tee. Do you use the SkyCaddie from the fairway to plan your approach shots? LB: Yes frequently. Laser often shows just the tip of the pin, but a SkyCaddie helps you plan your approach shots better, including your landing spot. CC: Yes it’s vital for picking your landing spot. Laser just gives you “One yardage and go”: SkyCaddies help you play more strategically. GH: Yes, it’s easier to get a number to the true front of the green, then club up to hit the putting surface. Any other comments to make? LB: Laser simply doesn’t give you the information you need: a SkyCaddie does. CC: Serious golfers should now have both a SkyCaddie and a laser – they now have an equal place. We all know about laser, but the new SkyCaddies simply give you information that lasers cannot. GH: The new SkyCaddies actively take shots off your game. They not only give you a yardage to landing points, but also how far your next shot will be to the pin.

SkyCaddie’s new top-of-the-range SX550

PGA Professionals should contact SkyCaddie on 01865 296360 to find more about the discounted PGA special offer. 44

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T R A D E R E TA I L Q & A

JACK

Did you offer click and collect during the lockdown closures and/or sell stock online?

OF ALL TRADES

Jack Frances, Head Professional at North Middlesex Golf Club, provides an insight into his retail operation How big is your retail space and how many staff work in it?

How has your retail operation fared over the last 18 months?

Have your future ordering plans altered because of the pandemic? This year I have added more items in stock such as golf bags, power trolleys, balls and gloves, which was well received by all the members and visitors with much more choice. However, going into 2022 I will be a bit more cautious as many people will be travelling back into work and it will be mainly weekend golfers. What equipment and apparel brands do you stock? TaylorMade, Titleist, FootJoy, Motocaddy, PING, Masters and Foresight Golf. What were your best-selling products in 2020? I had a great year with TaylorMade irons and Titleist’s TSi driver, fairways, hybrids and irons. I also enjoyed success with FootJoy’s Premiere shoes, while Motocaddy’s push and electric trollies

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Have you noticed an upsurge in new customers following the increase in golf participation? From a custom fitting and lessons point of view I couldn’t be busier. As North Middlesex is based in London, I have noticed a small decline in lessons as many people have started going back into the office, which isn’t so much of a bad thing as it does give me a bit more time to focus on the retail side of the business, which was slightly affected by how much coaching I was doing.

It measures around 5m x 9m and we currently have two full-time staff.

I only joined the club in December 2019, so it’s been something of a rollercoaster ride over the last 18 months. The business was hit hard with bad weather at the start of 2020, and then Covid hit in March and everything ground to a halt for three months, which, at the time, was very worrying. After the reopening in May, I couldn’t have been happier with the way golf has come back with such a boom. With the golf club being so busy, business in the shop has taken off, with many members buying new equipment and booking lessons and fittings.

I started selling a few items on eBay, which went very well, and will be looking to doing more online sales in the future.

also sold well. I also had a good year with Titleist’s TruFeel logo balls. What products are you most excited about stocking this season? The Titleist T-Series range, as well as FootJoy’s new lines of shoes and clothing. Do you belong to a buying group, and if so, what kind of support have they offered during the pandemic? The TGI Golf Partnership has been outstanding in helping me throughout the lockdown periods. The guys at TGI Golf Insurance have been amazing in helping me all the way with the business interruptions and Alistair at TGI Golf Finance has been helping me with options in funding the new golf studio. I can’t thank the team enough, including my Retail Consultant Simon Keeling. We put in a good 10-hour shift rearranging the shop and all the advice to get me through lockdown has been vital. How worried are you about stock shortages? It has been a real struggle following the latest reopening with pretty much all manufacturers struggling to keep up with demand, but this was to be expected. I have to say that the sales reps have been fantastic in dealing with requests and delays. The TGI Golf Swap Shop, where, as Partners, we can help each other out with individual products has been a real godsend in helping out with smaller customer enquiries.

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What marketing do you do to attract customers? We have a weekly newsletter to our members and we utilise both Facebook and Instagram. How active are you on social media with regards to retail? I feel like I am quite active, but I would like to put in some work to get better at it. Do you offer custom fitting? With the new edition of an indoor studio with a Foresight Golf launch monitor all of my sales are custom fitted. It has become so much easier to provide a top-class service and experience with the new studio. What special promotions have proved most popular? We had great success with a 6-for-10 offer on logo golf balls, while Titleist’s ball promotions have also been great for us. Have you made any changes to your shop over the last 12 months, and what are your future plans for your retail operation? Once things quieten down a little, and we move into winter, I’d like to have a complete shop refit to shake things up a little. Some nice new carpet too, and perhaps a few other cosmetic improvements rather than retail changes.

R E TA I L

LET’S GET

DIGITAL!

he pandemic has accelerated digitisation across many aspects of our lives: taking us online for everyday activities such as shopping, working from home and even keeping in touch with family and friends. Despite this, some pro shops remain reluctant to introduce new technologies due to a fear of change or lack of in-house technical skills. It’s a changing world. The way we work, staff needs, customer expectations and keeping up with new technologies can all feel overwhelming to business owners. Of course, the easiest thing to do is stay

In this month’s retail feature XPOS’s Matt Peace discusses how your EPOS can give you a competitive advantage with little, or no, effort from the pro shop team

put and stick with what you know best. Right? In truth, it’s a shortterm tactic and one that could see your business left behind, as others embrace the benefits of digital tools. Only 10 years ago, online selling was a foreign land. Taking the pro shop online seemed a scary thought, but no one could have anticipated how fast the retail landscape would change. These days, customer expectation is that all retail businesses will have an online presence and being left behind is a real prospect for those who don’t keep up. Digital transformation in our

industry is here, so why aren’t more golf Professionals taking the plunge, and what does this mean for your business? I’m on a myth-busting mission to help golf retailers understand what it means to ‘go digital’ and why their EPOS might just have it covered.

Why do I need to change? Experts now believe that 25% of existing retail space will never be used again following the impact of Covid19. While this may not affect on-course pro shops as much as it will the high street, there’s little

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R E TA I L doubt that the landscape is now very different. Things are moving fast in retail, with technology as the driving force behind innovations to improve customer experience and service. Post pandemic, we find ourselves at a junction. You can run the business as you have always done – although remember that coaching alone probably won’t give you the lifestyle you aspire to – or you can see this as an opportunity. Winning in a postCovid world will require you to look at the way you work and what you can do to add value.

Dive in with XPOS XCODES for fast, accurate product management

• A ‘live’ centralised industry database comprising 2 million products from 220+ leading brands. • XCODES saves retailers hours, (or, sometimes, days) of admin time each month in stock taking

The XPOS App for convenient stocking in

• Golf retailers can create products and stock in deliveries anywhere, and on any device, without the need for a nearby till. • Pro teams can also use the App to stock take on a smart phone, or sync it with the new generation Bluetooth scanner.

XPOS Caddie app does the selling while you’re busy on the range

• In-app Reserve & Collect store links to XPOS: displaying realtime stock, including images, quantities and descriptions, in the pro shop’s great-looking online shop. Information is updated automatically, with little, or no, effort from the retailer. • A great time saver: enabling customers to view account balances; top up balances; purchase gift vouchers; book golf lessons directly with their favourite coach; and communicate directly with the pro shop.

XPOS in the Cloud

• Cloud-based features allow retailers greater flexibility, accessibility and security.

What do I need to change? ‘Going digital’ can mean many things to different people. For golf retailers, this can be anything from indoor studios, online lesson bookings and live views of customer statements, to online accounting services, your own in-app shop where members can reserve items including stock and gift vouchers, or full-blown e-commerce.

How do I change? When it comes to technology, there are two ways to split your strategy: 1. Get the most out of your software Getting the right systems in place will ensure your business doesn’t get left behind. Thankfully, there aren’t many retailers who still use an A4 pad to record sales or monitor stock! And when you do invest in a system, such as XPOS, just make sure to make the most of the benefits. 2. Build long-term competitive advantage Pro shops using a golf-specific EPOS, such as XPOS, can use it to streamline processes, enhance interaction with members and deliver excellent customer service at the same time. As your customers’ expectations grow, it’s time to discover how the right EPOS can tick all the boxes when it comes to adding value to the pro shop and setting you apart from other retailers.

Take the Plunge Golf professionals carry out dozens of processes every day across various aspects of the business. Whether it’s to stock in a new delivery, process a return, book in some golf lessons, complete a stock take or cash up at the end of the day, ensuring efficient, accurate processes is crucial to success. XPOS is bursting with easy-to-use solutions to streamline your workflows and automate everyday processes: saving you both time and money.

CASE STUDY

Chris Gill, Head PGA Professional, Newquay GC “When I first took over the role, I was using the club’s till system. It was just a touch screen to process sales and I soon realised that we needed to use a system that could help us with stock control, as well as give us more insight to the business. XPOS was recommended to me, and we’ve long realised that it saves us a lot of time and effort across all our processes. XPOS goes beyond being just a till. Because it’s golf specific, I’m able to manage members’ accounts, including transferring money, manage two’s competitions, sweep stakes and prize draws. We use the XPOS App for stocktaking and stocking in new deliveries, which is fast and simple to use. The whole team has the App on their phones. At this time of year, we don’t have time to put deliveries onto shelves every day so the XPOS App makes life a lot easier. It’s a big bonus and saves us so much time. Having access to the online Hub enables me to manage the shop from any location. I can keep an eye on the Performance Dashboard and message the shop if anything looks out of line. Similarly, it’s great being able to manage customer accounts online as well. The main features and services are geared around processes and aspects of running the pro shop. Without XPOS, everything took a lot longer.”

To find out how XPOS can transform your business, contact Matt Peace via email at matt.peace@crossovertec.co.uk. For more information, visit www.crossovertec.co.uk.

The PGA Professional

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T R AV E L

BEN FOSTER Head of Pro Travel M: 07471 034 852 E: bfoster@golfbreaks.com

TIME TO JET OFF TO SUNNIER CLIMES

With the recent good news on international travel restrictions being eased, we are delighted to see the return of overseas travel from 19th July 2021 to many of our top golfing destinations for clients that are fully vaccinated. Below is a brief guide on what these new measures mean for jetting away with a group of your members and clients. What does the latest government announcement mean for travel? Travelling abroad during the pandemic will be different than it was before. Additional health and safety measures are in place to help prevent the spread of infection and to keep you and your fellow travellers safe. However, these new measures shouldn’t stop you from having a great time and are in place to help you have a safe and enjoyable break with your group. What is the traffic light system? For international travel there is a traffic light system in place in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, for travel to foreign countries on a green, amber or red list. From 19 July, people who have had both of their COVID vaccinations in the UK won’t

need to quarantine when returning to the UK from an amber list country, meaning it is now far easier to get away. How does the traffic light system work? There are different testing and quarantine requirements on your return to the UK depending on which list the country you have visited is on. It is also important to check the FCDO website for up to date advice on the country you are looking to visit. GREEN

• COVID-19 test (antigen test or PCR) in the three days before returning to the UK • PCR test on or before day two of your return. • You won’t need to quarantine or take any additional tests unless you get a positive test result.

AMBER

• COVID-19 test (antigen test or PCR) in the three days before returning to the UK • PCR test on or before day two of your return.

• You won’t need to quarantine or take any additional tests unless you get a positive test result if fully vaccinated • If not fully vaccinated - PCR test on day eight of your return • If not fully vaccinated - You’ll also need to quarantine at home for 10 days on your return. If you’re returning to England, you’ll have the option of a “test to release” on day five to end selfisolation early

RED

• You will need to stay in a quarantine hotel for 10 days on your return • COVID-19 test (antigen test or PCR) in the three days before returning to the UK • PCR test on day two and day eight of your return With plenty of the most popular countries on either the green or amber list, it is now far easier to get away, enjoy the sun and play a number of the fantastic courses the rest of the world has to offer! For more information on booking your next break, get in touch with the Pro Travel team today.

To discuss you’re next break away get in touch with the Golfbreaks Pro Travel team 01753 752 880 | pga@golfbreaks.com |

@Golfbreaks_Pro |

@golfbreaks_pro_travel

August 2021

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T R AV E L

EARLY BIRDIE JOE BOWREY Senior Travel Consultant T: 01753 752880 E: jbowrey@golfrbeaks.com

DEALS

With the recent good news around travel restrictions easing and our incredible Early Birdie booking offer, now is the best time to take advantage and get your next trip booked in the diary to give you and your members a break to look forward to.

FRANCE

THE BELFRY

LE TOUQUET GOLF RESORT

1 night dinner, bed & breakfast 2 rounds of golf Pro goes FREE with 11 amateurs 20% off drinks in Sam’s Bar

2 nights bed & breakfast 3 rounds of golf Pro goes FREE with 7 amateurs

FROM

£159

BUGGIES

FROM

£259

BUGGIES

INCLUDED

PORTUGAL

AMENDOEIRA GOLF RESORT, ALGARVE

VALE DO LOBO RESORT, ALGARVE

3 nights bed & breakfast Unlimited golf (Faldo & O’Connor) Pro goes FREE with 7 amateurs

3 nights self catering 3 days unlimited golf Pro goes FREE with 7 amateurs

The PGA Professional

FROM

£349

#makinggolfhappen

FROM

£325 49

T R AV E L

SPAIN

LA MANGA CLUB, MURCIA

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON ISLANTILLA BEACH GOLF RESORT, HUELVA

3 nights bed & breakfast 3 rounds of golf Pro goes FREE with 7 amateurs FREE drinks & welcome pack

FROM

£345

BUGGIES

3 nights half board 3 days unlimited golf Pro goes FREE with 7 amateurs

FROM

£249

BUGGIES

INCLUDED

CYPRUS

ABU DHABI

APHRODITE HILLS HOTEL, PAPHOS

CROWNE PLAZA YAS ISLAND

5 nights All Inclusive 5 days unlimited golf Pro geos FREE with 7 amateurs

5 nights bed & breakfast 3 rounds of golf Pro FREE with 7 amateurs FREE welcome drink

FROM

£795

FROM

£819 August 2021

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Book a Pro Travel break with us this August & save up to £400! Email: pga@golfbreaks.com Call: 01753 752 880

*Please call for full terms & conditions

C OAC H I N G

MY TEN GOLDEN RULES OF THE COACHING BUSINESS By Ian Clark, Director of Instruction at the World of Golf, New Malden.

At a coaching seminar I attended once I heard the great Butch Harmon say that the toughest job in the golf industry is that of a full-time teaching professional, which got me thinking that if Butch himself thinks that then what hope for the rest of us.

I have only ever taught (coached) golf full time and have been in my present coaching role for 21 years, and nearly 30 years in total. During that time, I have studied every one of the great coaches, and have put together what I call my ten golden rules of the coaching business, and by adhering to these rules I feel like I have managed to make myself a successful coaching business.

MY TOP 10 Be on time. If your first lesson of the day is at 9am, then you need to be ready to coach by 8.30am, get all your technology ready, get your coaching area ready.

Nothing looks worse to the student if you turn up a minute before the lesson is due to start still eating a bacon roll. Be prepared, make sure you have looked at the student’s notes from previous lessons, and you will be able to show the student that you are in charge of the lesson. Also start and finish each lesson on time, your student will be very aware what time the lesson started and ended, although they may not show it at the time, they will notice if you have cut short their time. Take student notes. Each of your students should have a file and after each lesson make a note of what you worked on during the lesson, make a note of drills you have given the student, what practice plans have you set them? Then next time when you ask them how they did with such and such a drill, they will be amazed you remembered. This also shows them how serious you are about them getting better. Remember to write down when they are playing competitively so that you can ask how they got on next time you meet.

Do not let the student leave without them having booked their next session with you. This is key if you wish to get busy. Take control, tell the student when you next expect to see them, have

August 2021

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C OAC H I N G your diary ready and get them booked in. During the lesson make sure you talk to the student like they are coming back. E.g., “so next time we meet we will talk about....” Look after your present clients rather than always be looking for new ones. One of the best lessons I ever learned was when I heard somebody say, “it is much easier to sell to someone you have already sold to, than it is to someone you have not.”

Send out a newsletter - this should be a given. You need to send out a newsletter to your database at least once a month and be consistent when you send it out. I send mine the first Friday of every month, without fail! By doing this you are keeping yourself at the forefront of your students mind when it comes to all things golf. When they think of golf, you should be the first person they think about. However, you need email addresses to send out a newsletter, so make sure you collect the email and mobile number of every student you have.

Contact three ‘old’ students every day. This may be the one thing I do that has kept my diary busy. As an experiment, go back six months in your coaching diary, and find three students who had a lesson, but have since then not returned. Now, email all three with an

email simply asking how they have been and how their golf has been since you last met, and that is it! Do not try and sell them anything. It will amaze you how many people will reply saying that they were just about to contact you to organise a lesson. Do not fear your lesson price - Remember a car that sells for 50k, may seem expensive to you, but to someone else it is cheap, do not be scared to charge what you feel you are worth. Every time I have raised my lesson price, I have become busier. If you have not raised your lesson price in the last 24 months, then do so today.

Please, please, please stop selling 6 lessons for the price of 5!!! This alone will diminish your hourly rate. Have a lesson rate and stick to it. To see how this can affect your income, for one month make note of your teaching revenue and the number of hours you spent coaching for that month, now divide your income by the number of hours, what you have is your true hourly rate! Don’t like it? Then stop selling 6 for 5. My formula is to have a high individual lesson rate, I do not like just doing one off lessons, as I prefer people to embark on a coaching programme with me. For me, my ‘target’ hourly rate is £85. So, I have high hourly rate, £100, then charge £360 for four sessions, and £850 for ten sessions.

Have a presidential suite programme. Every hotel has a presidential suite which is the most expensive room in the hotel, and they may only sell one of these through the year, but someone somewhere wants that suite. You should do same with your lesson programmes, have a presidential suite programme. It could be 50 lessons, two nine hole playing lessons, a shirt and a dozen balls when they enroll or something similar. Remember, someone, somewhere wants that presidential suite!!

Set up a WhatsApp group. Over the past few years this has been my best business decision. As I have become busier, it has been harder for people to get booked in. So, I setup a WhatsApp group for my students to notify them as and when I got a cancellation. I would post a message to the group, and on a first come first served basis, the students could then book the lesson via my online booking system. I only use the group for this, and it is broadcast only, as I found a few people would get annoyed receiving random messages. This helped keep white space off my diary and give my students the chance to get booked in.

I hope you find some value in these ideas. I love hearing from other coaches, so let me know if by implementing some or all of these rules you have seen an upturn in your business. If you would like to discuss further email me at ian@ianclarkgolf.co.uk

LEARN To access specialist learning content on the benefits of custom fitting, log on to www.pgalearn.pga.info

This month watch:

SCHOOL OF GOLF WITH MARTIN HALL

DEVELOP, TRAIN, PERFORM WITH STUART MORGAN

JOURNEY TO MASTER PROFESSIONAL WITH IAN RAE

PGA Master Professional explains his coaching process and theory. https://bit.ly/36FN6A2

Coaching specialties include junior development, how to practice, and elite performance. https://bit.ly/3kriD0O

Covering topics from coaching Richie Ramsey to working with recreational golfers. https://bit.ly/3hOt9gL

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A AD DV V EE R R TT O OR R II A A LL

CLUB CAR DRIVING OPERATIONS AT ST ANDREWS The golf courses of St Andrews Links Trust were designed hundreds of years before golf carts came into existence, but these days Club Car’s electric vehicles play a vital role in the running of the world-famous venue’s seven courses. John Grant, Director of Golf at St Andrews, tells us more… Our courses have evolved over hundreds of years – in the case of the Old Course, more than 600 years – and weren’t built with golf carts in mind. So unlike many resort courses, we don’t have a huge fleet of hire carts because there aren’t buggy paths and walking is the preferred means of playing golf in Scotland. However, we still have 19 Club Car Tempos across our seven courses and they are very important for allowing elderly or less able golfers enjoy the game. They are excellent – very reliable and comfortable. CONNECTED TECHNOLOGY This innovation has really helped us, especially since we upgraded to the full platform last year. With many hidden bunkers making the safe movement slightly more hazardous, caddies were trained to drive their golfers around the Old Course. The GPS now allows us to create no-go zones and have confidence that the buggy will keep the golfers away from any potential hazards, and they can safely make their own way around the courses.

VILLAGERS We have two six-seaters which we use to shuttle golfers from our Links Clubhouse to the 1st tee of the Old Course. Being more than 500 yards apart, this is welcomed by all golfers whether they are making their way to the tee with much anticipation or having just completed the 18 holes and are looking forward to a deserved comfortable seat. COURSE RANGERS The number one priority for these carts – of which we have 12 Carryall 550s – is to keep the course marshal dry and protected from the elements. Our team can be out on the courses for up to 14 hours a day in all weather, meeting, greeting and encouraging golfers, so it’s imperative they are warm and dry in a comfortable and easy to drive vehicle. Some have seats on the back so we can transport anyone injured or feeling unwell; others have boxes so we can easily take clubs and trolleys. They are also very smart and professionallooking vehicles. In addition, we have a food and drink cart for making deliveries to our on-course outlets, and two vehicles for our marketing and communications department – a four-seater and a Carryall which can transport filming equipment. We have a lot of media interest and camera crews here, so it’s useful that we can offer them a way to get around easily without impacting on our hire fleet.

UTILITY We use Club Car’s Carryall model which our greenkeeping team find extremely reliable. Mainly used for transporting small teams of staff, they are the electric models which help cause less of a disturbance to golfers and are better for the environment.

To find out more about Club Car’s wide range of golf and lifestyle vehicles,

visit clubcar.com

August 2021

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BENEFITS

GUILT-FREE SPENDING

ON THE THINGS YOU DESERVE

RETAIL THERAPY IS FUN WITH MOTIVATES

Enjoy the very best in lifestyle savings and take advantage of these fantastic offers from PGA Benefits.

TRANSFORM YOUR TECH WITH APPLE

The shops are finally open! Enjoy shopping sprees again, whether it’s for essentials or you want to treat yourself, Lifestyle vouchers offer the recipients a choice of everyday treats from the high-street, online, leisure and travel sectors - with over 120 of the UK’s biggest brands.

INDULGE YOURSELF IN A NEW BOOK Get 10% off online at Foyles! With nearly a million books available for home delivery, Foyles is the home for book lovers on the web. Their site boasts a wealth of author interviews and blogs to help you choose your next read. Plus sign up to their Foyalty card to earn points on every purchase*.

In need of a tech transformation? As a PGA Member you can save while you treat yourself to new tech essentials. Save on a wide range of Apple products including: AirPods, Beats by Dre, Apple accessories (inc. NEW AirTags), MacBook and AppleWatch!

CATCH THE LATEST BLOCKBUSTERS AND SAVE MONEY ON TICKETS Get preferential rates on cinema tickets available at over 300 nationwide venues. Whether you are seeking action, romance, comedy or thriller, enjoy great savings every time at local and nationwide chains*

UNLIMITED MAGAZINES FREE FOR A MONTH FROM READLY.COM* Want to access unlimited magazines? Sign up to Readly and get the first month free. After that, it’s just £7.99 each month. What’s more, as a PGA Member you will also receive a £10 Amazon voucher on receipt of payment in the second month (i.e. your first subscription payment). There’s no obligation, you can cancel at any time, even before the first payment (but you’ll only receive the £10 voucher upon receipt of first payment).

To take advantage of these and other fantastic deals visit https://www.pga.info/members/member-benefits/ today! *Terms and conditions apply to all benefits. See website for details. Offers subject to change without notice and correct at time of print. Apple - Annual purchase limits apply. Exclusions apply and discounts are subject to availability. For the latest offers visit the Apple EPP store. Foyles - Unfortunately the discount is not applicable against certain items, including but not limited to already-discounted products, events, gift cards, book tokens, theatre tickets, and A Year of Books. The discount is not applicable to postage costs. Foyles reserves the right to alter products included or excluded from the scheme, and to add to or amend these terms and conditions. The Cinema Society - Discounts vary between cinema venues. Please check when purchasing vouchers, registration to The Cinema Society required to access discount. PGA Benefit web pages are managed and run by Parliament Hill Limited. Within those benefits are some benefits negotiated directly by The PGA, and these are identified on the benefit web page.

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BENEFITS For more detailed information and to take advantage of these and other fantastic deals, log into www.pga.info, select Member Benefits then click ‘Find out more’. *Only available to PGA Members in the UK. Terms and conditions apply to all benefits. See website for details. Offers subject to change without notice. †Pay directly in the hotel; flexible cancellation policy; valid only in low and mid-season; the discount can only be applied on the flexible rate and not on other rates or special offers.

Formby Hall Golf & Spa Resort Rates from £95pp including use of the pool and health club. Spa days from £49 pp. PGA deals available Sun – Thur. Contact Mark Williams on 01704 875 699 or reservations@ formbyhallgolfresort. co.uk quoting your membership number.

Argentario Golf Resort & Spa 20% off the flexible rate at www.argentariogolfresortspa.it. For availability and prices on bespoke packages for members/clients, email booking@argentarioresort.it or call +39 0564 810292 quoting PGA Member

Modry Las Golf Resort

Antalya Golf Club

Modry Las, is delighted to offer fantastic Stay & Play coaching packages for PGA Members. Visit the Members’ Area and find us under ‘Travel & Experiences’ for more info. Get in touch on golf@ modrylas.pl or +48 667 710 410 or visit www.modrylas.pl

Attractive, all-inclusive rates for members and family. For The Sirene Hotel contact: volkan.cavusoglu@sirene.com.tr For Kempinski The Dome Hotel contact: michael.jones@agc.com.tr

Aphrodite Hills Golf & Spa Resort

Golfing Packages Commission

25% off for members on holiday residences public rates and 20% off hotel package rates (terms apply)†. For availability and prices email: Hotel Packages – reservations@aphroditehills.com Residences – reservations_mgr_AH@atlanticahotels.com For pro coaching groups, check with PGA Travel Partners.

Slieve Russell Golf & Country Club 20% off B&B rates on www.slieverussell.ie For availability and prices email slieve.reservations@slieverussell.ie on or call +353 49 952 6444 quoting membership number.

Public liability Insurance Cover is included in your subscription fee. Contact membership@ 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: www.pgainsurance.co.uk

Health and Wellbeing Support The PGA offers access to a 24/7, totally confidential helpline manned by trained counsellors providing help and advice on any matter that is causing anxiety, concern or depression. The service is also available to your close family and employees. If you feel you or someone close to you needs help, call 0333 000 2082.

VAT Advice For VAT advice, contact Robert Spencer-Smith at PGA Headquarters on 01675 470 333 or email robert.spencer-smith@ pga.org.uk

Access to bespoke golfing packages for you and your club members through the dedicated Golf Pro Travel Team. Receive 5% commission on your booking. Contact 01753 752 880 or email pga@golfbreaks.com to book your next trip.

Vehicle Leasing Offers* Exclusive contract hire rates on a selection of BMW and MINI models through BMW Group. Visit http://www.bmwpgasales.co.uk/?refid=PGAMember, call 0370 700 5215 or email mail@bmw-issd.co.uk

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

Legal Advice 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.

Prostate Cancer UK An official charity of The PGA. Speak to a Specialist Nurse on 0800 074 8383* or visit www.prostatecanceruk.org The helpline is open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Wed 7pm-9pm *Calls are recorded for training purposes only. Confidentiality is maintained between callers and Prostate Cancer UK.

August 2021

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BENEFITS Coca Cola European Partners* Free cooler offer to PGA Members for their retail facilities. To arrange delivery/installation, please contact John Balchin on jbalchin@ccep.com.

Wholesale and Delivery Service* Reliable wholesale and delivery to PGA Members in England and Wales, plus complimentary gift available to all new PGA account holders. Contact Tim Swingler on 07519 111 582 or tim@ chappleandjenkins.co.uk or visit www.chappleandjenkins.co.uk

Incentive Programme Incentive programme of up to £500 in commission when recommending customers to purchase an all-weather home putting green. Call 01730 829 608 or visit www.huxleygolf.com/pga

Award-winning Distiller* 15% discount available to all UK PGA Members on all Loch Lomond Expressions available to buy online. Visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com and enter the discount code PGA15 at checkout.

Sustainable Golf Products Exclusive 25% off pro-shop offer, buy three Shelf Ready Packaging (SRP) units for £120 (ex. VAT) and get one free. Each SRP contains 20 individual bamboo tee matchbox units, RRP £3.99/unit. Contact rob.emerson@ilbrands.co.uk or 01372 236117, T&Cs apply. Visit www.oceanteegolf.com

Vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements Free pro-shop Sale or Return starter pack offer with excellent profit margins. Contact stephen@tomolivernutrition.com to request a starter pack and visit www.tomolivernutrition.com for 50% off own-use products with the code: PGAMEMBER

Rangefinder Savings SkyCaddie are delighted to offer PGA Members savings of up to £150 on their latest award- winning family of GPS products. Call 01844 296360 or email sales@skycaddiegps.co.uk for more info.

Turf Maintenance Equipment Take advantage of a special offer on the Prostripe Rear Roller Mower for your clubhouse surroundings. For more product information, visit www.toro.com/prostripeuk. To place an order on this offer or learn more, please share your contact details at pgamembers@toro.com

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Reduce Energy Costs We can help identify the potential of roof or ground-mounted solar installations which can reduce energy costs by up to 40%. GreenClub will support with surveys, audits, planning and design and, subject to meeting required criteria, will fund the entire project. Visit www.greenclub.energy, email info@greenclub.energy or call 0800 999 1904.

IT Services* Free Members’ IT health check of your business; up to three months free managed IT services when taking out a contract with an option to leave within the first three months if you change your mind. For more information contact 0207 078 3795 quoting PGA.

XPOS Sales and Stock Management Retail management solution, used by professionals to reduce stock and improve profit. Quote PGAX01 to receive three months free XMAIL, the integrated customer email service. Contact on 01454 418 395 or via the CHAT button at www.crossovertec.co.uk

Golf Carts Contact Kevin Hart at: kevin_hart@eu.irco.com or call +44 1785 280 344 to discuss you requirements. Members in Ireland can contact Liam Ross at The Buggyman at: liam@buggyman.net

Special Product Offers Special offers on selected products for PGA Members. For the latest deals, log into Member benefits and select ‘Shopping’. Or contact the team at lgvip@lge.com for any orders.

CBD products Cannaray CBD are offering PGA retailers a no-commitment, sale-orreturn kit worth £560 free of charge. For more info go to PGA benefits or visit www.cannaray.co.uk. To order, email sales@cannaray.co.uk

Card Payment Services* Preferential rates to PGA Members for accepting credit and debit cards. Call 0330 123 1241 quoting PGA.

Affiliate Bonus Become a SkyTrak Show Case Dealer and earn a bonus 40% affiliate fee on your first sale and 20% fee on any future sales. Call 01844 296360 or email sales@skycaddiegps.co.uk for more info.

Personalised Luggage PGA Members receive 20% off our luggage range. To view the full range visit www.asbrigolf.co.uk/pga-members-luggage Contact sales@asbri.co.uk or 02922 678 842 quoting membership number.

ADVERTORIAL

ALL ELECTRIC. ALL BMW.

INTRODUCING THE NEW BMW iX3.

Sustainability has long been a focus for the BMW Group, as they continue to diversify their existing offering of 12 all-electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid technology models, to 25 electric power trains by 2023. The introduction this year of the new BMW iX3, iX and i4 means BMW are well on their way and will see this already impressive electrified line up, broaden to span 15 vehicles. “IT LANDS IN THAT CROSSOVER SWEET SPOT, A COMPACT SUV, CAPABLE OF SEATING THE WHOLE FAMILY, BUT STILL PRACTICAL ENOUGH FOR URBAN DRIVING.” Chris Hall, Pocket-lint In this article, we’re shining the spotlight on the new BMW iX3, an evolutionary all-electric SUV, taking the future of BMW electric mobility a step further. DISCOVER THE ELECTRIC EDGE The iX3 is the trailblazer for the fifthgeneration of BMW eDrive technology. The electric motor now no longer requires the use of rare earth elements, instead production is focused around recycled and reusable materials, with zero effect on performance providing an all-electric range of around 282 miles*. What’s more with two models to choose from, each with their own high level of standard specification, the iX3 grabs attention with unique styling and an innovative interior. THE ULTIMATE DRIVE Like any new BMW model, innovation starts from the ground up! In the iX3 this includes the new aerodynamic alloy wheel design, available on all iX3 Premier Edition as standard. The clever design of these 20” alloys, aids weight reduction, increasing efficiency by up to 30%. All these benefits packaged together deliver enhanced performance without compromise to the aesthetics.

How does it feel to drive? Well, the iX3 delivers hallmark agility thanks to a low weight battery, even weight distribution and ARB technology to provide an agile and dynamic drive. Arrange your test drive to experience this for yourself. STYLING & CONNECTIVITY The harmony between the aesthetic styling and the modern exclusivity of the interior continues with a focus on passenger comfort and optimised ergonomics for ease of use. All iX3 models are equipped with the latest BMW Live Cockpit Professional as standard. The pronounced 10.25” Central Information Display (CID) is seamlessly complimented by the 12.3” Digital Driver Cockpit and powered by the latest Operating System 7.0.

CHARGING. When it comes to electric BMW understand that there are a lot of questions around charging. Encouragingly, what they have found, is that owners soon adopt charging as a regular routine than a specific operation. Onboard systems such as Connected Drive, which will show you the nearest public charging stations on your route, informs you in advance of their availability, as well as the charging currents offered; help to ensure you get the most out of the iX3 whilst settling any range concerns. This intelligent feature will also help you to get the most out of the charging time showing nearby points of interest. This is great, but what other charging options are available? Using the cables provided, you can charge the high voltage battery via a conventional 1 3-pin plug socket, or at any one of the extensive UK network of public charging stations. To boost convenience, with BMWs ChargeNow service you can now access the largest network of public charging points nationwide with a single card, earning charging points as you go! For the fastest charging they recommend that a dedicated private charging station be installed. This ensures a more convenient home charging experience.

“IT HAS A FAB INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM AND A SMART INTERIOR, SO IT’S A FINE BUY IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A BIG SUV THAT RUNS SOLEY ON ELECTRICITY.” What Car? BMW GROUP PGA AFFINITY SCHEME. To find out more about BMW’s electric range or to start your iX3 build, contact the BMW PGA Team on: 0370 700 5215, by email at mail@bmw-issd.co.uk or visit their website at www.bmwpgasales.co.uk

August 2021

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E M P LOY M E N T O P P O RT U N I T I E S FULFORD HEATH GOLF CLUB LIMITED - CLUB MANAGER Fulford Heath Golf Club, based in Wythall near Solihull, is recruiting a Club Manager to manage the day-to-day operations of this traditional but forward-thinking private members’ club. The Club Fulford Heath Golf Club is a beautiful James Braid designed course that provides golfers with a variety of interesting and challenging holes in a picturesque setting on the borders of Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The course offers superb greens, three lakes and the River Cole winding its way through several of the more challenging holes. There are currently just over 550 playing members with active men’s, ladies, and junior sections as well as a large number of social members. Members enjoy the beautiful setting, competitive golf at all levels and a friendly clubhouse atmosphere. Fulford Heath is focussed on providing members and visitors with an excellent golfing experience whilst improving all aspects of the club both off the course as well as on. The Responsibilities The Club Manager reports to the Club Chairman and provides substantial support to the Club’s Main Committee. • Responsible for the day-to-day management, administration, and operation of the Club within the parameters of an annual business plan and approved budget, to achieve high quality results and provide excellent customer service for members and guests. • Implementation of the Club’s strategy developed in conjunction with the Management Committee. A particular focus will be to retain and grow membership and drive member recruitment and other visitor revenue through an innovative sales & marketing strategy. • Work with the Club Captain and golfing committees to deliver an effective golfing environment and introduce new ideas and ways of working to enhance the golfing experience. • The management of all Club staff, with the exception of the Course Manager who reports directly to the Chairman of Greens. • Control of the finance and accounting function, including cash control and the development of budgets and long-term financial plans – in conjunction with the Chairman and Treasurer. • Pro-active communication, internally and externally, aimed at maintaining member retention. Effective communication with members, visitors, and other stakeholders. • The cost effective and efficient management of all clubhouse facilities, including bar and catering operations and oversight of services provided by the Club Professional and his staff. • Health, Safety, Environment, and all other legal and regulatory matters ensuring the Club operates in compliance with all relevant Statutory and Local Government Regulations and other legislation appropriate to employment and company activity. Salary – negotiable based on experience. Applications Interested applicants should forward their CV and a covering letter outlining how they meet the requirements of the role to the following email address – mrtimmsfhgc@gmail.com Closing date – Saturday 21st August 2021. The PGA Professional

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E M P LOY M E N T O P P O RT U N I T I E S

Do you want a career in Golf? Moreton Hills Golf Centre (Wirral) are looking to recruit ambitious golfers who want to train to become a PGA Golf Professional at our busy golf facility. Are you a keen amateur golfer with a passion for the game or maybe you have you already started your PGA training programme? We will provide world class training & support to help you become a PGA Qualified Professional. The role will include coaching, custom fitting, retail, equipment repairs, customer service & marketing.

What’s included: • Full onsite PGA training provided • Co-funded PGA Training Qualification • Excellent earning potential

• Accommodation available • Working in an Award Winning facility • Coaching & tuition

The #1 Golf Practice Facility on the Wirral We are based on the beautiful coast line of the Wirral peninsula 15 minutes to Liverpool & 40 minutes to Manchester.

Our facilities include: • 45 bay Top Tracer driving range • Trackman custom fitting suites • Two private glassed teaching studios • Outdoor grassed bays

• 18 Hole Viking Quest Adventure Golf • A new golf course & state of the art short game area

National Award Winning

RANGE • COURSE • ACADEMY • SHOP • BISTRO

Moreton Hills Golf Centre, Tarran Way South, Moreton, Wirral CH46 4TP.

To view our site visit: www.moretonhillsgolfcentre.co.uk To apply please email Jack Webb your CV along with covering letter to: info@majorgolfdirect.com

Southwold Golf Club PGA Club Professional Located on the East Coast in a beautiful coastal setting with an outstanding 9-hole course of distinct character, Southwold Golf Club seeks to employ a Club Professional. The role will involve: Managing your own shop with recognised brands. Teaching members and non-members alike. Running the Clubs Junior Academy. Offering golf club repairs. Being a focal point for visitors and members. Taking green fee payments and driving society bookings. Actively promoting the Club. Managing Club competitions and members handicaps. Managing tee reservations. Chairing the Club’s Golf Group. You should be enthusiastic with a proactive approach, together with excellent customer service skills, business acumen, and a strong team player with a passion for delivering excellence. The financial details of this position are available for discussion at interview. This is an opportunity for the right candidate to generate a substantial income. The closing date for applications is Friday 27th August with interview date to be advised. Please send your CV with covering letter marked Private and Confidential to: Alan Day, Manager, Southwold Golf Club, The Common, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6TB 60

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a PGA Qualified/Trainee Assistant to join the team at Wokingham Family Golf. We are looking for a highly motivated individual to join our professional team. Wokingham Family Golf is a modern golf facility, promoting a friendly atmosphere, with all the latest technology on our busy 30-bay floodlit driving range, providing an all-year-round golf experience. In addition, we benefit from; a 9-hole pitch & putt, 9-hole footgolf course, excellent short game facilities and a Jurassic adventure golf course. The successful applicant will work as part of a professional team, to deliver excellent front of house and retail/custom fitting services and implement comprehensive golf tuition programmes. The successful candidate can expect OTE of £35K per year, received through salary, commissions and coaching. Ongoing training to support professional development and career progression will be provided. Start date: Immediate Email: Chris Arding, Head Professional info@wokinghamfamilygolf.co.uk www.wokinghamfamilygolf.co.uk

Shirley Golf Club, Solihull PGA Assistant Golf Professional The successful candidate will have experience in the golf industry with a strong passion for golf and the ambition to complete the PGA qualification. Previous work experience in a golf environment is preferred. The vacancy will suit a second year PGA student as coaching is available immediately. Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal and customer service skills are essential. Ideal candidate will be organized, administratively competent, results-orientated with the ability to be flexible and work well under pressure Demonstrate self-confidence, energy, enthusiasm and be a good team player Requires the ability to work independently and prioritise responsibilities, whilst handling a multitude of tasks. Excellent remuneration package Come and join the friendly team at Shirley Pro Shop Please send your CV to stuart@uniongolf.co.uk Closing date 20th Aug 2021 August 2021

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E M P LOY M E N T O P P O RT U N I T I E S Windmill Golf & Leisure, Bristol Be part of a dynamic & vibrant team offering superb earning potential! We are an established 20 bay floodlit range including retail & leisure activities with a brand-new shop, clubhouse & gym under construction! PGA qualified / registered trainee required Applications: manager@windmillleisure.co.uk Stockwood Vale Golf Club, Bristol We are looking for a fully qualified PGA Member to work at our busy golf facility. The role will be delivering group and individual lessons with some shop hours. Send CV and cover letter to shgolf@btinternet.com Lancashire Golf Academy, North West An opportunity has arisen for a PGA trainee or PGA assistant to join our Lancashire Golf Academy team. Ideal candidates would be highly motivated as well as customer service focussed. We operate two retail stores with the successful applicant being able to work between locations. Apply via email: shop@lancashiregolfacademy.co.uk Gleneagles One of Scotland’s most iconic 5-star hotels, are currently seeking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated PGA Trainee Golf Professional, to join our PGA National Academy team. We are looking for strong team player with great communication skills. Please send your CV to Bernadette Johnson Bernadette.Johnston@gleneagles.com Kings Norton Golf Club, Worcestershire An exciting opportunity for a PGA assistant professional, at a club with 1000+ members. The main responsibility is to deliver Individual and group lessons. The role includes some shop hours with the expectation of assisting with custom fitting. Candidates should be pro-active on social media and be ready to work as a team. Email: markjonesgolf@gmail.com Weybrook Park Golf Club Looking for a motivated trainee assistant, with a passion for the golf industry. Full training will be provided. Working as part of a shift rota, to provide time to develop playing and coaching skills. The club is a busy 27-hole member’s club, with excellent golf facilities. Email: manager@weybrookpark.co.uk Hinckley Golf Club Looking for a self-motivated PGA registered assistant to join the team. Experience in retail, coaching, schools coaching plus Custom Fitting. This role will provide a flexible shift rota and a fantastic opportunity to furthering your career. Please send applications (CV & Covering Letter) to – steve_baxter123@hotmail.com Droitwich Golf Club Fantastic opportunity for a motivated candidate with strong communication, retail and coaching skills to join a vibrant professional team at a well-established golf club. Excellent opportunities for developing experience across golf operations and coaching. Apply with CV and covering letter to philcundy@hotmail.co.uk West Bradford Golf Club PGA qualified / trainee assistant professional required at West Bradford Golf Club. The ideal candidate must want to develop their own large coaching client base, have previous experience of club fitting and have good front of house skills. Please email a cover letter and CV to jamiecoverleypga@gmail.com

For more information, please contact recruitment@pga.org.uk The PGA Professional

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M E M B E R S I N T H E S P OT L I G H T

PGA training and continue to do so every WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER morning when I switch on the workshop PATHWAY? lights in the Tour Truck. It is these principles I first started working in golf aged 16, at I follow with every club I build, in order to Grange Park Golf Club, North Lincolnshire. help Ping players play their best. This involved working in the professional shop and the driving range and it was here WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I progressed to starting my PGA training YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN? in 2010. After my first year, I moved to I have always been told from a young age Normanby Hall Golf Club and completed to believe in your own abilities, although, my training there in 2013. It was during it is not always easy. No one knows you my training that I realised my passion was better than yourself, so you should always club fitting/building and how influential the back yourself 100%, especially when you correct equipment is for the individual. know you can do it. I think this translates In 2015, I felt my career required a to other people you meet as passion and change and I wanted to step away from the enthusiasm. I personally believe that this traditional golf club work. At a similar time, is hard for people to resist being drawn to I heard that Ping was hiring temporary staff and it will set you apart from the crowd. to build clubs on the production line and although leaving a full-time job WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE may have seemed little reckless, OF ADVICE YOU WOULD I honestly felt this was my GIVE? opportunity to make the change. It would have to be, to give In November 2015, I began working for Ping in the factory everyone you meet the best and in May the following year, I five minutes of you. That first was offered a full-time position in impression is something you can customer services. This gave me never change and it’s important the exposure to understand how to get that right. I believe people Ping operated and that excellent who speak passionately about customer service is paramount to what they do will always leave the business operation. a lasting impression on others. In November 2017, I was Passion is something that people successful in gaining the position interprete in all manner of ways, of European Tour Technician for such as drive, dedication, even Ping and, without any doubt, love. Whichever it is, it will never I know my PGA qualification be perceived as a negative. After completing his PGA training in helped me in my success to From this, you will build a great 2013 and having worked at a number obtain this position. number of relationships within of golf clubs, Matthew Cuthbert joined the industry with likeminded WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT individuals and these are the ones golf equipment manufacturer PING ROLE? who are at the top of their field. Currently, I am the European These connections will help your and hasn’t looked back since. Tour Technician for Ping and it career along the way. is my responsibility to build and support the players using Ping clubs in the knowing I have been even a small part of a WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU HAD field of a European Tour event. This involves player’s performance on the biggest stage KNOWN NOW? in European golf is immense. While completing my PGA training, I wish traveling each week to whatever destination I’d known to look at every avenue of the the tour is playing at and ensuring all Ping WHAT/WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR golf industry. There are so many different staff players and non-contracted players’ CAREER INFLUENCES? and diverse jobs out there, other than equipment is ready to go when they tee The person who has influenced my career being a Head Professional or a Coach. it up on the Thursday. Sometimes, this the most is my father. Although not a Looking back, to start in a role like I have will just be simple maintenance, such as golfer himself, through other hobbies, he now when I was 10 years younger would re-grips, loft and lie checks, etc, but it can be instilled in me how to create, fix and solve have been the dream. I do know that a full set of clubs, if in the unfortunate event problems. It was from him I learned that whichever you choose, being a member of a player’s clubs go missing on a flight. It’s a it’s the attention to detail and consistency the PGA is held in high regard and is a big pressured and demanding environment to that makes the difference at the top level. I step up in the industry. work in but this is what attracts me to it the have applied these lessons throughout my most. The personal gratification I feel from

TOUR TECHNICIAN

TO THE STARS

August 2021

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