The PGA Professional magazine - July 2021

THE OFFICIAL PGA MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE

PROFESSIONAL VOLUME 17 ISSUE 6

JULY 2021

DOUBLE HEADER PUTTING

O’Hara celebrate PGA Championships and Playoffs Wins

FOR DOUGH

Behind the scenes Open Championship 2021: Royal St George’s Head Professional Justen Fiddler

How to maximise your putter retail sales

DOUBLE HEADER

O’Hara celebrates PGA Professional Championship and Play-Offs win

ATHLEISUREWEAR Golf apparel’s hottest trend

PUTTING FOR DOUGH How to maximise your putter retail sales

Help us stop prostate cancer being a killer Prostate cancer kills one man every 45 minutes – the time it takes to play 3 holes of golf.

Let’s support a cause relevant to our members.

Andrew Murray, PGA Professional and Prostate Cancer UK ambassador

prostatecanceruk.org/golf

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

Registered company 02653887. ® PGA is a registered trademark of The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited

CONTENTS FEATURES

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RETAIL SPOTLIGHT

BEHIND THE SCENES AT GOLF’S OLDEST MAJOR Ahead of this month’s Open Championship, we talk to Royal St George’s head professional Justen Fiddler

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Barry Newman, Head PGA Professional at Newbury & Crookham Golf Club in Berkshire, offers the inside track on his retail set up

PRICE IT RIGHT How to keep customers happy without compromising on profit

INTERNATIONAL

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REINVENTING THE ROQUE PGA Professional talks to San Roque Golf President, PGA Member Stephen Dundas

TRAVEL

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ASK THE EXPERT

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HOODIES & HENLEYS Is this the future of golf apparel?

INSIDE THE PGA

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ROBERT MAXFIELD This month from The PGA’s Chief Executive

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

Callum Kirby

BREAKING DEALS Book your 2022 overseas coaching trips now

SPOTLIGHT ON...

Spain’s La Manga

TOP TIPS Your guide to marketing and delivering the ultimate member’s golf break

COACHING

THE OFFICIAL PGA MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE

PROFESSIONAL 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.com, Crossover Technologies Photographers: Getty Images, Adobe Stock, Production Assistant: Kelly Lewis Design: Andrew Beavis andy@whiteshadowmedia.co.uk PGA National Headquarters Centenary House The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B76 9PT Tel: 01675 470 333 This magazine contains images taken prior to Covid-19

HIGHLAND SWING Scotland’s Paul O’Hara enjoys a clean sweep at Blairgowrie

MAKING GOLF BUSINESS HAPPEN

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Look out for your copy of the new PGA industry magazine, GBQ

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’

MEMBERS SPOTLIGHT Steven Munro, Commercial Director at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club

PGA RETAIL

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This month’s guide to new equipment launches

TRADE NEWS Latest industry news

PUTTING FOR DOUGH

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Golfers now spend as much on a putter as they would a driver – find out how to secure that vital sale

TORQUING SHAFTS Rhett Taylor, Marketing Director of leading shaft company KBS, talks about the brand’s latest range

The PGA Professional

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IN CONVERSATION WITH…

LAUNCHPAD

Claude Harmon III, vanguard of the new generation of golf teachers

MEMBERSHIP

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

RECRUITMENT

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#makinggolfhappen

SITUATIONS VACANT All the latest recruitment opportunities

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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PGA Principal Partners

Making the Business of Golf Happen PGA Partners

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

#makinggolfhappen

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

T

The Open Championship is the focal point of the golf season in the UK and Ireland, and it makes a welcome return to the schedule this month.

For a short time the eyes of the sporting world and the public are on golf, and it presents a great opportunity to promote all that is good about the game, from elite players to the benefits of the game as a golf club member. As ever, PGA Members will be front and centre. The Swing Zone will be operational, although with a slightly different feel to it under social distancing rules, and PGA Professionals will be teaching thousands of amateurs during the week.

The Royal St George’s Professional team led

by PGA member Justen Fiddler has been hard at work behind the scenes and in this issue of the magazine, he provides a fascinating insight into the role of the PGA Professional at a host venue leading up to the Championship.

Whilst The Open provides a platform for the

The Open also sees the launch of Golf Business Quarterly (GBQ), the new industry magazine aimed at all those working or volunteering in golf that will deliver essential intelligence, analysis and opinion on the golf industry. A core benefit for members of the Business Management and Club Volunteer Groups launched as part of our 2020 Vision, GBQ will also be distributed to PGA Members, selected golf industry people and a number of golf clubs across the UK and Ireland.

One of our main objectives of 2020 Vision is to have a stronger presence and greater influence within the wider industry. We want to be at the forefront and instigate discussions about how to take golf forward, demonstrating thought leadership as we seek to bring the industry together. Launching GBQ enables us to do just that. The PGA Professional magazine will remain the official magazine for PGA Members only, but GBQ will bring coverage of the wider topics the industry needs to address.

The Open Championship is the focal point of the golf season and it makes a welcome return to the schedule this month…..

As ever, PGA Members will be front and centre promotion of PGA Professionals and their services, promotion of our Members is also high on the agenda of the Association. Work is currently taking place to develop a new online search function for consumers looking for a PGA Professional in their area. Entitled ‘Find a Golf Lesson’, this new functionality will replace the previous ‘Find a Pro’ feature and will enable golfers to contact PGA Members directly for lesson enquiries and bookings through a dedicated platform that will sit on the home page of our website as well as on other external sites.

You will be receiving important emails asking you to update your details now, ready for the nationwide launch at the end of the summer. Please do take the time to complete the information as this is just the first stage of a project to help drive business to PGA Professionals.

Our promotion of PGA members is also strengthened at a regional level as we welcome on board a new team of Regional Communications Officers. In addition to providing support for event coverage, the RCOs will be creating a variety of written, video and social content that celebrates the successes, achievements and initiatives of PGA Members. If you have a story for them do get in touch.

Our own elite event, the PGA Professionals Championship was played at Blairgowrie last month, underwritten by the Association.

Sponsorship has been hard hit by Covid-19 but we remain committed to providing a full playing schedule nationally and regionally – indeed, we recently announced financial support for Regional Order of Merit events, with enhanced prize funds helping to secure these tournaments.

Many congratulations to Paul O’Hara, winner of both the PGA Professional Championship and the PGA Play-Offs. Blairgowrie provided a superb venue and it was good to see live streaming of the event across our social channels and other media platforms, helping to further increase the interest in our flagship event.

Another prestigious PGA event is the annual graduation ceremony for our PGA Trainees.

Postponed in 2020, we will now be hosting the ceremony in December. Congratulations to the award winners and to all those who qualified. Golf is currently enjoying a resurgence and I’m sure that a rewarding career awaits all of our successful trainees. We wish them luck for whatever pathway they choose and look forward to supporting them throughout their careers.

Robert Maxfield CHIEF EXECUTIVE The PGA Professional

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#makinggolfhappen

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NEWS ON THE MOVE The latest PGA Member appointments across the UK, Ireland and overseas.

Paultons Golf Centre in Hampshire has announced the appointment of two new PGA professionals. David Green assumes the role of director of golf and Rob Edwards becomes the club’s new senior PGA professional, meaning the club now has over 100 years of PGA experience within the team.

Also in the South region, Ashley Northridge is the new general manager at Kingswood Golf Club, while Matt Jones has joined Coombe Hill Golf Club as an Operations Manager and Jonny Elliott moves to Cottesmore Golf Club as a club professional.

In the West region, James Taverner has left Hendon Golf Club to take up an assistant professional role at Exminster Golf Centre. Michael Derry is the new general manager at Everything Golf Studios, Darren Bragg has joined Clubs Away Ltd and Kevin Garwood is the new head professional at Ferndown Golf Club.

After almost three decades at Ringway Golf Centre, Darren Brunton is moving onto pastures new as a teaching professional at Northenden Golf Club.

Other moves in the North see Carden Park Golf Resort hire Matthew Parry as a golf reservationist, Jordan Massey is now based at The Mere Golf Academy, Gary Martin is a custom specialist at Huddersfield Golf Club and Nick Whiting has joined Cottingham Golf Club’s coaching team.

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The PGA welcomes St. James’s Place as a Principal Partner

St. James’s Place – one of the UK’s leading wealth management expert companies – has joined The PGA’s exclusive partnership programme as a Principal Partner.

Founded in 1991, St. James’s Place is a FTSE-100 wealth management business which has grown rapidly to become one of the largest organisations in its sector in the UK, with £135bn of client funds under management.

As part of the four-year agreement, PGA Members will be able to access financial planning advice 365 days a year from a locally-based St. James’s Place adviser.

This includes straightforward services such as insurance products,

mortgage advice or opening a Junior ISA for a child or grandchild, as well as more complex financial planning needs, including inheritance tax planning, pension planning or advice for businesses.

PGA Members will benefit from a range of financial planning resources that will be made available through the Association’s online CPD platform, PGA Learn.

The partnership affirms The PGA’s mission to improve the personal and professional lives of its Members, whilst supporting the shared vision of being the best and most reputable organisations in their respective industries.

Claire Blackwell, Director - Marketing at St. James’s Place Wealth Management

said: “We are pleased to be announcing, alongside The PGA, our new commercial partnership.

“A lot of what The PGA stands for also resonates with St. James’s Place. Improving personal and professional lives, people-orientated organisations with an ethos and approach routed around face-to-face interactions and delivering an exceptional experience.

“We look forward to working with The PGA and to the opportunities this partnership brings.”

Commenting on the partnership, Richard Barker, PGA Executive Director Business Development, said: “The PGA Membership is incredibly diverse in terms of age, role, employment status and financial situation - this partnership will provide a one-stop-shop for wealth management and financial support whatever their individual aims or circumstances.”

Gleneagles ranked as best golf resort in GB&I PGA National Scotland, Gleneagles, has been named as the best golf resort in Great Britain & Ireland in the latest Golf World Top 100 rankings.

The facilities were assessed in four categories: golf course (40 marks), accommodation (25 marks), non-golf amenities (25 marks) and setting (10 marks).

Gleneagles scored a total of 99 to take top spot ahead of Trump Turnberry (94 points) in second, while Ireland’s Adare Manor (87 points) came third.

Commenting on Gleneagles’ ranking,

Golf World Top 100 Editor, Chris Bertram, said: “Gleneagles isn’t just the best on these shores or this continent, there is nothing to compare with it anywhere on the planet.

“Yes, there are resorts with as many holes and in the case of, say, Bandon Dunes, arguably better courses. But nowhere also has the truly world-class accommodation or the quality and especially the quantity of activities.”

PGA National England, The Belfry, scored 77 points to be ranked 11th, while PGA National Ireland, Slieve Russell was ranked 42nd with a score of 66.

July 2021

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NEWS

New PGA initiative to connect PGA Professionals and golfers As part of the Association’s commitment to promote Members to the wider golfing public, The PGA will soon launch a new digital platform that will connect them with golfers looking for a lesson with a pro.

Replacing the ‘Find a Pro’ feature that existed on the old PGA website, the new platform – entitled ‘Find a Golf Lesson’ – will be embedded into the home page of www.pga.info and enables 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. Golfers will be able to search by a number of parameters including by Members name, by location or club, by coaching requirement or by availability.

The platform is entirely free to use and will enable PGA Members to market themselves directly to the golfing public and increase their reach.

The platform will be supported by a national marketing campaign through golf media and channels to drive awareness of Find a Golf Lesson and drive traffic to the website.

ALL PGA MEMBERS NEED TO DO IS: • Visit the ‘Find a Golf Lesson’ page in Members’ area (pga.info/members/ find-a-golf-lesson).

• Follow the on-screen instructions to update your details, including details of your qualifications and specialisms.

• Upload an image/video to boost your profile.

• Submit your details.

• PGA Members should receive an email with instructions on how to complete their ‘Find a Golf Lesson’ profile. Look out for further communications from The PGA about ‘Find a Golf Lesson’.

Bennett becomes a Golf Foundation Ambassador Nicola Bennett is aiming to help inspire young people from all backgrounds into golf after being announced as a new official ambassador for the Golf Foundation.

The London-based PGA Trainee Professional has a stated desire to make golf more inclusive, and the Golf Foundation is delighted to team up with Bennett, who can help inspire more new young players, including youngsters from ethnically diverse communities.

Bennett said: “I’m excited to be working with the Golf Foundation as I am passionate about creating golf experiences for young people from all backgrounds. The support of HSBC through the ‘Golf Roots’ programme is incredible and I can’t wait to help deliver these opportunities.”

Brendon Pyle, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, added: “Nicola is a hugely positive person and we have seen that she wants to

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ON THE MOVE In the East region, Sam Willis is now a member of the coaching team at The Essex Golf Room, while Alison Perkins has set up ‘Alison’s Golf Academy. Dean Fairweather is a teaching professional at Links (Newmarket) and Grant Anderson joins Gog Magog Golf Club as their new assistant professional.

Kevin Lock has left Horsley Lodge Golf Club after almost a decade to take on the head professional role at Chilwell Manor Golf Club, while Adam Keogh is now the lead coach and academy manager at Woodhall Spa Golf Club.

Elsewhere in the Midland region, Chris Long has joined the coaching team at Stone Golf Centre and Simon Joyce is the new director of golf at Branston Golf & Country Club.

Michael Reed has left Glen Gorse Golf Club after six years to join Birstall Golf Club, James Beinlich is now part of the coaching team at Spalding Golf Club, and James Heath is Herefordshire’s Golf Club’s new head professional.

One move in Scotland sees Graig Goodwin begin a new role in golf operations at Nairn Golf Club.

share her love of the game with young people from all backgrounds, which will only help us as we seek more partners to start to make golf more truly inclusive. Having discussed Nicola’s professional aims and how they align with the values of our charity, we have no doubt she will be an outstanding Ambassador for the Golf Foundation.”

#makinggolfhappen

Peter Holland begins a new chapter in his career as a coach at Zavidovo PGA National Russia. Elsewhere overseas, Darren McLoughlin is the new director of coaching at Sedayu Indo Golf and Chris Snape is now a teaching professional at Dubai’s Jumeirai Golf Resorts.

If you would like to feature in this column send your details to membership@pga. org.uk.

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WE CARE ABOUT NUTRITION - WHETHER YOU’RE A PRO OR AN AVERAGE JOE. PROUD PARTNER OF THE PGA.

GET YOUR STARTER PACK TODAY!

CONTACT: Stephen Banks - PGA Business Development Manager Head of Golf TOMOLIVERNUTRITION.COM STEPHEN@TOMOLIVERNUTRITION.COM

Pros to provide free coaching at The Open The PGA is delighted to announce a team of PGA Professionals will be providing FREE golf lessons to the public at the eagerly anticipated 2021 Open Championship.

The team will deliver thousands of free 15-minute coaching lessons to spectators attending this year’s event at Royal St. George’s from 11th-18th July, 2021.

This year’s lessons will be delivered under strict COVID-19 regulations, with social distancing in place for each lesson, while all PGA coaches will be wearing protective masks and sanitising equipment will also be provided.

In 2019 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, the Swingzone team delivered more than 2,700 lessons throughout Open Championship week.

Among the coaches attending this year is PGA Master Professional Peter Ball, PGA Captain Elect Sarah Bennett, and former Ladies European Tour player Fame Tate.

Commenting on the announcement, Jonathan Wright, PGA External Relations Executive, said: “We are thrilled to be able to provide thousands of free coaching lessons once again at this year’s Open Championship.

“The Open Championship Swingzone is a fantastic opportunity for The PGA to showcase the valuable role our Members play in developing golf and inspiring more people into the game.

“We will of course be working under strict COVID-19 protocols so all lessons will be conducted in a safe and professional environment. On behalf of The PGA, I’d like to thank The R&A for their support for the Swingzone once again in 2021.”

The full complement of PGA Professionals at Royal St. George’s is: Alan Bradshaw, Alison Perkins, David Bartlett, David Gleeson, David Playdon, Fame Tate, Ian Bailey, Jak Hamblett, James Harraway, Joanne Taylor, Kevin Caplehorn, Matt Stables, Paul Warner, Peter Ball, Sarah Bennett, Sophie Daws.

If you are interested in coaching at the R&A Swingzone at the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews please email jonathan.wright@pga.org.uk.

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July 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.

NEWS

Inspire the next generation of pros The PGA has launched a fresh recruitment campaign to find and inspire the next generation of PGA Professionals and needs your help to make it a success.

The Association is calling on the experiences of its Members to help bring to life the huge array of career options available through a career with The PGA. From launching a golf retail and custom fitting outfit in Qatar, to owning a golf club and running a hugely successful YouTube channel, PGA Members are supporting the campaign to showcase the wealth of rewarding careers both at home and abroad.

Members interviewed this year include PGA Captain Elect Sarah Bennett, performance coach Dr Nicky Lumb and YouTube star Chris Ryan. Closer to home, the campaign explores the career paths of head professionals, club managers and even golf club owners.

Despite the broad spectrum of roles their PGA qualifications have led to, all of them have three things in common. One is the letters PGA after their names – a trio of letters representing a universally recognised qualification that is respected and valued the world over; another is completion of the training programme that set them on their career path. And, importantly, all were mentored or received guidance from qualified PGA Professionals while training.

Which is where you can play your part. We’d like you to publicise and support #PGADraft2021 on your social media channels and, where possible, share stories regarding your roles and career experiences using #myPGAstory.

The PGA offers three routes to qualification: a Foundation Degree in Professional Golf and Applied Golf Management Studies, and the Diploma in Higher Education in Professional Golf in association with the University of the Highlands and Islands.

The next intake for all three courses will be in October 2021 and applications are open now. Visit draft.pga.info to find out more.

Syd Weldon remembered The PGA is saddened to report that Syd Weldon, an Honorary Member, has passed away at the age of 75 following a long and painful battle with cancer.

Syd was a Member for almost 60 years, a lengthy spell that began in 1962 when he worked as an assistant to Ronald, his father, at Bloxwich Golf Club, Staffordshire. In doing so, he maintained a family tradition of PGA membership that spanned three generations.

His brother Michael was the head professional at Dunstable Golf Club until he retired in 2007; their uncle and Ronald’s brother, John, was the professional at Littlehampton Golf Club, Sussex; and their grandfather Jack was the pro at Outlane Golf Club in Yorkshire.

Jack’s two brothers, Sydney and Ralph, also served clubs in Yorkshire.

Sydney was at West Bradford while Ralph, whose son Geoffrey was a professional for a short time before becoming a golf equipment agent,

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was at Northcliffe Golf Club.

Syd also spent the majority of his career in Yorkshire but not before, at the age of 19, he was appointed club professional at Dartmouth Golf Club, Staffordshire.

He spent five years there and the following 36 as head PGA Professional at Bradford Golf Club until his retirement in 2006. In addition to his role at Bradford, Syd was president and treasurer of the Bradford Professionals’ Association and the ninth member of the TGI Golf Partnership. Bradford Golf Club, along with The PGA, made Syd an honorary member on his retirement.

True to form and in keeping with his desire to help others, however, Syd put his organising skills and ability to speak and write Spanish to good use.

He became involved with Age Care, a charity that helps expats living on the Costa del Sol, and was made president in 2013. Syd was forced to relinquish the role in 2020 due to ill-health.

First Muslim women’s coaching programme launched Muslim women took to the golf course as part of a ground breaking new coaching programme launched by the Muslim Golf Association and love.golf.

The introductory experience at Stonebridge Golf Club near Coventry – specially designed with Muslim women in mind – sold out within 12 hours and attracted 25 women and a waiting list of more than 40.

Participants were invited to wear traditional clothing and took to the golf course for their very first taste of the game led by PGA Professional Hannah Crump, who hosted a fun-filled 90-minute love.golf experience.

Commenting on the historic day, Amir Malik, CEO of the Muslim Golf Association, said: “The level of take-up for the day was unprecedented. It’s triggered enquiries from all corners of the UK and now we want to take the experience to as many Muslim women as possible.”

Alastair Spink, founder of love.golf, added: “We’re all incredibly buoyed by the success of the day and excited about the potential to bring this experience to many more Muslim women.”

Greenclub Switched on to London Golf Club’s Energy Ambition Greenclub is ready to help London Golf Club make some capital gains on its energy strategy to achieve its ambition of becoming carbon neutral.

The 36-hole Kent venue has appointed Greenclub as environmental consultants to develop environmental strategies to address current and future business needs. They will also provide support in delivering major events in a sustainable and environmentally-responsible way.

GreenClub chief executive, Liam Greasley, said: “We will produce an initial detailed report with recommendations which will form the basis of an environmental roadmap for London Golf Club to achieve carbon neutrality.

“It will be a comprehensive audit to assess current levels of efficiency and to suggest appropriate improvements to reduce emissions and overheads.

There are some very ambitious plans in the pipeline for London Golf Club – not least their efforts to move towards carbon neutrality. It’s exciting to be involved in the project and we look forward to playing a part in making it happen.”

July 2021

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ENGINEERED TO PLAY Introducing the new SS22 women’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 CORPORATION.

NEWS OCEANTEE up for ‘Global Good’ award PGA Partner and title sponsor of the WPGA Series, OCEANTEE, has been selected as a finalist for the annual Global Good Awards in the SME / Start Up Category.

The Global Good Awards recognise and reward change across all aspects of purpose driven sustainability and social impact. As well as looking at the positive impact the brand is having, in this case by encouraging golf businesses to move away from using plastic tees, the judges also consider the way in which the business is working in the community and with others to help them achieve their own sustainable ambitions.

Ed Sandison, Founder of OCEANTEE, commented: “We are passionate about sharing our knowledge and creating opportunities for golf businesses to become more sustainable. This transparent approach means that we are working for the good of golf and the good of the planet. We’re very excited for the final later this year!"

XPOS partner with ProAgenda.com Retail solutions developer, XPOS, has announced a new partnership with ProAgenda.com, bringing another great benefit to XPOS Caddie users with an innovative online lesson booking system.

Designed for golf coaches, ProAgenda.com offers a fast and user-friendly experience for golfers. Its booking system is perfect for small or large coaching teams, allowing the user to choose a day and time with a choice of Professionals.

Jordy Hagedooren, CEO of ProAgenda.com, commented: “With the golf lesson bookings now in the XPOS Caddie app, the professional team can save a tremendous amount of admin time, spend more hours focussed on coaching or the retail business, and make more revenue. It’s that simple.”

XPOS Business Development Director, Mark Hopkins, added: “This is yet another great way for golf professionals to create additional points of contact with Members, build better relationships and improve the customer experience.”

To find out more email sales@crossovertec.co.uk.

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BRO SUPPORT Working together In the latest column promoting the services of The PGA's Business Relationship Officers, Fiona Champness reveals how the BROs and Regional Managers work closely together to support PGA Members.

The BROs and Regional Manager have continued to work closely to support PGA Members in recent weeks and months. We meet weekly as a team to discuss the support we are offering, share best practice and to continue to develop our knowledge to meet PGA Member's needs. Both teams have wide-ranging skills and therefore can support PGA Members across a variety of areas.

These include: recruitment; business reviews; retainers; operating models; building relationships; contracts/HR; business health checks; marketing & retail; customer satisfaction; developing coaching resources; development guidance and procurement.

Recruitment remains a challenging area for all at present. Golf facilities are currently busy and are constantly looking for staff to service golfer's needs. Therefore, we have continued to work closely with the Membership department to support PGA Members with advertising, roles descriptions and contracts.

Currently, there are a number of exciting job opportunities open to PGA Members.

The BRO team have also been assisting PGA Members looking to progress their career.

We have supported several PGA Members by reviewing their CVs and helping them prepare for interviews.

The introduction of PGA Learn has also been a fantastic tool. We have utilised this and the resource library to support PGA Members in identifying the additional knowledge, skill and experience they need to secure their next position.

Following golf's reopening and the surge in demand, PGA Members have been looking at ways to manage the ever-increasing demand for their expertise. The BRO team have supported Members meet this need by, for example, helping to streamline processes, reviewing staff efficiencies, dealing with staff welfare and development. In addition, we have also worked closely with several clubs to ensure they are realistic in terms of the demands they place on PGA Members and make sure they understand the key role they play in supporting clubs achieve their objectives.

If you would like any support from your BRO please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Your BRO team

Sam Carr

Fiona Champness

Paul Wisniewski

Justyn Branton

Please ring your regional helpline and you will be put in touch with a PGA Business Relationship Officer East Region Midlands Region North Region South Region West Region Ireland Scotland International`

01279 652 070 01675 624 755 01204 496 137 01483 224 200 07799 111 857 00353 4293 21193 07799 111 862 +44 (0) 7771 751 324

July 2021

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Stuart Wilson - PGA Professional Portlethen Golf Club

Graphic Designer Business Development Consultant Central Invoicing Executive Buying Terms Manager EMP Marketing Editor

Foremost Golf For more information contact our National Business Development Manager, David Murch +44 (0) 7712 842 720 • david.murch@foremostgolf.com

NEWS

HIGHLAND

SWING Scotland’s Paul O’Hara enjoys a clean sweep at Blairgowrie, writes Adrian Milledge

P

aul O’Hara continued to prove he is a PGA Professional currently blessed with the Midas touch of the golfing kind by winning not one but two of the Association’s most prestigious tournaments at Blairgowrie.

The 34-year-old Scot began the PGA Professional Championship and PGA Play-Offs at the Perthshire club on the back of an astonishing run of success in this year’s Arnold Clark-sponsored Tartan Tour.

He had not finished outside the top three in its eight events, tied for first place in two of them and won another two, including the Northern Open, outright.

Four negotiations of the Peter Alliss and Dave Thomasdesigned Lansdowne course later and O’Hara had doubled that tally of outright victories.

Doubling up: Paul O’Hara with the PGA Professional Championship and PGA Play-Offs trophies

O’Hara attributes his sparkling start to the season to work he has done with David Thomson, director of golf at the Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle.

“I’ve been up north a few times recently and got some tips from David Thomson,” he explained. “He’s helped me with my swing and I’ve stuck to what he’s advised in the

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Greig Hutcheon

last five or six rounds I’ve played. It’s working well.”

So well that Hara’s 20-under-par total at Blairgowrie resulted in him finishing four shots clear of compatriot Greig Hutcheon in the PGA Professional Championship and eight ahead of England’s Matt Cort to add the PGA Play-Offs trophy to his haul of silverware.

It was the second time O’Hara had won the PGA Professional Championship, his first success coming four years ago at Luttrellstown Castle, Ireland. Reprising that triumph means he is the first since Bob Cameron in 2002 to win the event twice. And, to cap it all, he signed off by holing a 30-foot putt for a birdie at the par-four 18th.

“I knew I was three ahead at that stage so I was basically trying to two putt and it went in,” he said.

“The only tournament I can think of in which I finished like that was the PGA Cup in 2019 when I holed a 30-footer at 18 to win a point.”

Winning the PGA Professional Championship earned O’Hara £10,000 and has put him on course to earn selection for the 2022 PGA Cup; victory in the PGA PlayOffs was worth another £3,500 and has qualified him for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in September.

“I’ve played in the tournament twice before and I can’t wait to go back there,” he added. “Hopefully I’ll keep my form until September.”

That form resulted in a blistering start to the fourth and final round that erased overnight leader Hutcheon’s two shot advantage.

“I had a really fast start – birdie, birdie, birdie,” he said.

“I had a few good chances after that as well. I was fiveunder through 10 then had another birdie at 18. I knew I had a good lead and just had to use my head – the course can beat you very easily round here.”

With O’Hara enjoying the purplest of purple patches, not this time.

July 2021

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www.pga.info

NEWS RED HOT HUNT IN RECORD-BREAKING FORM Patriotic Welshman Toby Hunt found a portion of Scotland to his liking in the first round of the PGA Professional Championship at Blairgowrie – so much so that he broke a course record.

Hunt, the Asbri Welsh National PGA Championship winner in 2018, negotiated Blairgowrie’s Lansdowne course in nine under par to eclipse the existing record by a shot and establish a two-shot lead in the tournament.

Given preferred lies were permitted in bunkers due to the absence of rakes because of safety precautions to prevent the spread of Covid, it’s possible there will always be an asterisk attached to Hunt’s score.

What is beyond debate, however, was the quality of his golf. His round of 63 featured nine birdies and an eagle that, coming at the par-five first, set the tone for the golfing pyrotechnics to come, not least a birdie bonanza round the turn.

Holes eight, nine, 10 and 11 all yielded birdies, as did the 13th before the 28-year-old proved he was human with a bogey at the 15th.

Sub-par service was resumed at the 17th, however, as the pro from St Mellons Golf Club, Cardiff, recorded the eighth birdie of his round to lead the chase for the £10,000 first prize.

Reflecting on his round, he said: “I had a great start – driver, 5-iron into five feet on the first. Eagle there. Two-iron, wedge to about eight-foot on the second for a birdie.

“I hit a lot of good two-irons off the tee, which is what you’ve got to do round here. If you hit it 260 – 270 off the tee on the par fours, you’re going in with a wedge or nineiron most of the time. I did that really well and also got the putter going.

“It’s the best I’ve swung it for as far back as I can remember. I hadn’t played the course before and I really enjoyed it.”

Hunt also led the tournament at the halfway stage but was unable to maintain his early momentum and finished eighth. However, at least he had the satisfaction of inscribing his name in the Blairgowrie record books. Just.

Nick Cunningham, a year three PGA Trainee attached to Bedford & County Golf Club who was competing in the PGA Play-Offs, equalled the existing course record but just missed out on emulating Hunt’s achievement when he posted an eight-under-par total of 64 on the final day.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION Not only was staging the PGA Professional Championship and Play-Offs simultaneously a first, so too was the way it was covered. In addition to reports published on www.pga.info, in the local and golfing press, plus social media posts, a film crew was on hand to cover the final two days at Blairgowrie. The coverage includes interviews with players, PGA Captain Bernard Gallacher, the winner Paul O’Hara, and action from the tournament.

All of which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flCiuyUvk-Y

Record-breaker: Toby Hunt

A STEP UP Places in European Tour events were on offer for high placings in the PGA Play-Offs and the following booked spots in them.

Paul O’Hara

Graham Fox Matt Cort Colm Moriarty

BMW PGA Championship, Scottish Open & Scottish Championship Scottish Championship English Open ISPS Handa World Invitational

FINAL RESULTS Pos.

Name

Attachment

Rds

Total

Prize

1

Paul O’Hara

N. Lanarkshire Leisure Ltd

65 68 69 66

268 (-20)

£10,000

20

2

Greig Hutcheon

Torphins Golf Club

65 70 65 72

272 (-16)

£6,000

19

3

David Higgins

Waterville Golf Links

66 70 68 69

273 (-15)

£4,000

18

T4

Matthew Cort

Beedles Lake Golf Club

69 69 67 71

276 (-12)

£2,620

16.5

Ashley Mansell

Clevedon Golf Club

68 68 70 70

276 (-12)

£2,620

16.5

T6

Phillip Archer

Poulton Park Golf Club

72 66 70 69

277 (-11)

£1,625

14.5

Adam Keogh

Woodhall Spa Golf Club

69 68 71 69

277 (-11)

£1,625

14.5

8

Toby Hunt

St Mellons Golf Club

63 68 75 72

278 (-10)

£1,250

13

T9

Alastair Forsyth

Mearns Castle Golf Academy

69 70 71 69

279 (-9)

£1,067

11

James Freeman

Retford Golf Club

68 68 72 71

279 (-9)

£1,067

11

Simon Lilly

De Vere Staverton Estate

69 71 66 73

279 (-9)

£1,067

11

The PGA Professional

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Points

15

NEWS

MIDDLETON

IS TOP OF THE CLASS! Despite having to cancel another PGA Graduation Ceremony due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this month PGA Professional celebrates the success of its latest crop of Trainees.

Michael Creighton, Brand Director – Titleist: “The PGA Trainee of the Year award is a fantastic achievement, and one that Adelle should be extremely proud of. When graduates leave the PGA Academy they can be confident they have been through one of the most comprehensive programmes in golf and have opened the door to a longstanding career in the industry.

“We are pleased to support The PGA in the development of these teaching professionals, and wish not only Adelle, but every graduate in the class of 2021 the best of luck in their future endeavours.”

16

C

oventry is proving to be a hotbed for golfing talent after delivering the top PGA Trainee of the Year for the second year running.

Adelle Middleton, who is based at Coventry Golf Club, follows in footsteps of Matthew Pugh after finishing top of the pile for the class of 2021.

The 30-year-old receives the Whitcombe Cox Trophy as the top Trainee along with a cheque for £3,500 thanks to awards sponsors Titleist. She also becomes the latest recipient of the Beverly Lewis Trophy, awarded to the top female Trainee, sponsored by the Ladies European Tour.

Middleton completes a rare hat-trick by also claiming the Golf Pride Equipment Technology and Custom-fitting award.

“I’m over the moon,” said Middleton. “I knew I’d done well in the Midlands region as I won the TGI Top Trainee Award for the three years, but I didn’t really know where I stood nationally.

“I was delighted to find out I’d come top overall and to also win the Equipment Technology and Custom-fitting award was the icing on the cake. It’s made the many late nights spent working through the course material and completing assignments all worthwhile.”

Middleton was introduced to golf when her dad bought her a set of clubs for her 15th birthday. However, it took her

July 2021

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NEWS a while to catch the golf bug having been a keen hockey player at the time.

She found a passion for the game while studying Geophysics at Leeds University but stopped playing for a year while finishing her degree abroad in Colorado.

“Once I’d finished my degree, I started to take it more seriously as I realised it was the thing that I was happiest doing,” Middleton continued.

“I knew I wanted a career in golf and joining the PGA Training Programme had been in the back of my mind for a little while when one day I was talking to the other assistant at Coventry, Sam Dodds, who had just finished his training and he suggested I consider doing mine.

“The course is so varied with all the subjects that are covered; it gives you a good foundation of knowledge in so many different areas. It’s helped me figure out where my interests lie within the industry.”

As for her future plans, Middleton added: “I’ve discovered over my time on the training programme that I love teaching people and coupled with my interest in Custom-fitting I’m hoping to continue my development in those two areas.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Coventry Golf Club and I can’t thank my boss, the head professional Martin Sutliff, enough for all of his support over the years. I’m now looking forward to the next chapter wherever it might take me.”

Paul Wiseman, PGA Executive Director – Education “For this latest group of graduates the world is now their oyster as they take the next step on their journey in the golf industry. They will go on to become great assets to the game and will play an important role in growing it around the world.

“The quality of the graduates coming through The PGA Training Programme continues to improve each year and gives me great confidence that golf is in good hands for the generations to come.

“Congratulations to Adelle and all this year’s graduates for their hard work and efforts in obtaining the qualification. I wish them all success wherever the game of golf takes them.”

TITLEIST TOP 15 TRAINEES 2021 POSITION

NAME

REGION

CLUB

1st

Adelle Middleton

Midlands

Coventry Golf Club

2nd

Thomas Perry

North

Abbeydale Golf Club

3rd

Jessica Smart

West

Saunton Golf Club

4th

Lloyd Jones

East

Royal Norwich Golf Club Ltd

5th

Liam Snook

West

Kingsdown Golf Club

6th

Chris Harrison

West

Broadstone Golf Club

7th

Nicholas Whiting

North

Cottingham Park

8th

Lewis Hackett

Midlands

Louth Golf Club

9th

Todd Adcock

South

Tonbridge Golf Centre

10th

Thomas Bowen

North

North Wales Golf Club

11th

Stewart Mai

Midlands

Stone Driving Range

12th

Paul Ward

Midlands

Lichfield Golf & Country Club

13th

Nicholas Tibbetts

North

Carlisle Golf Club

14th

James Watts

East

Kingsway Golf Centre

15th

Michael McNally

Scottish

Swanston Golf Club

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17

F E AT U R E

BEHIND THE SCENES AT GOLF’S OLDEST MAJOR Justen Fiddler joined Royal St. George’s in 1997 after moving to the south east from East Lothian, Scotland A year later than planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiddler is preparing for his first Open Championship as the venue’s head professional.

What is the role of a head professional and your team during Open Championship week?

For ourselves in the pro shop we are open for business as normal but who we actually see during the week is members and guests.

We do see a number of players come in with their entourage/family/friends. It’s a very busy week for us. We’ll see members who we may have not seen for two to three months with their guests. We’re still delivering our service to members but it will be on a bigger and busier scale in the week of The Open. I might also be asked to do some extra bits, external things with possibly radio or TV, giving them a little insight into what goes on during the week from a PGA Professional’s point of view.

How do you organise your team during Open week?

I’ll be taking on a couple more people in the shop so we’ll be doing a split shift system.

It’s a long week but I think that gives everyone a little bit of time to watch some golf because it’s quite full on. For myself, I’ll be overseeing my team but also making sure I’m visible to members and their guests. It’s exciting hosting The Open Championship because it’s the biggest and the best Major in golf. It’s very full on for everyone both on and off the course.

Do you speak to any other pros at Open venues to prepare?

I have spoken to Gary McNeil (head professional at Royal Portrush) on numerous occasions and others regarding merchandise, retailing and that sort of thing during Open week. We’ve all got different business models so it’s important that we know what other people have done previously just to get a little bit of knowledge from them to help us.

Hosting the Open Championship here helps put Kent and the South East on the map and everyone wants to make sure it’s the best Open Championship that we can provide, hence why there’s a good relationship between all the host clubs.

Are you asked to walk with any players during the week to give them tips or hints on how to play the course?

I haven’t yet but I probably will be asked the question on the official practice days. If any of the players pop in and ask we’ll be on-hand to give advice, as Ben Curtis did in 2003. He arrived three or four days prior to the official practice days and he gained lots of good, local knowledge and he went on to become the Champion Golfer that year.

18

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F E AT U R E When you’re playing links golf, especially Royal St. George’s, you do need to put in the preparation and the hours on the course. You need to get a feel for the course, for the turf, but also each hole changes direction. There are lots of cross winds that aren’t catered for so local knowledge does help.

Have you seen any players come down ahead of this year’s Open Championship?

We had Matthew Armitage down recently after winning his first European Tour event, I think he’s the only one. We’d normally get a lot more but with COVID-19 and the impact that’s had on travel it’s been difficult.

We normally get a few of the Surrey-based European Tour professionals come down because it’s close, but not so much this year.

Where are the players going to be most challenged at this year’s Open?

They will be challenged because of the routing of the course, not one hole runs in the same direction, so all 18 holes are in different direction and change direction. The fairways are undulating as well. There are lots of uphill and downhill lies to play so it will involve some strategy. They will enjoy playing this course. There are 18 brilliant holes and they all play very differently from first thing in the morning to last thing at night. It’s a great challenge. The further you go down off the tee, the majority of the fairways are narrow and strategy off the tee is key.

Who do you think might perform well this year at Royal St George’s?

I would like to see a domestic player win it.

Maybe a player like Matthew Fitzpatrick, he’d be a good choice to be a Champion Golfer. Tommy Fleetwood would be another if he can get his first Major win at Royal St George’s that would be very good, but my tip for the week is Matthew Fitzpatrick.

You need a bit of luck, control the ball flight and some experience, but experience of the golf course. Matthew Fitzpatrick has played here a number of times before.

If you have more practice rounds and more preparation, that will stand you in good stead. Bryson DeChambeau is great entertainment, but I can’t see him pulling it off. Jordan Spieth could perform well because he chips and putts well, but looking back to 2011 you had Dustin Johnson, second Phil Mickelson second so they’re in a good bit of form too but I hope one of the youngsters coming through for their first Major that would be very good.

Having the Champion Golfer at your club, having players and spectators just enjoying the spectacle of the event, that’s key especially given the year-and-a-half the whole country and the world has just had.

Will you get an opportunity to play in the event this year?

I think if there is an odd number at the weekend then someone from the pro shop will be nominated and I will probably be nominee. I’ll have a very busy week, but it will one of these opportunities where growing up you’ve always wanted to play in an Open Championship so we’ll be ready to if needed. If it happens I will be absolutely petrified and I’ll need a very good caddie!

I play the course most days with members, but playing on Open Championship weekend is a different entity altogether.

What happens at the end of the event?

We would like to take a break but the week after Championship week is quite full on with members and visitors playing and everyone wanting to play on the links.

We have the Club Championship on the Saturday straight after The Open so that’s

the first of our club competitions with the grandstands still up. Then we go into our members’ month so I’ve got nothing scheduled until October!

What’s your biggest takeway from hosting the Open?

It’s having the Champion Golfer at your club, having players and spectators just enjoying the spectacle of the event, that’s key especially given the year-and-a-half the whole country and the world has just had. We also want the players to enjoy the course but also to give it it’s just deserve for how good a golf course it is. You will need every shot in the bag for that week.

For myself and my team in the pro shop, it’s seeing the top players in the world close up and getting to see close up how the prepare for an event, how they practice and how they play. We want to take something away that you can use further on in your career.

LEARN For more insight into an Open Championship, log on to www.pgalearn.pga.info

This month watch:

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SEVE FOREVER WITH JAVIER BALLESTEROS Tour professional Javier Ballesteros is the son of the late, great Seve Ballesteros. Listen to Javier talk about his father’s career and his memories. https://bit.ly/3pyv0bX

19

Introducing

GBQ Golf Business Quarterly

MAKING GOLF BUSINESS HAPPEN Part of The PGA’s 2020 Vision, our new quarterly magazine will place The PGA firmly at the heart of the golf industry | CASE | GOLF STUDIES CLUBS THE FOCUS FEATURE

| CASE | GOLF STUDIES CLUBS FOCUS FEATURE THE

C

ATRIONA’S STORY: I was very fortunate. My first club was North Berwick and I was welcomed in, particularly in the ladies’ section.

You hear horror stories of youngsters not being allowed to play in medals or competitions but that wasn’t the case for me. I had two older brothers too so that helped.

Trying to keep up with them and be better than them really drove me on. The competitive juices got going then.

Women becoming full members, not just associate members, has been a good development.

That’s how it should be; one membership.

And there should be one competition with men, women and juniors all playing together.

That’s one of the best things about golf. "You can play with all manner of people, of different abilities and ages. That helps the juniors mature too.

I know we are always saying there’s a lack of juniors but I do think clubs are really trying. But there are so many other options and distractions and it’s tough for every sport, not just golf.

Exposure of the women’s game has really improved since I first came on tour 25 years ago. There’s been a real drive for equality and it’s making it look like a profession young girls can get in to.

You can’t just flick a switch and make it all equal but we are heading in the right direction.

The Royal & Ancient allowing female members was a big move. It had to happen at the very top and then the message filters down.

How can golf attract more women and girls? We have a nine-hole course at North Berwick and we need more like that. I have friends E but 18 who are just taking upUgolf, T R holes can beLquite PICdaunting.

BA When GLOyou’ve grown up playing golf, THEit can be hard to appreciate how difficult it is for someone new to the game to suddenly play 18 holes.

BS ALU ATC |ODLF U|SG URCE E FO THAT FE

CAPTAIN

About: Sara-Jayne created a flourishing junior section from a standing start.

SARA-JAYNE’S STORY: When I re-joined Glencorse, having been a junior member as a youngster, the committee asked me to help with their social media. I told them to get the juniors involved as they are active on that front. They looked at me with shock and said, ‘we don’t have any juniors’. That made me very upset and I made it my mission to bring back a junior section. I was hit by all the usual blockers of ‘somebody has tried this before’, ‘it’s never worked’, ‘nothing will come of it’ but I’m someone who likes to do things that others think can’t be done. The big thing we did was get the age limit for membership reduced from 10 to five. By 10, a kid has already decided what sport they like. We had missed out on a massive chunk by limiting ourselves. We reduced it to five and we got a huge wave. When I was a junior, my mum, gran and grandpa would all be at the club. There was a family feel and I wanted to try to bring that back. Being more family orientated has allowed us to bring more women in.

We started more social activities, some that had nothing to do with golf. We had afternoon teas, things like that. The women then got on the marketing list so when golf opportunities came up, it took the fear away of learning the game as they had already been at the club, met a few people and knew the environment.

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July 2021

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T

his month sees the launch of an exciting new magazine: Golf Business Quarterly.

Owned by The PGA, GBQ is a brand-new print and digital journal aimed at the golf industry professional – including PGA Members like you. Issue 1 will be formally launched to the industry at The Open and thereafter will be published at three-monthly intervals.

Presenting a rounded view of golf business, GBQ is a key part of our 2020 Vision that places The PGA in a position of influence at the heart of the golf industry. GBQ will feature the biggest voices in golf business, include in-depth interviews and provide genuine analysis of key data relating to topics such as participation, growth of the game, retail, rounds played and tourism.

There will also be wider content to help readers be better industry professionals.

WHO IS IT FOR? We want this magazine to become the go-to journal for golf business.

GBQ will fill a gap in providing highlevel content that spans the industry, looking at the big issues that affect all of us pursuing a career in golf. A core benefit of The PGA’s new Business Management Group and Club Volunteer categories, GBQ is also sent to all PGA Members, selected industry people and number of golf clubs across the UK and Ireland.

WHY ARE WE DOING IT? GBQ reinforces The PGA’s position at the heart of golf. We want to be at the forefront of the game and we want to instigate the discussions about how we take our sport forward. We want to demonstrate thought leadership.

While our name is on the cover, it is deliberately not within the magazine’s title. We want GBQ to be perceived as ‘neutral’.

WHAT’S IN ISSUE ONE? We begin with an in-depth look at the opportunity for growth in female participation.

Packed with data, and featuring interviews with the likes of Ping‘s European managing director Lisa Lovatt, women’s sport pioneer Sue Anstiss and the inspirational story of Maggie Alfonsi and her career in international rugby, it’s a magazine with real substance.

WHAT IS IN GBQ FOR ME? Our aim is to get you thinking and to provide you with stimulus for further reading, debate and discussion.

You won’t find news in the pages of GBQ: this is a quarterly product with time to reflect on the big issues.

We encourage you to step back and engage with the thoughtful content to consider the big picture of the golf industry that we all work in.

HOW IS GBQ DIFFERENT TO THE PGA PROFESSIONAL? GBQ is a completely distinct proposition to The PGA Professional.

The PGA Professional is more frequent, and naturally more newsorientated. In its pages we aim to update, inform and educate you, offering practical advice to help you in your day-to-day job and keeping you up to speed with all that’s happening at The PGA – your organisation.

In many ways GBQ does the opposite – it should lift you out of the moment and get you thinking big! We think this will immediately become clear to you when you open Issue 1 of GBQ. WHO IS PUTTING IT TOGETHER? The PGA is working closely with the creative agency 18Players.com to produce GBQ collaboratively.

We are assisted and guided by a working group featuring an impressive collection of golf industry professionals who offer a range of persepctives. They include men and women from The PGA, the media, administration, marketing, operations, market research and governing bodies. The magazine also features a host of high-quality regular and occasional contributors including sport business expert Richard Gillis and the BBC’s golf correspondent Iain Carter.

The PGA Professional | #makinggolfhappen

GBQ Golf Business Quarterly

EVERY THREE MONTHS – LAUNCHING NOW JULY 2021

DIGITAL MAGAZINE EMAILED DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX

PRINT MAGAZINE DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR DOOR

ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE IOS & ANDROID APP STORES

21

I N T E R NAT I O NA L

REINVENTING

THE ROQUE PGA Professional talks to 1992 Amateur Champion Stephen Dundas about his new role as president at San Roque Club in Spain, which has recently undergone a major renovation of its highly-regarded Old Course

The course is much more playable off the tee now, with a greater emphasis on accurate approach play.

22

Could you explain a little bit about your role as president at San Roque and what the job entails?

I joined San Roque at the beginning of 2019, shortly after the club had been sold to its new Russian owners, Golf Estate. I was brought into project manage a major renovation which basically encompassed a complete redesign and renovation of the Old Course, with the upgraded infrastructure including new bunkers, new irrigation and new drainage. We also renovated the driving range and the clubhouse.

We started the project in November 2019 and got it more or less finished by the end of 2020, which wasn’t bad considering most of it was done during the pandemic. My role was to oversee pretty much all of that.

My other role is to oversee the operational side of things. A lot of the staff – 95% of whom are Spanish – have been here for a very long time, which has its pluses and minuses, so I’ve basically I’ve been trying to implement more efficient ways of doing things and make the whole operation a little bit more professional.

Covid might have been seen as a blessing when it came to renovating a golf course, but how did you manage to get the project done in the middle of a global pandemic?

From one aspect it was the best year ever to complete a renovation, because we were going to lose business anyway with the course being closed, so that side of it was a plus, if you can call it that. But on the other side, getting supplies here was a nightmare, especially in the first couple of months, because very few companies were delivering.

We were delayed by probably six to eight weeks on deliveries of pipes and irrigation parts.

The local police did try to shut the whole project down in March, but we managed to convince them of the dangers of flooding caused by leaving the bare ground exposed, so they let us continue providing we kept staffing levels down to a minimum.

We employed golf course consultant John Clarkin of the Irelandbased Turfgrass Consultancy to project manage the renovation from an agronomy aspect, while we used Atlantic Golf Construction, who are also based in Ireland, for the landscaping work. Both those companies were outrageously good. Back in March last year, during the first lockdown, some of them were here on site for four months without being able to go back home and see their families because of the various travel and quarantine restrictions. They were really committed to getting the job done and thanks to all their hard work, talent and dedication, we ended up finishing on time and with a very good product. We had 82 members play the Old Course on December 5, almost 11 months after we started the work, which is kind of hard to believe given what we’ve been through.

July 2021

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I N T E R NAT I O NA L

San Roque Club

Pruning back the cork trees has helped to open up views across the course and beyond.

What are the main changes that you’ve made to the golf course?

We looked at three or four key areas, but the main area was the drainage. San Roque has historically always been a wet golf course, so the top priority was sorting out the drainage. We did that in various ways, including sand-capping the fairways, and introducing deep and shallow drainage, and installing a new irrigation system from Rain Bird.

That has really made a difference to the way the course plays, with the fairways running harder and faster, but it has also reduced our water requirements by about 50%, which is good for the environment and sustainability, but also good for our water bills.

We also took out 18 hectares of grass and replaced it with mulch, which delivers a similar effect to the pine straw at Augusta National. It looks good and provides a nice definition between the fairways and the wood chippings.

With regards to bunkering, we took out 29 traps, so we’ve now only got 40, which again, from a maintenance perspective, saves a lot of time, but has also really enhanced the playability of the course. Too many of the hazards had either become irrelevant or were more of a hindrance to enjoyment than a strategic challenge.

The bunkers are lined with the Better Billy Bunker system, so when it rains, the greenkeepers don’t have to do anything to them, even after heavy storms, which we often get here.

How differently does the course play now?

In terms of playability, the redesign was about making it more inviting off the tee, which is why we undertook a very extensive tree pruning programme. There are lots of cork trees at San Roque and over a period of time they had almost overtaken the course and made some of the fairways very narrow. By pruning them back we’ve created a lot more space and given the feeling that you can

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stand on tee and hit driver. It’s also helped to open up the beautiful views across the course, and to the sea and the mountains beyond.

San Roque is now very much a second shot golf course, so the greens are going to run at an average of 11 on the stimp, and there’s quite a few new run-off areas, which will run at about 9, so you’ll have to be very precise with your short iron shots, but then it’s also going to be a fun golf course, and hopefully one of those courses that you would happily play every day for the rest of your life and not get tired of it. It’s certainly not going to beat you up, like some courses can do.

We’ve also switched the nines around to improve the flow of guests from clubhouse area to course and back again. The former 10th hole is now the first, with the tees in full view of the clubhouse area. And the round now closes on the adjacent green right in front of the clubhouse, as opposed to the former 18th – now the 9th – which is 50 metres away.

At the end of the day, we’re a members’ course and want it to be an enjoyable course to play for a wide range of golfers. The owners have no desire to host tour events, so we’ve bucked the trend by making it play slightly shorter than it was. The men’s course is about 100 metres shorter, playing around 6,500 metres off the back tees, while the women’s card is more like 200 metres shorter.

Again, we wanted to make a golf course that people felt that they could enjoy, play well on and feel happy about when they leave.

Given the volume of investment that’s been put into the facility, coming out of the pandemic, what does 2021 look like for the club?

With so much still up in the air with regards to international travel and the resurgence of the pandemic in parts of Europe, it’s very hard to look too far in front, but we’re hopeful that the second half of the year is going to be pretty decent – at least compared to what it has been. It’s all dependent on when restrictions are lifted and people feel safe to travel again. Things might not properly come back until 2022 or even beyond that, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

We’re definitely looking forward to welcoming visitors and guests back, but we’ve also got 420 members who pay their annual fees and who have helped us get through this. We would have been lost without them. Many of them are based overseas, and at least 75% of them haven’t even had the chance to play the course at all over the last 18 months, but the support we’ve had from them has been amazing.

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A P PA R E L

HOODIES & HENLEYS IS THIS THE FUTURE FOR GOLF APPAREL?

Golf retailers were offering more fashion-led apparel long before the pandemic arrived, but the game’s surge in popularity among Gen Zers over the last 18 months has seen a huge increase in demand for stylish, yet relaxed clothing options. PGA Professional Trade Editor Nick Bayly looks at the athleisure trends that are set to

Golf retailers were offering more fashionled apparel long before the pandemic arrived, but the game’s surge in popularity among Gen Zers over the last 18 months has seen a huge increase in demand for stylish, yet relaxed clothing options. Trade Editor Nick Bayly looks at the athleisure trends that are set to shake up the fairways this summer and beyond

Puma’s new Excellent Golf Wear Collection has a street-inspired look, as typfied by the Cloudspun Mat Henley

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W

hile your wardrobe of smart ‘going out’ clothes has most likely stayed pretty much the same over the past year or so, there is a strong chance that the percentage of space in your drawers given over to more relaxed styles of leisurewear – jogging bottoms, hoodies, sweatshirts and t-shirts – has probably doubled, or perhaps even trebled, during that same period. Welcome to the ‘new normal’ world of the drawstring trouser and the sloppy joe.

Although most PGA Professionals have been working and playing in polo shirts for decades, the mass switch to working from home during the pandemic and the relaxation of traditional office protocols has fast forwarded the acceptability of less formal styles of clothing in virtually all walks of life.

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A P PA R E L While stay-press slacks and clubcrested wool jumpers still have their place in many an older member’s locker, the golfing apparel landscape has seen a seismic shift over the last year that is easily on a par with the changes to the rules around workwear that are taking place in offices all over the country.

If you want to know what’s driving the push towards more relaxed dress codes in golf you only need look at some of the data coming out about who’s playing the game these days. In the UK, under35s now dominate the pay-and-play market, with some 15 per cent of all UK green fee bookings in June last year being made by from 18 to 24-year-olds – an age range that had not even registered historically in the golf sector. The majority of new club members are also significantly under 40, another demographic that has been largely absent from the game as longer working hours and the pressures of family life meant that weekend rounds for this age group were only to be dreamed about.

But all that’s changed with the new generation of WFHers who have time at the end of the day to slip in a quick nine or 18, and no longer have to waste valuable time commuting five days a week.

J Lindeberg is at the forefront of the athleisure trend in golf

RIGHT: Swing Out Sister’s Active Wear Collection is proving a big hit in SS21

BELOW: Adidas’s PrimeBlue 1/4Zip Sweatshirt

BLENDING WORK & PLAY The mainstream golf apparel brands, as well as sizeable number of luxury lifestyle brands, have been quick to react to this trend, launching more youth-orientated, fashionconscious collections for SS21 and AW22, and we can expect this move towards more ‘athleisure’ styles to continue over the coming seasons as the edges between work and play become ever more blurred.

Adidas and Puma, arguably the two most youth-orientated of the leading golf brands, have both launched apparel collections this summer that

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have plenty of high street youth appeal, yet still feature performance-enhancing technologies, while PING and FootJoy, two of the more traditional, conservative brands, have both ventured into new territories with their latest ranges, which feature more playful styles, bold patterns and colour-driven palettes.

Puma Golf’s recently launched Excellent Golf Wear Collection typifies the new look, with a range of shorts, layering pieces, zip tops and joggers that are equally suited for a trip to the gym as they are for popping out for a drink with friends or an afternoon nine holes.

Chris MacNeill, Puma Golf’s Senior product manager for apparel, is confident that the trend to towards more fashion-led golfing attire is here to stay.

“For our new Excellent Golf Wear collection, our designers took inspiration from sport and street culture, designing for every aspect of a golfer’s life, re-working classic lifestyle pieces with subtle branding elements,

for the perfect blend of technicality, style and comfort.”

MacNeill adds: “We’re seeing a new generation of golfers joining the game and bringing their casual, streetwear-inspired style preferences to the course.

More and more golfers are gravitating to more lifestyle, relatable gear that is suitable for their everyday lives. From hoodies, henleys and joggers, to sneaker-inspired golf shoes, The EGW Collection brings street style to the course in a modern way, delivering a lifestyle aesthetic, with comfortable fabrics that perform as well off the course as on.” adidas Golf’s new Go To range offers a similarly relaxed feel and is aimed at those who don’t necessarily want to invest in a full-on golfing wardrobe, but still want to look the part and feel comfortable on the golf course or in the clubhouse and beyond. Featuring joggers and shorts with drawcord waistbands – ideal for lockdown golfers who have piled on a few pounds – and trousers and skirts with zipped pockets, the range is designed for comfort, while also offering bags of style.

The staple piece in the collection is the Go-To Polo which is made from 89% recycled material

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A P PA R E L Bogey Boys, bigger brands that are were trying to coming up the lean towards the rails to grab market trends the attention of and technical the new golfer. performance,” Their focus is on says co-founder lifestyle rather Jojo Regan. “It than technical was all about performance, white guys at with their the professional collections full level swinging of trend-inspired clubs hard and FootJoy’s SS21 Collection pieces for a younger fast and trying to includes some striking styles demographic. In shoot low scores. and bold colour palettes short, they’re cool.

In reality, 99 per Mr Porter’s own-brand label, cent of golfers out there are hacking Mr P, launched a golf collection around trying to break 90. If I dress this spring for the younger golfer like Rory McIlroy, it’s not going to who is inspired by the trend. The take five shots off my game.” company’s Style Director, Olie However, these new brands Arnold, who oversees the golf have not completely ignored the collection, says: “There has been performance needs of the golfer. an element of elitism in golf and Both Manors and Mr P have made some not-great periods from a style adjustments to their products to perspective. Golfwear doesn’t have allow for the demands of the swing, to be full technical performance ranging from slightly elongated wear – there can be a real elegance collar areas to a slight stretch in to it. The Mr P customer spans a the chinos. Manors also intends broad range of ages, from 25 to to produce a range of classic 55, who will wear the collection staples that will always stay in the differently on and off course.” range, recognising an appetite for Manors is another Britishconsistency among its customer based, golf-inspired brand that has base. “If you ever wanted to go identified a gap in the market for the and get a polo from Ralph Lauren, new wave of Gen Z players. “The you know you could go and buy

Manors is one of a number of new golf apparel brands that are bringing mainstream fashion to the golf course

– another key trend in this season’s golf apparel market – and comes in a range of colours that give it a ‘wear-anywhere’ mentality, but still performs the way a golfer would expect. Offering a rich, cotton-like feel, it has a set-in raglan cut in the back for a sportier design that also increases range of motion, while a new flexible collar makes it easier to take on and off, even when fully buttoned up, without ever losing its shape.

Shaun Madigan, global director of apparel, adidas Golf, says: “The Go-To Collection is a huge positive step forward for golf fashion.

It’s very rewarding to be able to introduce versatile options that provide both style and function that golfers want and need, while also giving them a sense of satisfaction that they are doing something good for the world and our environment.”

Puma Golf’s Excellent Golf Wear Collection is designed to appeal to Generation Z golfers looking for a more relaxed look for on and offcourse wear

LUXURY MEETS LEISUREWEAR While luxury fashion brands such as Ralph Lauren and Lacoste have long associations with golf and enjoy a loyal following among the more conservative golfing crowd, it is the new wave of brands, such as Manors, Castore, Mr Porter and

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A P PA R E L a navy polo at any point in time,” said Regan. “We offer that same experience.”

HATTON’S HOODIE One of key items of golf apparel that is grabbing all the headlines these days is the not-so-humble hoodie. Like many of golf apparel trends, the hoodie originated from the wider world of menswear and has been reimagined for the golf course through the use of technical fabrics to ensure they perform as good as they look. It’s a style trend which has been around for the last few seasons, but it really caught the public’s imagination after Tyrrell Hatton wore the adidas Cold.RDY hoodie on his way to winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. That model sold out in just a few days after the internet went into meltdown with all the chatter about whether it was appropriate gear for a top professional to be playing in.

Hatton, who happily agrees that he is no style icon, railed against members of the fashion police who thought the hoodie was a step too far for the oak-panelled locker rooms of the Home Counties.

“It’s crazy the amount of people that obviously didn’t like it [the hoodie]. If it looks smart, and you’re comfortable to play in it, then I really don’t see what the issue is.,” Hatton says. “I reckon half the people who said they didn’t like would change their minds if they put one on and swung a golf club. They’d love it. They’d realise how nice it is and how easy it is to swing in it. It’s nothing like your standard casual fashion hoodie – they’re really soft, very stretchy, and breathable.

Movement is not an issue, and you don’t get too hot or cold.”

Hatton’s win spoke volumes about its practicality and functionality during a cold and blustery week on the West Course, and now you will be hard pressed to find a golf apparel range that doesn’t include a hooded top or

adidas’s Go To Collection offers a range of colour block classics with on-trend detailing such as zips and drawstrings

some description, with the likes of Nike, G/FORE, Galvin Green and TravisMathew all adding these styles to their current collections.

BELOW: adidas’s Cold.

RDY hoodie sold out after being worn by Tyrrell Hatton at the 2020 BMW PGA Championship

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FASHIONABLE FOOTWEAR Footwear, a vital part in any golfer’s on-course look, has also taken a turn to the light side, with all the major brands taking inspiration from what’s being worn on the streets in the design of their latest launches, many of which look they’ve just been lifted off the shelves from Foot Locker or JD Sports.

Over-sized foam midlayers, weave material uppers, low-profile nubs and lace-free designs now dominate the market, with busy colour combinations and camouflage designs proving particularly popular with the new generation of golfers.

Once again, Puma, Nike and adidas are at the forefront of the trainerisation of the golf footwear market, with spikeless models such as Puma’s Ignite Fasten8 and Fusion Evo, and adidas’s RS-G and Adicross Retro, being prime examples of shoes that could easily be worn in the pub as they could the driving range.

Ultimately, the blurring of lines between fashionwear and golfwear needn’t mark the beginning of the end for

traditional golf retailers. Golfers still like to fit in, and providing you keep up with the trends, and order a wide variety of styles to suit your new and existing customer base, you stand a good chance of remaining relevant, and most importantly, profitable. But it might be wise to have a word with the management committee about that long socks with long shorts rule…

Layering pieces feature strongly in J Lindeberg’s latest collection

27

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LAUNCH PAD

New gear from TaylorMade, Cobra, Honma Srixon, adidas & more

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TRADE TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast putter

Puma Proadapt Alphacat The Proadapt Alphacat features a midlayer made from ADAPT Foam that provides impact resistance, energy return and ground feel. A multi-material outsole features an abrasion-resistant TPU perimeter that improves stability and traction on soft surfaces, while the central crystal rubber unit provides extra grip and a soft under foot feel on hard surfaces. The upper is an EXO Shell comprised of engendered mesh with a TPU film that offers structure and support, as well as waterproof performance. It is offered in three colours in men’s sizes (7-12), while a women’s model will be launched in 2022.

RRP £120

First introduced with the brand’s Spider X putter, the unique silver finish to TaylorMade’s new Hydro Blast TP range is created by literally blasting the head with high-pressure water. The process adds an extra layer of durability to the body, reducing the potential for scratches and blemishes. The range features three blades (Del Monte 1, Del Monte 7 and Soto) and four mallets (Chaska, Bandon 1, Bandon 3 and DuPage), but it’s the double-wing Bandon that’s already garnering interest on Tour, having been put into play by Dustin Johnson and Tommy Fleetwood. Featuring adjustable heel-toe sole weights (2.5g, 5g, 7.5g, 10g, 15g and 20g), the face features a White Pure Roll insert with the softsurlyn material featuring grooves situated in a 45-degree downward angle to optimize roll consistency. Multiple hosel options – slant, L-neck and single bend – and toe hangs also offered to help fit a wide range of stroke types.

RRP £199

LAUNCHPAD Your guide to the latest launches Srixon IQ-Star Tour Divide Srixon’s new Tour Divide ball looks sure to divide opinion on account of its two-tone design.

Widely found on novelty golf balls sold in department stores around Father’s Day and Christmas, the 50/50 colour design not only looks fun, but also makes it easier to line up on putts and will instantly tell players whether they’ve made a pure contact or not.

Aside from the two-tone design, the Tour Divide boasts the same FastLayer Core and 338 Speed Dimple pattern offered in the original Q-Star Tour for tour-level distance and spin, plus a penetrating ball flight.

Offered in Yellow/Red, Yellow/Blue & Yellow/Orange, the colours are infused into the pigment of the matt cover rather than painted on to ensure the colour won’t scratch or fade over time. They are at retail from July 15.

RRP £34.99 for 12.

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adidas Golf Codechaos21 PrimeBlue adidas Golf’s new CODECHAOS footwear range is made with recycled yarns that contain more than 50% recycled plastic. The textile upper comes with a one-year waterproof guarantee, while overlapping microfibre panels on both the lateral and medial side of the shoe provide more stability and protection.

The spikeless outsole features TWISTGRIP technology which is based on heat-map studies to determine the most optimal location for the lugs, providing all players with the best grip possible. Full-length boost cushioning provides added comfort, while a torsion X stability bar adds stability throughout the swing.

It is offered in lace-up and BOA Fit System models in multiple colour options, including a special scarlet and white option. The new BOA L6 dial platform features a softer TX4 lace and also includes guides for micro-adjustability and customised fit.

RRP £130

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TRADE Big Max Golf Bags

Cobra King Tec Hybrid

Big Max, Europe’s leading bag brand, is enjoying growing sales in the UK market thanks to its winning combination of stylish designs and technological features. It has just released two new models to add to its extensive range, with the launch of the Dri Lite Hybrid Tour (£179.99) and the Aqua Sports 3 cart bag (£239.99).

The Hybrid Tour is a water-resistant bag that sits squarely on most types of push and power trolley, but is also designed to be carried.

Its 14-way divider and five water-repellent pockets give it cart bag capacity, while its ultralight weight of just 2kg means it excels as a stand bag too. The Aqua Sport is 100% waterproof and boasts 14 full-length dividers, a carry weight of just 2.4 kg, dedicated putter well, dual umbrella holder, glove holder, nine pockets including a 100% waterproof valuables pocket and an XL cooler pocket big enough for several drinks.

For all trade enquiries contact Worldwide Golf Brands at sorders@wwgb.uk.com.

The King Tec Hybrid is designed for better players seeking consistent carry distance and enhanced forgiveness off the tee and on longer approach shots.

It is the only hybrid in Cobra’s current line up to feature a PWRSHELL face, which utilises a hyper-flexible stainless-steel insert to promote faster ball speeds and higher launch across the face. It also boasts a carbon fibre crown that saves 10g that is repositioned low and back within the clubhead to lower CG. Both technologies combine to offer high launch, reduced spin, longer carry distance, and softer landing into greens.

The sole features three adjustable weights (2 x 12g and 1 x 2g) that can be positioned in the toe for a fade-biased ball flight, the heel for a draw bias, or a front setting for a neutral and lower flight. Additional 14g and 10g weights are available through custom orders. An adjustable MYFLY hosel features eight settings which can be adjusted up to +/- 1.5°, allowing fitters to further dial in launch and spin performance.

It is available in four lofts – 17° 19°, 21°, 24° – with a Mitsubishi Chemical MMT 80 graphite hybrid shaft in XS and S flexes or an MMT 70 shaft in regular flex.

RRP £239

Explanar Putting Mat Designed by Master PGA Professional Luther Blacklock, the Explanar putting mat is crafted from premium materials and features a durable velour putting surface that creates a realistic putting experience that runs at 10.5 on the Stimpmeter. With a thick rubber base, it is designed to lie flat, even on slightly uneven surfaces. Eye-catching colourful graphics not only make putting practice fun, but the high-contrast sightlines make it easy to accurately aim the putter face, while a selection of distance segments enable different lengths of putt to be practised, from 2ft to 10ft.

Available in 3m or 4m lengths, the mat features various visual alignment aids to improve stroke consistency and directional control and pace, with a shallow cut-out ¾-inch hole at one end which only rewards the perfectly struck putt. Ideal for coaching, the mat can improve putter head alignment, eradicate pushed and pulled putts, improve tempo and encourage a smooth roll for better distance and speed control.

RRP £125/£145 (3m/4m), www.explanar.com.

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Honma Beres Black The Beres Black range of drivers, fairways, hybrids and irons, are designed for slow to moderate swing speeds, The 10.5° driver (£1,149) features slots located on the sole close to the leading edge on the heel and toe to enhance the trampoline effect and ensure that distance loss is reduced on off-centre strikes. This design is carried through to the fairways (15°, 18°) and the hybrid (22°), while a low and deep CG delivers high launching ball flight.

The irons [5-11, AW, SW, £495 per iron] feature a L-Cup face design that promotes a more rounded leading edge and improved feel, along with a C-Cup structure wrapped around the toe to expand the sweet spot. A thin ellipse face maximises flex on strikes across the clubface to deliver increased ball speed.

The irons are fitted with hand-rolled 47g 3-Star ARMRQ shafts which will help slower swingers launch the ball farther.

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TRADE NEWS

Shot Scope expands strap colour options for G3 GPS watches

FootJoy launches SS22 apparel range FootJoy has begun the sell-in of its apparel range for Spring/Summer ’22, which 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 amongst the designs, whilst elegant detailing adds further interest and completes the look.

A refreshed women’s line-up sees all-new designs and garment styles to equip women golfers with more choice, including a unique Watercolour collection, colour pops of bright coral and dedicated styling for a flattering silhouette.

The colour collections will be accompanied by a comprehensive stock supported fashion and Essentials range. These garments will provide the perfect additions to complete outfits with easy and coordinating pieces that complement the headline collections, as well as continue to prove particularly popular with club teams with versatile cresting options.

Colin Mynott, FJ EMEA Product Manager, Apparel, Socks & Accessories, said: “The FootJoy brand continues to carry momentum in the apparel category and our latest offering is one that looks to not only continue this energy, but to push it even further. The design team have done a fantastic job in bringing to life a line-up that celebrates interesting and innovative designs whilst remaining laser focused on the golfer and performance. We look forward to working closely with our trade partners in showcasing the product and creating excitement around our SS22 range.”

A detailed looked at FJ’s SS22 Collection will be featured in next month’s issue.

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Shot Scope has unveiled three new colour options for its GPS-only G3 golf watch. Now available with red, teal and grey, in addition to the original black strap, the coloured straps are interchangeable, allowing users to switch out their strap at any time for a new colour.

Using the latest satellite technology, the G3 is accurate to just 30cm, giving golfers greater confidence with their shot and club selection. 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 golf courses.

“We are extremely excited to be able to offer new interchangeable coloured straps to help our customers express themselves out on the golf course” commented Shot Scope CEO, David Hunter. “Shot Scope technology has already helped thousands of golfers around the world take their game to the next level, and we are confident that this new offering will cement the G3’s position as the most complete, affordable GPS watch on the market,” he added.

Adidas rolls out Solarthon summer shoe adidas Golf has launched a new lightweight summer golf shoe that is designed to keep players feeling fresher for those longer days on the course.

It features adidas’s Primeblue textile upper, a recycled yarn containing at least 50% Parley Ocean Plastic, and also incorporates a full-length Boost midsole, and a spikeless Fishscale Traxion outsole for improved grip and stability on the course. A film around the edges of the upper offers water-resistant protection, while an external TPU heel counter ensures golfers stay locked in during the swing and when walking.

“Golfers get excited this time of year because there are more hours of sunlight, which ultimately translates into the opportunity to play more of the sport they love,” said Masun Denison, global director of footwear, adidas Golf.

“We wanted to capture that excitement and eagerness to maximize their time on the course, so we created this lightweight, comfortable option to help keep them playing from dawn to dusk.”

It is offered in three colour combinations – grey/blue/ white, black/gold and grey/yellow.

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TRADE NEWS Rahm bags first Major with Callaway gear

Voice Caddie named rangefinder of LPGA Tour and LET

Jon Rahm captured his maiden major title at the US Open at Torrey Pines with a full bag of Callaway clubs.

The 26-year-old Spaniard, who also reclaimed the world No.1 spot, joined the brand at the end of last year.

Rahm’s bag included Callaway’s Epic Speed Triple Diamond LS driver (10.5°), an Epic Speed Sub Zero Triple Diamond T 3- and 5-wood, Apex TCB irons(4-PW) and Jaws Forged wedges (52°, 56°, 60°), and Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie S and a Chrome Soft X ball.The victory marked back-to-back Major wins for Callaway following Phil Mickelson’s PGA victory.

Leading rangefinder brand Voice Caddie has been named Official Rangefinder across all the main women’s professional tours as part of a multi-year agreement.

The company will be the official rangefinder of the LPGA Tour, Symetra Tour, Ladies European Tour, LET Access Series and the LPGA Professionals, and will be the presenting sponsor of the LPGA Professionals National Championship in July.

Voice Caddie will provide players across all tours with its SL2 Laser Rangefinder, which has a special competition mode to ensure players and caddies do not have access to certain functionality prohibited under the Rules of Golf during play.

Rangefinders were first put into LPGA Tour competition at last month’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Players will then be permitted to use rangefinder technology at most LPGA Tour and LET events for the first time in the history of both Tours. The Symetra Tour and LET Access Series have permitted usage of rangefinders in competition since 2020.

Voice Caddie technology utilises a laser beam and GPS to provide accurate distances. The SL2, the brand’s newest model, has an ‘Auto Pin Location’ feature that enables the user to quickly find an exact hole location.

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TRADE NEWS

DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT, ASK OUR TGI GOLF PARTNERS...

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TGI Golf is one big family that provides me and my business with opportunities and support including events such as the Business Conference, Enewsletter, 0% Finance and my own retail consultant is always on hand.

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Joining TGI Golf was the best thing I have ever done for my business.

The team at HQ is a fantastic resource and have a wealth of knowledge that can be tapped into. I see them as an integral part of my team.

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Having been with the group from the early ‘80s I have benefitted in so many ways from being a TGI Golf Partner. A family of likeminded Professionals who wrap their arms around my business and encourage my team to develop our business year on year.

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The PGA Professional

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“

Lyle & Scott ‘s AW21 Golf Collection dives through the brand’s rich heritage and history of producing technical sporting garments with a modern simplicity for the player who enjoys life on and off the course.

AW21 collection features a number of lightweight styles that offer all-round weather protection and combines this with innovative hybrids, distinctive prints, and new textures to bring a creative and practical twist to a collection deeply rooted in the game.

Featuring both tonal monochromatic colourways alongside vibrant hues and bold patterns, the collection centres around a number of focal pieces.

With four-way stretch and a windproof liner, the Windshield ½-Zip Midlayer is constructed from a super soft combination of wool/polyester. Providing both warmth and temperature control, it’s the ideal choice for colder, more blustery days.

Featuring ultrasonically-bonded quilting to prevent insulation leakage, the Stretch Quilted Midlayer is the perfect hybrid piece, with fleece-lined, stretch jersey construction, the side panels and sleeves provide maximum range of motion and warmth, while the quilted design offers a distinctive look.

A Lyle & Scott classic, but renewed for the modern golfer, the Knitted Branded Polo Shirt is constructed from a cotton/merino blend for natural moisture wicking, whilst sporting a contrast tipped collar, placket and cuff to bring a pop of colour with a jacquard script logo on the rear making a bold statement.

With all-over prints a huge trend of AW21, the Eagle Print Polo celebrates this with a playful all-over Eagle print. With a wicking finish added to the cotton/polyester jersey in order to maximise comfort, this core piece can be worn on its own in warmer weather, or layered for a fashionable yet functional look in colder climates.

Lyle & Scott Golf is represented in the UK by Trendy Sports Agency. For enquiries, contact Rob Bundy on email at rob@trendysportsagency.com.

“

Lyle & Scott releases AW21 apparel range

Kevan Whitson Royal County Down Golf Club

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TRADE NEWS

J Lindeberg launches AW21 apparel collection

SkyCaddie GPS proves a hit at Legends Tour’s return SkyCaddie GPS continued its breakthrough progress in the world of Tour golf when it was used by seven of the top ten finishers at last month’s Farmfoods European Legends Links Championship at Trevose.

The tournament winner, South Africa’s Chris Williams (pictured above), used a SkyCaddie SX500 GPS rangefinder throughout the event, as did Andrew Oldcorn and Peter Baker (T5), plus David Shacklady, Peter Wilson, Clark Dennis and Markus Brier (all T7).

In the Championship, which was the first Legends Tour event of the year, over half of all competitors used SkyCaddie GPS for their yardages.

Legends Tour organisers also worked with SkyCaddie when setting the pins at the tournament. SkyCaddie then provided the daily pin sheets for players to use. Each day’s pins were also WiFi-downloaded onto competitors’ SkyCaddie GPS handhelds.

Williams birdied the last to clinch the tournament, hitting an 8-iron to three feet after using his SkyCaddie to get a yardage on the uphill 18th at Trevose.

“On that final approach shot I used the SkyCaddie’s cursor to get a yardage to a particular point on the green, like I do on most holes,” said Williams. “With a good yardage, my mind was clear and I hit a great shot. I trust my SkyCaddie’s yardages and now use it 99.9% of the time in tournament play. I don’t need to use a yardage book anymore.”

SkyCaddie’s new SX550 model is set to take over from the pSX500 as the favoured GPS device among elite golfers when it launches in the UK at the end of this month.

J Lindeberg’s golf apparel collection for Autumn/ Winter 2021 focuses on combining more technical and sustainable fabrics with a high-performance, aspirational design.

The collection is the first to be curated by the company’s new head of design, Neil Lewty, who joined J Lindeberg from Hugo Boss Sportswear in August last summer.

“With this collection, we aim to inspire,” said Lewty.

“We’ve taken our best performing pieces and extended their technical features. Similar to our fashion line, the golf collection presents contrasting fabrics, neutral and strong bright colours, and refined techniques to adapt to our surroundings while always adding a layer of aspirational design.”

The range features three main technical elements – Gradient Tech, Active Mesh and Elements – while among the new products include a lightweight high stretch cotton pique – Cotton Elite, as well as Tech Wool and Soft Jersey Brushed, which boasts a softer, brushed interior.

The range also includes several new jackets, among them a fully taped, waterproof hybrid jacket with PrimaLoft padding.

An increased focus on sustainability sees 80% of the fabrics used being BlueSign or Oekotex certified and the collection is entirely fluorocarbon PFOA and PFO free.

Powakaddy rolls out video series to highlight trolley range benefits PowaKaddy has created a set of product videos that are designed to give consumers an in-depth understanding of its new range of trolleys, as well as offering retailers valuable content to download and share across their digital platforms to encourage more sales.

The videos cover the brand’s new FX range, the CT range, and the overarching GPS features, alongside individual product videos on each trolley across the 2021 line-up.

The videos can be downloaded from PowaKaddy’s YouTube channel – www.youtube.com/channel/UCrrIeTb_BrNLDTUoskfqX1Q – and can be used on websites, social media or through newsletters to help communicate the selling points and features of PowaKaddy trolleys to consumers.

“We’re delighted to have been able to create these eye-catching

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videos for our retail and professional partners,” said Mei Tierney, Marketing Manager at PowaKaddy. “Our aim was to deliver an innovative yet informative set of videos that would truly enhance the ability to sell our state-of-the-art trolleys, and we can’t wait to share them with the industry.”

July 2021

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www.pga.info

THE NEW HOME OF

TITLEIST PERFORMANCE The Titleist Performance Centre at Woburn is the premiere facility for Tour Player Support and Golf Equipment fitting in Europe. Using state of the art analysis equipment and fitting methodologies, the new Performance Centre provides dedicated golfers with a venue to experience the ultimate Tour level fitting to find the best Titleist equipment for their game.

Learn more at www.titleist.co.uk 38

July 2021

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www.pga.info

ADVERTORIAL

TRADE NEWS

TITLEIST UNVEILS NEW

‘HOME OF PERFORMANCE’ IN THE UK

State-of-the-art Titleist Performance Centre at Woburn will offer visitors the ultimate personal fitting experience Titleist has revealed its new European home of performance which is now ready to welcome dedicated golfers of all levels for the ultimate fitting experience.

The Titleist Performance Centre, which is its new home of Tour Player support in Europe, replicates much of the unrivalled offering of the Titleist Performance Institute in California.

Including state of the art 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.

Since breaking ground in October 2019, Titleist has worked with the Woburn team and sculpted the 10-acre site into the ultimate performance facility that 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 state of the art performance centre building featuring two product fitting bays, a bespoke club building workshop and a stunning brand boardroom.

Michael Creighton Titleist Brand Director – UK Region – said: “The introduction of the Titleist Performance Centre at

Woburn is hugely exciting and underlines our commitment to providing dedicated 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 the Performance Centre at Woburn having had the best fitting experience available in Europe”.

Rob Maxfield, PGA Chief Executive, said: “I was lucky enough to visit the Titleist Performance Centre recently and was blown away by it. I have seen many great custom fit operations around the world, but the design and attention to detail throughout makes this a truly exceptional custom fitting experience. There is no doubt that the facility Titleist has developed at Woburn is truly world class.”

Consumer fittings for the Titleist Performance Centre at Woburn will commence from July 29th. Bookings are available on an appointment only basis and can be made now via the Titleist website at: www.titleist.co.uk/golf-club-fitting/ performance-centre

For further information on Titleist, visit www.titleist.co.uk The PGA Professional

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P R O D U CT FO C U S : P U T T E R S

PUTTING FOR DOUGH With many golfers prepared to spend as much on a decent putter as they would a driver, it will pay to stock up on the latest premium models and offer a custom fitting service if you want to secure that vital sale

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PING Ping’s new range of 11 putters focuses on maximizing forgiveness through the use of multi-material designs. The three Anser versions – Anser, Anser 2, Anser 4 – combine a stainless-steel head with tungsten heel and toe weights to raise MOI to its highest ever level in a Ping putter. The Kushin 4, DS 72 and Tyne 4 models introduce a steel weight in the heel and tungsten in the toe to optimize the CG location for increased stability, while the mallet-style Fetch and Oslo H join a stainlesssteel body with an aluminium sole plate to position mass around the entire perimeter to create a highly forgiving design.

In the new CA 70, a dense stainless steel sole weight lowers the CG of the aluminium body for more forgiving results. The Harwood delivers the highest MOI in range due to its aluminium body and 93g of tungsten weight distributed to all four corners of the head. A dualdurometer face insert delivers responsive feel, with softer front layer of the insert delivering precision for delicate short putts, while the firmer back layer offers the solid feedback and distance control required for holing longer range putts and improving overall consistency. The heads boast a black PVD finish, while a black chrome shaft that can be custom built between 32 and 38 inches.

PING’s adjustable shaft is available as a custom upgrade.

RRP: £250 (£375 for Harwood model)

July 2021

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www.pga.info

P R O D U CT FO C U S : P U T T E R S

ODYSSEY WHITE HOT OG

MIZUNO M.CRAFT

Odyssey’s new White Hot OG putters feature the original formula for the White Hot insert that first came out 20 years ago. The six-strong line up, which comprises #1, #1WS, 2Ball, #5, #7, Rossie models, combines the proven benefits of Odyssey’s two-part urethane insert technology with a rich silver PVD finish and a fine milled finish. They are available with a stepless steel shaft (£199) multi-material Stroke Lab shaft (£239) in a new candy apple red, both of which are fitted with a grey DFX Grip.

RRP: £219/£269 (Steel/Stroke Lab shaft).

Mizuno’s M.CRAFT putters are forged from carbon steel then CNC milled to create a precise shape and perfect alignment. The range features six models in 2021, up from its original three. The new models are IV, a slant neck deep square back model with moderate toe-hang; V is a slant neck toe-heel deep mallet with maximum toe-hang, while VI is a 371g face-balanced wing mallet offering slightly more weight and stability for players with a straight back-and-through stroke. Each is weighted to promote a fluid, rhythmical stroke, however an additional weight kit that includes two 3g weights and two 13g weights, which can be interchanged with the 8g fitted weights, allows each putter to be adjusted.

Each head is available in White Satin, Blue ION or Black ION finishes. They are fitted with KBS Tour shafts and Lamkin Deep Etched Full Blue cord grips.

RRP £249

CLEVELAND FRONTLINE The Frontline range features a front-facing weighting scheme that pulls mass closer to the face for better stability. A tungsten forward-weighting plan sets the CG closer to the front of the face, resulting in a purer end-over-end roll with added stability. The Speed Optimized Face pattern promotes consistent ball speed, while a 2135 alignment system gives you a perfect look no matter where you set your eyes at address.

Featuring a matt black head with white contrasting face insert, the range is offered in six different head shapes, including blades, mallets and high MOI models, with a variety of neck designs.

RRP £159/£179.

MACGREGOR MACTEC X MACTEC X putters are available in four head designs – two mallets and two fang-style shapes – each boasting innovative technology designed to give golfers the best chance of holing more putts.

Among the key design elements is ARC Tech face technology, a finely milled insert that delivers a true forward roll and improved distance control. The various shaped heads each come with a strong alignment marker that helps set the golfer’s eyes and head of the putter on the right line, and with the larger headed mallets, the MACTEC X line features very high MOI that helps avoid twisting on off-centre strikes.

Featuring two tone red and black heads, each putter is available with either a traditional grip or thicker parallel grip, while the 003 large mallet model is also available as a left-hand option.

RRP £54.99/£59.99 (Jumbo grip)

The PGA Professional

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COBRA KING 3D When Cobra returned to the putter market at the end of last year with the King Supersport-35, it broke new ground with a range that was built with 3D-printed metal.

The innovative production method not only speed up the prototyping process, but also improved the stability and forgiveness of the head.

Cobra has now launched three models of the new King 3D Printed putters ­– SuperNova, Agera and GrandSport-35 – which uses a different 3D printing process. While the King Supersport-35 was built with Hewlett Packard’s Metal Jet technology, the new models use HP’s Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing process, which features a new nylon material that weighs about half as much as aluminium. Surrounding the 3D-printed structures are steel bodies, forged aluminium crowns, tungsten backweights and SIK Golf’s DLT face inserts.

DLT faces are constructed with four different lofts (4, 3, 2, 1 degrees), descending from the top portion to the bottom to help produce consistent launch angles and roll. This means that whether a golfers hit down or up on the putt, the face is designed to contact the ball with consistent loft.

RRP £269

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Exclusive introductory commission programme for PGA Professionals

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

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

Partner

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

P R O D U CT FO C U S : P U T T E R S TITLEIST SCOTTY CAMERON PHANTOM X The popular Phantom X range has been bolstered by four new models for 2021. The updated Phantom X 5 and Phantom X 5.5 mallets replace current in-line models, while the new, compact wingback mallets – Phantom X 11 and Phantom X 11.5 – are completely new options. All four models feature solid stainless-steel faces and bodies with new shapes and neck configurations.

The X 5 is configured to be nearly face balanced, and features a single bend shaft and sight line on the topline. It boasts a darker in the flange to simplify setup and increase confidence.

Inspired by Justin Thomas’ tour setup, the X 5.5 replaces its predecessor and includes the small slant neck inspired by Thomas’s configuration, as well as the same overall sizing and material makeup. Designed to promote subtle toe flow with stability, it has a milled sight line on the topline.

The X 11 has a clean topline and provides darker visual alignment cues from address with its misted back flange milling and raised single sight line in light grey. It has a mid-bend shaft to minimise face rotation during the stroke and customisable stainless steel sole weights.

The 11.5 is essentially the same design as the 11, but with is fitted with a low-bend shaft to enhance toe flow.

RRP £389

WILSON INFINITE Wilson’s Infinite putter range comprises nine models following the introduction of the newest model, the mallet-style Buckingham. It joins the Windy City, West Loop and Michigan Avenue blade options; the Grant Park half-moon mallet style, and the ‘L’, South Side, Bucktown and The Bean full mallets.

As with all the putters in the range, the high MOI Buckingham features counterbalance technology, which combines a heavier head and grip weights, moving the balance point closer to the hands for a smoother and more controlled putting stroke. The grip includes an oversize design construction to provide a stable feel and limits rotation during stroke. The 104g grip helps create the counter-balanced putter feel. It also features a black anti-glare finish to accentuate the sight lines that have been stripped back to improve alignment at address.

The double-milled face promotes consistent impact, roll and distance control.

RRP £109

The PGA Professional

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Business Development Consultants

SALES TIPS Foremost Business Consultant Steve Bird offers 3 tips to help maximise putter sales PROMOTE YOUR SERVICES I have noticed a number of shops become ‘destination stores’ for short game hardware, especially putters, and short game fittings over the last couple of years. This is purely because they focussed on telling people about these services. Very few of them have out of the ordinary technology, they have simply positioned themselves as short game and putter experts. Conversely, others that have fantastic knowledge and facilities do not go out of their way to publicise them, which shows as a direct correlation in putter sales.

Make sure you have an impressive, informative website and are doing regular newsletter articles, videos, customer testimonials and social media posts to ensure that when golfers think about putting, they think about you. An integrated online booking system makes it far easier for any interest to result in immediate lesson or fitting appointments.

SHOWCASE YOUR PRODUCTS Today’s customers are happy to spend the same amount of time, effort and money choosing a putter as they would a driver, so make a feature of your putting hardware in-store, rather than just having a token putter stand. Putters are now very significant purchases, so they deserve an appropriate amount of floor space and attention. Use informative signage and ideally a screen that scrolls through products and key services offered. Staff should be trained so that when they see customers taking an interest in the display, it is their cue to engage, find out their needs and develop a sales opportunity or a booking in the diary for a fitting.

HOST EVENTS The more you can position you and your team as experts, the better.

Host putting clinics, post putting videos online and set up a putter demo day. These events will directly result in more curiosity, engagement, enquiries and sales. Putting is seen as a specialist area and the more expertise you can portray, the better. Plan them in a marketing calendar so it commits you to doing them and you have time to adequately prepare, publicise the event and book appointments. Involve as many staff as possible, so the whole team feel empowered and you avoid customers coming in and just asking for one person.

These events can prove very popular, so make sure your booking system has a reserve list or the ability to register interest if all appointments have been booked. This provides an excellent reason to host another event, follow up with those customers or increase the number of appointments. The bottom line – don’t let them go elsewhere!

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July 2021

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21/06/2021 www.pga.info

09:19

ADVERTORIAL

LAMKIN GRIPS SUPPORTING PRO SHOP SALES I

n November 2019 JS International became the Master Distributor for Lamkin grips in Europe. With the success and experience of introducing brands such as Bettinardi, Clicgear and Bag Boy to the UK market, JS International has supported the continued growth of Lamkin in the UK and Europe by supporting retailers with the tools needed to promote and sell the Lamkin range.

Lamkin launched a new range of grip technologies in 2018 engineered and manufactured from their factory in Mexico. The launch of Genesis Material and Fingerprint Technology feature in a majority of the range, and many professionals are now playing these technologies with Justin Rose as a Lamkin Ambassador even helping in the design of the ST Hybrid range.

2020 also saw the launch of Calibrate for Lamkin their first ever reminder system, offered in the Sonar Tour, Sonar Wrap and ST-Hybrid range. Calibrate Technology is a pioneering design integrated into the inner design of the grip to promote better grip placement throughout the swing.

2021 has seen the launch of a new range of Putter Grips expanding on the success of the SINK Fit Polyurethane line. The new line up for 2021 comes in 4 profiles, Pistol, Pistol Claw, Straight & Square Top. Each of these designs has been engineered to cater for differing grip and stroke styles., For instance, those who favour a claw style grip will prefer the Pistol Claw and for players with a more traditional grip the Square Top & Straight would-be better fitting options.

With the popularity of these new technologies across the market, JS International have been helping retailers with a number of offers to better advertise, fit and promote Lamkin as a brand. It is important that golfers have choice in which grips to choose as hand size, grip, swing preference are all different! With a large range of shop displays, desktop units, posters and even fitting systems available Lamkin is a great choice for any retailer.

A number of deals are available to retailers and have been designed with Pro-Shops in mind, not only providing marketing support in the way of free POS but also other perks such as reduced minimum order quantities for free carriage to deals for guaranteed better pricing and even Pro own use deals to trial a new range of Lamkin grips.

With each promotion retailers will receive strong representation of the full Lamkin Range providing more options to help golfers. We know that no two golf swings are ever the same and every player has a preference, by giving the choice not only can you generate increased sales but also conversations around the range and sales off the back of this.

For more information on the Lamkin offers available and how they could benefit you please contact European Distributor

JS International – www.jsint.com

The PGA Professional

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

TORQUING SHAFTS Rhett Taylor, Marketing Director of leading shaft company KBS, talks about the brand’s latest range of products and explains why they should be a vital part of any custom fitter’s armoury

Why should a fitter stock KBS products and what makes them different than other shafts out there?

strokes per round involve your putter, so we wanted to create a shaft with varying putter head weights that puts more confidence in the hands of those who currently aren’t that confident on the greens.

KBS offers the widest array of shafts for custom fitting in golf today, this includes a custom shaft fitting for every player, including any age, gender and level of skill.

We separate ourselves by providing shafts for all types of clubs and making our shafts out of the most premium steel and graphite in the world.

You’ve introduced a few new models in 2021. Can you talk us through the new KBS Tour Lite and the KBS Player Graphite shafts and where they fit in the overall range?

The Tour Lite will combine models of the current KBS Tour 90 and KBS Tour 105 to deliver the lightest range of performance shafts in the market. The Tour Lite, which will be available in the second half of 2021, is a mid/high launch and spin shaft in the lightest form of KBS steel technology. KBS is also revolutionising the graphite shaft category again by introducing the Players Graphite Iron – or PGI. KBS will also be the first shaft company that will allow the fitter to choose a High/Mid/Low flight pattern at the same initial frequency. That is a huge variable for golf and shaft fitting, which is all about eliminating them.

Your supply shafts to all the major manufacturers, but how closely do you work with them when it comes to matching up shaft options for new clubs?

We work closely on every shaft option or programme we do with manufacturers directly. They have input from start to finish on every shaft option and we take in as much information as we can to help the player find the best fit, regardless of what OEM they prefer to use KBS in. We are very lucky and thankful to have such great relationships with every major club manufacturer to make this a reality for each golfer.

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A growing number of tour players are using multi-material putter shafts. Might we see KBS introduce a graphite putter shaft at some point?

You’ve had tremendous success on tour, with over 300 players using your products and hundreds of wins. How important is if for the brand to have the world’s best players using KBS products?

The Tour side is managed by our PGA, LPGA, European, Korn Ferry and Champions Tour representatives who work tirelessly to educate and fit the professionals into the correct KBS product to help their game. Our reps travel on Tour with our KBS Tour Truck to help fit, build and manage everything KBS on every major professional tour.

The reps work side by side with the club manufacturers to make sure the pros have all of the equipment, knowledge and fittings they need to play their best golf.

KBS recently launched into the putter shaft market with the KBS CT Tour and this year’s new Tour One Step.

Can you talk about the development of this new shaft and what performances benefits it brings?

Like all of our shafts in the KBS line, the KBS 1 One Step was designed by Master Shaft Engineer Kim Braly, who is Director of R&D at KBS Golf Shafts. The ground-breaking new shaft provides golfers with more flexibility in creating a pure amplified feel and reduced vibration at impact for more accurate and consistent putts.

Weighing 6g more than conventional putters at 130g, the 1 One Step Putter Shaft is a single bend, straight tip model .370 in diameter. On average, around 45% of

Well, we don’t want to give away too many of our secrets just yet, but let’s just say with the success of both of our putter shaft launches, The CT Tour and The KBS 1 One Step, the future looks bright for us in developing what the market wants for their putting game.

What educational tools do you offer custom fitters to better understand your product range?

From fitting charts to clinics to fitting tools online, as well as our masters fitters being available by phone or through all of our media, we have a lot of avenues to make sure that people are getting a better understanding of the importance of shaft fittings and playing the right KBS shafts.

What do you think the next big leap in shaft technology might be?

Only time will tell, but we think custom fitting is definitely the future and taking off bigger than it has ever been, and KBS has been on the forefront of this wave which we are extremely proud of. We also currently have the future of shaft technology and options in the new KBS PGI graphite shaft, this will change the way players of all skill levels look at fitting and performance into graphite shafts along with our other current graphite shaft options. Besides the technology aspect, the future also holds a big area for custom shaft options including customising your shaft which we at KBS pioneered through our KBS Custom Plus + programme on our website – www.kbsgolfshafts.com.

July 2021

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www.pga.info

ADVERTORIAL

TRADE NEWS

PUSH CARTS

All-new ultra-lightweight folding trolley leads PowaKaddy’s 2021 Push Cart range

CUBE

P

owaKaddy, the world’s leading golf trolley brand, has unveiled details of a brand-new range of push carts for 2021. The all-new push cart range is packed with new visuals and features and will allow PGA Professionals to offer consumers all the options they could possibly desire.

David Catford, CEO of PowaKaddy, said: “Demand for golf has been higher than ever, thanks largely to the support of PGA members around the country. So, as we move further through summer, PowaKaddy is excited to develop on what has, so far, proven to be a prosperous year,” Brand-new for 2021 is the PowaKaddy CUBE push cart. A lightweight, compact trolley, with stylish colourways and a simple folding mechanism, the CUBE is the ideal for those looking for a compact solution. The incredibly compact 3-wheel design and wide wheelbase make pushing the CUBE near-effortless for any golfer. It provides reliable stability even on the most uneven ground. It also boasts a soft lined mobile phone storage area and an ergonomic soft touch handle that is easily adjustable. Golfers will be able to choose from three subtle colourways, as the CUBE is available with yellow, blue, or red trim.

The all-new PowaKaddy DLX-Lite FF push cart, weighing in at only 5.8kg, has been cleverly 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 brings a host of features: including a drinks holder, water-resistant mobile phone storage area and an easy-to-use footbrake, designed to help golfers park their trolley with minimal hassle.

PowaKaddy has also upgraded the TwinLine range of push carts for this year with the TwinLine 5. This is a stylish and lightweight trolley that is incredibly simple to set up, and folds quickly and compactly. The TwinLine 5 glides across any terrain with minimum effort and features an ergonomic handle, a covered scorecard holder, easily operated footbrake, and a handy drinks holder - all of which add to the ease of use for golfers.

Every Push Cart in the PowaKaddy 2021 range features the PowaKaddy Key Lock™ system which helps to keep bags secure on the trolley. This completes a brilliant all-round range that golfers can rely on for ultimate performance on any terrain, and in any weather conditions.

CUBE

CUBE

DLX-Lite FF

DLX-Lite FF

Twin Line 5

For more information on the range of premium push carts, go to www.powakaddy.com or contact the sales team on

01795 473555 or sales@powakaddy.co.uk The PGA Professional

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P G A M E M B E R S R E TA I L Q & A

CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC Barry Newman, Head PGA Professional at Newbury & Crookham Golf Club in Berkshire, offers the inside track on his retail set up

now without their help. From simple ideas of how to interact with my customers in the lockdowns to organising fresh terms with large manufacturers in the middle of the latest lockdown. All this helped me to get my deliveries in and prepare the shop before the first tee shot was hit.

How big is your retail space and how many staff work in it?

It’s not huge, it’s a 10m by 5m area. I split the retail space in half as soon as I took over to add a bigger studio. I also wanted to reduce stock needed to fill what was a large space and turn it over quicker. There are 3 PGA Professionals. We also have two or three part-time staff helping us during the busier periods.

How has your retail operation fared over the last 15 months?

We have all had a very testing time. I think it was very much feast or famine for the golf industry last year and we were lucky to make the most out of the busy summer. Since nonessential retail returned in April business has been steady.

Newbury & Crookham is a member’s club and we were only open to our members to begin with. As we enter the summer season, we are opening to all golfers, so footfall on the course and the shop has been noticeably busier in recent weeks.

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

We do and it’s been brilliant. Not too much in lockdown, as I guess golfers were not golfing, but click and collect is a very popular here. I like it as it allows me to offer so much more than we hold in stock.

What equipment and apparel brands do you stock and what is selling well?

For hardwear its Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, Cobra and Cleveland, while Under Armour and Glenmuir are our main apparel brands. Woods are always popular, but even more so this year, while everything else is selling well.

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Have you introduced any new brands into your shop for 2021?

If so, why?

I put in some CBD oil products. I was at the PGA Merchandise Show in 2020 and it was everywhere. I was curious, so thought I’d try it.

There is already a lot of awareness on the benefits of CBD and it is growing in popularity.

You see it everywhere now, so I thought why not try it in the pro shop?

Are you having any supply issues, and if so, what are you doing to mitigate them?

We are. It is a worry, but we are open with our customers from the first conversation about the lead times on certain products. We charge a fitting fee that we refund with any purchase through us. It’s not bullet proof, but if customers can find what they want online then at least they have paid for the service.

How have your future ordering plans altered?

My future ordering is somewhere between slightly cautious and a little bit brave. A lot depends on what it is I’m buying and how much confidence I have in it. Also, the terms from the supplier are now more important than ever. I have not changed any of my drops, but I am holding off a little on pre-books to see how we sell it though over the next few months.

Do you belong to a buying group, and if so, what kind of support have they offered during the pandemic?

Yes, Foremost. They have been brilliant throughout the last 15 months. They have taken out so much of the stress and worry from the very start of the first lockdown. It’s very hard to know where I would have been

Do you offer custom fitting for all clubs and what technology do you use fitting?

We try and fit for everything. At least 90% of our sales are fitted. We use Trackman 4. I love it. I went for Trackman as it suits right and left-handed golfers without having to move stuff about. Since getting it, they have introduced more software and more golf courses. Before the pandemic we were running winter league competitions on it. We would have 10-plus golfers in the studio playing golf and having fun, which is great as winter is usually a very quiet time up at the club.

Have you held any demo days or have any planned?

We have done a few already this year, but nothing else is booked in until we can get hold of new product a little quicker.

What kind of digital presence does your shop have?

Not as much as I would like. We do a bit, but not enough. Foremost have just updated my website, which is so much more user friendly, so I hope to build on that over the next year.

What improvements/changes, if any, have you made to your retail operation over the last 12 months?

Nothing major. We are using more part-time staff to help free up the professional staff by taking green fees and answering the phone.

As we have had so many months off I would rather they were busy fitting and coaching.

What are the key lessons that you’ve learned as a retailer during the Covid crisis?

To keep all lines of communication open. Have conversations with suppliers, customers and staff. Whatever issues there are, speak with people to help solve any issues or concerns you or they may have.

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PRICE IT

RIGHT Are you a retailer who shies away from increasing prices for fear of upsetting customers? Do you believe low prices are the best way to keep customers coming back?

This month, XPOS Business Development Director Mark Hopkins show you why price isn’t everything and how to keep customers happy without compromising on profit

R E TA I L In these unique times, it can be hard to think of anything other than fighting those everyday fires, and fundamental strategies, such as pricing, can so easily be overlooked.

The truth is that the price of your stock has a multi-factorial effect on your business.

How you decide to price items sends a message to both customers and competitors that is fundamental to your brand. While high prices can damage your brand image, low prices imply poorer quality stock and lack of confidence. On the one hand, customers won’t buy goods that are priced too high, but your shop won’t succeed if you price items too low to cover business costs. It’s no wonder retailers often err on the side of caution and keep prices down. When it comes to getting prices right in your pro shop, there’s a balance.

It’s never a bad time to review your options and look at the alternatives that will encourage your customers to shop with you.

A CERTAIN FUTURE The economy has opened up after the latest relaxation in post-pandemic trading rules and high streets, and golf shops, are busy again. Despite lockdowns and enforced shop closures, golf retail sales didn’t fare too badly during 2020, and XPOS retailers are now reporting a great season of sales, so far. Fantastic news.

But just because business is booming now, it doesn’t mean it’s going to continue that way.

Since the pandemic, retail is operating in a different playing field and, largely due to Covid, supply chain issues and the Brexit-effect, prices are on the rise across the retail industry. What’s more, major sporting events, like the European Football Championships and the Olympics, often have a knock-on effect on golf trade; and we know the weather will change at some point. Keeping your prices in line with rising costs will help you to keep some money aside and cover any dips in sales in the future.

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R E TA I L COMPETITIVE v CHEAP If your strategy is to undercut other shops in the area or take on the online behemoths to be the cheapest, you’re undervaluing your business’s potential and won’t make the profit you think you will. There’s a difference between being competitive and ‘cheap’.

As a business owner, keeping your customers on side and spending with you is your number one priority and it’s understandable that some retailers refuse to raise prices, year after year, for fear of upsetting them. So let’s look at it a different way.

Every person who walks through your door is a blank canvas and a new opportunity to be your most loyal customer. Yes, price plays a part in that but, ultimately, you aren’t a typical high street retailer: you have 500-700 members. Bring them back by providing a good experience, rather than cutting prices.

Increases in prices should form part of your strategy to grow your business and are essential in enabling you to invest in improved services and benefits to customers. A new swing room, shop refit or technology to streamline the customer experience, will show your members that you’re reinvesting to add value and provide a better experience.

LOYALTY TOOLS It isn’t price that buys loyalty: it’s experience and service, and your members have a genuine desire to support you and stay loyal to their professional team. Aim to provide the ultimate in service and experience to keep them coming back.

There are multiple ways to strengthen ties between the pro shop and customer and your XPOS system is bursting with loyalty-boosting tools.

1. XMAIL is the email communication tool that automatically sends timely, relevant emails following a purchase. There’s nothing like a personal ‘thank you’ to warm the cockles of a customer’s heart and remind them how much you appreciate their custom.

Every person who walks through your door is a blank canvas and a new opportunity to be your most loyal customer 2. If you worry that your Members or visitors don’t appreciate how competitive you are, or that they aren’t aware of stock you offer, the XPOS Caddie app gives them unlimited access and visibility. Free to XPOS retailers who pay for our software by monthly subscription, the XPOS Caddie app is a one-stoprelationship-shop and a first in the industry. With the app, golfers can: • check and top up their account balance • view and reserve stock for any item in the shop • purchase gift vouchers • see receipts and purchase history • book golf lessons • message the professional team • receive news via push notifications

USE XPOS TO CHECK COST PRICES When was the last time you checked to see if your costs have gone up? As someone running a business, if your costs are higher than they were a year ago, you could be putting your shop at risk by keeping your prices the same. Every business does it, so you shouldn’t be afraid and you can refer to the numbers to justify your decisions.

Use XPOS to help you set your pricing for every purchase you make.

Go to the online Hub and find your

Sales Analysis by Product report and select a date range, starting two years ago. Remember, we’re looking at cost of sales, not individual products.

A good exercise is to take a brand, product or style that repeats every year and check what the cost price was to you last year – or maybe even two years ago – and what you’re going to pay for the upcoming season.

A great exercise is to do this with recurring standard products such as gloves, balls, food or water, and see where there have been increases. Your smaller product items should have the largest margins in the pro shop, so it’s a good place to start. If you’re worried about too many sudden changes all at once, why not take your 10 highest-selling, ‘lower-value’ items and increase their prices first. You’ll be amazed what a difference it makes to your bottom line. You can do a similar exercise with the Sales Analysis by Supplier report which is also available in the online Hub. Lastly, if you think you’re too busy – although, ask yourself if anything is more important that profit – why not encourage team members to help out?

It gets them involved in the business and appreciating the cost of products helps reduce reductions in prices.

To book a Business Health Review with XPOS Business Development Director Mark Hopkins, email mark.hopkins@crossovertec.co.uk. For information on XPOS Caddie or XMAIL, visit www.crossovertec.co.uk.

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ADVERTORIAL

TUSCAN GOLF HOLIDAYS BETWEEN NATURE AND SUSTAINABILITY

The PGA National Italy Golf Course at Argentario Golf Resort & Spa, as the host venue for the SkyCaddie PGA ProCaptain Challenge grand final from Sunday 17 to Thursday 21 October 2021, is driven by its fundamental values of protecting the environment and operating sustainably.

The five-star resort has been applying various eco-sustainability practices for a long time, not only in the management of resources to reduce waste and optimise energy use, but also in the various experiences that guests can live in the design hotel.

ECO-FRIENDLY GOLF Argentario Golf Club participates in the eco-compatibility certification programme of the Italian Golf Federation and the entire 77-hectare resort estate has the BioAgriCert recognition. As a result, the olive groves along the golf course produce organic olives, which are harvested to produce the resort’s own bio-certified extra virgin olive oil.

ORGANIC AND ZERO-KM CUISINE The resort’s concept of sustainability is also reflected in the Club House and Dama Dama Restaurants. Here, Executive Chef Emiliano Lombardelli uses regional and seasonal products, sourced from nearby farms, to offer guests a sustainable and healthy cuisine.

INNOVATIVE DESIGN The property’s architecture blends seamlessly with the landscape and takes advantage of natural lighting thanks to large windows. Throughout the resort, guests can appreciate the innovative and contemporary design as an alternative to the traditional rustic designs in Maremma, Tuscany.

SAILING & HIKING The Argentario promontory is a fantastic destination for those who love an active holiday in the great outdoors. Argentario Golf Resort & Spa has a partnership with the renowned Argentario Sailing School, which offers summer courses at a reserved rate for the guests of the PGA National Italy. The Maremma area offers a network of beautiful hiking trails suitable for everyone.

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY The garage at Argentario Golf Resort & Spa is as equipped with six EV charging points for Tesla, Porsche and other e-cars. In addition, at the resort – which is part of the prestigious collection of Luxury Bike Hotels – you can rent the CYCL-e around™ e-bikes by Pirelli.

THE RESORT AND TOURNAMENT AT A GLANCE The Argentario Golf Resort & Spa is nestled in a verdant valley near Porto Ercole, Southern Tuscany, only 90 minutes away from Rome International Airport. The resort features 73 design rooms, five independent villas, the gourmet Dama Dama Restaurant and the Club House Restaurant. Sport lovers can enjoy the 18-hole PGA National Golf Course, padel and tennis courts, the modern gym and jogging trails around the resort.

PGA Members who bring groups to train and play here enjoy complimentary accommodation at Argentario Golf Resort & Spa. For more deals reserved to PGA Members, please email segreteria@argentariogolfclub.it Visit www.pga.info for full event information about the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge and to enter online to secure your place in this prestigious tournament.

WWW.ARGENTARIORESORT.COM

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T R AV E L

ASK THE EXPERT

CALLUM KIRBY

PERSONAL TRAVEL ASSISTANT

– GOLF PRO TRAVEL

What is your role within the Pro Travel Team at Golfbreaks?

My role at Golbreaks is Personal Travel Assistant, offering a dedicated point of contact to PGA Professionals once their break is booked. I handle all amendments from itinerary changes to increasing the size of groups, to ensure their breaks run like clockwork when they travel.

really helped give pros and their clients peace of mind knowing that if they would like to move destination or can’t travel due to restrictions, no one loses out and we can get another break booked in the diary for everyone to look forward to.

How have the last 18 months been, and how has your role changed?

It has definitely been a challenging period. At Golfbreaks we are very flexible when it comes to rearranging dates for bookings so a lot of time has been spent pro-actively reaching out and assisting clients in rebooking their breaks for different destinations or looking for alternative dates.

We know how much these groups have been looking forward to getting away so we have pulled out all the stops to make sure they don’t miss out on their break.

With the UK travel market booming, have you received much feedback from groups that have recently been on breaks?

The feedback from clients who have been away in the UK has been great! After being in and out of lockdowns all winter, clients are desperate to get away on their golf breaks. Resorts have also been excellent at implementing precautions with the majority going above and beyond allowing clients to enjoy their breaks whilst remaining COVID safe.

With very little overseas travel in the last 18 months, how have the planned bookings been dealt with?

The majority of our overseas travellers have either rebooked for 2022 or amended their travel location to the UK. During this challenging period we have made sure to offer free of charge amendments to any client looking to amend their booking.

Operating a flexible booking policy has

When are most overseas bookings being rescheduled for?

The majority are being rescheduled for 2022. With this being the popular trend amongst travellers, we’re starting to find, especially for Spring 2022, popular European destinations are beginning to become very busy already. If you are keen to take a group away next year make sure you give us a call.

From your point of view what makes a coaching break successful?

Matching the location to the group is a key part in a successful coaching break.

Making sure the resort is suitable for the group can really enhance the guest experiences. Taking a group new to golf to a championship venue or a group who are looking to head out into a town to a remote location can cause issues. I also work with the pro and resorts to book all relevant coaching facilities according to their itinerary to ensure everything runs seamlessly once the group is on-site. With plenty of different types of resorts around Europe there is a great option out there for every group.

Are there any particular resorts that get great feedback from PGA Pros running coaching breaks?

Amendoeira in Portugal is a resort we get great feedback for. With the modern apartment style accommodation, great range and practice facilities and two fantastic golf courses it ticks all the boxes needed for the perfect coaching break. La Manga Club in Sapin is another resort we get amazing feedback for from pro groups.

The resort has everything you could want on site including three courses, great practice facilities and plenty of bars and restaurants to spend your evenings in away from the course.

For more ideas on your next Pro’s away weekend get in touch with the Golfbreaks Pro Travel team – 01753 752 880 | pga@golfbreaks.com |

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@Golfbreaks_Pro |

@golfbreaks_pro_travel

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T R AV E L

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

BREAKING DEALS

Overseas coaching breaks for 2022 are proving popular amongst Pro groups. Why not take advantage of the pent-up demand for travel and get a break in the diary for you and your members!

Take a look at some of our top deals for coaching breaks in 2022

BUGGIES

INCLUDED

PORTUGAL

PORTUGAL

AMENDOEIRA GOLF RESORT, ALGARVE

PRAIA D’EL REY RESORT, LISBON

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

4 nights self catering 3 rounds of golf (Praia D’El Rey & West Cliffs) Pro goes FREE with 7 amateurs

FROM

£349

FROM

£219

BUGGIES

INCLUDED

SPAIN

CYPRUS

PRECISE RESORT EL ROMPIDO, COSTA DE LA LUZ

APHRODITE HILLS HOTEL, PAPHOS

4 nights Half Board 3 rounds of golf (North & South) Pro goes FREE with 7 amateurs

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FROM

£315

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5 nights All Inclusive Unlimited golf (Aphrodite Hills) Pro geos FREE with 7 amateurs

FROM

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T R AV E L

SPOTLIGHT ON

LA MANGA

ABOUT LA MANGA Location: Murcia, Spain Most popular months for Pros: September to April Flight time: 2hrs 30 mins Closest Airports: Murcia Corvera RMU (30 mins) – Alicante (1hr 30 mins)

La Manga club offers the ideal set up for your next coaching break.

The recently (2019) renovated Golf Academy offers 2 state of the art teaching rooms, 4 separate group teaching rooms (great for visiting pros) and a 45-bay driving range as well as brilliant short game facilities, which means that all learning and practice goals can be met for any client.

With 10 impressive restaurants, gym, spa, and multiple other sporting activities available, your clients will be well looked after on and off the golf course.

n STAY:

HOTEL PRINCIPE FELIPE Hotel La Manga Principe Felipe is a luxurious 5* hotel and golf resort located in Murcia, Spain. With 192 fully equipped rooms, unbeatable service, and a fantastic selection of facilities, La Manga Club is perfect for anyone wanting to play golf in Spain.

In 2019, La Manga Golf Resort cemented its glowing reputation within the golfing community as it was voted ‘Europe’s Leading Sports Resort’.

n PLAY:

NORTH, SOUTH & WEST COURSE La Manga Golf Club boasts three championship standard golf courses each offering a new and exciting challenge. The North Course is probably the easiest of the three and is ideal for mid to high handicappers. The tree-lined West Course presents a real challenge for mid to low handicap players, whilst the South Course can prove to be a considerable test with its strategically positioned water hazards.

WHY VISIT LA MANGA • Perfect destination for a coaching or hosted break with your members • Three courses and fifteen bars & restaurants on-site • Spain’s warmest region all year round, with over 300 days of sunshine • Murcia city offers great nightlife • Easy flight access from the UK

EXCLUSIVE GOLFBREAKS PRO PACKAGE 4 Nights BB at 5* Hotel Principe Felipe 3 Rounds of Golf (North, South & West) 2 hours unlimited balls & reserved area for coaching each playing day.

Transfers included from Murcia Corvera Airport PGA Pro FREE with 7 Amateurs From £459 per amateur

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T R AV E L

TOP TIPS ON HOW TO MARKET AND FILL YOUR BREAKS

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

Ben Foster, Head of Pro Travel at Golfbreaks shares his top tips for marketing and delivering the “ultimate member’s golf break” DO YOUR RESEARCH With such a pent-up demand for travel it’s important to find out where your members would like to travel, whether it be in the UK or overseas. A little effort here will ensure you decide on the best destination POLISH YOUR MARKETING Effective promotion can help you fill your breaks easily and quickly.

Send out a personal invite to interested clients, promote with posters around your club and add into your weekly newsletter and email to your membership base. Make sure you list all the relevant information with a clear call to action.

PROMOTE YOUR EXPERTISE Are you offering a coaching break? Make sure you heavily promote the coaching element to your clients and members. Offering a coaching element on a break is a great way to add a point of difference to a standard golfing holiday and enables you to increase your revenue significantly, all whilst providing an exceptional service to your membership.

LOCK IN COMMITMENT Once you have generated the interest ensure you lock in their commitment by taking a deposit from your clients. This will ensure you can hold the best tee time availability and rates with Golfbreaks and also makes sure that your clients are serious about going. The higher deposit you take, the less likely they are to drop out last minute and leave you with a space to fill. Golfbreaks also offer a flexible booking policy, vital in the current circumstances giving you and your clients peace of mind when booking.

DELIVER A WORLD CLASS GOLFING EXPERIENCE Pay attention to all the finer details and ensure your group are having fun at all times by giving them your undivided attention whilst you are away. Make sure you have all the travel information and documents and that your clients fully understand what their break entails and the full itinerary. All that’s left is to enjoy the golf, sunshine and great company!

FOLLOW UP POST TRIP Ensure you follow up with your clients once you are back to gather feedback. Have your next break ready to promote to them. In the majority of cases, you will be able to fill your next trip instantly as your clients will be itching to get away with you again!

KEEP IN TOUCH Regular communication is key. Make sure you send out all the vital information surrounding your break including itinerary and final payment dates. You can create a WhatsApp group to keep everyone involved and share any smaller information over this channel. You can also offer lessons to your group before they go to brush up on their swing and promotions on last minute essentials such as balls, gloves and clothing to ensure they have everything they need for their upcoming break.

For more information or to book your next break, get in touch with our dedicated Pro Travel Team 01753 752 880 | pga@golfbreaks.com |

The PGA Professional

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@golfbreaks_pro_travel

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C OAC H I N G

IN CONVERSATION WITH

CLAUDE HARMON III

Director of Instruction at Butch Harmon Floridian, Claude Harmon III is in the vanguard of the new generation of golf teachers. Steeped in tradition both his grandfather, Claude Harmon, and father Claude “Butch” Harmon Jr., have been the dominant teachers of their generation.

T

he Harmon family pedigree has been the perfect foundation for Claude to build his knowledge of golf instruction. He is now ranked 6th on Golf Digest’s 2019-2020 Best Teachers in America List and a Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor.

His past and present students include Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Si-Woo Kim, Kris Ventura, Jimmy Walker, Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Darren Clarke, Trevor Immelman and Yani Tseng.

He spoke to PGA Members as part of the PGA Live series.

What’s a day in your life like when you’re not traveling on Tour?

When I’m home I’m teaching probably six to eight hours a day and I’m still a regular golf pro just

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like everyone else and just give golf lessons. A typical day for me is either workout in the morning or workout in the afternoon depending on what my schedule is and then I’ll have lessons pretty much in the morning and then have a little time for lunch and then back at it. I don’t think it’s anything dissimilar to what a lot of people who teach golf do. Just giving golf lessons is absolutely awesome Having been brought up in a golf family, was golf always that natural step or did you have any other passions outside of golf before you came into coaching?

I never played junior golf. When I was growing up it wasn’t cool like it is now. I would go watch my dad give golf lessons. My dad and his three brothers- all golf instructors- did a summer golf school every year and

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C OAC H I N G my dad said why don’t you tag along.

So believe it or not my background to becoming a golf instructor is I just watched and learned how to give golf lessons. I think I’m a little bit different than a lot of people where they were players first, played up to a certain point to where they couldn’t play anymore, and then decided to get into teaching or coaching. But my background is 100 watching my dad and his brothers.

I was just always around the tour and around my dad and uncles and I just watched and observed thousands upon thousands of hours of my dad giving golf lessons. It’s unique but I don’t think you could have it better if you’re going be a golf instructor.

What did you learn from family members in terms of the way they structured their golf lessons because I know you pride yourself in not giving too much information?

It’s letting the player kind of digest the information that you’re giving them before you move on to the next thing. I’m not one of those that thinks that golf is a complex thing. We can try and make it as difficult and as complex as possible, but the golf swing is over in about a second and a half to two seconds. There are a lot of factors, but the golf ball responds to where the club face is presented to it at impact and that’s it. So I feel that it’s my job as an instructor to try and make golf and the swinging of the golf club as simple and easy to understand as possible. I always come to a golf lesson to see how I can take this person that’s struggling to try and explain what they’re doing and what we’re going to try and get them to do so that in their mind they’re not thinking of about five, six, seven different things.

My dad has always told me that you’ve got to find the one thing- he calls it the cancer of the golf swing.

He also used to tell me that when you’re looking at golf swings find one thing to change that changes four or five other things. Don’t try and change five things at once.

I watch a lot of players get golf lessons from young instructors and it’s just a vomiting of information In a movement pattern that’s over

The PGA Professional

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in a second, there are normally are a lot of things happening but there’s one I always call the domino effect and when I’m looking at golf swings I’m thinking okay this person is doing this and that is causing this and that’s causing that. They’re not really in control of all of the other dominoes it’s just that domino went so I’m always thinking how can I reverse the dominoes.

How do you use technology in your teaching?

I think we are in a fascinating time in 2021 with technology. We have never been able to measure things more than we can right now through launch monitor technology through force plate technology through 3D, through all of the technological advances that we have available. But the art of coaching is what you do with that information and how the player gets better with the information you give them. I’m very lucky to work at a private club where we don’t have a lot of members so I can get out and take a student out on a loop. There are two par threes, two par fives and there’s some par fours. I want to see what they do on the golf course then I come to the driving range then I get them on technology and look at all that but I kind of want to see what they’re doing first on the golf course because that’s really the only thing that matters. What you do on the driving range really doesn’t matter.

I don’t really work with any junior golfers anymore that don’t have Arcos technology in their clubs because I want to be able to see what they’re doing on the golf course. I had a parent recently say, “What would it tell him when he’s hitting golf balls on the range?” I’m like nothing- the value is it’s going to tell him what he’s doing when he’s playing golf. I really don’t care what he’s doing on the driving range. I want to know what he’s doing when he goes out and plays golf when he’s keeping score.

How much time do you spend with your players in terms of sitting down and going over data opposed to just hitting golf balls on the range?

We do a lot of that. If I could choose, I’d choose the Arcos data- that gives

#makinggolfhappen

me data on what they’re doing when they’re playing the game not what they’re doing practicing in front of me. The playing of the game of golf is 100% random. Nothing goes according to plan because you can have the best warm-up session and hook it off the first tee and get a bad bounce that goes in the trees and all you’ve done is practice seven irons from a flat lie and now you’re underneath the tree and you’re off pine straw and it winds out of the left then it you could do all of your block practice with a seven or an eight iron and it could be till the middle of the round before you even hit a seven or an eight iron. I think it’s important for instructors to remember that golf is not repetition it’s all random When you’re out on Tour, how do you structure your time with your players and how long do you plan with each on each day?

I got fired by Brooks Koepka last year, so my stable has kind of come down a little and I’ve been able to devote more time to the guys that I’m working with. I think one year I had six and that’s really difficult.

The holy grail for me every week if you’ve got multiple players is to have guys in the morning and guys in the afternoon but what that means is you’re getting to the golf course at five to five thirty in the morning and you’re leaving at sometimes seven eight nine o’clock at night so it’s a juggling act. But once we get to PGA Tour events there’s really not a lot we can do. There isn’t really that much we can change.

How do you think the game’s evolving and how year on year do you evolve as a coach and develop your skillset further?

I would challenge instructors to do the same thing that I try and do and do the same thing that you expect your students to do. You expect them to come to take a golf lesson and the next time you see them you would hope that they would go and practice on some of the things that you were trying to get them to do. I challenge myself. I always say to people that are trying to play competitivelyespecially on the PGA Tour or at any professional level- you have to get

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C OAC H I N G better every year. I feel like it’s my job as an instructor to be better in 2021 than I am in 2020 through learning, through understanding things more. I’ve been teaching golf for 25 years and teaching tour golf for 20 years. I’ve worked with two guys that have been to world number one and been a part of seven Major championships and I just now feel like I’m somewhat getting an understanding as to what I’m trying to do. I think to be a good golf instructor you have to have a very clear, defined idea of what you believe makes players better not what Claude Harmon or Butch Harmon or David Leadbetter or anyone else says. You have to have a very clear idea of what is important to you to help players get better.

There are a million different ways to teach. There are a lot of different ideas out there and my barometer for working with players at the elite level on tour and at the average player level on tour is if you’re working with players and they’re getting better then you’re doing the right thing!

Challenge the people that you work with say I want you to give me a presentation on the golf swing and I do it every year. I have my team present to me and I present to them.

Actually writing down and being forced to present what you believe and why it is very important.

What are the key pieces of advice that you have taken from your dad, Butch?

One thing that I learned from my dad, he always told me to be a great coach and be a great instructor it’s what you don’t say that really matters because you can always overload somebody with too much information. I relied a lot on what my dad had told me 25 years ago to keep it simple because if you’ve got 40 minutes to go before someone’s going to tee it up as top five in the world and one of the favourites to win a Major you don’t have time to take things apart. The car is what the car is, and you can’t really make a lot of changes, so I think it is important sometimes to think about when is the right time to say something

The full interview can be watched here

LEARN To access specialist learning content from some of the world’s top coaches, www.pgalearn.pga.info

This month watch:

ELEVATING YOUR GAME WITH CAMERON MCCORMICK

McCormick’s client list covers the gamut from beginner to elite players but he’s most well-known for coaching Jordan Spieth since the age of 12. His clients include over 20 combined PGA, Champions, Web.com and LPGA Tour players and four of the last seven USGA Junior Amateur champions. https://bit.ly/3iG8NHB

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JOURNEY THROUGH GOLF INSTRUCTION WITH CLAUDE HARMON III

His many students include Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rickie Fowler, Si-Woo Kim and Kris Ventura. He is uniquely qualified to apply ‘new school’ teaching concepts in an ‘old school’ fashion and is a regular contributor to Sky Sports Golf and the Golf Channel. https://bit.ly/3w8GQvF

and a lot of times I think part of our job as an instructor is reading the student. How much information, how little information does this student understand and take on.

It is incumbent upon all of us as instructors to read the student. Get a background on what do they do for a living. Are they in the finance world or in the banking world or in the science world. Are they in the creative world.

Are they in the advertising world because the way that people think about things is different.

My dad used to always tell me never forget that people are taking time away from their jobs, their families and their home lives to come pay you to help them get better. So you are a doctor someone is coming to you, and they don’t feel well and their life is suffering. If they play better their life gets better so don’t ever forget how important the role is that people want you to play in their life. I want to try and help people get better, enjoy golf more, have more fun on the golf course and so it really should mean something to you as should the quality of the instruction, and the quality of the lessons. Don’t be surprised that you don’t get any better if you’re a golf instructor and you’re not reading information and going to seminars and watching stuff on YouTube.

My dad would always say go find somebody whose opinion you don’t agree with and go take a seminar or listen to them talk and you should be able to pull out one thing. Don’t be afraid to take things from other people. That’s how you learn you, learn by taking information from other people and then you kind of put your own spin on it and that helps you as an instructor form your own ideas and your own vision of what you want. There is nothing new in golf instruction today. At impact Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods are each doing the same thing now. You can take stuff from the past, and you can take stuff from 2021 and meld them together. I challenge everybody to be old school and new school at the same time because if you’re just old school you’re going to miss something and if you’re just new school you’re going to miss something.

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MARKETING

Give Green Fee Play

THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES

A

s PGA Professional you will likely be at the heart of managing visitor play on your golf course. Demands on your time will be high right now so driving footfall may not be number one on your list of priorities, but some well planned green fee campaigns will save you time and effort in the coming months.

With golf courses so busy following lockdown, it’s easy to just let business happen without any real understanding of who is playing your golf course and when. As more and more businesses open up, golf will again come under pressure from other leisure activities and so some thought into driving and managing visitor business over the next few months will pay dividends.

As with all campaigns, they are more successful if you have a process to follow.

Campaigns aren’t successful due to getting the right offer or the right advertising media or having a great advert. They are successful due to planning and process (although a good offer, good advertising and a good advert obviously help).

1

Decide what you are trying to achieve. Don’t just run ad-hoc campaigns. Set your goals and make them SMART. For example:-

º We have a database of 400 people; we have 300 followers on social media and 150 regular visitors to the website. Even if there are duplicates of the database this represents a 10% redemption rate

• TIMELY º It’s over 2 months, there is no coursework planned at this time and currently the course has only 60% of tee times booked during the week and 40% on weekends (excluding Saturday morning)

2

Look to build loyalty from the start. Individual green fee offers can be successful but why not encourage golfers to get benefits from repeat visits straight away e.g.

Play 3 times, get 4th round free.

3

Know your target audience.

• Who are you trying to appeal to?

• Where are they best reached?

4

Set your budget • How much and assign it to each element – media spend and promotional material (including designer costs)

5

• SPECIFIC º We want 40 people to take up an offer where they play 3 times and get the 4th round for free.

They can play anytime except Saturday morning.

• MEASURABLE º They will have to have a card stamped each time they play.

3 stamps get them their free round

• ACHIEVABLE º The timeframe for the activity is 2 months

The PGA Professional

• REALISTIC

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Write a clear brief for your designer. The better the brief, the clearer the advertising material will be. Make sure you create materials for all media channels you want to promote on. It could be as simple as an email or across press adverts, social media, the website, leaflets, and posters.

6

Clear call to action. Be specific about what you want people to do. Do they need to book on a website, download a voucher, submit a form or something else.

#makinggolfhappen

7

Test your message and marketing channels. Is the message clear? Do all links to websites work correctly? Taking advantage of the offer needs to be easy

8

Collect data when they book. No green fee campaign should be a standalone piece of activity. It’s either the first step to building a new relationship or an add on to an existing one.

9

Make it a good experience.

Green fee customers represent three things: • A potential member • A loyal visitor • A missed opportunity If they don’t enjoy their day then the chances are they will be a ‘missed opportunity’ – not what you want.

11

Get feedback. Send a follow up communication to ask about their day. Find out what they thought and use the opportunity to present a follow up offer. This could be another green fee offer or a progression to membership. If they are on a ‘play 3 rounds, get the 4th free’ deal then this is all good engagement to cement the relationship and encourage them to use their next round as soon as possible.

12

Review how it went. Was it a success? What worked well? What didn’t work?

Your green fees are a key marketing funnel for acquiring potential members or loyal visitors. Give them the attention they deserve.

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BENEFITS

SAVE MONEY THIS SUMMER WITH PGA BENEFITS

PGA Benefits gives you access to a range of benefits and discounts designed to support members both personally and professionally. This month’s highlights include:

UNLIMITED MAGAZINES FREE FOR 1 MONTH FROM READLY.COM*

GREAT SAVINGS ON A WIDE RANGE OF APPLE PRODUCTS

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 The PGA member you will also receive a £10 Amazon voucher on receipt of payment in the 2nd 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.

Save between 2%-10% on Apple products including MacBook Pro, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods and HomePod as well as Apple accessories (inc Beats). There’s no need to wait for delivery, instead, you can order online and collect from your nearest Apple store within one hour*. Subject to store openings.

Visit the online The PGA EPP Apple store

HOTPOINT PRIVILEGE PURCHASE CLUB

SAVE, ENJOY, SPEND TODAY WITH BLACKHAWK NETWORK RETAIL OFFERS

Take advantage of the Privilege Purchase Club and its exclusive members-only pricing. Choose from over 850 different products which include great brands including KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Hotpoint and Indesit.

All appliances have already been pre-discounted from washing machines, fridge freezers and dishwashers etc All prices include FREE UK delivery*.

View more information and look out for the latest great offers.

Save £100s on big brand retailers through Blackhawk Network. Whether you are looking to save on your supermarket shop, updating your wardrobe, dining out or on Home and DIY – you will find savings available through the Blackhawk Network platform. Visit PGA Benefits now to create an account with Blackhawk Network and start saving today.

To take advantage of these and other fantastic deals visit the PGA Benefits Special Offers page today! *Terms and conditions apply to all benefits. See website for details. Offers subject to change without notice. Apple - Annual purchase limits apply. Discounts are subject to availability. For the latest offers visit the Apple EPP store. PGA Benefit web pages are managed and run by Parliament Hill Limited. Within those benefits are some benefits negotiated directly by PGA, and these are identified on the benefit web page.

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July 2021

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www.pga.info

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.

Modry Las Golf Resort

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

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 Tom Newman at PGA Headquarters on 01675 470 333 or email thomas.newman@pga.org.uk

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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 www.bmwpgasales.co.uk, 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.

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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.

July 2021

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www.pga.info

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

Supporting the relationship between PGA Professionals and the golf industry Glenalmond College seeks to appoint a suitably qualified Head of Golf from September 2021. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated coach with the personality and drive to make a difference to the College’s strong golf programme.

You will have a proven track record of coaching golf, preferably specialising in the coaching of children, and a player centered, process-driven approach to your coaching.

You will look to engage and enthuse the players in the golf school and wider Community through participation in sport.

You will be passionate about golf in particular, and sport in general, and will promote the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle. You will engage with prospective pupils and their parents extolling the benefits of a Glenalmond education intertwined with participation in the Golf School. You will be flexible in your approach to coaching and be willing to work weekends and coach at Summer and Easter Golf Camps, where required.

A full job description, along with an application form can be found on the College website: www.glenalmondcollege.co.uk/about-us/job-vacancies Please then submit this together with a covering letter detailing your reasons for applying and your suitability for the position. Please return electronically to: recruitment@glenalmondcollege.co.uk

PGA Professional/ Trainee Professional An exciting opportunity has arisen for a qualified or training Professional to work under the guidance of Head Professional Sean Pearson at the prestigious Pennard Golf Club.

This a newly developed position which includes an employment contract, training and staff development and employment benefits. The role allows an individual to develop a coaching position within the Sean Pearson Golf Academy with the main focus being on junior Group Lessons and ‘New to Golf’ classes.

It is an excellent opportunity to develop and implement your own coaching programmes at the Sean Pearson Golf Academy whilst incorporating use of the state of the art indoor and outdoor facilities.

All coaching will be on a commission basis allowing the applicants earning potential to be dependent on their ambition and motivation.

The right individual will also be required to work a minimum of 20 hours a week in the Pro Shop and be expected to have some golf retail and club repair experience.

Please apply with CV’s to sean.pearson@live.com and please feel free to contact Head Professional Sean Pearson for an informal discussion on 07500747577.

Closing date 31st July 2021

The PGA Professional

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#makinggolfhappen

The PGA offers a free, bespoke service designed to assist you through the recruitment process to ensure you get the right PGA Professional for your facility.

The PGA has helped more than 150 golf clubs with their recruitment needs in the past two years by: Identifying roles and responsibilities Assisting with writing the initial advertisement Advice on interviewing Guidance around remuneration Developing service level agreements / contracts Mediation and ongoing support For more information contact Jessica Harrsion on 01675 470 333 or at: recruitment@pga.org.uk

Nairn Golf Club - Membership Manager

Founded in 1887, the sweeping traditional Scottish links was created and shaped from wild land beside the Moray Firth through the combined efforts of legends Archie Simpson, Old Tom Morris, James Braid and Ben Sayers.

It is a highly regarded championship links course, having hosted the 1999 Walker Cup, 2012 Curtis Cup & 1994 and 2021 Amateur Championship.

Nairn Golf Club is looking to appoint a Membership Manager to support and assist the CEO with the smooth and efficient running of the Club for the benefit of the Membership. To enhance the Nairn Golf Club experience ensuring the service provided to members and visitors is of the highest standard and is constantly improving.

The successful applicant will display strong communication, organisational and planning skills combined with the following: • Self-confidence, enthusiasm, discretion and innovation.

• An understanding and strong knowledge of the golf industry & golf club management software.

For interested candidates please apply with a covering letter and CV to qa@nairngolfclub.co.uk 63

E M P LOY M E N T O P P O RT U N I T I E S Health & Wellness, PGA Golf Professional Education City Golf Club, Qatar

Owned by Qatar Foundation and set within Education City.

Education City Golf Club is a premier golf facility and host to the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters 2020 and 2021.

Offering a revolutionary and holistic approach to growing the game. The facility comprises of a range of short game formats, an 18-hole championship course, 6-hole championship course and 9-hole par-3 course all designed by 2-time Major winner Jose Maria Olazabal.

In addition, The Centre of Excellence is an advanced teaching institute offering world class teaching facilities in addition to a gymnasium complete with Technogym equipment. A unique opportunity now exists for a PGA Professional with a keen and specific interest in health and wellness.

The ideal candidate will be a PGA Professional, holding advanced studies in personal training, biomechanics and nutrition.

The candidate will be passionate about ensuring golfers are in the right ‘physical’ condition in order to get the most from their games.

An expatriate package is available to the right candidate with a commission structure for coaching incentive. The opportunity is open to all PGA Professionals, however candidates without physical fitness qualifications need not apply.

Interested candidates should contact Rhys Beecher at: rbeecher@ecgolfclub.com Application Deadline July 31st, 2021 Visit ecgolf.com Play Life Better

Doha Golf Club Doha Golf Club are looking for a newly qualified PGA Professional to join our busy coaching facility.

The job role will include individual coaching sessions, group coaching, Junior golf lessons, business development, and golf operation duties. The candidate will be expected to deliver exceptional customer service at all times.

We are looking for a trustworthy, professional, punctual, and adaptive team member, to join our current team of PGA Professionals.

The successful applicant will gain invaluable coaching experience and customer service training, whilst working at a current European Tour Host Venue.

The current position is seasonal from September 1st – May 31st which may be extended to an annual contract depending on the appointed candidate and performance. The contract is based upon a basic salary, accommodation, meal allowance, return flights to the UK, and coaching commission.

To apply or for more information contact Chris at Application requirements include: • Cover letter, CV and Appropriate references Deadline 20th July 2021 jobs@dohagolfclub.com www.dohagolfclub.com 64

Marriott Golf & Country Clubs are hiring!

We are looking for highly motivated people with a passion for Golf to join us in a variety of roles. There are a wide range of opportunities available across our Golf & Country Clubs including Seasonal, Permanent and Supervisory level positions.

Find out more at: marriott.com/careers Spotlight Opportunities include:

Warwickshire CV7 7HR - Recognised as one of the premier golf destinations in the UK with two fantastic 18 hole golf courses including the championship Arden Course.

Golf Operations Supervisor

Derby DE7 6DL - Two fantastic 18 hole golf courses including the championship Priory Course Golf Operations Supervisor If you are interested in finding out more about us and our opportunities, including our People First Culture and Benefits Packages you can: View/Apply online at marriott.com/careers or email/send your CV to rebecca.cooper@marriott.com

Bush Hill Park Golf Club, Enfield Trainee/Assistant Professional required to join the dedicated Professional team at Bush Hill Park Golf Club – Newly awarded England’s Golf Club of the year 2021.

Any potential candidate must be honest, hard working, punctual and able to work well in a team. We can offer you plenty of coaching opportunities including; involvement in growing/developing our junior coaching, with flexible shop hours to allow time for competitions.

Also, full use of the new developed short game area, swing studio and all club practice facilities.

Please apply by sending your CV to danny@bhpgc.com Frilford Heath Golf Club requires a highly motivated PGA registered assistant who is enthusiastic, reliable and work well in a team environment.

The applicant will be responsible for delivering excellent service in Retail and Golf Operations and be keen to follow a career in coaching. The role requires coaching and custom fitting to members and visitors. Must be smartly presented and have the correct personality and attitude to fit into a motivated team.

The role will be for 32 hours per week. The role provides a competitive salary and competitive coaching commission Apply to daniel@frilfordheath.co.uk July 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

Little Golfers Coach needed for expanding junior academy. Experience with working with kids is essential and a real passion for junior coaching. Based out of an indoor studio plus local golf course in south west London.

Training, support and personal development will be given. Email CV and covering letter to: info@littlegolfers.net

Manor Golf Club Trainee/Assistant PGA Professional wanted at a very busy 18 hole, privately owned golf course in the heart of Staffordshire. Great opportunity to work in a progressive and supportive working environment, & to gain retail (employed) and coaching (self-employed) experience. Email Phil Cary at phil.carypro@gmail.com with CV.

Hintlesham Golf Club Training applicant/registered PGA assistant required for a busy club.

Must be motivated, have good communication skills, and be committed to provide excellent customer service. Flexible shifts allow time for coaching and playing. Send CV and cover letter to Henry Roblin at office@hintleshamgolfclub.com

Old Fold Manor Golf Club We are looking for an Assistant Professional to join our exciting professional team. Plenty of coaching opportunities helping with our fast-growing academy sections. Will have access to our new driving range and academy course. The role will include shop hours and is open to all PGA members. Email: professional@oldfoldmanor.co.uk

PMG Academies Come and join a growing and exciting team! At PMG Academies you’re not alone as a coach, we offer coaching support, training, and guidance plus a suite of business tools and marketing to fill your diary.

We currently have some great opportunities at our Headingley and Willow Valley Academies. Email mark@pmg-ltd.co.uk https://www.pmg.academy/job-opportunities

Nazeing Golf Club Requires a PGA trainee or person who wants to start their training.

Working week is a rota system, time to play and coach if applicable.

Full training and support will be given. Please apply in writing or email to Robert Green, proshop@rob-green.co.uk

Sudbury Golf Club Sudbury Golf Club are looking to hire an Assistant Professional.

Responsibilities include: • Achieving sales targets; excellent customer service at all times • Upselling products/services • Keeping the golf shop tidy and professionally presented • Stock control • Organise and deliver coaching for individuals and groups • Commission from club repairs and custom fitting.

Email: proshop@sudburygc.co.uk Cregboy Golf Academy Training applicant/registered assistant required for busy driving range/par 3 course on the outskirts of Galway City. Applicant must be enthusiastic, personable and eager to learn. Plenty of opportunities to practice, play and teach. Apply by email to Michael Mulryan at info@cregboy.ie George Washington Golf Club, North East, Tyne and Wear Exciting opportunity to join the team at Kubata Golf Academy within a very busy championship golf club. PGA Teaching professional role to provide coaching on either a full time or part time basis. Competitive pay package on offer.

Applicates to contact Ryan Ingram on 07927494780 or email ingramgolf@gmail.com Leeds Castle Golf Club Leeds Castle Golf Club are looking for an assistant or qualified professional to join the team at a busy member and pay and play club. The role includes general shop duties and coaching opportunities.

Excellent earning potential for the right candidate.

Please send CV to scottstevens@leeds-castle.co.uk Durham City Golf Club Looking for a fully qualified PGA Assistant Professional to work at one of the best courses in the Durham. Will play a lead coaching role in developing a thriving junior academy. Average 30 shop hours per week.

Indoor studio available to coach in.

Apply to Head Pro Tom Cranfield glga@hotmail.co.uk.

Poulton Park Golf Club Training applicant/registered PGA assistant required for a busy club.

Must be extremely motivated, have good communication skills, and be committed to provide excellent customer service. Trackman studio and weekly group classes allows for great teaching and custom fitting opportunities. Send CV and cover letter to Alex Pritchard at aj-pritchard@hotmail.co.uk Chigwell Golf Club Exciting opportunity to join the professional team at Chigwell GC. Role will include the development of junior coaching and assisting with our academy member scheme. Shop hours and custom fitting opportunities will also be included for the successful candidate. Please send applications to bmiddletongolfpro@yahoo.co.uk Lees Hall Golf Club We are seeking a hardworking, reliable and proactive Assistant Professional to join our team. The successful candidate will deliver excellent customer service, possess strong retail/merchandising skills and be responsible for beginner coaching programs. Email CV and cover letter to leeshallproshop@gmail.com The Welcombe Golf Club The Welcombe GC is a very busy course, range & hotel facility in Warwickshire. We are seeking an experienced PGA Member to fill an exciting roll comprising of retail work (flexible hours available), and coaching (self-employed basis). Apply with CV to Ben Evans Ben.Evans@thewelcombehotel.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL Vattanac Golf Resort Golf Club Vattanac Golf Resort Golf Club in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is excited to announce the exceptional career opportunity of Custom Fit and Academy Retail Manager. Qualified candidates will thrive in a hospitality environment and be highly focused on providing superior service. For further information and to apply, please visit: https://www.trooncareers.com/careers/

For more information please go to pga.info The PGA Professional

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#makinggolfhappen

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

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CAREER PATH TO DATE? I started studying Golf Management at the University of the Highlands and Islands in 2001 and during my final year I completed a 14-month golf management placement at Gleneagles, where I was exposed to all areas of the business. I subsequently moved to Bahrain to work under the leadership of Michael Braidwood at The Royal Golf Club (formerly Riffa Golf Club) as Golf Operations and Events Manager, before moving to the UAE in 2009 to pre-open and setup the golf operation at Jumeirah Golf Estates as Operations Manager. I then moved to Abu Dhabi Golf Club in the same role to work under Troon Golf.

In late 2012, I moved away from Club Management to become Tournament Director for the UAE PGA before becoming CEO two years later, where I grew our patronage significantly and created financial stability for the organisation.

In 2016 I started to work as a consultant based in the UAE, but working globally utilising my extensive operational knowledge to benefit hotels, clubs and resorts in Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and in the UK & Ireland.

During this time I completed my MBA through Strathclyde University in Glasgow to allow me to build on my experience operationally and further enhance my career development.

During the pandemic, my consultancy work slowed down and I have used this time to study further to include asset management, as well as project management, before deciding to move back into golf club management.

say creating the right balance between engaging with our membership on a daily basis and allocating the right amount of time developing our team and working on the plans for the club moving forward.

AND THE MOST REWARDING? Right now, this is most certainly working with our teams in the golf shop, membership and reservation departments to create an integrated team of relationship executives to work similarly to guest service agents in five-star hotels to deliver a completely unique service delivered at a golf club. The team is already rising to the challenge and exceeding all expectations.

WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL INFLUENCES? I have been extremely fortunate to have been mentored by some of the best people in our industry.

Michael Braidwood and Phil Jones have always been amazing support to me since I left the UK in 2004 and are always there to bounce ideas off and share experiences with me. Having experienced PGA and industry professionals as a support network is invaluable when working overseas.

DUBAI

DREAMING

Steven Munro is the Commercial Director at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE. He explains his career path and how he landed his current role at one of the most recognisable courses in the world.

WHAT IS THE REMIT OF YOUR ROLE AND WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY INVOLVE? As Commercial Director I am essentially responsible for all sources of revenue generated at the golf club. We are in the process of building and training a team worthy of such a facility and aim to take the quality of the product and service to a new level. As a semi-private members’ club we have to focus and creating the correct balance between member and guest play and also visitor play through our local markets, as well as international markets

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once travel restrictions lift, which will hopefully be in the near future.

Currently my role is a combination of planning for travel opening up; working closely with our onsite hotel to improve synergies and integration; building the correct team to deliver the vision of the club; creating strategies for membership and getting to know the membership and engaging them in the decisions made for the future of the golf club.

WHAT ARE THE MOST CHALLENGING PARTS OF THE JOB? Currently the role is challenging throughout while we work towards finalising our plans going forward. Therefore, I would

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN? Phil Jones taught me to always deal in facts and to never let your personal opinion impact your judgement in any work decisions that you make. This piece of advice will stand the test of time.

The other one that I stand by is that no matter how good or bad a working day gets, always make sure you have achieved something that day, however big or small.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU PASS ON TO OTHER PGA MEMBERS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING A CAREER IN YOUR AREA OF WORK? Work hard, network and don’t be shy to ask for guidance from fellow professionals.

Although I feel the industry has changed in recent years and arguably career opportunities may be harder to come by, there are still great career paths in this industry, but you need to be hungry, hardworking and ambitious.

July 2021

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www.pga.info

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