The PGA Professional Magazine - October 2020 by The PGA

THE

PROFESSIONAL

THE OFFICIAL PGA MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE

Volume 16 Issue 9 October 2020

COACHING THE NEW GENERATION Spotlight on Junior golf

SAVVY SHOPPER

Planning your ’21 Pre-orders

SPRING INTO ACTION SS21 apparel ranges

N 0 VISSANISO 202 WERED QUESTION YOUR

One part past. Two parts future.

C O M I N G

F E B R U A R Y

2 0 2 1

CONTENTS

FEATURES

SHOP SMART FOR ‘21

2020 VISION Your questions answered, introduction to PGA Learn and the four Value Blocks

Tips to help you make the right buying decisions

TRAVEL

COACHING BREAK INSPIRATION Where’s hot for Autumn 2021

COACHING

THE KEYS FOR DEVELOPING JUNIOR GOLF

Me and My Golf share their experiences helping junior golfers become Tour winners

CHILD-CENTRIC COACHING Building a strong, sustainable coaching business

MARKETING

THE NEXT GENERATION Our spotlight on junior golf

CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE How to market to junior golfers

Editor: 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: ed.beale@pgapublishing.co.uk Recruitment Advertising: recruitment@pga.org.uk Contributors: Antje Derks, Crossover Technologies, Golfbreaks.com, Gavin GrenvilleWood, Me and My Golf Photographers: Getty Images, Adobe Stock Production Assistant: Kelly Lewis Design: Andrew Beavis PGA National Headquarters Centenary House The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield West Midlands B76 9PT Tel: 01675 470 333 Fax: 01675 477 888

INSIDE THE PGA

04 16 66

THE OFFICIAL PGA MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE

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

MEMBER IN THE SPOTLIGHT Fitness fanatic Emma Fairnie

INTERNATIONAL

PGA NATIONAL CYPRUS ON TOUR! Aphrodite Hills prepares to welcome some of the biggest names in the game

MEMBERSHIP

PGA RETAIL

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Latest product launches and industry news

YOUNG GUNS

YOUR BENEFITS

TRADE NEWS

Junior golfers could become customers for life, so it pays to stock child-friendly equipment

GREEN SHOOTS

RECRUITMENT

Eco-friendly materials and bold floral patterns dominate apparel collections for SS21

The PGA Professional

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

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SITUATIONS VACANT

The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited accepts no responsibility for the products or services offered by the advertisers in this publication nor does it necessarily agree with any views expressed, statements or claims made by the advertisers in this publication. ©The Professional Golfers’ Association Limited 2020 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

The Perfect Match

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FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

he response to our new 2020 Vision Membership structure has been overwhelmingly positive and interest amongst the industry at large. We will continue to communicate with you – our Members – through a range of channels as the changes come into effect, but we also want to listen. That’s why in this issue of 'The PGA Professional' we look at some of the many questions and comments being posted on social media and directed to the PGA team. It’s important that any concerns are addressed and we will take these on board. This month we are also providing more details of the four Value Blocks which underpin the new structure we outlined last month. Understanding how we can add value to each of the new Member categories through education, business support and CPD will be vital to you gaining the

I know from talking with many of you that life is far from normal and as winter approaches, there is great concern around job security, income and getting through the challenges which lie in front of us all. During these difficult times, the ability to connect with a strong network, share knowledge and focus on our own personal development has never been more important as we all work through the coming autumn and winter. Our new structure and Membership groups will be able to support you in these areas. Whilst the last few months have been unsettling, the good news surrounding golf continues with a reported membership growth of 20,000, playing rounds at the highest for several years and in the world of the PGA Professional, retail holding its own. It will be tough to recoup all of the lost business from the first few months of the year, so as we head into the winter it’s vital to think ahead and prepare

“

The PGA has invested in a world-class digital CPD platform incorporating more modern, flexible and informal ways of education to better suit your working lifestyles.

most from this new structure moving forwards. The ability to continue your professional development, learn new skills and be able to demonstrate that learning to employers and customers in a competitive world is fundamental to the Value Blocks. That’s why, in order to deliver on these development needs, The PGA has invested heavily in a world-class digital CPD platform that we are delighted to be able to share more details of in this issue. PGA Learn, as it is now known, represents a more modern, flexible and informal way of education that better suits your working lifestyles. Podcasts, videos and webinars have all proven to be highly effective forms of learning over the past few months and are just some of the many different educational resources that will be available. The traditional face-to-face courses will still exist in some format (subject to Government guidelines) but PGA Learn enables us to move towards a more bespoke and personal way of learning, with Members able to access a massive range of content whenever and wherever they like. It’s a tremendous platform that I’m sure you will find extremely beneficial. The PGA Professional

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as best you can for the future. Our feature on pre-orders for 2021 might provide some valuable insight in this regard. One of the few positives from Covid-19 has been the interest from youngsters and their parents looking for a safe game to play. You will read in this issue how Members are already doing a fantastic job coaching and introducing juniors to golf – perhaps their experience may inspire you to do even more. It is by far the greatest impact we can have on the growth of the sport. Can I end this month with warm congratulations to Sarah Bennett on being named as PGA Captain elect to succeed Bernard Gallacher. It is a well-deserved honour for someone who has excelled in so many aspects of her career as a PGA Professional.

Robert Maxfield Chief Executive

2020 VISION

“THE BUSINESS OF GOLF IS CHANGING AND IF WE WANT OUR MEMBERS AND THE ASSOCIATION TO REMAIN RELEVANT TO THE GOLF INDUSTRY THEN WE MUST EVOLVE TOO.” Following the recent unveiling of The PGA’s 2020 Vision, Chief Executive Robert Maxfield outlines the exciting initiative that offers increased specialisation for PGA Professionals plus membership opportunities for all who work and volunteer in the golf industry

o, what’s The PGA’s 2020 Vision all about?

RM: You could say that this is one of the most significant moments in the 119-year history of The PGA. We recognise that the golf industry has changed and over the last 18 months we’ve been working hard on detailed plans to evolve our Membership structure so that our Members – and us as an organisation – remain relevant to golf in the 21st century. This plan is what we call our 2020 Vision. It’s really about recognising the changing role of PGA Professionals and The PGA itself. That’s why we’re evolving one traditional Membership category, that of PGA Professional, into three clearly defined categories - PGA Professional, PGA Coach and PGA Manager. This will enable our Members to select the specialism that better reflects their role and area of expertise. There’s more to it than just recategorising members, though? RM: Absolutely. The second aspect of 2020 Vision is about the role of The PGA in the wider sphere of golf. We feel it is really important to bring the entire industry together with a common voice and common goal at this incredibly challenging time getting everyone in the same tent is a phrase I keep coming back to. With this in mind we’ve created two new industry Membership groups that will be open to everyone who is employed or working as a volunteer in the golf industry. These are the Business Management Group and Club Volunteer by PGA (see panel on right for more). As an organisation we feel we have the resource and expertise to pull the business of golf together for the good of our game, offering world-class support, education and networking services for everyone involved in golf. These are very significant changes from The PGA – how do they fit in with the Association’s existing goals? RM: We believe 2020 Vision goes hand-in-glove with The PGA’s stated aim of improving the personal and professional lives of Members. By enabling present and future Members to specialise and develop further in their chosen areas, we are recognising and championing their

October 2020

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2020 VISION expertise. By bringing all those who work and volunteer in golf under the umbrella of The PGA, we’re positioning ourselves at the heart of the game for years to come. Of course, we’re not going to undermine the rights and benefits of our existing Members, but we believe that The PGA in 2020 needs to represent a very different model to that of The PGA of the last 20 years. With the 2020 Vision we will be a membership of professionals across the business of golf rather than a membership of professional golfers.

leaving the Association because our existing structure doesn’t allow them to retain membership. The ability to specialise and be recognised as an expert in your chosen field by employers and consumers alike is vital for Members, so moving from one general category to three specialist categories enables them to promote themselves as specialists and elevate themselves further by working towards Advanced, Specialist and Master status. It’s a massive change and something our Members are very positive about. What’s the reaction been like from the other golf bodies?

PGA PROFESSIONAL

RM: We’ve had many constructive conversations with individuals, companies and many different bodies across the industry over the last 18 months. I have to say the response has been overwhelmingly positive and we’re very much looking forward to working in partnership with them.

PGA PROFESSIONAL

PGA MANAGER

PROFESSIONAL

COACH

ADVANCED SPECIALIST PROFESSIONAL COACH

ADVANCED COACH

MANAGER

What’s next for Members?

SPECIALIST EXECUTIVE PROFESSIONAL MANAGER

SENIOR MANAGER

Why the need to change the Member categories? MASTER MANAGER

MASTER COACH

RM: PGA Members hold a much wider range of roles than ever before, which means that The PGA’s structure, particularly in terms of support and education, needs to better reflect that. By holding a membership category that represents their individual career, specialism and focus – and having the state-of-the-art PGA Learn CPD platform to support that focus – Members will derive a clear benefit from a framework that demonstrates their value to the industry, as well as increased use of The PGA brand and logos that highlight their expertise. Can you talk us through the rationale behind the new categories for existing Members? RM: Our Members have told us they want to be recognised in their areas of specialism and want to differentiate themselves from their peers. These changes acknowledge the diverse roles of PGA Members. For instance, approximately 25% of our members hold management roles as opposed to coaching or playing – and there are currently limited opportunities for them to demonstrate their skills and influence. Many are reluctantly

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RM: Applications for the new categories and groups open in November but in the meantime we’ll continue to communicate more about the 2020 Vision and what it means for Members through all of our channels, including the next few pages of this magazine. Keep an eye out for more information or get in touch if you have any questions.

“Approximately 25% of our members hold management roles as opposed to coaching or playing – and there are currently limited opportunities for them to demonstrate their skills and influence.”

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The Business Management Group “At the moment, it’s fair to say the golf industry is quite fragmented, so the Business Management Group will aim to help bring the industry together with a common voice and common goal, enabling those who work in golf exclusive networking and training opportunities under the umbrella of a single professional body – The PGA. “The Business Management Group is about helping to support and develop the workforce of golf and will be open to everyone within the game - whether they’re involved in golf clubs, hotels, resorts, operations, retail, travel, equipment or other golf business sectors. It provides all of these people who make golf business happen the opportunity to join a professional body and be a part of what we hope will become the leading industry network for knowledge sharing, networking and career development.” Club Volunteer by PGA “Club Volunteers are vital to the development of the game and play a huge role in supporting PGA Members within golf clubs. By our reckoning there are around 40,000 people volunteering at clubs and facilities in the UK and Ireland. The parallel we use is that of Governors, who enable the smooth running of schools. Golf volunteers are highly committed and bring a range of skills to their roles sitting on committees, organising events or running competitions. “With the creation of the Club Volunteer category, The PGA will provide training and guidance, enabling volunteers to update their skills and align their goals and aspirations with the professional workforce. The training will be in the areas of everything from marketing and finance to safeguarding and health & safety. Busy club managers don’t necessarily have the time or expertise to train volunteers themselves, but members of our Club Volunteer category will have access to high-quality PGA CPD allowing them to upskill and offer more to the club. “Establishing these two new group Membership categories will hopefully ensure that everybody involved in the business of golf is speaking the same language.”

2020 VISION

LEARN YOUR WAY The Professional Golfers’ Association Certificate of Attendance This is to certify that

As part of the 2020 Vision initiative, the PGA will shortly be launching the new PGA Learn digital CPD platform, enabling Members to develop their skills in a way – and at a time – that suits.

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ne of the most critical aspects of the 2020 Vision, The PGA’s new digital CPD platform represents a fundamental change to how the Education department delivers learning and education to meet the changing personal and professional development needs of Members. A system that encourages Members to ‘Learn Your Way’, the new platform is user-friendly, accessible from anywhere and has been adapted to incorporate more modern, flexible and informal ways of learning. That means Members don’t have to read a manual or listen to a lecture to engage in meaningful CPD – we understand that listening

to podcasts, watching videos,

shadowing more experienced attended

colleagues and networking with peers are all valid and useful ways to enhance knowledge. That’s why they all count as CPD. Available 24/7 through the Members’ Area of the website, the fresh and attractive platform will enable access to a growing library of relevant digital content and resources. Content will come in the form of webinars, podcasts, blogs, e-learning courses, videos, templates and how-to guides, all produced by The PGA, its partners, and other well-known providers of high-quality education. This new content will be available in a wide

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variety of subject areas and will be carefully aligned to The PGA’s core value blocks. PGA Learn will also be the place to go to find out about PGA qualifications and to book onto all courses and events. The platform’s interface has an intuitive and clear design, with an extremely user-friendly feel more akin to streaming services such as Netflix. The search functions make it easy to find content and Members will also be able to personalise the experience by indicating preferred areas of interest. PGA Learn will also give users the ability to rate and discuss content with fellow Members. Although there are no plans in the long term to scale back

Dr Paul Wiseman Executive Director - Education

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October 2020

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2020 VISION

Accredited Status

on the number of face-to-face courses we provide, PGA Learn enables us to move away from the traditional way we have operated, providing Members with a more modern, up-to-date and convenient way of learning. The system also encourages Members to take ownership of their own development by self-certifying. Built on a world-class digital platform provided by Agylia - who are trusted by other industryleading organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Microsoft, the NHS and Deloitte to name a few – PGA Learn represents a significant investment in the ongoing

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development of Members. The Autumn launch is just the start of the journey and we expect the platform to evolve over time by listening to Members’ feedback and benefiting from the updates Agylia (including the creation of an App). In 2021, we plan to regularly introduce more high-quality content and make a ‘skills assessment tool’ available, which will help identify areas of strengths and potential areas for development. For more details, visit www.pga.info

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The launch of PGA Learn coincides with the start of Accredited status, which replaces ‘A/AA’ statuses on 1st November 2020. PGA Learn will enable you to conveniently record all your CPD activity, reflect on your progress, and annually submit your CPD records to gain or maintain your status. Holding Accredited status will demonstrate that The PGA recognises your ongoing commitment to personal and professional development. More information on Accredited status can be found within the Career Development section of the Members’ Area of the PGA website. Gaining Accredited Status If you currently hold ‘AA’ status you will automatically gain Accredited status on 1st November 2020 but must then meet the PGA CPD standards annually from then on. For your own records, you will still be able to backdate the CPD you undertook between 1st November 2019-31st October 2020 via PGA Learn. If you do not currently possess ‘AA’ status but would like to gain Accredited status from 1st November you will be able to backdate the CPD you undertook between 1st November 2019-31st October 2020 and submit your record, or, meet the minimum standards for the 2020-21 CPD year and submit your CPD record via the PGA Learn platform. More details on these processes will be sent to you in the coming weeks.

2020 VISION

NEW MEMBERSHIP FRAMEWORK:

THE FOUR VALUE BLOCKS The new membership categories are all underpinned by four Value Blocks. But what lies beneath them? How do they add value to Members? And how does CPD fit in to this?

ast month The PGA unveiled a very significant change to its existing Membership structure, with one traditional category (PGA Professional) evolving into three clearly defined categories – PGA Professional, PGA Coach and PGA Manager – that will enable Members to more easily demonstrate their expertise and value. As was mentioned in previous communications, the new individual categories are all underpinned by four Value Blocks, which is the term now being used for a grouping of required skills, attributes and capabilities. These are Specialist Knowledge, Business Management, Golf Growth & Development and Professional Representation. Three of the elements are common to each category and every Member, while Specialist Knowledge is the differentiator or the area of specialism. These pillars are the DNA blocks that are applicable to every qualified PGA Member. As you can see from the illustration, each of these main ‘pillars’ is then broken down further into sub-sections, depending on the specialisation. Each sub-section will then cascade down into further levels of detail, all of which will be

assigned training and development that improvements can be made in resources. three key areas. Why was this important to do? Member Promotion: Provide a The Value Blocks are relevant, vehicle for demonstrating the core tangible and identifiable areas where skills and competences of a PGA The PGA adds value to its Members Professional so that the industry through can recognise education, their areas general support of speciality and, of course, and expertise “The Value Blocks the new PGA to wholly are relevant, tangible Learn CPD appreciate their platform which value or worth. and identifiable will reflect these Member areas where The many different Assessment: categories and Provide a PGA adds value to sections. Just method of its Members through as importantly, assessing each individual a Members education, general Member competence support and, of can then and impact and articulate and recognise them course, the new PGA demonstrate in a hierarchy Learn CPD platform.” their value to within their a prospective Association and existing which can employer by be easily identifying accumulated skills and understood by an employer. knowledge. Member Training and This process of identifying core Development: Provide a Members’ areas of speciality, as well structure for lifelong learning and as the formation of two new Group development with a library of categories – Business Management resources that are designed to meet Group and Club Volunteer – has the training needs of PGA Members enabled The PGA to update the in each speciality. current Membership framework so

October 2020

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2020 VISION THE FOUR VALUE BLOCKS IN DETAIL: EXPERTISE, KNOWLEDGE & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PGA COACH

SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE: COACHING Coaching Process & Theory

COACH

Specialist

Business SPECIALIST Management

Knowledge: ADVANCED COACH Coaching

COACH

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

Skills of the Game Business Planning & Strategy Equipment & Technology PGA PROFESSIONAL

MASTER COACH

Golf Growth & Development

Professional Representation

Sales & Profit

Participant Development Customer Service & Satisfaction Coach Development

Leadership & Employee Development

PROFESSIONAL

PROFESSIONAL Coaching (Player Development)

Financial Management

Specialist

ADVANCED Knowledge: PROFESSIONAL

Professional

Business SPECIALIST Management

PROFESSIONAL

Legislative & Legal Compliance

Equipment

Golf Growth & Development

Retail

Professional Representation

PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION

Rules of the game PGA MANAGER PGA Representation Golf Operations

GOLF GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

MANAGER

Ambassador & Role Model

Specialist Knowledge:

Reputation

EXECUTIVE SENIOR Business Management MANAGER MANAGER

Personal and Professional Development MASTER MANAGER

Game Promotion

Golf Growth & Development

Professional Representation

Playing and Competing

Participation (Engagement & Retention)

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2020 VISION

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Last month’s announcement of our 2020 Vision prompted lots of Members to get in touch or post questions on social media – here’s a selection taken from across our channels.

What do we Members need to do now? Do we each choose our own label? Many Members will want to remain a ‘PGA Professional’ – and that’s absolutely fine. However, feedback over recent years has highlighted a desire to be recognised in a specific speciality. Members that specialise in coaching will appreciate the opportunity to refer to themselves as a ‘PGA Coach’. To enter this category you will need to demonstrate that you are regularly coaching. Twenty-eight per cent of our Members are in management roles and therefore it is essential that we remain relevant and support this significant group, which is why we created the ‘PGA Manager’ category. In order to move into this specialism, you need to demonstrate that you have either; Qualified through the PGA Applied Golf Management Studies (Hons) degree (AGMS), qualified as a PGA Professional and then completed a management degree or a relevant management qualification (eg GCMQ or DoG) or qualified as a PGA Professional and then been working in a management role within the industry for at least six months. Applications for the new categories will be accepted from

November onwards. If you require more information please email membership@pga. org.uk. What is happening with the APAL awards? How do the new changes affect APAL awarded titles like Advanced, Fellow etc? The APAL system is currently being modified and simplified. Included in this process is a modernisation of the designations, with Members able to apply for the new level designations from early 2021. We are still keen to recognise those that remain current and up to date. However, it is widely acknowledged that the industry does not recognise A and AA, which is why we are moving towards the clearer delineation of defining those that are compliant as Accredited. We are currently looking at the process for those that already hold an APAL designation to transfer to the new system. We will be encouraging Members to move over to the new designations but although The PGA will no longer be awarding Fellow and Advanced Fellow awards, Members will still be able to retain their current designations should they wish. More information will follow on this in due course.

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2020 VISION

Got a question for us? Email 2020vision@pga.org.uk and we’ll do our best to answer. You can also take a look at our FAQs page on the website that we are regularly updating: www.pga.info

Will I be able to change from Coach or Professional to Manager category in the future? Yes – but you would need to meet the requisite criteria of the PGA Manager category. Alternatively, if you have a job in management within the golf industry you could become a member of the new Business Management Group. Why is The PGA developing groups outside the core Membership? The PGA is keen to increase its influence, specifically in relation to those that employ or engage with our PGA Professionals. If The PGA were to better engage with the golf industry we would be able to shape the future direction and take a more significant role in increasing participation and the development of the game.” Offering a category of PGA Membership for all those involved in the business of golf will position The PGA at the heart of the industry and ensure that the skills and expertise of PGA Professionals are recognised more widely. By creating the Business Management Group and Club Volunteer, The PGA has an opportunity to professionalise the workforce setting with defined industry standards which will ensure a better experience for everyone in the game.

The PGA Professional

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I am a PGA Advanced Professional and PGA Director of Golf. Should I sit in the PGA Manager category or PGA Professional? Where do I sit? As a qualified PGA Professional you may remain in this category, however because you already have the PGA Director of Golf qualification, you also qualify directly for PGA Manager category. If you are currently in a manager role, you may wish to select the PGA Manager category. What happens with Membership subs and fees? Does a ‘PGA Coach’ or ‘PGA Manager’ pay less than a ‘PGA Professional’ or do they pay the same? PGA Professionals, PGA Coaches and PGA Managers will all pay the same subscription fee and all three categories will receive the same PGA Benefits. Do I need still need to be working for 25 hours in the golf industry to maintain my PGA Membership given the current changes? There is no longer a requirement to work for 25 hours within the golf industry – the restriction was lifted in recognition that Members have earned the PGA professional qualification and if they see merit in remaining in their Association they should be allowed to stay.

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October 2020

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OR GET LEFT BEHIND.

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NEWS

DJ Russell named GB&I PGA Cup Captain

Bennett to become PGA Captain Sarah Bennett will follow in the footsteps of her close friend and mentor Beverly Lewis when she becomes the second female to Captain The PGA. Bennett, 51, is the head teaching professional at Three Rivers Golf & Country Club and will become Captain of the Association in 2022, following Bernard Gallacher. “This is the proudest moment in my golfing career,” said Bennett, who holds Fellowship status of The PGA. “The news came totally out of the blue and was a shock. I was stunned but I am extremely honoured, humbled and immensely proud to captain this historic Association. “Being appointed Captain Elect of The PGA had never been on my radar or something I had ever considered. Following in the footsteps of legends in the game is something I will cherish forever and I will do my upmost to continue to promote golf in its entirety and grow women’s golf at all levels of the game. “As a PGA Professional you strive to be the best you can and advance your career, offering the best for your clients and members. Having those three letters after your name demonstrates dedication and commitment. I have always enjoyed the challenge and hard work, having so much respect for this organisation since I first became a Member in 1990.” Beverly Lewis became the Association’s first female Captain in 2005. She coached Bennett as a junior and the two remained close friends until Lewis sadly passed away last year aged 71 after a long fight against leukaemia. “It means so much to me personally following in the footsteps of my role model Beverly Lewis,” Bennett continued. “If it wasn’t for ‘Bev’ I wouldn’t be where I am today. “She used to coach me in her garden when I was 15 and we used to discuss my swing in her kitchen, I really tested her knowledge! She was always there for me as a mentor and friend, offering advice, support and encouragement during my career and four years out due to my illness. “I will have big shoes to fill following on from Bernard Gallacher next year, but I look forward to working alongside him as vice-captain in 2021, preparing for what will be the biggest role in my career. “I am excited and can’t wait to commence my ambassadorial role representing the association at major events on The PGA schedule.”

DJ Russell will bring a wealth of experience to the PGA Cup captaincy role after being named as the man to lead Great Britain & Ireland in the 30th PGA Cup clash against the United States in 2022. Russell, 66, joined The PGA in 1973 working for Sir Henry Cotton at Penina Hotel & Golf Resort in Portugal. On returning to the UK, he became an Assistant at Derby’s Kedleston Park Golf Club. Birmingham-born Russell had aspirations of pursuing a playing career and after passing his PGA exams in 1975, he went on to enjoy 21 years on the European Tour, winning three times. After returning to Kedleston Park in 1996, Russell spent five years as the club’s head professional. He currently runs a golf course design and consultancy business in partnership with his close friend Ian Woosnam. Russell has been tasked with winning back the Llandudno Trophy following last year’s narrow defeat in Austin, Texas. Russell said: “I was fortunate to have been involved in the backroom staff at four Ryder Cups with Bernard Gallacher, Seve Ballesteros, Sam Torrance and Bernhard Langer. I was also Assistant Captain at The K Club to Ian Woosnam, so I feel that I will bring a wealth of experience to my role as Captain in 2022. “It's always a tough match to beat USA but home advantage at the wonderful Foxhills Club & Resort will hopefully work in our favour." The 2022 PGA Cup will be played again at Foxhills Club & Resort, Surrey, scene of GB&I’s triumph in 2017, where Albert MacKenzie led the hosts to an emphatic 16-10 victory over the United States. Robert Maxfield, Chief Executive of The PGA, added: “DJ’s experience both as a player on the European Tour and part of the backroom staff at four Ryder Cups make him the perfect candidate to lead Great Britain & Ireland at Foxhills. “Last year we witnessed one of the most memorable PGA Cup matches in Austin, Texas. Under DJ’s leadership, I’m sure we’re in for another memorable clash at Foxhills Club & Resort as we look to regain the Llandudno Trophy.”

October 2020

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Sion Bebb - PGA Professional Morlais Castle Golf Club

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

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NEWS ON THE MOVE The latest PGA Member appointments across the UK, Ireland and overseas. Andrew Jowett has been appointed the new Head of Golf at Gleneagles in Scotland. The Head PGA Professional at the 2014 Ryder Cup venue the past eight years, Jowett, 43, has seen his role expanded to oversee all golf operations. Jowett commented: “Gleneagles is an incredible estate, with world-class facilities, and we have a genuine passion to be at the heart of growing the game, introducing new people into the sport in a fun and engaging way.” Gary Silcock has left Gleneagles to become the General Manager at Murrayshall Country House Hotel and Golf Club. Two other moves in Scotland see David Lee join Forthview Golf Range as head teaching professional, while Blair Cross leaves St Andrew’s Golf Links after more than eight years to become the new head professional at Dumbarnie Golf Links. In the South region, Donovan Hall departs Coombe Hill to take up a teaching professional role at Petersfield Golf Club and Rupert Hunter takes up a similar role at Holtye Golf Club. Matt Chapman joins Golfbidder as an assistant professional and Ladies European Tour player, Sian Evans, also starts an assistant professional role at Rochester & Cobham, where she will split her time between coaching and playing. In the East region, Paul Ring is the new head professional at Ash Valley Golf Club, while in the Midlands, Richard

PGA launches new Assistants’ Series The PGA, with the support of The R&A, is delighted to announce the launch of a new PGA Assistants’ Series to enable trainee professionals to participate in competitive tournaments in the coming months. Playing in events is a condition and important aspect of training to become a PGA Professional. With the support of The R&A, The PGA will be delivering a series of regional events which will allow PGA Assistants to add a number of rounds to their required playing record cards. A prize fund of £1,500 will apply to each event, with the top three players in each region ultimately sharing in an additional bonus Order of Merit pot of £1,000 and exemptions into the PGA Assistants’ Championship in 2021. The schedule will include a minimum of four events per region to be delivered between October 2020 and March 2021.

The PGA Assistants’ Series is open to the following member grades: AGMS(AE), AGMS(G), AGMST1, AGMST2, AGMST3, T1, T2, T3, T4, T4 (AE), T4 (P). Tristan Crew, Executive Director – Member Services, commented: “We very much appreciate the support of The R&A in providing the PGA Assistants with the chance to play competitive golf after such a challenging time during the pandemic. “This is not only beneficial to the Assistant Professionals, but also to their Training Professionals, many of whom were concerned that their Trainees may struggle to play the required number of rounds.” All eligible Assistants are encouraged to enter the PGA Assistants’ Series, which has been scheduled over the quieter months on the golfing calendar in order that as many as possible can participate.

Hawkins completes Big Golf Race Studley Wood assistant professional Adam Hawkins has raised more than £6,000 for Prostate Cancer UK after taking part in The Big Golf Race, the charity’s new golf fundraising challenge. Hawkins, 35, completed four rounds of golf in fiveand-a-half hours, scoring 73, 77, 77 and 75. The fundraiser was in support of Prostate Cancer UK, a charity close to Hawkins’ heart after his father was diagnosed with the disease in 2016. Hawkins, who is now in his

second year as a professional, smashed his £5,000 fundraising target with the total now having surpassed £6,000. Hawkins, who is an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK said: “The way I look at it, even though I’m in pain now there are a lot of people who suffer all the time and it’s great so much money has been raised. “It’s a big part of my life and the money is important to keep their research going.” The Big Golf Race can be undertaken over four rounds

(the marathon), two rounds (the half marathon) or one round (he Sprint). Tracey Pritchard, Director of Fundraising & Supporter Engagement at Prostate Cancer UK, added: “By taking on The Big Golf Race, golfers who have joined the fight are playing their part in making prostate cancer a disease future generations need not fear. We’re incredibly grateful for Adam’s ongoing support, not only his fundraising but his efforts to raise awareness of the disease in the Studley Wood pro shop too.”

British Golf Show moves to 2021 The British Golf Show, supported by the PGA has been re-scheduled for 14-15 May 2021, and will double in size to become the largest exhibition to date in the organisers’ eight-year history. The 2020 event was switched to early October when the COVID-19 outbreak hit. However, the on-going pandemic has left exhibition organisers, The Elite Luxury Events, with no choice but to postpone. As the British Golf Show’s exhibition space was already fully-sold for the 2020 event, the 2021 British Golf Show will now take place across two golf halls at Wycombe Air Park to allow for extra exhibitors and public attractions. As originally planned, the 2021 British Golf Show will take place alongside the long-running The Elite London luxury lifestyle exhibition, which also switches to the May 2021 dates. All current golf exhibitors have been personally contacted, and bookings are now being taken for the enlarged 2021 event.

October 2020

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NEWS

Bullen retains Assistants’ title Sussex golf pro Mike Bullen once again had to overcome the excesses of Mother Nature to win the Coca Cola PGA Assistants’ Championship for the second year in succession. Last year it was rain of monsoon ferocity, this time powerful gusts of bone-chilling wind. The 27-year-old was equal to the challenge, however, and finished a shot clear of the field to claim the £5,000 first prize and a year’s supply of the sponsor’s product. In doing so, he joins a select band. Several of his predecessors won the tournament twice but until Bullen executed an almost flawless up-anddown at the 18th hole on Oakmere Golf Club’s Admirals course, just three had defended the title successfully. Dai Rees and Harry Weetman, who went onto become Ryder Cup captains, enjoyed back-toback victories, while the most recent, Matthew Cort, racked up an unprecedented trio of successive triumphs. Having almost completed his training, the pro who represents Rustington Golf Centre will not be able to try to emulate that achievement. “Unfortunately I won’t be able to go for the hat-trick but I’m proud of winning it

Clarson joins Fairway Lady Ltd at Golf 109. Smith had previously been based at Beau Desert Golf Club for more than a decade. Also in the Midlands, Shaun Smith is Chilwell Manor Golf Club’s new head professional.

back-to-back, especially given the conditions. “It was very tricky out there. It was really windy, some gusts were up to 40 miles an hour. There were loads of anxious moments but I dug in. “Winning the Play-Offs earned me a place in next month’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and this has qualified me for the Play-Offs again. Hopefully I can go back-to-back there as well.”

Revenge for Dykes in Welsh Championship Tim Dykes kept his cool in the autumnal sunshine to turn the tables on defending champion Mark Pilkington by winning the Asbri Welsh National PGA Championship at Cardiff Golf Club. Dykes, who is attached to Penrith Golf Club in Cumbria, finished tied-third three shots behind Pilkington at Conwy Golf Club 13 months ago. But in a tournament that looked destined to be settled by a three-way play-off involving Dykes, Pilkington and Richard James, the former held his nerve to post

a two-under-par total of 138 for the 36-holes and claim the £1,500 winner’s cheque. Each member of the trio had been on two-under with three or four holes to play and, in completing his round first, Dykes was left to fret as to how his rivals were performing. In the event, any worrying was unnecessary. Pilkington faltered with a bogey at 17 before following suit at the par-three 18th to finish tied-third on level par with two former champions, Toby Hunt and Sion Bebb, winner of the Seniors

competition. Meanwhile James, the overnight leader on threeunder, was unable to make amends for a bogey at 16 and had to settle for the runner’s up berth a shot behind Dykes. Dykes added his name to a list of winners that includes the 1991 Masters champion Ian Woosnam. “As a proud Welshman I’m delighted to win this,” said Dykes. “It did look like there would be a play-off but I stuck in there and kept it going. I’m very happy.”

Career high for Cameron Ross Cameron achieved the biggest success of his career in winning the Loch Lomond Whiskies PGA Scottish Championship. Cancelled tournaments and shut down golf clubs due to the lockdown meant the 41-year-old from Peterhead had to take on a part-time job in a supermarket to supplement his income. But those worries were temporarily cast aside at Deer Park Golf and Country Club as he won the Tartan Tour’s flagship event. He left a posse of Scotland’s most accomplished and successful tournament pros in his slipstream to claim the coveted trophy and £4,250 winner’s cheque. “I’m over the moon as this is the best win of my career,” said Cameron. “It’s given me a big boost in the Tartan Tour’s Order of Merit and I hope this will open a few doors."

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ON THE MOVE

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After almost a decade at Farrington Park, Terry Williams begins a new chapter in his career as Well Golf Club’s new teaching professional. Also in the West region, Andrew Fox is now the head professional at Stover Golf Club. In Ireland, Brian Carroll is now a club professional at Coollattin Golf Club after making the move from Ashbourne Golf Club, while Ian Moore joins Portstewart Golf Club as an assistant professional. PGA Advanced Professional, Richard Lambert, has brought to an end a 12-year spell at Crosland Hearth Golf Club to become the head professional at Halifax Bradley Hall Golf Club. Two other moves in the North involve Kevin Jackson, who after more than 11 years at Ramside Golf Club has joined Sharply Golf Club, while Alan Gibson leaves Sutton Hall Golf Club for Wallasey Golf Club. Konstantin Gribkov leaves Moscow Country Club after 15 years to start a new position as director of golf at Raevo Golf & Country Club. If you would like to feature in this column, or would like to highlight a new appointment, send your details to membership@pga.org.uk.

NEWS

MacRae defends WPGA title Thornton claims third Irish title Simon Thornton (Tulfarris Golf Resort) birdied the first extra hole to edge out Colm Moriarty (Glasson Golf Club) and claim the 110th Irish PGA Championship title at Roganstown Hotel & Country Club. The Newcastle-based professional holed a putt from around 30 feet at the par four first to claim his third Irish PGA Championship crown (previous wins 2018 & 2011). “My approach flew the green and finished on the fringe. I wasn’t sure how the lie was going to be but it wasn’t too bad to be fair,” said Simon. “I decided to putt it. It was downhill, left to right. Eight-foot out I knew it was going to be pretty good and six feet out I knew it was in all the way. It was a great feeling.” Eoin O’Brien (Clontarf Golf Club) finished third on one under par with Jimmy Bolger (Kilkenny Golf Club) and Neil O’Briain (Old Conna Golf Club) sharing fourth on level par.

There was a strong sense of déjà vu at Kedleston Park Golf Club as Scotland’s Heather MacRae won the WPGA Championship for the second year running. It would, however, have been a hat-trick of victories had she not lost to Keely Chiericato in a play-off two years ago but she exacted revenge at the Derbyshire venue in not dissimilar circumstances. Whereas one extra hole at Trentham Golf Club was needed to determine the outcome when the two ladies went head-to-head in 2018, two of the regulation 36 were required this time. The two had been drawn together in a three-ball that was completed by former US Open champion Alison Nicholas and at the end of the first round MacRae and the London Golf Club’s Anna Smith led Chiericato and the rest of the field by four shots. That margin between MacRae and Chiericato remained at the halfway stage of the second round then the fun and games started. Chiericato began to get her game together and MacRae wobbled. So much so that by the time MacRae double bogeyed the par-three 16th the pair were level on one-under for the tournament. Both birdied the 17th and, with a strong whiff of another playoff in the air, MacRae held her nerve to hole a birdie putt at the par-five 18th and Chiericato missed hers. “I’d made a mess of 15 and 16 and thought I’d better have a look to see what I should do over the last couple of holes," MacRae explained, "When I found out the scores, I thought ‘here we go again’. “I’ve won quite a few trophies but I’ve never managed to defend one before. So I’m absolutely delighted to win it.”

October 2020

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FEATURE

R O I N JU G N I H COAC eorgia Hall is G r o y ro Il c next Rory M lay Inspiring the d PGA pros p n a lf o g f o future and pivotal to the ing, inspiring g ra u o c n e le in olfers. an integral ro n of young g o ti ra e n e g t the nex maintaining nter reports. e rp a C n e v Ste

o how do PGA pros entice more juniors into golf, what support is available and what is the state of junior golf in what has been an unprecedented year for the game? The number of affiliated junior members in England stands at around 45,000, whereas in Scotland from 2019/20, there are 15,515 affiliated juniors (12,990 boys and 2,525 girls). Junior golf in Wales seems to be in a good position. Last year more than 600 girls and 1,100 boys were introduced to the game through Wales Golf’s New2Golf scheme, while almost 3,000 juniors signed up to membership at clubs. Wales Golf Director of Development, Hannah McAllister, commented: “The latest school sports survey figures show that the number of girls has more than doubled, while the overall increase in Wales has been 57 per cent - going from 15.6 per cent in 2015 to 24.5 per cent for the last set of figures available. “In common with many areas of the UK and Ireland, there has been a small decrease in the number of boys playing but the last figures show a pleasing above-target increase of 3.9 per cent in the number of girls taking up the sport

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through Wales Golf schemes. “Our challenge is to work with clubs to ensure they attract young people into full club membership and retain these and engage with the community and schools with our schemes such as New2Golf, the Golf Foundation’s HSBC Golf Roots scheme and our golf accreditation to ensure the junior game grows.” Figures obtained from the Golf Foundation show a good PGA Professional at a welcoming club can change the landscape for young players. In 2019, 437 HSBC Golf Roots Centres ran programmes that saw half a million youngsters try golf in over 3,500 schools, while thanks to PGA pros, 128,149 children received coaching in their school. Brendon Pyle, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “I think people who care about junior golf would agree that there have been some wonderful developments to encourage more young people from all backgrounds and abilities to ‘Start, Learn and Stay’ in golf, including breaking down traditional barriers. “Positive progress in 2019 is borne out by the audited figures for our junior initiatives. We are very excited that golf can thrive with new young players and become a more inclusive sport, in our case

FEATURE

strategy as the Golf Foundation continues to encourage more young people from different backgrounds to enjoy all the physical and mental health benefits of golf. “I think we all share the belief that a healthy golf club and dynamic junior structure will lead to young people being far more likely to stay in the game and thrive, while PGA Professionals should receive the recognition they deserve for inspiring the next generation of players.”

from the top down as we are making our Board of Trustees more diverse, while our player ambassadors also reflect this aim.” As for the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pyle continued: “The arrival of COVID-19 had a definite impact on many golf clubs and schools in terms of how they deliver junior golf. However, from the start we took a lead on the safe return for coaching juniors and competition. We have adapted our initiatives in all areas to get children enjoying golf again and, most importantly, kept a dialogue with all involved in junior golf so we can come back stronger than ever and grow golf successfully together in 2021. I’m very excited about the future of junior golf for these reasons.” There is an incredible bond between The Golf Foundation and hundreds of PGA Professionals across the UK. Take a close look at the charity’s work to change the lives of young people through the power of

golf, and you find PGA Professionals at the heart of much of this positive activity. The Golf Foundation offers discretionary funding for pros through a flexible approach so that coaches at different stages of their career can encourage more young people into the game. And apart from funding, the Golf Foundation’s team of Regional Development Officers can offer their expertise to help create a tailored programme for the needs of each golf club venue. Even though it has been a highly challenging year for all due to the COVID19 pandemic, the Foundation will still work with nearly 500 PGA Professionals in the year ahead, helping to raise their coaching profile; enhancing the business of the clubs taking part by an average of more than £5,000 for the year and creating 36 new juniors in PGA coaching programmes. Pyle continued: “PGA Professionals remain very much at the heart of our

START, LEARN & STAY The Golf Foundation’s expertise lies in their ability to develop initiatives that help golf clubs to recruit and retain more young people at all stages of the ‘Start, Learn, and Stay’ player pathway into membership. Through its national HSBC Golf Roots programme the Foundation reaches youngsters from all backgrounds, usually starting at school – creating interest through ‘Tri-Golf’ and ‘StreetGolf’ formats, in line with the vision of the charity’s co-founder Sir Henry Cotton, who was passionate about golf in schools when the charity started in 1952. Evie Carter signed up to the HSBC Golf Roots programme because she had a passion for junior coaching. “It has been huge for my coaching profile,” said Carter, who runs a hugely successful junior programme at The Golf Centre in Coalville. “It provided me with the stepping stones to develop my coaching as well as a clear vision for me to follow to develop junior golfers in a tried and tested format from years of experience.”

GOLFSIXES LEAGUE - A GAME CHANGER? The Golf Foundation’s six-hole team format for juniors ‘GolfSixes League’ has been attracting young players and families and is a hit with PGA Professionals. In 2019, GolfSixes League was played by more than 2,670 boys and girls from 233 golf clubs across 52 junior leagues, seeing an increase in junior membership of 49 per cent in clubs taking part in England (161 clubs) and a 35 per cent increase across England, Scotland and Wales (trialled in Ireland for the first time). Squads of 12 boys and girls practice together with their PGA coaches before the weekend matches against other clubs. The coaching build-up and togetherness has appealed to children, parents pros

and also wider club staff. The average income from food and beverage at a GolfSixes League fixture has been £300. Brendon Pyle, CEO of the Golf Foundation, said: “All our feedback suggests that GolfSixes League offers a real opportunity to help change the perceptions of golf among the wider public, which is a possible game changer.” With substantial investment from The R&A, the endorsement of the European Tour, and support from the four Home Nations, it is expected that 98 GolfSixes Leagues will take place in 2021 across four nations, featuring 484 golf clubs and 6,600 youngsters.

October 2020

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FEATURE TOP TIPS FOR RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL JUNIOR COACHING PROGRAMME: Andrew Michael (China Fleet Country Club) Don’t be afraid to ask for help, there are plenty of willing volunteers out there. We have an excellent junior organiser and there are lots of parents who are willing to get involved. Just make sure they get a DBS check.

Sarah Claridge (Skibbereen & West Carbery Golf Club) Get the club on side, make them understand that opening the club up to young people encourages revenue through getting parents and friends involved.

Aaron Lansberry (Hatchford Brook Golf Club) Educate yourself! I’ve found continuous education to be critical to my success. I’ve used other sports and programmes to help me develop my own unique way of coaching.

Evie Carter (The Golf Centre, Coalville) I would recommend becoming part of the HSBC Golf Roots Centre programme, as it provides you with support, they’re a great way to get juniors involved and retaining them.

committed team that understands the needs of busy PGA coaches, offering all the advice they need, whether formally or informally. The Foundation has also employed five PGA professionals as RDOs over the past 20 years.

The programme has also been beneficial to her business and facility. Evie (pictuted above) continued: “Having a HSBC Golf Roots Centre accreditation opens doors for clubs and juniors to take part in many of the Golf Foundation programmes. “It’s also a great asset to promote to members and parents as the facilities have to have all the necessary safety checks and procedures in place to make sure we are looking after the welfare of juniors too.” Aaron Lansberry, 2019 England Golf Coach of the Year, has been involved with the Golf Foundation for nine years. He runs a popular junior programme at Hatchford Brook Golf Centre in Birmingham. “The Golf Foundation almost certainly helped ignite my passion for coaching golf to children and so I owe them a lot today,” said Lansberry. “Now I deliver to around 220 children per week in the Solihull area of which 170 visit the golf club every week. “I receive funding every year from the Golf Foundation and I use it to pay for taster days, talks in assemblies and any other non-paid work which relates to golf in schools. I would encourage any PGA Pro to get in contact with their local development officer. They are very

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knowledgeable people who can support you with your junior coaching set ups.” PGA Professionals also use the recently revamped ‘Junior Golf Passport’, they are a driving force in the ‘Girls Golf Rocks’ initiative in 26 counties with England Golf, and more recently, they have helped create a brand new project to inspire youngsters to thrive in golf but also in their wider lives, called ‘Unleash your Drive’. THE BENEFITS FOR PGA PROS It has been calculated that each Golf Roots Centre can expect a total average income of £5,580 through its junior programme by creating new academy and affiliated junior members and through spending at the club associated with this activity. Golf clubs have reported extra annual income of up to £40,000 from junior memberships and new adult memberships linked with their juniors. With the help of Sports Marketing Surveys Ltd, the Foundation estimates the lifetime value of one golfer to be more than £94,000. Another key reason why positive progress is being made is the good relationships between PGA pros and the Golf Foundation’s seven Regional Development Officers (RDOs), a highly

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GOLF ACCESS Golf Access is another established programme designed to attract and increase the number of new golfers, supporting them to become regular players and members. The colour-coded scoring system helps players move from complete beginner through to a level where they are confident and competent enough to play on the full course off standard tees. Over the past year, more than 50 per cent of participants involved in the Golf Access system have progressed into full membership making it a great recruitment tool. PGA Professionals embracing the system have benefited from significant increases in coaching revenue. “It’s a brilliant concept of getting people straight on the golf course to learn rather than learning on a practice facility or driving range,” said Andrew Michael, head professional at Cornwall’s China Fleet Country Club. “After lockdown we saw a massive increase in golf participation. We are getting 20-25 participants at each Golf Access event. We now have a junior team, which we haven’t seen for some years and this is largely down to Golf Access. “I think we will see a much higher percentage of players continue into membership this way, compared to before when we were simply coaching them on the driving range and the putting green/ chipping green. This way they get to experience the game of golf, and not just work on their swing, which is great.”

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FEATURE Sarah Claridge (pictured right), a PGA Professional based at Skibbereen & West Carbery Golf Club in Ireland, heard about Golf Access during her time at England Golf brought the idea back home across the Irish sea. She said: “Golf Access has worked really well acting as a vehicle to migrate the kids onto the course with ease. The short course format makes it easier for them and we encourage golfing parents and volunteers to walk around with them to teach them rules and help them mark the cards. “This year we’ve seen positive results from running Golf Access at Skibbereen & West Carbery Golf Club. We have gone from two juniors playing to 20 playing regularly unaccompanied within 18 months. Surely that’s what it’s all about, I can never understand clubs that restrict junior play. “If juniors don’t start playing golf now, where is the game’s future? My theory is that if they start playing around the age of 8-10 years, you’ll keep hold of them and when they fly off to university and have children, eventually they migrate back to golf when the timing is right with much greater ease.” One example of a PGA Professional thinking outside the box when it comes to retaining junior golfers is Thomas Hefford. The 27-year-old is fascinated by the impact coaches have on the younger generation. “Children are the future, it’s as simple as that,” said Hefford. “Without nurturing young talent, enthusiasm and ambition, golf runs the risk of falling off the radar.” In the Summer of 2018, Hefford set about creating a concept that would enable professionals to evolve their offering and strengthen their existing programmes by providing tangible resources for younger children to use at home as a means of playing, practising and learning. What followed was the birth of ‘Golf Cubs’ – cartoon magazines and an online resource hub. It quickly became a great introduction for young children as well as a useful resource for those more experienced juniors. “My mission was to find a solution to bridging the gap between lessons, especially when getting to a golf facility was not possible…” Hefford added.

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In addition to the magazines and online resources, Thomas has recently designed a Golf Cubs board game, Race To 18, which helps kids learn the rules of golf, etiquette and game play, but with a fun race-like twist. “It is imperative that professionals in the industry strive to grow the game in whatever capacity they can in order to maintain a lifelong and healthy sport. We must never get too complacent about our contributions and instead must endeavour to keep supporting and providing opportunities for children, now more than ever.” VOLUNTEER COACHES The PGA recently revealed exciting new plans for the Association through its 2020 Vision initiative. One major change is the introduction of a new membership category – Club Volunteers by PGA. PGA Members rely on volunteers to play an ‘activator’ role at golf facilities, supporting PGA Professionals with the day-to-day running of junior golf programmes. Nik Fox is a registered PGA Level Two volunteer and is the Junior Organiser at Kenwick Park Golf Course in Lincolnshire, where there are roughly 50 junior members and many more having lessons. Fox said: “PGA Professionals are very busy teaching adults or being directors of golf, while some of the younger pros are not so enthusiastic about teaching juniors. These people are also trying to run pro shops too. They need someone to help and bare some of the load. “I assist with the junior members’ coaching at Kenwick Park and I also created a par 3 nine-hole course which I also maintain, so the juniors can practice and play whenever they want. “You cannot measure just how

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important the role of a volunteers is when it comes to running a successful junior programme. There are barriers you need to overcome so you need just as much drive and dedication to become a PGA accredited volunteer.” Paul Spence, the club’s head coaching professional (pictured below with Nik Fox), added: “As a PGA Professional, myself and my colleagues have got busier and there’s not at lot of time on our hands this day in age. “Nik is a fantastic asset to the club and I’d say he’s probably the most important member of the team because we just don’t have the time with the little ones. “He’s so keen with the juniors, he’s just on their level. He has built a real following growing the triangle up from the bottom. The more people we have at the bottom of the triangle, the more juniors we can feed up. “In other sports it’s much easier for parents or adults to get involved and volunteer. Golf is more specialised and people like Nik are so important for our junior setup here at Kenwick Park.” ●

INTERNATIONAL

PGA NATIONAL

t h g i l t o p s CYPRUS in the Aphrodite Hills and its team of PGA pros are preparing to welcome some of the biggest names in golf in the coming weeks. What the European Tour said…

BEN COWEN European Tour’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer As golf’s global Tour, the European Tour is always looking to break new ground and we are therefore delighted to be able to visit Cyprus for the first time later this year.

The Cyprus Open takes place from October 29-November 1, and the following week the Cyprus Classic (November 5-8) will also be staged at the venue. It will be the first time any European Tour event has been played in the region. PGA Professional Andrew Darker is the Director of Golf at Aphrodite Hills. He reveals how the resort lured the European Tour to Cyprus and the PGA pros role PGA will play. How will hosting two ET events boost the profile of Aphrodite Hills? Firstly, the team is immensely proud to have been chosen as a venue to host a European Tour event, two in fact! Hosting two events is very much in line with our vision as a resort, and as such, these events will strengthen awareness and the positioning of the Resort as a must visit golfing destination. We are an integrated resort and by focussing on ‘golf’ as a driver for business, our other elements will also benefit, these include the Aphrodite Hills Hotel by Atlantica, our Resort Holiday Residences, plus our other sports elements. Its great exposure and is key in aligning our vision with reality. How did the Resort pursuade the Tour to come to Cyprus? Since 2014, we have set out a strategic business plan for the Resort. This plan included an enhancements programme, together with branding and positioning

goals. Our goal was to bring a recognised tour event to the country, so this has been a working progress for around two years now. Fortunately, we have a great relation with ISM (International Sports Management) and it is largely thanks to the ISM team that we find ourselves in the position we are now of hosting these events. The final venue choice was a result of Cyprus’ successful handling of COVID-19, placing our island on the list of the safest countries.

What COVID-19 restrictions will need to be in place for the two events? The Tour has a dedicated team of experts that are dealing with the ever changing COVID-19 factors on a daily basis. We are in constant communication with the Tour, ensuring our resort meets all protocols. One big difference with the rescheduled events is there will be no spectators. As a resort we are COVID Shield certified, this means that the staff already undergo regular testing and any volunteers on the frontline will also be required to be tested. This certification is part of our commitment to follow and exceed all safety protocols ensuring the safety of both our staff and guests. The Tour travel in their own ‘bubble’ so they will take exclusivity of both the hotel and golf course. Once players and officials are tested, only then are they allowed into the ‘bubble’ until the tournament is completed. It is strict and I can imagine very tough for the players to have done this over the past months.

The course at Aphrodite Hills will provide a good test for our members over two weeks and the fact it is based within a resort will also help us as we maintain the tournament bubble required for all our events this season.

October 2020

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INTERNATIONAL How do you prepare Aphrodite Hills Resort to host some of the top names in golf? We prepare in much the same way as we would for our regular visitors, the main difference is really on the course conditioning. We have made a few adjustments, such as adding a little length to the course on four holes, at the tournament weeks we will have slightly firmer, faster greens and we are also re-shaping a few fairways to narrow in the landing zones on a few holes. We feel the subtle changes will present a tough, yet fair test to the golfers. The other area we pride ourselves on is our level of customer service; the golf team is well rehearsed in looking after VIP clients and the entire team are looking forward to hosting them. The Aphrodite Hills Hotel, by Atlantica, will be looking after the players. Our chefs have already been working with the Tour’s nutritional experts to ensure we meet all dietary needs, plus our front office team are trained and ready to receive all players with the wonderful and well-known local Cypriot hospitality. What role will PGA pros play before and during the two tournaments? Giles Johnson (Academy Director), Danny Heard (Academy Director) and Robert Reynolds (Assistant Professional) have already played an important role by assisting in the general organising and staging logistics for the event. Collectively, we have advised on course set up with input for European Tour Productions in possible camera locations. With two events of this

magnitude, it is important to utilise the knowledge of our PGA pros. Between them they have a wealth of experience and I am frequently asking them for advice. During the events, they will take full responsibility for all practice area operations, which is key for the players and if run well, sets the tone for the day and a lasting impression for them all. I will be a go-between trying to juggle in satisfying our members, our property owners, the European Tour, the promoters (ISM) as well as the TV crew, data crews and not forgetting the volunteers. How has becoming a PGA National helped in securing two European Tour events? Our brand association with The PGA came about in 2017, at which time the course was going through a major investment program, with completely rebuilt greens and bunkers. This was one of the requirements to utilise the prestigious PGA National branding, which we launched in 2018. This alone has attracted huge interest and I believe played a crucial role to Aphrodite Hills Resort on the radar of ISM and the European Tour for such events. We have also invested in other areas such as sustainability and staff programs. To run such events we need a competent team, and in the past five years with everything that we have changed, it’s only fair to say that each employee of the golf team has developed their skillset and knowledge in their own right. This been a major factor in gaining the confidence of the decision makers, ultimately securing the event for Aphrodite Hills Resort and Cyprus. ●

GILES JOHNSON Aphrodite Hills - Academy Director I moved from a teaching professional role in Germany to Cyprus and Aphrodite Hills in 2003 to set up the golf academy and promote golf in Cyprus alongside Andrew Darker. I fell in love with the resort, the stunning views, the facilities both on and off the golf course and the warm and friendly people. It has made me very proud as a PGA Member for 22 years and a member of staff at Aphrodite Hills that we have a great association with The PGA and share the same vision of strengthening golf at the resort in Cyprus and globally. I think every member of the golf team, the resort and every golfer in Cyprus cannot wait to showcase Aphrodite Hills, golf in Cyprus and the country itself. The thing that is most pleasing however, is the excitement shown from our junior golfers, the smiles on their faces, the tournaments, the European Tour and the players being the only topic of conversation and their willingness to be involved and see some of the world’s best golfers compete at their home course.

The PGA Professional

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The Value of the PGA Professional

GEORGE MISIRLIS CEO at Aphrodite Hills We began with a vision, a top designer, a stunning location, and the means to create one of the best golf courses in Europe. After that, building a successful team out of dedicated professionals who also find joy in their everyday work, was the greatest success of all. These are the people who made the vision a reality. “GB&I PGA Members pursue and achieve their qualification out of a love and great knowledge of the game. Their know-how and expertise are what helps us experience the sense of progress and allows us to be creatively productive in the long run. It played a great role in attracting the European Tour. “What an amazing opportunity they get to have now while welcoming and working for such great events.

ROBERT REYNOLDS Aphrodite Hills - Assistant Professional It’s a huge honour to be able to represent a PGA National. The commitment to the high standards gives me and the rest of the team, an amazing motivation and job satisfaction. Hosting two European Tour events is going to be fantastic, both for the resort as well as for the country. It will give Aphrodite Hills a great opportunity to be seen all around the world and will provide a significant boost for the future of golf in Cyprus. It will also give us a unique chance to see the best golfers in Europe compete live around our PGA National Golf Course. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the European Tour has set strict guidelines that must be followed upon arrival on the resort. This will somehow narrow our direct interaction with the tour on a high level. I will be involved in the set up of the practice facilities for the players as well as helping the European tour committee with queries and suggestions that they may require.

THE EXPLANAR PUTTING MAT.

“ROLL THE BALL THE STROKE’S FOR FREE” Luther Blacklock, Master P.G.A. Professional, has designed a new and innovative putting mat. By learning to roll the ball, from sound alignment, you develop an ideal putting stroke with minimal technical thought.

ART OF ROLL. The great Snooker player Joe Davis practised his cueing action using the same principle. He placed the cue ball on the brown spot, then send it down the table over the Blue, Pink and Black spots. If the cue ball kicked offline on its return journey, Davis knew his action was flawed. The “Task” of rolling the ball along a line led him to his ideal cue action. The Orange Stripe running down the centre of the EXPLANAR PUTTING MAT is the exact width of a Golf Ball – the first skill is to roll the ball along that line, into the cut-out hole. Strong graphics help to align the putter face and body correctly.

SCIENCE OF ALIGNMENT. The EXPLANAR PUTTING MAT enables you to putt at one target from three different points and perceptions. When you putt along the left diagonal line, the hole feels to be in front of you – this will discourage you from “Pulling” your putts. Conversely, practising down the right-hand diagonal line the hole feels behind you – perfect to stop you “Pushing” putts.

• Invented by Master P.G.A. Pro, Luther Blacklock. • P.G.A. Professional since 1973. • Available in 3m and 4m lengths. • 3m Retail at £125 plus P&P • 4m Retail at £145 plus P&P • True surface with a luxurious velour finish. • 10.5 “Stimpmeter” pace. • Pure roll encourages Distance Control and “Feel”.

RESISTANCE IS VITAL. The EXPLANAR PUTTING MAT has a luxuriously thick “velour” surface. Like a downhill putt, if a mat is too thin with a quick pace, it does not test your stroke, whereas a slower uphill putt requires a true movement.

ONE TASK – 4 BENEFITS. The EXPLANAR PUTTING MAT teaches you to aim your putter face and body correctly. Then, by rolling the ball along the graphic lines, you instinctively develop four key attributes of a sound putting stroke: 1. A rolling ball maintains its line. 2. Roll requires smooth, mild acceleration. 3. Roll needs a measured, calm backswing. 4. Your mind calculates distance on the assumption of a rolling ball. Rather than learning those 4 elements via technical thought, the EXPLANAR PUTTING MAT imparts them to you in a more intuitive, instinctive way. “Mechanical thought does not guarantee good roll – but rolling the ball perfectly along a chosen line, does demand and guarantee an effective putting stroke.” LB2020.

• Thick rubberised base ensures lies flat without creasing. • Strong graphics aid putter face and body alignment. • Actual cut-out hole in mat encourages distance control. • Aiming “stations” to practice alignment from varying angles. • Drills to prevent “Pulled” and “Pushed” putts. • Free, 30-minute tutorial on www.explanar.com • Fun, effective practice indoors, whatever conditions outside.

TO ORDER CONTACT: luther@explanar.com | PHONE MOBILE: +44 (0)7831 653 723

RETAIL SPRING INTO ACTION SS21 APPAREL FROM ADIDAS, CALLAWAY, ISLAND GREEN & MIZUNO YOUNG GUNS ALL THE LATEST GEAR FOR JUNIOR GOLFERS

The PGA Professional

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SAVVY SHOPPER DON’T BE CAUGHT SHORT ON YOUR ‘21 PRE-ORDERS

TR A DE N E W S

Glenmuir launches online ordering platform SCOTTISH GOLF clothing brand Glenmuir has launched a new online order platform to simplify the buying and re-stocking process of crested clothing for PGA Professionals and retailers. The platform enables retailers, with the help of their dedicated area sales agents, to set up the online ordering facility which can be used to market crested clothing for centenaries, teamwear, staff uniform and corporate enquires in a quick, efficient and stock risk-free method. The platform can be used for both Glenmuir and Sunderland of Scotland crested clothing. Martyn Huish, the head PGA Professional at North Berwick Golf Club in Scotland, is one of the early adopters of the new platform and is delighted with its impact on his business. He said: “The Glenmuir Online Order Forms have been a phenomenal success. Set up, members ordering and order fulfilment could not have been easier. Glenmuir has made the whole process so simple for the golf pro and our members were given a fantastic collection to choose from.” Mikhel Ruia, managing Director of Glenmuir and Sunderland of Scotland, said: “Glenmuir and Sunderland of Scotland have a mission to be the easiest and most efficient company to deal with in the golf industry and this new innovative platform is testament to this. One of Glenmuir’s core values is responsibility, and now, more than ever, we have a responsibility to pioneer new methods of helping our beloved customers through these difficult and uncertain times.” Glenmuir has produced a step-by-step tutorial video on how to use the new oWnline order form, which can be viewed at www.glenmuir.com/orderform. For more details, please contact your local Glenmuir area sales manager or email matthew.eagle@glenmuir.co.uk

Foremost publishes SS21 footwear guide FOREMOST HAS published a footwear buying guide for retailers that highlights the key selling points of each of the latest shoe models from its list of approved brands for next season. The Marketing Support Footwear Guide for SS21 features the latest launches from all of Foremost’s EMP footwear brands, including adidas, FootJoy, Mizuno, Puma, Skechers and Under Armour, and offers a comprehensive ‘features and benefits’ guide to models that it believes will be key sellers in the year ahead. The guide also features profit margins on each model, details of POS and visual merchandising material support, and information on product launch timings, ordering processes and contact details. All the products featured in the guide will be supported with range of digital and in-store marketing support from Foremost. Chris Glenday, Foremost’s Approved Supplier Manager, said: “The Footwear Guide is an important new service for our EMP members. Offering a carefully-selected range of products from each of our approved suppliers will not only educate our members about the new products, including new high-margin models and ‘special buy’ campaigns, but it gives them the chance to coordinate their ordering around products that will be subject to comprehensive marketing support.” October 2020

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TR A DE N E W S

Essex academy blazes a trail with Awesome Golf

Retail shows signs of recovery following summer golf boom WHILE THE number of rounds of golf played in the UK was up 60% in July and 70% in August compared to last year’s figures, golf retail has been slower to rebound from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with many golfers still reluctant to enter pro shops or invest in new equipment during these uncertain times. However, the latest figures from Golf Datatech have brought some much-needed relief for retailers, with sales in value terms up by 24% in July when compared to 2019 figures, and up 36% from those reported in 2018. While it will take months of further growth to make up for sales lost in March, April and May – with overall sales down 32% on the year to date there was a 50% rise in sales of hardwear in July, when matched against the same period last year, while balls and glove sales also enjoyed an uptick, with combined sales in July up 16% on 2019’s figures. But while sales of equipment have been relatively strong, apparel continues to suffer, with Golf Datatech reporting sales of polo shirts down by 37% in July against last year’s figures, and sales of outerwear (sweaters and mid-layers) were down 16%. Apparel as a whole was down 20% in July, and by 48% over the year, when compared to 2019.

PGA PROFESSIONAL David Hewitt’s ‘Golf in Progress’ academy in Essex has become the first indoor golf venue in the UK to install Awesome Golf software across its simulator bays. The Awesome Golf suite, which offers range-style practice alongside fun games and video game style golf courses, is being used in conjunction with FlightScope’s Mevo+ radar launch monitors. Hewitt, who owns ‘Golf in Progress’, a recently opened indoor academy in Leigh-on-Sea, trialled various combinations before settling on installing FlightScope with Awesome Golf. He said: “We tried a few different pieces of software for the Mevo+, running them in different bays to see how they performed, and it quickly became clear that Awesome Golf was the best fit for us. The style and presentation makes it easy for everyone to use and it covers everything from serious practice to more fun games and virtual golf.” Visitors to the venue are benefitting from a QR code log-in system which, when combined with the free Awesome Golf Community App, enables them to track their own practice data. Players can even go head-tohead against players at other Awesome Golf facilities around the world and see who tops the charts in the skills challenges. Gavin Hamer, owner of Awesome Golf, said: “The new system at Golf in Progress shows just how versatile we can be. By using iPads and projectors we have been able to keep costs low without detracting from the user experience. It opens up a whole host of opportunities for us as a business, particularly when it comes to delivering solutions for short driving ranges, as well as the growing simulator market.” For more details, visit www.awesome-golf.com.

Woosnam hopes to bounce back with SkyTrak FORMER MASTERS champion Ian Woosnam is hoping to get off to a fast start to the 2021 Legends Tour season with the help of his SkyTrak launch monitor after undergoing a major back operation during lockdown. The 62-year-old Welshman has signed a sponsorship deal with SkyTrak, and as well as being an ambassador for the company, he also will now use a SkyTrak-branded golf bag and will wear SkyTrak-branded clothing and headgear. With the 2021 Legends Tour [formerly Staysure Tour] set to commence in late 2020, Woosnam expects to play a busy schedule over the next year, including a few months competing in the USA in early 2021, before returning to Europe for the bulk of the Legends Tour season. The PGA Professional

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TR A DE N E W S NEWSBURST

Honma launches TR21 range Honma Golf has expanded its Tour Release range of clubs with the introduction of TR21 irons, fairway woods and hybrids. The complete TR range, which also includes the TR20 P, V and B irons, plus the TR20 460cc and 440cc drivers – will golfers the flexibility to put together a combination of clubs to suit their game with a mix of customised woods and irons. The TR21 BIG-LB (FTi) fairway wood (RRP £349) features a heavy steel sole to provide a deep and low centre of gravity, a thin, fast titanium face and sole slot designed to increase ball speeds and deliver high launch and explosive distance. It has a loft of 14° and is fitted with the brand’s hand-rolled 60g VIZARD wood shafts. The TR21 FW fairway wood (£309) also features adjustable sole weights to control launch and spin for optimal distance and accuracy in a sleeker profile. It comes in 15°, 16.5°, 18° and 21° lofts. The TR21 H hybrid (£269) are offered in 18°, 21° & 24 lofts and feature a low centre of gravity location for improved launch and spin, and a narrow sole. The TR21 X irons (£175/£210 st/gr) boast the same muscleback design as the TR20 B irons, but in a larger, more forgiving profile. A hollow body and low tungsten weighting combine to deliver fast ball speeds in a head that will appeal to a wider range of players. Honma is also running a nationwide promotion that offers golfers the chance to win a set of clubs from its latest range. Between Sept 1 and Nov 30, golfers who get fitted for Honma clubs and share their experience on social media are entered into a monthly draw to win a free set of clubs they’ve been custom fitted for or receive a full refund for clubs they purchased at the time. Golfers can book a fitting at honmafittingevents.as.me. 32

Callaway expands Mack Daddy wedge offering Callaway’s new Mack Daddy CB wedges are designed to offer higher handicappers enhanced forgiveness with precise control and spin around the greens, even when they don’t make perfect contact. Designed to offer an easier transition from cavity back irons into wedges, they boast a slightly larger head and thicker topline than traditional bladed wedges, but feature the same JAWS grooves found in Callaway’s MD5 wedges to offer improved spin on all shots. In the sand and lob models, the grooves extend across the whole face – an innovation borrowed from Callaway’s PM Grind Wedges – to give more control on shots that aren’t hit out of the centre of the face. Finished in brushed chrome, the CB wedges are available in two sole grinds to promote greater consistency. In the lower lofts, a full sole provides iron-like turf interaction with moderate bounce, while in the mid and higher lofts, a modified W Grind enhances bounce to give greater forgiveness when playing from bunkers and deeper rough. A KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 105 shaft has been developed in a new lighter weight, while for players who use graphite irons, a new KBS Hi-Rev G graphite shaft option in 60g and 80g versions is available. Completing the package, a specially extended 11-5-inch grip has been developed in partnership with Golf Pride that enables players to choke down for improved feel and distance control. Available in PW (46°, 48°); GAP (50°, 52°); Sand (54°, 56°); Lob (58°, 60°) options, Mack Daddy CB Wedges are offered in LH/RH with an RRP of £119.

October 2020

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ADVERTORIAL

The 2021 PowaKaddy GPS rental trolley – Assemble your fleet

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PowaKaddy, the world’s leading electric golf trolley company, has unveiled its 2021 GPS electric rental trolley offering; inviting professionals to pre-order their fleet now to make a withdrawal from the company’s ‘ultimate cash machine’. The 2021 model has elevated the standard for rental golf trolley offerings to an unprecedented level, with the exciting new design providing golf club professionals and retailers an unmissable opportunity to boost their revenue. Significant advancements in technology and a stylish new design mean that professionals can offer the rental trolley to customers with a higher overall charge-out rate, inspiring confidence in product quality and helping deliver a super-fast return on investment. With more golf being played than ever before, now is the time to invest in a fleet of PowaKaddy rental GPS trolleys. The industryleading brand wants to help PGA partners reap the rewards of their investment immediately, by delivering their most advanced rental product to date and providing members and visitors with an unforgettable golfing experience. Following its predecessor as the world’s first rental GPS electric trolley, the upgraded FX5 GPS can help golfers manage their game more efficiently than ever before. Featuring a super-accurate highperformance GPS, accessible via the all-new full colour display, the 2021 model is the smartest electric rental trolley on the market. The sleek new design features a high-performance, low profile Powaframe chassis with a Simple 1-Click fold system, as well as a High Power Plug’n’Play™ 30v battery system and whisper quiet 230-Watt motor. Additional features include an OCA widescreen display, battery top isolator switch with LED indicator, anti-tamper dial control, a Bluetooth connected app for quick course updates and a two-year transferrable warranty which includes the Lithium XL battery*. Commenting on the introduction of the latest rental fleet, PowaKaddy UK Sales Manager, David Howse, said: “Our rental GPS trolley offering is proving to be a huge hit with professionals. We are providing them with the tools to increase their cash flow by doubling their investment in just two months. “With the amount of new technology in this trolley, professionals are able to charge slightly increased hire fees and achieve faster returns than ever.” He continued: “Offering a PowaKaddy rental trolley is also a great way to encourage retail sales. Customers that are interested in purchasing an electric trolley can explore the abundance of new features in the 2021 GPS range by test driving an FX5 GPS hire trolley.” The new PowaKaddy Rental GPS trolley scheme is available to order now from your local PowaKaddy Area Sales Manager. For more information on the entire range of high-performance trolleys, bags, batteries and accessories, go to www.powakaddy.com. *Terms & Conditions apply

The PGA Professional

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WE’VE GOT YOUR BACK partnership

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THE TGI GOLF PARTNERSHIP IS A GOLF RETAIL SERVICES GROUP, OWNED BY PGA PROFESSIONALS.

DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT, ASK OUR TGI GOLF PARTNERS... 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. Ian Mowbray Liphook Golf Club

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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. Kevan Whitson Royal County Down Golf Club

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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. Darren Arber Halifax West End Golf Club

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JUNIOR E Q U I P M E N T FO C U S

S N U G YOUNG A junior golfer could be a customer for life, so it will pay to stock a decent range of child-friendly equipment if you want to earn their long-term loyalty

WILSON

Wilson’s Deep Red Junior Set (£169) comprises seven clubs (driver, fairway wood, 5-, 7, 9-iron, wedge and a putter), all of which are fitted with lightweight graphite shafts. The heel-toe weighted putter is fitted with a junior-sized paddle grip to lock the hands perfectly to square the putter face at address. The set comes with a lightweight Deep Red stand bag with dual padded shoulder straps.

CALLAWAY

Like most junior sets, Callaway’s junior clubs have been designed for height rather than age. The four-piece XJ1 set is for those between 3ft 2in and 3ft 10in; the six-piece XJ2 is suitable those between 3ft 11in and 4ft 5in; the seven-piece XJ3 set is designed for those between 4ft 6in and 5ft, while the 10-piece XT Teen set is aimed at older kids between 5ft and 5ft 6in. The ultra-lightweight sets, which boast graphite shafts, offer some of the same technologies used in Callaway’s adult ranges and are designed to offer maximum forgiveness and easy-swinging distance. The XJ1 (£199) features a fairway wood, 7 & 9 iron and a putter; the XJ2 (£299) features a driver (17°), fairway wood (23°), 7, 9, SW and putter; the XJ3 (£399) switches out the 9-iron for an 8-iron and adds in a hybrid, while the XT (£549) features a titanium driver (14°), fairway wood (19°), hybrid (27°), 6-9 irons, PW, SW and a putter. All four sets come with a lightweight stand bag with a matching rain hood.

October 2020

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JUNIOR E Q U I P M E N T FO C U S

PING

Ping has sought to end the financial pain felt by parents due to the limited lifespan of junior equipment by offering a free club adjustment service with its Prodi G junior range. To ensure lengths are accurate as the child grows, Ping’s Junior Fitting Process enables the Prodi G set to be re-shafted, lengthened, re-weighted and re-gripped free of charge for one time after the initial purchase. The fittings are designed for juniors who height is between 4ft 4in and 5ft 2in, so anyone taller than that should use Ping’s standard adult colour codes for fittings. The Prodi G set comprises 11 clubs, a driver (15°), fairway wood (22°), hybrid (27°), 6-9 irons, PW, GW, SW, and a blade-style putter. The clubs can be ordered in any combination and all are custom built. Two lightweight graphite shaft flexes are optimized for weight and balance to match junior swing speeds. The 460cc driver (RRP £215) features the same turbulators that can be seen on the crown of the adult G400 and G410 drivers that reduce aerodynamic drag for added clubhead speed. There’s also a dragonfly crown to make the head’s weighting more efficient and a 39.5-inch graphite shaft that provides a lightweight feel. In testing against the industry-leading junior driver, it generated 3.5mph faster ball speed, 15 more yards, and a 50% higher MOI. The fairway wood (£110) also features crown turbulators, while the hybrid (£90) is offered with 27° of loft. Prodi G irons (£60) feature a cavity back and a CTP insert, while graphite shafts to make them lighter and easier to swing. The wedges (£60) are based on Ping’s Glide 2.0 wedges and come in 52° and 56° lofts, while the set is rounded out with a heel-toe weighted Voss putter (£60) that features a PP58 grip and a 29.5-inch shaft. The clubs can be stored in two sizes of the Ping Hoofer Prodi G carry bags (£120), both of which feature a four-way top, four pockets and adjustable dual straps.

LYNX

The Lynx’ new junior range offers progressive clubs for kids aged from two to 14 years old, with 36 different single club and size options available, from driver through to putter in three colour-coded fittings. Depending on individual height, Green is designed for those aged 5-7; Red for 7-11 years, and Silver for 11-14 years. Each range features appropriately sized heads, bespoke shafts with kick-points at the right position for each club length, and correct head weightings for the relative age groups and their strengths. Lynx also provides ‘yardsticks’ which measure the length of a child’s arms in relation to the floor. This dictates the best colour code for each child. In each category, Lynx offers a driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, hybrid, 5-9-iron, PW, SW and putter, all on an open-stock basis, with RRPs from £19.95 per club. Additionally, for the youngest golfers just starting out, there are blister pack sets for the 2+ and 4+ age groups, containing a 7-iron and a putter. Retailers can order single clubs in whatever quantities best suits their business. As a result, young golfers can try the game by buying just one club if they wish – avoiding the expense of having to purchase full set of clubs – then add to if they become more committed to the game. Murray Tonry, Lynx’s UK and European Sales Manager, said: “By making all of our junior clubs available on an open stock basis it means juniors can try out golf through a PGA Professional without the expense or worry of having to commit to purchasing a full set, while our accounts do not have to commit to carrying a full line-up of junior stock either, which would ordinarily tie up shop space and cash.”

CLEVELAND

Cleveland offers three junior sets – the 3-piece Small (FW (22°), 7, putter, £119) for those between 3ft and 3ft 7in tall; the Medium 6-piece set (driver (18°), hybrid (28°), 7, 9, SW and putter, £179) for those between 3ft 8in and 4ft 3in; and a Large set which comes a driver (18°), fairway (22°), hybrid (28°), 7 and 9-iron, sand wedge and a putter, £190) for those between 4ft 6in and 5ft 3in.

The PGA Professional

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JUNIOR E Q U I P M E N T FO C U S

SHOES & GLOVES While most young golfers under the age of 10 will be happy wearing a pair of trainers, when their swing speed starts to pick up a pair of golf shoes is all but essential, and will be something that all wannabe Rory’s will aspire to acquire to complete the ‘tour pro’ look. Most of the major footwear brands have done a decent job of catering for the youth market, and although the ranges of models on offer are limited, they feature enough technology to provide a solid, comfortable and performance-enhancing platform for the younger golfer to step out onto the fairways in. FootJoy’s Pro|SL Junior shoes (£54.99) are an excellent option, with sizes ranging from 13 to 5. Offered with easy-clean synthetic uppers, cushioned foam insoles and a molded outsole with rubber traction nubs, they are available in a clean white, with navy and red accents. Other junior models worth stocking include adidas’s CP Traxion (RRP £59.95), which feature water-repellent microfibre leather uppers, bounce midsole cushioning and a six-cleat outsole. Available in white/ silver/grey or black/silver/white, they are offered in sizes 2.5-6. Puma dispenses with fiddly laces in its Grip Fusion Sport Disc (£59.95), opting for a disc closure that simply requires the twist of a button to tighten the flywire that runs around the uppers for added support. A Fusion Foam outsole provides stability and bounce back energy, while traction is provided by a nubbed sole. They are available in a choice of three colours (black/grey, grey/ blue and grey/pink) in sizes 3-6. Skechers offers juniors the Go Golf Blaster (RRP £54) in black or white, in sizes 2-6. Featuring synthetic uppers, which boast the brand’s H2GO Shield waterproof protection, they also offer Ultra Go cushioning, while grip is provided by five replaceable Softpikes. GLOVES A correctly fitted glove is essential for any golfer who is just starting out in the game, especially for juniors who will be spending more time hitting shots than most and need a solid grip on the club. The FootJoy Junior glove boasts a soft MicroTac palm and patches, and allows for a comfortable, durable grip. Offered in S, M, ML and L sizes, it has an RRP of £7. Ping’s Prodi G junior glove comes in black and white with a vibrant green Velcro closure tab and a moisture-wicking wristband. It comes in S/M and X/XL. sizes.

US KIDS GOLF

While US Kids Golf boasts the widest selection of off-the-shelf clubs for juniors in the market, with no fewer than 14 different ranges (nine in its Ultralight Series and five in the Tour Series) which are fitted according to a player’s height and swing speed. The range is colour coded according to a player’s height (45 to 63 inches), with each code given a swing speed tolerance. The clubs are sized to a proportionate length relative to each three inches of a player’s height. The size and weight of the grips are progressively balanced in nine sizes, while shaft stiffness is also slightly different in each set. US Kids clubs are 5%-30% lighter than adult clubs, with Ultralight clubs aimed at beginners and intermediate players, while the Tour Series is for younger players with faster swing speeds. US Kids recommends that no driver should be more than 2/3rds of a player’s height, so someone who is 5ft tall (60 inches) should use a driver shaft that is no longer than 40in, while a player who is 4ft 3in (51in) should be fitted with a 34-inch driver. Sold in sets from £89 for three clubs, and upto £499 for ten clubs, US Kids also allows orders for individual clubs, so golfers can add clubs as they improve or grow, and retailers don’t have to stock up on complete sets.

TAYLORMADE

TaylorMade has teamed up with Rory McIlroy to help market its three junior sets, the Rory 4+ Blue, Rory 8+ Blue and Rory 8+ Pink. Incorporating many of the same technologies found in adult TaylorMade clubs, each set has been specifically engineered to deliver the optimal lengths, lofts and shaft flexes to promote proper swing mechanics for juniors. The 4+ Blue is a five-club set featuring a driver (16°), rescue (30°), 7-iron, SW and a putter, that is designed for those between 3ft 6in and 4ft 4in; while the 8+ Blue and 8+ Pink are 7-piece sets that includes a 3-wood (24°) and a 9-iron for kids aged 8 and above. The 8+ set, the 400cc driver boasts a 39-inch graphite shaft, compared to the 33-5-inch driver in the 4+ set. The loft of the 7-iron in the 4+ set is two degrees lower than the same club in the 8+ set. The putter in both ranges is a centre-shafted mallet. Both sets come with a lightweight stand bag and a fluffy St Bernard dog headcover, inspired by the headcover found on Rory’s own driver.

October 2020

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APPAREL S S 2 1

GREEN SHOOTS Eco-friendly materials and bold floral patterns dominate apparel collections for SS21 adidas Golf adidas Golf is continuing to invest in its sustainability credentials, with its SS21 apparel ranges playing their part in moving the brand towards its stated goal of removing non-virgin polyester fabrics from its products by 2024. It’s key fabric technologies will be PrimeBlue and PrimeGreen – which will be used in 90% of apparel and 80%of footwear in 2021 – while PrimeKnit will also feature in the new collections. PrimeBlue, a fabric already seen in products including the Tour360 XT Knit worn by adidas players at The Players Championship, contains Parley Ocean Plastic. Parley for the Oceans work to remove plastic from the world’s oceans and manufacture the waste into yarn to be used to create products. In 2021, PrimeBlue will feature in a small capsule collection available to retailers ahead of the US Open in June. PrimeGreen, a performance fabric which contains no virgin plastic, will be introduced into the golf catalogue for the first time in 2021. PrimeGreen products are not only environmentally friendly and extremely affordable, but they also promise to perform the same, if not better, than non-sustainable garments. The premium Adicross collection will

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stay in the line-up for 2021, with a host of new designs, including several styles of joggers and hoodies, but there will also be a new range called GoTo that will sit within the performance line. Offering a wide range of golfing staples, GoTo offers cotton-like feel, but with performance attributes like moisture-wicking and UPF50 protection. Key products will include the GoTo Polo, which boasts a new Flex Neck neckline, which allows the shirt to be pulled over the head without having to undo the buttons. The brand will also be diving into the archives to introduce EQT to the golf course. The line-up mixes modern styles and classic silhouettes with subtle hints to the EQT range that first shot to fame in the 1980s. Across the apparel ranges, the fit has also been adjusted, with narrower openings, narrower shoulders and sleeve openings, all of which will serve to offer the more fitted look that many golfers now prefer.

APPAREL S S 2 1

CALLAWAY Callaway Apparel SS 2021 collection continues the brand’s ‘authenticto-golf’ mantra with a range of products that are designed using the latest fabrics, constructions and innovation - with the golf swing being the driving factor. Complimenting this, the brand is at the forefront of creating unique and exciting fashion print designs to bring the products to life, injecting fun and personality across men’s and ladies. Lupe Benitez, Callaway Apparel’s vice president of product design, said: “Micro-conversationals and our micro-chevron geometrics are still very important for that subtle solid-non solid effect, while introducing some fun, larger scale prints. We are excited to introduce new ventilated fabrics and textures this Spring, while new premium, soft-touch yarn blends in fabrics add an elevated look to our apparel. New fabrications with an eco-focus and a fun, print and pattern story make this Spring ‘21 collection modern and refreshing.” New for 2021 is the introduction of ECO sustainable fabric materials blends. Products bearing the ECO logo on hang tags are incorporating these recycled blends. The Men’s Collection features three new ranges, delivering striking and bright colour pallets. The introduction of larger scale prints can be seen across the portfolio, with styles such as the Postcard Printed Polo, Floral Polo and Soft Focus Floral Polo (pictured right), while classic styles for the more conservative golfer are still a mainstay of the collection. The slim-fit Callaway X collection grows in 2021 with updated designs inspired by current fashion trends and offering a more tailored fit to suit the European golfer. Key pieces feature a base colour palate of beetle green and atomic blue,

while SS21 sees a new contemporary Merino Crew Neck jumper, plus some lightweight layering as showcased by the Mixed Media Jacket. Callaway’s SS21 Ladies Collection offers something for every taste through presenting fresh contemporary colour pallets. Larger scale prints are especially eye catching, with an example of this being the Postcard Print polo and matching skort; the Parasol short and long sleeve polo, with matching skort, and the Hummingbird short and long sleeve polo, with matching skort (pictured above). These types of print make for great pairing pieces to create an outfit or tying items back to a core block colour. Capitalising on the popularity of the golf dress, 2021 sees three new colour options, including Virtual Pink. The brand will continue to feature 360-degree TrueSculpt – a slimming waistband design. “We have re-shaped the way a skort should fit, feel and perform,” says Benitez. “The waistband contours comfortably to your waist to deliver a slimming effect and added freedom of movement.” Two different types of belt are offered for men in SS21 – the Chev Belt II and the Cut-To-Fit stretched Reversible Belt, while women can choose from the Ladies Leather Belt and the V Reversible Web Belt. Belts in both Men’s and Ladies come in a variety of colours. For SS20, Callaway Apparel continue to develop the junior range, offering options for both boys and girls.The brand offers six key colours in boys polos alongside a Waffle Fleece” To complete the look, Youth Tech Trousers and Shorts complete a head to toe outfit. A new fashion colour, Raspberry Sorbet, delivers a fresh strong look in girls, along with a new Flounce Skort with unique hemline design. www.callawayeuropeapparel.com

October 2020

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APPAREL S S 2 1

MIZUNO Mizuno’s Spring/Summer apparel collection for 2021 features an extensive range that will offer golfers practical and stylish solutions whatever their golfing requirements. The brand’s anatomically-patterned, four-way stretch Move Tech fabric features across the SS21 range, allowing excellent freedom of movement throughout the swing. Another technology showcased is Quick Dry Plus – a material that rapidly absorbs and diffuses moisture from the body for maximum comfort on even the hottest days. The range features a refined colour palette and contemporary styling, teeing off with six models of polo shirts with designs to suit all tastes. The Move Tech Quick Dry Polo is a classic lightweight summer polo featuring Mizuno’s Runbird motif on collar and yoke. The Move Tech Quick Dry Polo Plus features the same logo, with subtle piping on a ribbed collar, with ribbed cuffs. The soft-touch, lightweight Quick Dry Horizon Polo boasts a more athletic and contemporary styling, while the Quick Dry Citizen Polo presents a tour-inspired look offered in grey, navy, black and red. The Quick Dry Oceanic Polo delivers a modern look with retro twist thanks to its sublimated print, while the sublimated print on the Quick Dry Mirage Polo creates a contemporary two-tone style. Moving to outerwear, the Quick Dry Breeze ¼ Zip is an elegant and simple outer layer. Featuring a lightweight, thin material, it’s an ideal garment when the temperature drops slightly. The Windlite Gilet offers wind protection and water repellency and is a go-to garment in changeable conditions. With subtle pockets and Runbird motif on chest and yoke, it’s a stylish as well as practical item. The Windlite Jacket is ideal if conditions worsen further. It’s lightweight and offers protection without compromising on structure or range of movement. It offers wind protection and water repellency while the gently elasticated cuffs ensure maximum comfort. Move Tech Citizen Trousers offer a slim and athletic fit and showcase Mizuno’s four-way stretch Move Tech fabric, which is anatomically positioned for ease of movement. Although lightweight, it’s also a highly structured trouser. Move Tech Citizen Shorts will also be available.

ISLAND GREEN Island Green, which is celebrating 40 years in the golf apparel business, is continuing with its passion for offering affordable, stylish and performance-enhancing clothing that can be worn on and off the golf course, while delivering a great profit margin for retailers. The brand is featuring COOLPASS technical stretch fabric in much of its SS21 apparel range, with properties which include moisture wicking, UV protection, quick dry and breathability. The SS21 men’s collection, which comprises polos, midlayers, knitwear, jackets and vests, trousers and shorts, is inspired by the number of standout designs that feature clean lines and detailed patterns offered in a great choice of colours. The ladies’ collection fetures the same breadth of products with three distinct colours stories in lavender, navy blue and pink, while the men’s collections offer marl fabrics in sky blue, navy and charcoal with detailed trim colour. The materials used are designed to enhance comfort on the golf course, with Elastane stretch fabrics allowing freedom of movement. Island Green has an easy-to-use B2B online ordering system for regular top-up orders, especially for the essentials club logo shirts or tapered trousers, while shorts are in stock all year round. For more details, or to set up an account, visit www. islandgreengolf.co.uk or email info@islandgreengolf.co.uk.

golf.mizunoeurope.com

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RETAIL

HOW TO BUY

SMART IN

2021 Following the hiatus in sales caused by the pandemic the need to be smart about your pre-orders for next year has never been greater. XPOS Business Development Director Mark Hopkins offers some tips to help you make the right buying decisions in these uncertain times

espite the disruption from the pandemic and subsequent adaptions we’ve made to our routines this year, when it comes to retail, some things don’t change. For golf retailers, autumn heralds the time for planning and buying for the following year. Hopefully, the weather will be kind and deliver an extended golfing season, while the staging of The Masters in November may provide a welcome boost to golf sales in the run up to Christmas, as we start to think about what our customers will want to buy over the winter and into next spring. With the best of the season and the major product launches behind us, now’s the time to look at the successes and failures from this year to help you plan strategically for the next. But, wait! This is 2020 and it hasn’t exactly been a ‘normal’ year of retail. No-one could have predicted a global pandemic or a shut shop for two months. We didn’t plan for

this so, so how do golf retailers now make decisions for the year ahead? Believe it or not, when it comes to buying for next year, things shouldn’t be that different. Golf retail is down a bit, but you can see how we’ve actually bucked the trend when you compare golf to general retail. July actually saw the biggest month of sales ever recorded by Golf Datatech in Europe, and August’s results are a close second. Yes, most retailers will be down slightly on last year, but we’ve seen some tremendous successes, even though shops were closed earlier in the season. You might think it’s going to be a lot harder to plan for next year because of the pandemic, but don’t forget that golf retailers are used to dealing with disasters. The weather deals continual blows to UK golf businesses and, yet, we always make a comeback. Year on year, the numbers even out, so it’s worth remembering that, however gloomy your sales figures might look right now.

October 2020

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RETAIL WATCH FOR HIGHS AND LOWS Two years ago, the team at XPOS undertook analysis, using historic data from golf shop sales and noted a definitive cycle of sales every two years. The graph (pictured right) shows the distinct peaks and troughs across seven years’ worth of sales data for the outerwear category, illustrating a clear purchasing pattern. We can clearly see how sales increase and decrease every two years. So, if sales peaked in 2018, they will dip the following year, and rise again in 2020. The research proved the same cyclical pattern occurred across all key categories, although some were more extreme than others. Big peak followed by a big trough. Small peak followed by a small trough. We can take a positive message from what we found in the research, especially with the events of 2020. Everyone knows the weather influences the golf business, so you’d think the one category that would be the most effected is outerwear. What we know is that if you have a bad time with a category one year, don’t assume it’ll be the same next year. Don’t give up because, despite the weather, national disasters or a global pandemic, you can more or less guarantee that cycle. If you’ve had a bad year with apparel sales in 2020, try not to panic. The biggest impact on your business is still you: the decisions you make and what you do. Taking advantage of the highs is a key priority. When the weather is good, or we’re experiencing a boom in golf, don’t sit still. Adapt, be creative and embrace the good times. Pay attention to the highs and lows, watch for trends and invest more, or less, in areas that are working. It might be a gamble, but use the numbers to back you up and keep in mind our findings about the buying cycle. HOW TO TRACK YOUR OWN BUYING CYCLES A good sales and stock solution will give you access to reports that can help you watch for trends across your business and could help you to be more confident in your buying decisions. If you’re an XPOS user, run the Monthly Sales Analysis by DPS report, picking a date range and category. Go back to 2017 and see what patterns emerge.

OUTERWEAR SALES - ROLLING % CHANGE YEAR-OVER-YEAR (2013-2020)

You might think it’s going to be a lot harder to plan for next year because of the pandemic, but don’t forget that golf retailers are used to dealing with disasters” BRAND DILEMMA It’s just possible that 2020 has been a worse year for golf fashion brands than for the retailers themselves. When shops closed in March, many golf retailers cancelled pre-orders in anticipation of fewer sales, which has had a knock-on effect across the industry. We’re now at a point where stock levels have come down dramatically across the industry and there just isn’t enough stock in the supply chain. If retailers don’t commit to brands, the brands can’t plan ahead or guarantee a supply of stock. I’ve been in several golf shops recently that are pretty under-stocked and I do have concerns that shops will have nothing to sell next year. MAKE THE SMART DECISIONS NOW It’s crucial for retailers to understand where golf sits and remember that, despite the disruption of Covid-19, golf sales are doing well. Think about the members who have joined your clubs this year and encourage them to stay on. What can you do to build loyalty and encourage repeat purchases?

HERE’S OUR KEY BUYING ADVICE FOR 2021: • Look at your own buying cycles; think about your peaks and troughs and try to anticipate what you might sell more, or less, of next year. • Put aside concerns about the effect of Covid-19 on your business and have confidence in your reports. Research shows that sales even out over a longer term and the buying cycles run themselves. • Look at what you need now and make a commitment to your brands. Perhaps focus on fewer brands for 2021. If you normally deal with 10 brands, maybe cut it down to five. If you deal with five, focus on three. Rather than spread your loyalty thin, work with fewer brands, but think about some form of commitment to the ones you work with. • Put your orders in! If time really is against you this month, you could look to repeat your 2019 purchases, at the very least. The key thing is not to shrink your stock too much as you may not be able to get hold if it when you need it most. ●

For help with setting business goals, budgeting and understanding reporting, book a Business Health Review with an XPOS retail expert on 01454 418 395. For updates on XPOS developments, business news, and free retail advice, visit www.crossovertec.co.uk and follow XPOS on Twitter @crossovertec

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ADVERTORIAL

s an official partner and preferred supplier of payment solutions to The PGA, First Data continues to support golf clubs across the UK with the latest in point-of-sale (POS) solutions and payment processing technology.

First Data Supporting you with the latest payment solutions!

We’ve extended our partnership with The PGA for another three years. Together were providing innovative solutions and services to PGA Members through our Clover POS system, powering more than 2,800 transactions per second to more than six million businesses around the world, from startups to the world’s largest corporations. We want to support golf clubs and PGA Members as you reopen and begin to trade again. Here are some of the benefits we offer to golf clubs: • • • • • •

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First Data can save your business money. Through our partnership with The PGA, First Data has already delivered significant savings for hundreds of members across the UK. If you’d like to find out how we can help you, call us on 0330 123 1241 and mention that you are a PGA Member. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

*Businesses must be trading for over 12 months to apply for faster funding, successful application is subject to approval. Faster Funding promotion is free for PGA Members who are new to First Data and will continue the length of the merchant contract. www.firstdata.co.uk/mybusinessFirst Data is a trading name of First Data Europe Limited, a private limited company incorporated in England (company number 02012925) with a registered address at Janus House, Endeavour Drive, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3WF. First Data Europe Limited is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA register No. 582703; CCA No. 739230) © 2020 First Data Corporation. All Rights Reserved. All trademarks, service marks and trade names referenced in this material are the property of their respective owners.

October 2020

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National POLAND

“A classy golf course” GARY PLAYER, NINE-TIMES MAJOR CHAMPION

A LEGENDARY DESIGN WAITING FOR YOU TO DISCOVER

www.modrylas.pl

TRAVEL

A MESSAGE FROM GOLFBREAKS As the long nights begin to shorten and the summer draws to a close, we are all longing for a break away to sunnier climes, or at least I certainly am!

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

The last 6 months have been a challenging time, as has been the same for most, but we are incredibly proud of the work we have done, transforming our sales team into a service team overnight and ensuring all our PGA Professional clients were contacted and breaks re-booked for another date. The good news is, golf’s overall popularity has boomed since lockdown and I know speaking to a number of Pros over recent months, PGA Professionals have been as busy as they have ever been. Memberships are up, as are visitor green fees and there is a fantastic buzz around golf clubs in the recent resurgence that we haven’t seen for a number of years.

Directly linked to this has been the huge demand for breaks away to UK venues since the majority re-opened in July, with golfers desperate to get away, particularly if their golf trips to destinations abroad have been curtailed. The excellent weather over recent months has also played a huge part in this and it’s been great to be able to help plenty of PGA Professionals get away and enjoy a trip with their members. Whilst this has been an extremely challenging period for everyone, there have also been a great number of positives for the golf industry, and long may this resurgence continue. If you are starting to think about your next Pro Travel break, whether it’s a last-minute UK getaway or something bigger for 2021, our dedicated team are here to help when you’re ready. We’re here to help get you back on course!

Ben Foster Head of Pro Travel

WHY BOOK WITH GOLFBREAKS

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

EARN 5% commission SAVE with our market leading rates & bespoke packages at over 2,500 venues worldwide PEACE OF MIND with our market leading customer service levels EXPERT advice from our dedicated Pro Travel team EASY access to your quotes, bookings and make payment through our online portal EXCLUSIVE Breakpoints loyalty scheme

FRASER CARR Senior Business Development Manager North UK, Scotland & Ireland M: 07801 831 929 E: fcarr@golfbreaks.com

JAMES MARTIN Business Development Manager South UK

CALLUM KIRBY Personal Travel Assistant T: 01753 752880 E: ckirby@golfbreaks.com

M: 07849 083 479 E: jrmartin@golfbreaks.com

October 2020

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Extended offer! Book a Pro Travel break with us this October & save up to ÂŁ400! Email: pga@golfbreaks.com Call: 01753 752 880

$ "$ %

! $

$ $ $ $ %

* Please call for full terms & conditions

TRAVEL

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

INSPIRATION As the lazy, hazy days of summer draw to a close, this month we take a look ahead to where’s hot for Autumn 2021, placing the spotlight on our most popular coaching break venues for PGA Professionals. Coaching breaks not only offer a great source of additional income, they also give you the opportunity to prolong your clients’ season, build long lasting relationships with your group and enjoy the warm temperatures a trip abroad can still offer as the weather starts to deteriorate in the UK.

AMENDOEIRA GOLF RESORT - ALGARVE, PORTUGAL

★★★★ Amendoeira remains our most popular global venue for Golf Pro Travel. Two 18-hole layouts (Faldo & O’Connor) and an excellent floodlit Par 3 course offer plenty of variety and the opportunity for your group to work on all parts of their game. With the incredible value for money and broad array of practice facilities, it’s easy to see why our pros return year after year. What do our pros think: Amendoeira is the ultimate complex for coaching, play and convenience. It has been loved by every group I have taken, definitely worth a visit. Grant Edwards - Head Professional, Lakeside Golf Course

AT A GLANCE

3 nights b&b and unlimited golf from £335

36 holes 9-hole floodlit Par 3 Extensive practice facilities Apartments/villas

Season: Autumn

£335 From

Temperature: 27ºC high; 15ºC low Travel time from the UK: 2 ½ hours

per pers on

Transfer time from airport: 40 minutes Pro FREE with 7 amateurs

MARRIOTT PRAIA D’EL REY GOLF & BEACH RESORT - LISBON, PORTUGAL

★★★★★ This resort is something special with the Praia D’El Rey golf course long considered one of the best on the continent. Match this course up with the highly acclaimed West Cliffs, a 5* Marriott hotel, great practice facilities and you’ve got all the makings of the most memorable break your group will ever have been on. Pro travel tip: Make sure you play West Cliffs when staying at Praia D’El Rey, only a short transfer away to one of the country’s most stunning golf courses. Touted as one of Europe’s best new layouts, it’s sure to provide a memorable experience for your group.

AT A GLANCE

4 nights b&b and 3 rounds from £399

18 holes Good practice facilities Hotel Play the highly acclaimed West Cliffs

Season: Autumn

Temperature: 27ºC high; 15ºC low Travel time from the UK: 2 ½ hours

Transfer time from airport: 40 minutes

£399 From

per pers on

Pro FREE with 7 amateurs

October 2020

www.pga.info

TRAVEL

LA MANGA CLUB - MURCIA, SPAIN

★★★★★ If you’re looking for 5* luxury on and off the course then look no further than La Manga. The three on-site courses allow for greater variety and a longer stay and are complemented by excellent practice facilities. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars dotted around the complex ensuring your group can enjoy something different on each day of their trip. Pro travel tip: Make sure you eat out at “Asia restaurant” serving up delightful south-east Asian cuisine. If the weather is good, you can also dine out on the terrace and watch the sunset with your group. A perfect end to a days’ golfing.

AT A GLANCE

3 nights b&b and 3 rounds from £375

54 holes Extensive practice facilities Hotel 15 bars & restaurants

Season: Autumn

Temperature: 29ºC high; 16ºC low Travel time from the UK: 2 ½ hours Transfer time from airport: 30 minutes Pro FREE with 7 amateurs

£375 From

per pers on

PRECISE RESORT EL ROMPIDO - HUELVA, SPAIN

★★★★★ Our most popular destination for Pro Travel in Spain, El Rompido is excellent for coaching breaks with superb practice facilities including a dedicated short game area and two 18-hole courses on site. The venue also boasts great value with both Half Board and All Inclusive options, making it an excellent choice for your next coaching holiday. What do our pros think: El Rompido is a superb resort with challenging courses, great practice facilities and superb accommodation. The whole vibe around the place is brilliant and my feeling is you will struggle to get greater value for the all round quality. Tim Coxon - Head Professional, Mickleover GC

AT A GL ANCE

3 nights half board and 3 rounds from £349

36 holes Excellent practice facilities Hotel All Inclusive option available

Season: Autumn

Temperature: 26ºC high; 14ºC low Travel time from the UK: 2 ½ hours Transfer time from airport: 1 hour

£349 From

per pers on

Pro FREE with 7 amateurs

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

Golfin Simulators

Professional simulator rooms designed to fit your studio requirements Golfin Simulators will help to transform your space into an amazing simulator / training experience. Providing full design and installation, through to D.I.Y kits, Golfin can work to your specific needs and budgets. Get in touch today to discuss your ideas and requirements. FREE ADVICE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT Custom designed golf studios - DIY Enclosures - Premium tee turf hitting areas - Premium impact screens - Standard impact screens - TigerTurf astro And more……… Contact us, as PGA professionals we would love to help.

www.golfinsimulators.com info@golfinsimulators.com 07885 785570 07887 603826

October 2020

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TRAVEL

GLORIA GOLF RESORT - BELEK, TURKEY

★★★★★ Gloria Golf Resort is one of our most popular venues amongst PGA Professionals. The luxurious hotel with a wealth of bars and restaurants to choose from on the All Inclusive package make it excellent value for money. The resort also boasts the largest practice facilities in Turkey with a two-tier driving range and specialist short game areas. Coupled with the 45 holes on-site and host of other top courses nearby, Gloria is renowned as a golfers playground! What do our Pros think: The Gloria Resort is the perfect location with 45 championship holes and exceptional practice facilities suited for teaching large groups. Andy Fletcher - Head Teaching Professional, Lakeside Lodge Golf Academy

AT A GL ANCE

7 nights all inclusive & 4 rounds from £1029

45 holes Extensive practice facilities Hotel Free Airport Transfers

Season: Autumn

Temperature: 31ºC high; 15ºC low Travel time from the UK: 4 hours Transfer time from airport: 45 minutes

£1029 From

per pers on

Pro FREE with 7 amateurs

APHRODITE HILLS HOTEL, PAPHOS, CYPRUS

★★★★★ The luxurious Aphrodite Hills Hotel is set in the scenic Paphos countryside overlooking the Mediterranean coast and PGA National, Cyprus Golf Course. The extensive practice facilities are ever-popular with PGA groups, with large driving range and short game area. The highly rated Elea GC is also a short transfer away, a must visit when staying at Aphrodite. What do our Pros think: Aphrodite was a great experience on my visit and I was very impressed with the course. The conditioning was superb and it features a wide variety of tees available to the players depending on their ability. The practice facilities are excellent and would provide everything you would want in a trip. I will certainly be returning with a group or two in the future. Rich Pace - Head Professional, Hornsea GC

AT A GL ANCE

5 nights all inclusive and 3 rounds from £975

18 holes Excellent practice facilities Hotel Play the highly rated Elea GC

Season: Autumn

Temperature: 29ºC high; 17ºC low Travel time from the UK: 4 ½ hours Transfer time from airport: 15 minutes

£975 From

per pers on

Pro FREE with 7 amateurs

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

@Golfbreaks_Pro |

#makinggolfhappen

@golfbreaks_pro_travel

COACHING

OUR KEYS FOR DEVELOPING

JUNIOR GOLF Juniors are the future of the game and what we know about the development of these young “athletes” is constantly improving, enabling us to not only keep young golfers in the game but also encourage more to play. MINDSET Developing a great mindset for golf is key and the skills you develop in golf can easily transfer to life so when looking at your juniors this can only be a great thing as we want to develop a well-rounded golfer/ athlete. Here are a few components we feel are key to train. HAVE FUN Let’s start with the most important component which can often be forgotten about FUN. Kids just want to have fun and they want to participate in what they get enjoyment from. Being in a good “state” is also crucial for learning to take place, so this should be a priority at any facility or golf course. If the coach is not having fun then there’s a good chance the kids won’t be, so make sure whoever is coaching them is really passionate about it.

This month, with the focus on junior golf, they reflect on some key things that Andy Proudman and Piers Ward (Me and My Golf) have learnt over the last 20 years of coaching - from mistakes they have made, learning from leading experts and the experience of helping develop one of their junior golfers, Aaron Rai, to the point of winning on the European Tour. If you want to know more about the work Andy & Piers do, connect with them in the following ways:

YOU EITHER WIN OR YOU LEARN Michael Jordan Said “I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” One common trait among successful golfers and individuals is that they are not afraid to fail and be embarrassed. We believe educating youngsters about “failure” is a key component to their development as there is no growth or learning without “failure”. Every perceived failure is an opportunity to learn, grow and improve, so intentionally conditioning this with our juniors is key to help them move towards things they fear, knowing that success doesn’t come without failure. We recognise that you have to be prepared to feel embarrassed, it is just a part of the journey. WORTH ETHIC OVER RESULTS The most successful golfers work the hardest. We must remember that we are developing juniors and just because they aren’t “winning” shouldn’t stop us from praising them for their efforts and in turn giving them a gift that will help them in golf and in life. We cannot control the outcome, but we can control our efforts. This also goes for the junior who is winning. Comment on their efforts rather than their performance and this will encourage them to stay motivated and help them to focus on what they can control. STACK THE GOOD STUFF Human beings are conditioned to look and seek out the negative. Remembering the bad shots and storing them in our memory can Email: info@meandmygolf.com Website: Meandmygolf.com

October 2020

www.pga.info

COACHING

Aaron Rai from juniors ranks to European Tour winner

lead to negative experiences on the golf course. We want juniors to draw on their good shots. So, we use a process introduced to us by Performance Coach Karl Morris, where juniors write down and describe in detail the best 3 shots of their day. This is a great way to focus and train the mind to remember the good experiences - a great habit to get into that in the in the long term will help with confidence out there on the course. SPEED OVER ACCURACY It is no coincidence that most of the top 10 players in the world are all “power-houses” and hit the golf ball a long way. Power is becoming more and more of a dominant force in golf. Most parents and previous coaching methods have had us focusing on hitting it straight and being precise because we want results right now. Our job as coaches is to develop these young athletes to be better for the future, so we have to have that in mind. The issue with focusing on accuracy is that it robs us of speed and developing a “ballistic” movement. Junior golfers have two “speed windows” which are optimum times in their life for training speed. We need to take advantage of these. If we miss them and focus so much on accuracy it is so much harder to develop that at a later stage in life. If we focus on developing them as an athlete where speed is a priority, it is easier to get them to hit it straight once they have developed the speed rather than the other way around. Always have long term in mind.

improvement. Spending an hour on the range working on technique when the issue is physical can be a waste of time and demotivating so involve some sort of development where you work on the fundamental movement skills and physical literacy. A great resource to for this is mytpi.com PRACTICE Golf is the only sport where our practice is in a totally different environment to where we play the game. We are understanding more and more about how this is influencing our performance so we have an opportunity to train and condition the new generation of young golfers to get into good habits and really understand which practice will actually benefit them the most. Golf is the most random game out there, different golf courses, weather conditions, etc. so only standing on a driving range beating balls on perfect lie trying to hit all the “P’s:” of the golf swing will not develop a well-rounded golfer. Practice needs to be as close as possible to play so ask yourself the question “is this activity developing them as a player” or “How could this activity better prepare them for play”. 1.

Here are a couple of key things that we have found useful 1.

Encourage good motion, don’t restrict poor motion. When the focus is on accuracy, it so easy to want to restrict motion and “improve technique.” Shorten the back swing, limit hip movement, keep your balance, quiet the lower body, hold your finish. These are all things that as coaches, we have probably all said or are saying to our juniors. Juniors are going to move lots as they need to develop strength and stability, do not take that movement out. Encourage better motion and encourage a fast-ballistic movement where speed and distance are encouraged and celebrated. Develop them as athletes. It is so much easier to improve a golfer when they are a well-rounded athlete. Often it is a junior’s physicality that is holding them back from

The PGA Professional

#makinggolfhappen

Take juniors on the course… often. It is so easy to obsess over the swing, but we must learn to play the game, getting use to wind, reading lies, reading greens, managing emotions and strategy etc. The only way to develop these skills is to really experience them. It amazes us still to see good golfers who swing beautifully and hit the ball well, but who still have no idea how to read a rough lie, have a poor pre-shot routine or even struggle to understand how to plan their way around the course. This is a game we need to PLAY, so limit range time and encourage practice on the course. Compete often and involve consequence. Golf and life are competitive and if there is one question that adults continually ask us, it is “How do I compete under pressure?” The key to developing this is to compete and involve pressure and consequence in practice. Set challenges, play games, make it tough but fair and involve some consequence. Maybe they need to clean someone’s golf clubs or do an exercise they do not enjoy if they don’t achieve a certain score. Doing this often will help prepare them for the same feeling out there on the course when it matters. ●

COACHING

CHILD-CENTRIC COACHING n BY GAVIN GRENVILLE-WOOD, PGA PROFESSIONAL AND HEAD OF JUNIOR EDUCATION FOR LEADBETTER GOLF WHY DO YOU COACH? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS CAREER PATH? WHAT DOES YOUR FUTURE LOOK LIKE? Sometimes these questions can often be the elephant in the room, with many coaches feeling like they have fallen into the profession after failed playing careers. It’s okay that coaching is your second choice, just make sure you understand what type of coach you want to be (your Coach ID) and embrace the importance of your role. The point is that we should be striving to build a strong sustainable coaching business and understanding how to become an efficient coach. Success can be measured in a number of ways, but coaching children has to generate an income, and needs a certain level of sustainability. “The goal is to become the most efficient junior golf coach you can be” The Efficiency of a coach is measured in different ways including amongst other things, the speed at which your students improve and how sustainable your business is. (Sustainability is more about the structure of your business and the environment you create within your local community but is intrinsically linked to how well and how quickly your students improve.) Efficiency is about how many golfers for life you are creating and how quickly you move them through the development pathway, whilst welcoming a constant supply of new kids funneling in back at the start. Typically, I work with 5-12 year-olds, with the goal of creating a responsible young golfer with solid foundations and good habits, ready for their teenage years. The real competition and real excitement kick in when they become teenagers as they move out of this foundational programme and into a more detailed environment. As they move out, they will be replaced by newbies at the start, and so begins the Funnel of Participation.

xxxxxx In order for children to be engaged in the sport and to protect their involvement for a lifetime, they need to feel that they are continually improving and that their skill levels match the way they perceive they want to play the game. Their rewards may be physical but more likely to be mental, with feelings of achievement and satisfaction ranking high. As we know, there is so much to learn, and we have the power to affect the journey that a child takes in the sport. We do live in a challenging world where kids seek instant gratification and reward, which is strongly linked to how engaged they are in a particular activity. “So how can we ensure that the kids we teach are inspired to learn and persevere with the process, whilst understanding that golf, uniquely, is a game that you can never perfect?” Showing them success from being taught very early on is a key concept to embrace. You never stop learning in golf. Let’s present the game to them quickly, let them understand what the game is all about. One of the first lessons I’d deliver to a group of newbies would be at the edge of the green. I would put a ball down and a selection of clubs on the ground and present them with the challenge

October 2020

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COACHING

of getting the ball in the hole in the fewest number of shots possible. My role as the coach would be to stand back and watch the activity unfold, scanning the group for those that are embracing the challenge, as well as those that are struggling with concept of failure and imperfection. “Sometimes as a coach it is more valuable to say nothing and to just observe” When watching the group, you begin to see, in very simple terms, the journey that these kids go through in order to complete the challenge. They might start off relatively chirpy, but as they get deeper into the exercise, their attitudes and behaviours change. Being patient as the coach is key here because we’re trying to get the kids into what I refer to as “the sweet spot of learning” which is where once they have felt the frustrations of failure and making mistakes, they begin asking questions, and become ready to take on the instruction and advice needed to acquire the necessary skills in order to overcome the challenge. The concept is best illustrated by the work from James Nottingham, who created the Learning Pit. It is so powerful when you entrust the kids and give them the responsibility to effectively learn for themselves. I love the concepts that he has created because they directly apply to the golf coaching sphere, and the Learning Pit is a particularly evocative way of explaining the journey that students go through. If the child, parents and coaches fully understand that journey, and that it is a necessary and integral part of the process, then the challenges that children face whilst in “The Pit” will be infinitely easier to overcome. “Learning occurs when you step out of your comfort zone. And yet, many people are hesitant to take this step for fear of making mistakes or revealing their weaknesses. That’s when the Learning Pit can help: to encourage and reassure learners that taking risks, asking questions, and trying new things can help them develop their abilities and deepen their understanding.” “The Learning Pit draws attention to the idea that learning is a struggle, intentionally showing thoughts of confusion and frustration. Its purpose is to reassure, not

The PGA Professional

#makinggolfhappen

scare, so that when learners find themselves floundering, they can take comfort from knowing that is a normal part of the learning journey.” (Courtesy of Challenginglearning.com) Kids need to experience “The Learning Pit” if they are to improve and develop their overall golfing skills and getting kids into “The Sweet Spot of Learning” makes you a more efficient Golf Coach. Coaching children is so much about the individual child and so much less about the programme or the curriculum you actually teach. Creating an environment that fosters great development and take kids on a journey of exploration and discovery is one part of puzzle, but as coaches we need to acquire the necessary skills in order to coach that child that’s in front of us. One of the most impressive attributes that David Leadbetter has, is his ability to pin-point the needs of the person in front of him. It’s never about showing off the knowledge he undoubtedly has, but more about how he can help that student, even if he or she is in a group learning environment. We tackle this philosophy in our Leadbetter Kids Certification, after which when completed, coaches have the ability to create their own curriculum for their own environment and kids they are teaching, from the library or resources. It is a fine balance between addressing the needs of the child versus steering them down the pathway that we know as coaches is right for them. Pathways differ from child to child of course. Not every child wants to be Rory McIlroy, and some are very much content with being recreational golfers, but we have to know which trajectory these kids want to be on, whilst also accepting that they may change their minds mid-way through! Leadbetter Kids Golf seeks to encourage kids and families to learn the game of a lifetime by giving coaches the knowledge and skills to operate a Leadbetter Kids Academy anywhere in the world. ● For more information and how you can get involved please get in touch: Gavin Grenville-Wood: E | gavinw@leadbetter.com M | +44 7456377434 W | leadbetter.com

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October 2020

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THE 3

DRIVEN BY EMOTIONS

BMW Select (PCP) Representative example exclusive to the PGA: BMW 320i Sports Saloon Term of agreement

47 monthly payments

On the road cash price*

Customer deposit

ISSD Discount

Total deposit

Total amount of credit

Option to purchase fee

Optional final payment^

Total amount payable

Rate of interest

Representative

48 months

£399.00

£35,234.00

£399.00

£6,819.81

£7,218.81

£34,835.00

£0.00

£13,257.10

£39,228.91

4.9% fixed

4.9% APR

Winner of AutoTraders, Most Loved New Car of 2020. The new BMW 3 Series is alive and more responsive than ever to your needs. This driver-orientated lightweight athlete offers the latest BMW technology alongside formidable performance and ultimate comfort. To find out more about our latest offers or to speak to one of the dedicated PGA Sales Team contact us on: 0370 700 5215

bmwpgasales.co.uk

mail@bmw-issd.co.uk

BMW Group - PGA Sales 56 Park Lane, London W1K 1QB Park Lane Ltd is a credit broker and not a lender.

Representative example is for a BMW Select agreement for a BMW 320i Sport Saloon, with a contract mileage of 32,0000 miles and excess mileage charge of 7.74p per mile. Applies for new vehicles ordered between 01 October 2020 and 31 December 2020 and registered by 31 March 2021 (subject to availability). Eligible customers only. *On the road cash price is based on manufacturer’s recommended retail price and includes 3 year BMW Retailer Warranty, BMW Emergency Service, 12 months’ road fund license, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and VAT. ^Optional final payment not payable if you opt to return the vehicle at the end of the agreement (vehicle condition, excess mileage and other charges may be payable). Finance available subject to credit acceptance to UK residents aged 18 or over. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. Terms and conditions apply. Offer may be varied, withdrawn or extended at any time. ‘BMW Select’ is a form of hirepurchase agreement provided by BMW Financial Services (GB) Limited, Summit ONE, Summit Avenue, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0FB. Park Lane Ltd is part of BMW Group. Park Lane Ltd, commonly introduce customers to a selected panel of lenders including BMW Financial Services. We may receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to such lenders. This introduction does not amount to independent financial advice.

MARKETING

HOW TO MARKET TO

JUNIOR

GOLFERS n BY ANTJE DERKS

ttracting young players to your club will not only safeguard the future of the sport but also the future of your club. It is not enough to just assume that children will want to come and learn - they have an awful lot more distractions these days in the form of online games and technology that sees them lounging in their rooms for hours on end. It’s a competitive world and you have to find novel ways of enticing them out of their darkened rooms and into the daylight and onto the course. Back in 2017, England Golf did some research and found that 67% of young people had - at some point - taken part in a golf-related activity. That equates to around 5.35 million juniors. They found that most of them had played crazy golf at some time and of those 1.65 million had gone on to play golf. While the figure isn’t bad, it could be better and you could tap into that if you make them the right offer. The research showed that predominantly boys between the ages of 9-16 took up golf, were highly competitive and liked a challenge. They were also most active on Instagram. However, 23% of them let their golf lapse due to boredom and school work. England Golf found that their parents were in the higher socio-economic bracket, earning an average of £40,000 per year. Interestingly, the barriers that both the children and parents saw to taking up golf was the perceived cost, length of the game, that it was a sport for ‘old’ people and not an activity that involved the whole family.

The report from England Golf is freely available online and while it is a couple of years old, the case studies are invaluable and will save you a lot of time and money when looking at the different categories of young people and their families. What is apparent though, is that not every child is the same and therefore a ‘one size fits all’ approach won’t work. As indicated in the previous paragraph, there is still a huge ‘old man’ stigma attached to the sport, which needs to be got rid of. Further, you really need to understand what motivates young people to take up the game in the first place. For example, a friend of mine is a very keen golfer who plays off a low handicap. He took his son to the local park with a small golf club and some balls almost as soon as he was able to walk and got him interested. Now they regularly play together and his son recently won a sports scholarship on account of his ability and passion. His ambition is to become a professional - but it won’t be everyone’s dream. Some kids will want to join to make friends and have some fun without feeling the need to compete, while others will want to take part in tournaments and others will have been ‘dragged’ there by their parents. You need to find a way to please them all - and retain their interest and keep being booked for lessons. To that end, your marketing strategy needs to be diverse and inclusive. You need to sell the benefits to parents. For example, golf can improve focus and concentration, which is a bonus for children struggling to concentrate in the classroom. You need to market the health benefits and also give parents and young

October 2020

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MARKETING

people a clear idea of the golfing journey. What happens when they sign up? What are the progression routes? Is there a junior evening or time at the weekend for young golfers to have a group lesson with you and hang out? Kids tend to want to be together and as a pro, you need to tailor your approach to suit them. Covid has caused all sorts of problems, but even so, it is important to try and ensure the growth of the game long into the future. Now that schools are open again, one way to give young people more chances to play is to approach your local school’s PE department and offer to provide lessons and give kids a chance to try out the game, especially if they’re from households that mightn’t have ever considered golf as an option. Consider reaching out to your local school’s board of governors and offer a fair price. Once the students have been to the course, you can win them and their families back by offering deals and discounts for rounds played with a parent. Families are a lucrative demographic to focus your marketing efforts. Many people associate their best memories of the game to those times spent playing with family on a beautiful Saturday morning. Golf is a game that bonds those who play it together, and family bonds are the strongest. Consider offering family discounts and encourage the entire family to get into the game by providing group lessons - this is something the research by England Golf found, that many don’t consider it a ‘family’ activity. For those who are less golf inclined, introducing games the entire family can enjoy like footgolf or frisbee golf can make an afternoon at your golf course very attractive. Then, they can also see other young people playing and might be more inclined to book a lesson.

The PGA Professional

#makinggolfhappen

Back in 2017, England Golf did some research and found that 67% of young people had - at some point - taken part in a golf-related activity. That equates to around 5.35 million juniors.

When I mention birthday parties, you may start to quake in your boots, but my son has been to several golf parties in his time - and loved them. They ranged from an hour on the driving range with a pro, a group lesson, through to footgolf. At that age (7-11) party bags are still a thing and the pro popped a discount voucher and a baseball cap into each bag, which was clever and we certainly used ours. Even if the age group is slightly older, a little gift and a voucher would still work well. Lastly, Instagram. Every.Single. Child I know has an account. If you want to attract juniors to your course and to take lessons with you, you need to make your Instagram account appealing to them. Talk to the young people you already coach and ask them what sort of things they’d like to see you posting. If it appeals to them, it will appeal to their peers and could win you some new clients. Ultimately, kids want to be with their mates and have a laugh - you as the Professional need to tailor your offering to meet their needs and expectations without compromising on quality. ●

MEMBERSHIP

YOUR PGA MEMBER BENEFITS Giving you access to a range of benefits and discounts designed to support members both personally and professionally.

THIS MONTH’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

PGA MEMBER SUPPORT Business Relationship Officers (BRO’s) are in place to support you, The PGA Member. They are here to help forge stronger links within the industry and provide PGA Professionals with a free service, designed to support and improve the personal and professional lives of our Members. A wide variety of support is provided such as Business Reviews, Contracts & HR, Negotiating Retainers, Marketing & Retail Advice, Coaching Support, Developing Customer Relationships, Identification of targeted Training Courses/ Educational Opportunities, Building Relationships within your Golf Club/Facility and more. For more information contact tina.banner@pga.org.uk or call 01675 470 333

Health and Wellbeing Support

Income Protection Plus. It’s your key to peace of mind.

The PGA is committed to providing support for its Members and offers access to a 24/7 service provided by Insight Healthcare. A totally confidential helpline which is manned by trained counsellors who can provide help and advice on any matter that is causing anxiety, concern or depression. The service is also available to Members’ close family and employees. If you feel you or someone close to you needs help, the number to call is 0333 000 2082.

If you couldn’t work for a while due to injury or illness, keeping up with the mortgage or rent payments and other expenses might become difficult. A personalised Income Protection Plus plan could provide you with a regular, monthly income to replace up to 70% of your salary ensuring all your monthly bills, including mortgage or rent, would be covered.

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.

Visit our website today for your Quick Quote. It’s quick and easy to arrange and the peace of mind starts from the day you join.

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

0800 146 307 (Quote PGA) enquiries@pgmutual.co.uk www.pgmutual.co.uk This is an advert from PG Mutual.

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*For full terms & conditions, visit www.pgmutual.co.uk/legal. PG Mutual is the trading name of Pharmaceutical & General Provident Society Ltd. Registered office: 11 Parkway, Porters Wood, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 6PA. Incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Friendly Societies Act 1992, Registered Number 462F. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, Firm Reference Number 110023.

VAT Advice For support with golf-related VAT issues, contact stephen.phillips@ pga.org.uk or call 01675 470 333

Public liability Insurance Cover is included in your subscription fee. Contact emma.hadlow@ pga.org.uk or call 01675 470 333 for your individual certificate. For any claims contact Howden on 0121 698 8050. Visit the dedicated PGA insurance site at: pgainsurance.co.uk

October 2020

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MEMBERSHIP

Speak to our Specialist Nurses

0800 074 8383* prostatecanceruk.org The helpline is open

Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Wed 7pm-9pm

CBD products

Cannaray CBD are offering PGA Members a no-commitment, sale-or-return kit free of charge. To order, email scoop@cannaray. co.uk and for further information about this offer visit the Member Benefits site.

*Calls are recorded for training purposes only. Confidentiality is maintained between callers and Prostate Cancer UK.

Affiliate Bonus Coca Cola European Partners* CCEP are delighted to offer PGA Members free coolers for their retail facilities. To arrange delivery/installation, please contact John Balchin on jbalchin@ccep.com. Wholesale & delivery of products can be arranged via Chapple & Jenkins.

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 296358 or email sales@skycaddiegps.co.uk for more info.

Rangefinder Savings Wholesale and Delivery Service* We are delighted to offer PGA Members in England & Wales a reliable wholesale & delivery service for soft drinks, crisps, confectionery and much more. Members can expect a wide range of brands that are competitively priced with free delivery and no minimum order. A complimentary gift is available to all new PGA account holders. Contact Tim Swingler on 07519 111582 or tim@ chappleandjenkins.co.uk, visit www.chappleandjenkins.co.uk for more info.

PGA Members save over £150 on the new SkyCaddie SX500. Call 01844 296358 or email sales@skycaddiegps.co.uk for more info.

Golf Trolley Discount 15% off trade price for account holders, personal use trolley. Call 01795 473 555 or email sales@powakaddy.co.uk quoting membership number.

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

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 huxleygolf.com

IT Services* Offering members a free IT health check of their 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.

Essential Business Services Business expertise helping Golf facilities to save on essential business services. For more info on how we can help, contact 01444 220 060, info@smarterbusiness.co.uk and visit smarterbusiness.co.uk

The PGA Professional

#makinggolfhappen

Special Product Offers Special offers on selected LG products for PGA members. For the most up-to-date offers, log into member benefits, select the ‘Shopping’ section. Or contact the team at lgvip@lge.com for any orders.

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

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singles brand in the UK. receive 20% off your first order at kindsnacks.co.uk/products using code PGA20 contact Will for POS Support, email will.chamberlain@kindsnacks.co.uk or call 07584 544111 also available via:

October 2020

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MEMBERSHIP Golf Carts To discuss your golf cart requirements, contact Kevin Hart, Sales Director – EMEA at: kevin_hart@eu.irco.com or call +44 1785 280 344. Members in Ireland can contact Liam Ross at The Buggyman at: liam@buggyman.net

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

Vehicle Leasing Offers Visit https://pga.pinkcarleasing.co.uk to view deals then contact the team on 0116 402 6500 to place an order, quoting your PGA Membership Number. Earn £75 for every client/club member referral who leases a car, just share the website details, your PGA Membership Number and have them give Pink Vehicle Leasing a call.

Vehicle Leasing Offers* Exclusive contract hire rates on a selection of BMW and MINI models through BMW Group. Visit www.bmwpgasales.co.uk/pro, call 0207 514 3599 or email pgasales@bmw-issd.co.uk

XPOS Sales and Stock Management XPOS is the sales and stock management solution for golf retail, used by professionals to reduce stock and improve profit. PGA Members quote PGAX01 to receive three months free XMAIL, the integrated customer email service. Contact on 01454 418 395 or via the CHAT button at crossovertec.co.uk

Golfing Packages Commission Access to bespoke golfing packages for you and your clients through the dedicated Golf Pro Travel Team. Receive 5% commission on your booking. For an exploratory meeting at your club, contact Ben Foster on 07471 034 852 or email pga@ golfbreaks.com

Discounted Airfares Offering all PGA Members discounted airfares across the whole network, with checked golf bag clearance (subject to availability). Contact the Traveleads sports team on 0113 242 2202 or email pga@traveleads.net quoting your PGA membership number.

The PGA Professional

#makinggolfhappen

Travel Insurance* 20% off † travel insurance for members and their families as well as £10 every time someone takes out a policy on your recommendation. For every 10 policies sold in 1 calendar month, we will give you an additional ±£100. For more info log into member benefits, select the ‘Finance & Insurance’ and ‘Over 50s Travel Insurance’ section.

Aphrodite Hills Golf & Spa Resort 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.

Antalya Golf Club 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

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

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.

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. Members receive 10% commission on new golf bookings for groups of 12 or more. Contact Mark Williams on 01704 875 699 or reservations@ formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk quoting your membership number. 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. †Discount only applies to the base premium of your travel insurance quote and does not apply to any medical screening premiums where relevant. Offer ends 31 December 2020.’. Terms and Conditions apply. ±£10 for every travel insurance policy sold, plus an additional £100 for every 10 policies sold in 1 calendar month. Please allow up to 45 days to receive your cashback. Cashback will be paid to you directly via The PGA. If the policy is cancelled within the 14 day cooling off period no payment will be made. ††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.

ADVERTORIAL

THE DEPOSIT You might be gearing yourself up for more affordable and evenly spread monthly payments, but don’t forget you have a deposit to pay. This is normally between three to six months’ payments in one bulk amount, but it can differ by car leasing provider and of course, like a mortgage, the bigger deposit you pay the less your monthly payments will be.

YOU DON’T OWN THE CAR

CAR ADVICE: OUR TOP TIPS FOR LEASING By Caroline Hill, Commercial Director at Pink Car Leasing

owadays it can feel like everything is accessible. We are sold photos of glamourous holidays we can actually afford, trendy home improvements we can install ourselves and now with car leasing you can even drive that dream car you’ve always wanted. Okay, you might not own it, but if you’re a car fanatic that won’t matter because you just want flexibility and the thrill of the ride, and because your ‘favourite car’ changes all the time, so can the car you actually drive. Here are our top five tips for car leasing, where you can have your dream car on your driveway as soon as you want it, and with a package that suits your lifestyle.

Unlike a personal contract purchase (PCP) deal, with car leasing on a personal contract hire (PCH) basis, you won’t own the car at the end of the lease agreement. PCH deals are great for people who like to change their car regularly as you can simply hand the car back at the end of the lease and choose another new car and a new lease agreement.

BENEFITS OF A NEW CAR Typical car lease deals last one or two years, and so you won’t have the normal worries associated with driving an old car, such as repairs or out-of-date styles. This also means you can benefit much quicker from new advances in car design, such as in-car tech and fuel efficiency.

CHECK YOUR RESTRICTIONS All car lease deals involve a mileage allowance and this may also restrict you to driving only in the UK, and to not making modifications to the car such as installing a new stereo or fitting alloy wheels. If you don’t comply with these restrictions you face charges, which can also apply if you return the vehicle damaged – beyond normal wear and tear – or if you leave the lease deal early. On the flipside you can have maintenance, breakdown, road tax and warranty costs included in your package under one simple monthly payment.

CREDIT RATING Leasing a car is a finance agreement just like a bank loan or paying for a new kitchen via a credit agreement. This means that your financial record will be checked and therefore you need a good credit rating. So whilst you can push the boundaries by driving a flash new car, it will only come if you have a sound financial background.

THINKING ABOUT LEASING A NEW CAR? At Pink Car Leasing, we have a huge range of car lease deals from Mercedes to Land Rover. Plus, as a PGA partner, we can offer EXCLUSIVE lease deals to PGA members. All our cars come with free delivery, no admin fees and every deal is price matched to bring you the best deals available. Visit pga.pinkcarleasing.co.uk to see all our exclusive PGA member deals.

October 2020

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EMPLOYMENT O P P O R T U N I T I E S Greystones Golf Club

Custom Club Fitter Based at Swanston Golf Club, Edinburgh

SGGT is Scotland’s leading custom club fitting company, where advanced technology, the latest brand equipment, and expert, personalised service converge to help raise the discerning golfer’s game to new performance levels. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Provide a Club Fitting experience for customers in our state-of-the-art fitting studios Provide exceptional customer service both during the fitting process and with follow-up support Demonstrate excellent knowledge of equipment, brands and suitability of products that are available within the studios Keep the Fitting studios clean and presentable at all times Provide timely and accurate daily reporting Work Experience Requirements: Experience of custom club fitting is essential Experience of working in a fast-paced, customer facing environment Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with customers Ability to remain professional and courteous with customers at all times Use of Microsoft office or other software packages Work as part of a small team. Please send CV to paula@sggt.co.uk or for further information email scott@sggt.co.uk Closing date 30th October 2020

With a setting at the heart of the Burnaby Estate, and overlooking the Wicklow Mountains and the Irish Sea, Greystones Golf Club is an 18-hole parkland golf course with practice areas and clubhouse facilities, serving over 1,000 members. We have an opportunity for a highly motivated, enthusiastic and reliable PGA Club Professional to join our team at Greystones Golf Club. The successful applicant will: • Be an experienced PGA Club professional with a strong focus on customer service excellence. • Have retail experience, including purchasing, stock control, visual merchandising and have good IT skills. • Have a track record of developing tuition programmes and delivering high quality individual and group coaching to members, juniors, guests and other interested parties. • Work with the Junior Convenor to promote Junior golf in the club. • Assist with the running of all golf operations including competitions, societies, golf classics and visitors. • Be proactive in promoting Greystones Golf Club, support the needs of the club and promote its future growth and development. Applications in confidence, including a covering letter and CV, should be sent by mail or email to: The Operations Manager Greystones Golf Club Whitshed Road Greystones, Co. Wicklow E: liam@greystonesgc.com P: (+353) 01 287 4136 (Option 4) Closing date for applications is 23rd October 2020

Jonathan Yarwood

Jonathan Yarwood is a US Top 100 Teacher and UK Master Professional. He is looking to partner with a high-quality facility to use as a base for teaching from June 2021 to September 2021. Benefits to the venue would include shadowing Jonathan, being taught his training and swing diagnosis templates, Help with your business and clients, Trackman use, Increased footfall as well as greater social media presence. Please contact him on Jonathan.Yarwood@IJGA.com if you have a quality venue that might be interested in this summer partnership.

Girton Golf Club

Exciting opportunity for a skilled and entrepreneurial PGA Club Professional. Girton Golf Club was established in 1936 and is a thriving member-owned club recognised as one of the best clubs in Cambridgeshire. Situated 3 miles from Cambridge City Centre, we have a large and enthusiastic member base, a superb course and clubhouse, and all the teaching facilities a golf pro could wish for. We have an exciting opportunity to enter into a service agreement with an energetic, personable and commercially astute PGA professional to build a significant business, whilst further enhancing the reputation of the club and the golfing experience for our members. For further information please contact our admin team: Jo: info@girtongolf.co.uk Nicola: office@girtongolf.co.uk.

The PGA Professional

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M E M BE R I N T H E SP OT L IGH T

FITNESS

FANATIC MY CAREER PATHWAY I have always just been a kid who likes sports. When I was 9, I went with my dad to collect my brother from his junior coaching session. My brother chucked me a club and told me to have a go. The rest is history- by 14, golf was my only sport. I had a love/hate affair with golf. I loved to compete but found the mental side of the game tough. So when I finished school, I decided to keep my options open and studied Applied Sports Science at The University of Edinburgh as well as being an R&A Bursar. For me, this was the perfect balance. I could play competitive golf in an extremely sociable environment as well as work and study. When I finished uni, a friend suggested I do the PGA Training Programme. An opportunity came up at Gullane Golf Club so I jumped at it. I spent a successful 5 years at Gullane, finishing as Top Assistant in Scotland in all three years, and Runner up in the Trainee of the Year awards in 2013. I had found a passion for coaching and was involved in Regional Development Squads and Clubgolf Programmes, as well as having a busy schedule with the local members at Gullane. But the weather was an issue, with

Emma Fairnie is one of New Zealand’s leading female professionals having majored in Sports Medicine and Sports Biomechanics at the University of Edinburgh.

6 months with a full diary and 6 months back in the shop doing retail, it was time to move on. My brother lived in New Zealand and managed to reach out for a few connections and that’s how I connected with Craig Dixon, Guy Wilson (Lydia Ko’s ex coach) and The Institute of Golf. We immediately had a good connection and similar philosophies so they offered me a job and I moved to Auckland, NZ in September 2014. My time spent with IoG was a huge learning experience. Their philosophy was based on specialisation, planning and was highly data driven. I

CAREER INFLUENCE I was extremely lucky to be surrounded by a number of strong women throughout my training. In the year I qualified, the top 3 trainees were all female- Alex Mollin, myself and Kelly Bridges. Alex and Kelly are good friends and extremely competent professionals. I felt lucky to have a support network that allowed me to discuss and develop ideas freely. When I moved to NZ, I was looking for ways to meet new people and stumbled across Crossfit New Zealand. The Head Coach, Darren Ellis, is now a good friend and mentor. In my 5 years doing Crossfit,

Say yes and figure it out later! I thought this sounded crazy but it means that you will never miss an opportunity. was in charge of developing and delivering Junior Development Programmes. Although I loved this job, I found the intensity was not going to be sustainable forever. MY CURRENT ROLE In February 2019, I started up my own business - Emma Fairnie Golf and Fitness. I contract to clubs around the North of Auckland under the Golf HQ (NZ) brand. We are a small team of PGA Professionals specialising in equipment and coaching. The last year and a half was a huge learning experience for me. I had never run a business before so it took some time to gain a solid understanding of creating a sustainable business plan. The Covid Lockdown was short in NZ (about seven weeks) but has been instrumental in allowing me to understand my business and focus on what I represent. My business is based around a love of golf, developing relationships and communities around golf, and encouraging people to get actively involved in golf and fitness.

I suffered a knee injury (football!!) and subsequent knee reconstruction, a lot of rehab and then was asked to join the coaching team there. Darren gave me huge insights into running a business in the fitness sector, and always highlighted the importance of relationships and community. This is something I value at the heart of my business now. BEST ADVICE I WAS GIVEN Say yes and figure it out later! I thought this sounded crazy but it means that you will never miss an opportunity. Plus it forces you to live on the edge of your comfort zone. That’s where the magic happens! BEST ADVICE I WOULD GIVE Trust your instincts- you usually know what feels right. Figure out what you stand for and make sure you stay true to that. WHAT I WISH I’D KNOWN As a kid who grew up playing golf in Scotland, I have always felt slightly restricted by traditions and regulations. Now I know that it’s ok to have a personality - in fact people appreciate it. Be respectful of others, but stand up for what you believe in. It’s the best way to influence change. ●

October 2020

www.pga.info

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