The PGA Professional - November 2019

The

Professional T H E

O F F I C I A L

Volume 15 Issue 10 November 2019

P G A

M E M B E R S ’

M A G A Z I N E

HOME ON THE RANGE

Driving range pioneers leading the way YOUR BRAND YOUR CHOICE

The PGA unveils the new Member logo

MEETING THE STANDARD

The four elements of the new CPD system

Master Professional Doug McClelland: Retail and royalty

KIDS FIRST

Building a profitable junior coaching business

The

Professional

CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2019

THE OFFICIAL PGA MEMBERS’ MAGAZINE Editor: Jane Carter PGA News and Features: steven.carpenter@pga.org.uk adrian.milledge@pga.org.uk

Equipment and Trade Editor: Nick Bayly nick@goodenough-bayly.co.uk Contributors: Phil Barnard, Matthew Cooke, Antje Derks, Ben Foster, Iain Highfield, Adrian Milledge, Mark Skinner and Angela Youngman

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17 54

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

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31 FEATURES 14 SETTING THE STANDARD The new Continuing Professional Development programme explained

INSIDE THE PGA 6 PGA NEWS A round up of what’s happening across The PGA and its regions 10 BRAND GUIDELINES The new PGA member logo unveiled

INTERNATIONAL

Professional T H E

O F F I C I A L

Volume 15 Issue 10 November 2019

P G A

M E M B E R S ’

M A G A Z I N E

HOME ON THE RANGE

Driving range pioneers leading the way YOUR BRAND YOUR CHOICE

The PGA unveils the new Member logo

MEETING THE STANDARD

The four elements of the new CPD system

Master Professional Doug McClelland: Retail and royalty

22 WORKING ABROAD Focus on Switzerland 25 MEMBER Q&A Donald Crawley, Director of Instruction at The Boulders Golf Club, Arizona

KIDS FIRST

Building a profitable junior coaching business

Front cover: PGA Master Professional Doug McClelland, p53

The PGA Professional

26 TRADE NEWS All the latest product launches and retail news

www.facebook.com /thepga

| #makinggolfhappen

53 MASTER PRO Q&A PGA Master Professional Doug McClelland

36 APPAREL Trousers 39 TRADE Q&A Chris Beaumont, Titleist 40 RETAIL The significance of industry awards

54 YOUR BRAND Optimise your social media pages in 60 minutes MARKETING

TRAVEL 43 DESTINATION GUIDE Scintillating Scottsdale, Arizona 44 DESTINATION GUIDE Catalunya: raising the bar in Spain 45 TRAVEL BUSINESS Taking your group on tournament-style trips 46 OFFERS Pro travel tournament experiences COACHING 48 THEORY The benefits of psychological excellence and physiological adaptation

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

50 BUSINESS PGA Professional Mark Johnson’s insight into coaching for juniors PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

31 EQUIPMENT Training aids

17 DRIVING RANGES State-of-the art technology offers cutting edge practice facilities

13 WPGA CUP The highs and lows of the Great Britain & Ireland team The

TRADE

56 CASE STUDY Advanced PGA Teaching Professional Thomas Devine on the development of his junior golf brand MEMBERSHIP 59 YOUR BENEFITS A selection of special deals and offers brought to you by The PGA RECRUITMENT 62 SITUATIONS VACANT The latest job opportunities in the UK, Ireland and overseas

www.twitter.com /thepga

www.instagram.com /thepga

3

You’re in good company

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

#makinggolfhappen

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

Wear the ‘badge’ with pride This month sees the unveiling of new brand guidelines for PGA Members, allowing you to use The PGA logo. Robert Maxfield explains the importance of this decision as the Association continues its focus on improving the personal and professional lives of its Members.

A

s Chief Executive of The PGA I often get in every country. In those instances, The PGA Crest will asked to speak at industry events. One of remain the logo in use. my often-quoted messages is that PGA In territories where we own the trademark, usage extends Professionals are the driving force of the game. to every area of your business, from your websites through Our core thought ‘making golf happen’ is now at the to your pro-shop signage. You may of course continue to use foundation of all our brand messaging. More than 8,000 The PGA Crest, but we hope that many of you will choose Members are at the heart of delivering the game in Great to use the 3 letters which are so recognisable to the golfing – Britain and Ireland and and non-golfing public. We in many other parts of have also communicated with the world. Our job as an the leading manufacturers ‘PGA’ is the most recognisable Association is to support you to make them aware of this brand in golf. It is synonymous in that role. important move. In another Recently we announced change to our policy, you with quality and authority – and changes to the Membership are free to choose your now it can rightly be used by structure which will allow us own suppliers for your Members of the Association. to better support those of you personalised clothing and who are now in management other personal accessories if or other industry roles. They the guidelines are followed. have been well received.

Many PGA Professionals This month we announce are working hard to develop further ‘support’ by unveiling their own brands. Whether changes to our brand your skills lie in retailing, guidelines which will allow coaching or managing your each of our Members to use facility, the consumers look The PGA letters. for ‘experts’ and a ‘badge’ that ‘PGA’ is the most says just that. Allowing use of recognisable brand in golf. The three letters have been The PGA logo is the first step in our efforts to better promote associated with The Professional Golfers’ Association for its our members as experts, not only to the golfing public but to entire history. It is synonymous with quality and authority employers and the wider industry.

– and now it can rightly be used by Members of the The Association is changing. Not as fast as some may like Association. and perhaps too fast for others. The PGA brand remains Some will think this decision is long overdue. It is your constant, but a brand is so much more than three letters. It is Association and therefore your brand but in the past concerns in everything that you do, whether giving a lesson, helping a over its misuse and therefore its value – your value – have seen customer, mentoring a junior. It stands for all your hard work us reluctant to extend its usage beyond that of the corporate in developing the game and securing its future. We hope you body. Not anymore. The Association is moving forwards and will choose to wear the badge with pride. with that comes the rightful recognition that our Members are the best Ambassadors for The PGA brand.

We have developed a set of guidelines which are available in the Members’ area of the website. International Members will receive separate communication in the coming days as due to Robert Maxfield trademark restrictions, use of The PGA brand is not available Chief Executive

‘‘

‘‘

The PGA Professional

| #makinggolfhappen

5

P G A N E W S

Retail experts join Partner programme

Toro supports PGA Conference

RETAIL SPECIALIST and software devel-

regular articles and videos published in The

has become a supporting sponsor of the eagerly

opment company, Crossover Technologies,

PGA’s monthly magazine and fortnightly

anticipated 2019 PGA Conference in Thailand.

has strengthened its close ties with The

newsletter. Crossover’s retail experts will also

The innovative turf machinery and irriga-

PGA by upgrading its status from Official

help lead The PGA’s CPD retail offering at

tion product manufacturer further strength-

Supplier to PGA Partner.

the PGA Training Academy.

ened its already strong foundations with golf

The Bristol-based company was founded

Barnard, commented: “Our partnership

more than two decades ago to provide busi-

with The PGA helps to cement our focus on

ness software solutions to retailers.

golf retail and our position as a key supplier

Crossover

Technologies founder and

within the industry.

ONE OF the world’s leading brands of turf and landscape maintenance equipment, Toro,

facilities across the world by becoming a PGA Partner earlier this year.

As part of the agreement, Toro will present to delegates on key issues within golf course

Chairman Phil Barnard and his team devel-

“Golf retail sits at our heart and sup-

agronomy and the importance of the relation-

oped XPOS, a sales and stock management

porting the PGA Professional in his or her

ship between the golf operations and the course

solution designed specifically for golf. Now

retail business is our priority.”

management team is vital to the success of any golf club.

used by PGA Professionals around the

Liam Greasley, PGA Executive Director

world, XPOS helps retailers to reduce stock,

– Commercial, added: “We are confident

make better buying decisions and, ulti-

our partnership with Crossover Technolo-

(international),

mately, improve margins.

Matthew Davies, PGA Regional Manager commented:

“The

PGA

gies will continue to flourish and they will

and Toro have a long-standing relationship

As part of the three-year agreement,

strive to equip PGA Members with the

in Europe and this announcement further

Crossover Technologies will continue to pro-

tools for a sustainable retail business and

strengthens that relationship on an interna-

mote the highest standards in retail through

profitable future.”

tional stage.

“We are looking forward to welcom-

Pink Car Leasing on board

Subcontinent Regional Manager for Toro, to our exciting line up of speakers.

PINK VEHICLE Leasing, the car and van

“Gareth has been in the industry 26 years

leasing specialists, has further strengthened its

and has therefore seen first-hand how to build

reputation in golf by becoming a PGA Partner.

the important relationship within a golf facility between the operations team and the course

The Leicester-based company stock a wide

management team.

range of car and van lease deals for all types of

“Gareth’s presentation will focus on some

budgets, with a choice of makes and models to

of the key challenges faced within agronomy,

suit personal and business needs.

As part of the new three-year agreement, PGA

such as water management and chemical appli-

Members will enjoy exclusive car lease rates and

cation, and he’ll cover some of the new developments happening within the sector, such as

a reward scheme has been set up for PGA Members to earn additional revenue through referring their clients and club members.

6

ing Gareth Knight, S.E Asia & Indian

Caroline Hill (left), Commercial Director, Pink Vehicle Leasing pictured with Liam Greasley, PGA Executive Director – Commercial

hybrid and electric technologies and autonomous machinery.”

In addition, Pink Vehicle Leasing will be

“To access the offers, PGA Members can

This will be the third staging of the PGA

offering incentives such as competitions to play

simply visit pga.pinkcarleasing.co.uk to view the

Conference at Laguna Phuket, the PGA’s first

in pro-ams and tickets to top level cricket, foot-

latest deals then give us a ring on 0116 402 6500

branded facility in Thailand. Once again the

ball and rugby matches.

to enquire, quoting their PGA Membership

event looks set to deliver an excellent educa-

Simon Hill of Pink Vehicle Leasing, com-

Number. To refer their clients/club members

tional programme and networking opportu-

mented: “Pink will not only be supplying great

and earn additional revenue for every successful

nity for PGA Members.

lease rates but also offering market updates and

recommendation; PGA Members just need to

useful tips around owning and leasing a car.

share their Membership number and website/

interested

There will also be preferential rates with the likes

contact details and have them give Pink Vehicle

conference@pga.org.uk. For further details

of The AA, ATS and Kwikfit available.

Leasing a ring to enquire.”

visit www.pgaconference.com

Registration is still open and anyone in

attending

should

November 2019

contact

| www.pga.info

N E W S PGA

Tate up for GMCA gong FAME TATE, owner and

massively over the last few

director of Stanedge Golf Club,

months and we have had to

Chesterfield, is looking to cap

move and change with it.

off a memorable 2019 after

“We are constantly devel-

being shortlisted into the final

oping what we are doing at

two for the ‘Newcomer of the

the club, to make Stanedge

Year’ at the 2019 GCMA Golf

a better place for members

Club Management Awards.

and visitors.

In February this year, Tate purchased

Stanedge,

which

Fame in the frame for Newcomer of the Year

closed in December 2018 and had lost all of its members. In just eight months she has transformed it into a thriving facility which now boasts more than 100 members.

For me it is

more than just golf, we are providing people with an experience and building a new

community and culture.”

Karl Adams is also up for an award after being included in the ‘Manager of the Year’ shortlist.

Two months later the former Ladies Euro-

Adams is the general manager at Radcliffe-on-

pean Tour player was named the PGA Female

Trent Golf Club in Nottinghamshire and is

Assistant of the Year and she was also crowned

about to commence on his PGA journey having

winner of the ‘Outstanding Achievement’

recently joined the PGA Training Programme.

award for the English Women’s-North Business Awards category.

The full list of nominees:

“I am absolutely delighted to be shortlisted

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

for the award and I feel incredibly proud of

Stephen Nicholson – Haydock Park

what we accomplished in a matter of months

Heather Mulley – Enville

at the club and it is fantastic for this to be rec-

Karl Adams – Radcliffe-on-Trent

ognised,” said Tate.

Adam Grint – Gerrards Cross

“My passion since retiring from professional golf has always been getting more people into golf by giving them the opportunity to learn and play but not only to recruit them but to retain them.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Kerry Alligan-Smith – Redditch Fame Tate – Stanedge TEAM OF THE YEAR Chigwell Golf Club – led by Ben Driver

“As a business we have grown and developed

Llanishen Golf Club – led by Martin Stevens

Talking a good game THE PGA is supporting The Club Talks

commented: “Mental health and our well-

campaign to help boost mental health

being is something we are slowly starting to

through golf.

talk about and golf is a great place for that.

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under

“Using our fantastic sport and PGA

45 and The Club Talks’ charity partner

Members, we can increase participating by

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miser-

showing the incredible benefits and also

ably), is leading the fight by reaching male

normalise discussion around the subject.”

communities.

PGA Professionals across the UK and

Studies show the golf community is

overseas are signing up to The Club Talks

uniquely positive for mental health being

as ambassadors and helping raise awareness

sociable, often in the countryside, requiring

online and through signage in their facilities.

focus and providing exercise.

The Club Talks founder, Ryan Curtis,

The PGA Professional

| #makinggolfhappen

Sign up to be a PGA The Club Talk

Green is a life-saver THE QUICK-THINKING actions of David Green, head professional at Wildernesse Golf Club, helped save the life of club member Garett Endenburg.

In early September, 53-year-old Endenburg was on the seventh tee with his son and two friends when he complained of feeling unwell and had chest pains.

A greenkeeper was able to drive Endenburg to the club’s pro shop where, after calling the emergency services, Green took charge of the situation.

“Within two minutes of Garett walking into the pro shop, he’d collapsed,” explained Green.

“By the time we’d retrieved the defibrillator from the clubhouse, Garett had no pulse. We cleared his airway and fired up the defibrillator while checking Garett for a heartbeat. There wasn’t one, so the red light came on and we shocked Garett’s heart to start pumping blood again and applied CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation.”

The emergency services arrived soon after and later that evening Endenburg, with two stents fitted, was sitting upright in bed. He was discharged on the Monday and the following day he visited Green’s pro shop to say thank you.

“I was so fortunate that David was fully trained and had the equipment to hand,” said Endenburg. “Everyone said how calm and confident David was with the defibrillator and CPR. I can’t begin to express how grateful I am to David, Josh and everyone else for saving my life.”

According to David Sullivan, a client of Green’s who runs Heart Angels, an Oxted-based organisation providing defibrillators and training, of the 600+ male golfers who suffer a cardiac arrest on a golf course every year, some 400 are fatal because the means to save them wasn’t available fast enough.

Green is now campaigning for all PGA Professionals and their staff to be trained to deal with a cardiac arrest.

ambassador by visiting theclubtalks.com

7

P G A N E W S

Football ace joins PGA Training Programme FORMER PREMIER League and Nigeria international foot-

Jak Hamblett who will support

Odemwingie: looking to a future in golf

Odemwingie with weekly golf

baller Peter Odemwingie is

lessons at Calderfield Golf and

pursuing a career in golf after

Country Club in Walsall.

being accepted onto the PGA

Hamblett told the Express

Training Programme.

The

38-year-old

and Star: “I played a bunker retired

shot in a pro-am with Pete and

from professional football ear-

he said: ‘you’ve got to teach me

lier this year following a hugely successful career, which saw Odemwingie play

how to do that’. The rest, as they say, is history.

for Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion in the top flight of English football.

Having played golf competitively as an

“He had a couple of lessons, got more and more interested in the coaching side of the game and now wants to go professional.

amateur, Odemwingie is now hoping to make

“Peter isn’t doing this for himself, he is doing

a career in the game having enrolled onto the

it so he can go into coaching and give something

PGA Foundation Degree at the University of

back to the community. He has got some really

Birmingham.

exciting plans for the future and that all stems

He will be mentored by PGA Professional

from his faith and his desire to help people.”

Vipingo Ridge to host LET event VIPINGO RIDGE will host the first Ladies

also be the final event of the LET 2019 season.

European Tour (LET) event to be staged in

The Magical Kenya Ladies Open will prove

Africa when the inaugural Magical Kenya

a significant milestone in the history of golf in

Ladies Open heads to Kenya in December.

Kenya and work to motivate the next genera-

In collaboration with title sponsor Mag-

tion of female players throughout the country.

ical Kenya and presenting partner M-PESA,

Broadcasted live across the globe to millions

U.COM Event GmbH, the Magical Kenya

of viewers, the event will showcase Kenya as a

Ladies Open from December 5-8, 2019 on the

unique golfing and holiday destination as well

venue’s Baobab Course – the only PGA accred-

as elevate the country as an important player

ited golf course on the continent.

on the world’s stage, not just in terms of golf

The 72-hole stroke play tournament will be

but sports in general.

the first professional and competitive event for

Ladies European Tour Chair Marta Figueras-

lady golfers to be played in the region and will

Dotti, commented: “The announcement of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open is a proud moment for everyone at the Ladies European Tour and we are excited to help Kenya build its reputation as a preferred golf destination for women and girls.”

The LET tournament will be preceded by a Pro-Am on December 4.

For more information contact

Africa’s first LET event will be the Magical Kenya Ladies Open

8

Golfbreaks launches Pro Travel Partner Programme PGA PRINCIPLE Partners Golfbreaks has launched its exclusive Pro Travel Partner Programme.

After celebrating its 10th anniversary of offering a dedicated Pro Travel service, Golfbreaks are working with a select group of 10 professionals from across the UK, offering them additional booking benefits, in recognition of the loyalty given by the group since Golfbreaks first started catering to golf professional bookings over a decade ago.

Utilising Golfbreaks’ partnerships with Callaway, OGIO, Travis Mathews and Oakley, members of the exclusive Pro Travel Partner Programme will be visible at some of the sports’ biggest events, notably the 2020 PGA Show in January, with all members of the programme invited to join the Golfbreaks team in Orlando.

Ben Foster, head of Golfbreaks Pro Travel, commented: “We created this initiative to not only reward, but to work closer with and help this select group grow their travel business with their members and clients.

“We see the Programme as a constantly evolving and collaborative partnership, where the number of exclusive partners grows year on year, and members can share best practice with each other, whilst continuing to lean on the dedicated support of our Pro Travel Team.

Pro Travel Partner and PGA Professional, Steve Carter (Walmley Golf Club), added: “The Golfbreaks Pro Travel Partner Programme is a great initiative to help drive forward the travel side of my business as a PGA Professional.

“They are so easy to deal with and have really helped take my travel with members and clients to the next level.”

LET@vipingoridge.com

November 2019

| www.pga.info

Rob Humphrey - PGA Professional Tyrrells Wood Golf Club

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

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

P G A N E W S

PGA – A worldwide brand for you and your business This month sees another landmark in The PGA’s history as it unveils its new logo for Members. Here we highlight some of the key guidelines.

ON 1 EMBERS’

THE CHOICE is yours. Members will now

new logo guidelines has been produced for

be able to choose between using the existing

manufacturers to follow.

Members’ Crest or a new logo incorporat-

A Member can choose whether to use their

ing the most powerful three letters in the

name with the logo in all instances except

game, PGA.

retail and facility signage. In those instances,

As

with

the

Crest,

there

are

the Member’s name must appear as in the

guidelines for the new logo that all

example shown below. Due to trade-

Members will need to follow and these have been reproduced in a booklet (right) and in download documents

YOUR BRAND YOUR CHOICE

The PGA andadded as suchtoitthe Members’ Thearea Members’ Logo accreditations of the web-

site www.pga.info. chy of our brand.

Tristan Crew, Executive Director – Membership Services, said: “The PGA

mote themselves as is one of the most powerful in brand

mark restrictions in some parts of the world not all International Members will be able to use it in their country of

The Members’ Logo colour options

business. Separate communication will be rolling out to International Members to clarify the situation in their country. In those instances, Members

PGA MEMBERS BRA ND GUIDELINES

will continue to use the Crest.

golf, recognised by golfers worldwide e Logo, a registered

Following the announcement of

as a symbol of authority and quality.

the broadening of the Association

e use of PGA Members.

It is only fitting it can be now be used

ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL

membership categories, PGA Coach

ADVANCED and worn by all qualified Members of PROFESSIONAL

the Association.”

Use of the logo as with the Crest can be across all areas of your busi-

hould not be used by PGA

ness. Notepaper and stationery,FELLOW business

PROFESSIONAL name, please ensure cards, that website, marketing material for a

and Business Management logos are ADVANCED FELLOW #makinggolfhappen PROFESSIONAL

currently being developed and the guidelines for the use of these designations will follow in the New Year.

This booklet has been prepared with guidelines for your PGA branding

Further information and a copy of the guidelines booklet can be found

MASTER

personal n accompanies the Logouse in (e.g. coaching leaflets) email

In another change, a Member will be PROFESSIONAL

at pga.info. Any questions regarding use

signatures, retail signage and accessories and

able to choose his/her own suppliers of per-

of the new logo should be directed to

apparel for personal use.

sonal apparel and accessories and a set of the

membership@pga.org.uk

s own as a separate entity.

anced Professional.

ADVANCED FELLOW PROFESSIONAL

PGA Grey PMS Warm Grey 7c CMYK 12/17/23/40 RGB 152/143/134

the trademark ownership

m of the page or on the

mall print, but it must be

PGA Gold PMS 457c CMYK 2/19/97/26 RGB 187/151/0

MASTER PROFESSIONAL

wed in countries where the Association does not own the trademark. International Members should check if

full list of countries where the trademark can be used on the Members area of the website. If a country is not

s should continue to use the PGA Crest.

10

3

As a Member, you can use the logo on retail and facility signage, but your name must appear as in this example (left)

November 2019

| www.pga.info

N E W S PGA

Thomas rises to spinal coaching challenge CRAIG THOMAS, national coach for

“I have coached golfers individually with

England’s disabled golf team, joined the char-

this type of disability but never in a group. Also

ity S.U.R.F (Spinal Unit Recreational Fund) to

I was not aware how much the golfers’ disabil-

host a special coaching session at Normanton

ity would restrict them, so this was also a great

Golf Club.

challenge finding new ways for them to adapt

Organised by Minister Law Solicitors’ serious injury department, 16 ex-spinal injury patients were given one-to-one coaching by Thomas.

which, in some cases, was harder than others, due to the fact they had played before.

“Coaching disabled golfers has played a large part in my career over that past decade. I have

Minister Law contacted The PGA asking if

had the opportunity to meet and work with so

they could provide a coach and Thomas was

many inspiring athletes, helping them to either

only too happy to help.

get into golf for the first time or again after

He said: “The opportunity to give a group of all spinal injury patients would offer a different

injury, or to help them to improve and become

PGA Lunches – places filling up fast THE PGA’S Christmas sport and comedy

Comedian Alfie Moore and broadcaster

lunches return to London, Manchester and

Andrew Cotter, will also be on the menu at

Glasgow this December for another afternoon

the Midland Hotel.

In Glasgow, guests will be treated to an

2020 European Ryder Cup Captain and

afternoon with one of the greatest golfers of

three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington

all time. Sandy Lyle was one of the key players

is the guest of honour for the London event

responsible for the resurgence of European

on December 20.

golf in the 1980s. With two majors to his

Stand-up comedian Jimmy McGhie will

name, Lyle was instrumental in two Ryder

provide the laughs while broadcaster and

Cup Wins, including Europe’s first victory on

BBC golf correspondent, Iain Carter, is the

American soil in 1987. Sean Collins and Iain

host for the afternoon.

Carter complete the line-up on December 18

players, Will Greenwood, will tell tales of his exceptional career, which saw him lift the 2003 Rugby World Cup, at the Manchester Lunch on 13 December.

The PGA Professional

| #makinggolfhappen

Cameron takes Blairgowrie hotseat Neil Cameron has replaced Charles Dernie as head professional at Scotland’s Blairgowrie Golf Club following his retirement after more than 20 years at the helm.

Cameron, 33, joined Blairgowrie in 2000 and has an honours degree in Sports Business Studies from Stirling University.

Cameron commented: “Charles is going to be a hard act to follow, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. It has come at a good time in my career.”

Fresh start for Dignam John Digman has ended a 26-year association with Slade Valley Golf Club.

The 52-year-old joined Slade Valley in April 1993 and but has opted for a move to Spawell Golf Academy in Dublin where he takes up the role as club professional.

Elsewhere in Ireland, PGA Fellow Professional Andrew Whitelaw, 48, has moved to Portmarnock Golf Club and Iarlaith Keane, 28, is now a club professional at Balcarrick Golf Club.

16 ex-spinal injury patients were given one-to-one coaching by Craig Thomas

One of England’s greatest ever rugby

The latest PGA Member appointments across the UK, Ireland and overseas

the best they can.”

challenge for me.

of entertainment.

On the move

at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel.

Tickets are also available for the lunches in Manchester and Glasgow.

For more information or to book your place visit ptevents.co.uk/the-pga-lunches

Top role for Forster Barry Forster has been announced as the new head professional at Enmore Park Gold Club.

The 34-year-old had spent most of his working life at North Wilts Golf Club having been based at the Wiltshirebased venue since 2006.

In other transfer news…

• There have been several international moves. Ben Skeet, 31, has moved overseas to become a club professional at Laguna National Country Club, Singapore. Michael Lane, 26, has opted for a move to Montgomerie Links in Vietnam and 24-year-old Tom Ogilvie has left The Duke’s – St Andrews to join the team at the prestigious Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

11

P G A N E W S

In other transfer news…

• Spencer Edwards, 49, has left his role of eight years as golf director at Half Moon Bay, Jamaica to begin a new chapter in his career with the Elite Golf Academies.

• Adrian Rietveld, 38, is now working for Taylor Made USA, Marc Arnold, 28, is the head teaching professional at Dubai’s Al Hamra Golf Club and 24-year-old Amy Milward is now a teaching professional at Dubai Sports City.

• In the North region, 43-year-old Spencer Mallalieu has moved to the UK from Austria to become a club professional at Lytham Green Drive Golf Club.

• After almost six years as an Assistant at Brough Golf Club, Andrew Sanderson, 44, is now a club professional at Springhead Park Golf Club. Robert Stansfield, 31, is the new head professional at Oakdale Golf Club • Steve Johns, 41, has left Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland to take on a new role as golf operations manager at Tytherington Club, while 41-year-old Chris Kelby has left Hollins Hall for the Express Golf Centre.

• Trent Park Golf Club in the East region has hired John O’Gaunt, 30, as a club professional and 27-year-old Joe Joiner takes up a similar role at Gog Magog Golf Club in Wales.

• In Scotland, David Addison, 32, is the new general manager at Kilmarnock Golf Club, while 34-year-old Stuart Martin is the golf operations manager at North Berwick Golf Club.

• In the West, Richard Coffin, 55, has become a PGA Professional at Silverleigh Golf Club.

• In the south region, Jon Dry has left his role as director of golf at Bearwood Lakes Golf Club. The 35-year-old moves to Fulford Golf Club as their general manager. Riccardo Rebecchi, 31, also takes up a general manager job at Oak Park Golf Club, while 44-year-old Stuart Murray is Rusper Golf Club’s new club professional.

If you would like to feature, or would like to highlight a new appointment, email membership@pga.org.uk.

12

Harpin joins exclusive ‘59 club’ LEE HARPIN has joined an exclusive list of golfers to score a round of 59 after shooting a magical 12-under-par 59 to win a North Wales Alliance tournament at Holyhead Golf Club.

Harpin, the head professional at Rhos-

Harpin’s 59: “I’ll certainly never forget it”

on-Sea Golf Club in North Wales, carded four eagles, four birdies and ten pars to smash former European Tour player Roger Chapman’s 20-year course record at Holyhead by five shots.

“I’m over the moon,” said Harpin,

while birdies came

who qualified as a PGA Professional

at the second, third,

in 2007 and has been based at Rhos-

fourth and 15th at

on-Sea for almost ten years. “It’s not

the Anglesey course.

something I’ve ever really thought

Harpin continued:

about. You hear of it on the tours

“I probably started

every now and then but not very often.

thinking about it

“It’s been a bit crazy really. I’ve had so many

when I eagled the par 5 12th hole to go

phone calls, texts, emails and messages on

nine-under-par. When I birdied the 15th to

social media. This ranks very high in my golfing

go 12 -under that’s when I really thought I’ve

achievements – I’ll certainly never forget it.”

got a bit of a round going here.

Harpin’s round started with an eagle at the

“I actually missed two six-foot putts for

first and he went on to record further two-

birdie on the 9th and 17th so it could have

under-par scores at the 10th, 12th and 14th,

been a lot better!

Levermore celebrates sixth Order of Merit JASON LEVERMORE underlined his

just days before the event having

reputation as one of the best players

played for Great Britain & Ireland in

in East region history by winning the

their slender 12-14 defeat to the USA in

Order of Merit for a sixth time.

the PGA Cup.

The 40-year-old went into the final

Levermore said: “I played steadily.

Order of Merit event of 2019, KJW

Apart from a couple of loose ones on

Millbrook Masters, in third spot in the

the second day I didn’t really put a foot

rankings but leapt to the summit with

wrong. It’s always nice to win – and

another rock-solid performance.

always nice to finish top of the Order

The Essex ace shot rounds of 70

of the Merit but that’s not a goal at the

and 69 to finish five-under-par, three

start of the year. The top-three is all I’m

clear of joint runners-up Mark Talbott

really worried about.”

(Thorpe Hall) and Chase Davis (Eaton).

The

success

meant

A top three finish means Levermore

Levermore

qualifies for the season-ending PGA

claimed back-to-back Order of Merit

Play-Offs in Turkey, which features

crowns and it was all the more of an

the best players from the seven PGA

achievement, given that he was staving

regions. Joining Levermore from the

off jetlag.

East region will be Talbott and James

He had only flown back from Texas

Ruebotham (Welwyn Garden City).

November 2019

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WO M E N ’ S P G A C U P PG A TO U R N A M EN TS

All for one and one for all Each member of Great Britain and Ireland’s team makes a meaningful contribution in the inaugural Women’s PGA Cup.

Team Great Britain & Ireland (from left): Ali Gray, Suzanne Dickens, Heather MacRae, Tracy Loveys (captain), Maria Tulley and Hazel Kavanagh, line up before the Women’s PGA Cup

reat Britain and Ireland captain

G

In terms of statistics, MacRae was Great

Tracy Loveys described the in-

Britain and Ireland’s most effective and con-

augural Women’s PGA Cup as ‘a

sistent performer, posting three successive

great week for female professional golfers all

four-over-par rounds of 76. In doing so,

INJURY

over the world’ following the tournament’s

the Scot finished joint-fifth out of 25 in the

Gray, like Kavanagh, blossomed on the last

conclusion in Austin, Texas.

individual rankings.

day with a four-over par round of 76; Tulley,

Team members Heather MacRae and

overall score, England’s Maria Tulley, Ali Gray and Suzanne Dickens also weighed in.

hampered by an injury to her right forearm

Hazel Kavanagh were similarly positive after

COMING GOOD

and her left thumb stung by a hostile drag-

Great Britain & Ireland finished third behind

Meanwhile, after an inauspicious start,

onfly, signed off in style with her team’s

tournament winners the USA and runners up

Kavanagh came good in the third round.

second-best round of the tournament, a three-

Canada but in front of Australia and Sweden.

Her one-over par return of 73 was the best

over-par return of 75.

“It’s been an honour and a privilege to

posted by any member of the Great Britain

Meanwhile Dickens, who contributed on

represent Great Britain and Ireland this week

& Ireland quintet during the tournament.

day one, produced her best round on an al-

with these awesome ladies,” said Scotland’s

Moreover, it was the joint-fourth best in a

ready challenging course made even more

MacRae. “A big thank you to The PGA for

tournament in which just three rounds out of

testing by wind and rain on day two, with a

the opportunity.”

75 broke par.

six-over-par 78.

As Loveys stressed, however, Great Britain HIGHS AND LOWS

& Ireland’s performance was a team effort.

Ireland’s Kavanagh also thanked The PGA

“The fact that each member contributed to

and added: “What a week here in Texas with

the team score over the three days of compe-

these girls for the first Women’s PGA Cup.

tition is fantastic,” she said. “I am so proud of

There were highs and lows on the course but

all of them.”

I loved it. And well-done America – super performance.”

The PGA Professional

To that end, with three rounds from the five team members counting towards the

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Final scores USA

+23

Canada

+27

Great Britain & Ireland

+50

Australia

+67

Sweden

+77

13

F E ATURE M E M B E R E D U C AT I O N

Setting the standard In the last issue, we outlined the significant changes to the CPD system that came into effect on 1st October. Here we focus on what Members now need to do to meet the new CPD Standards.

THE PGA CPD STANDARDS EXPLAINED… The PGA now holds four CPD standards that Members are expected to accomplish on an annual basis if they wish to gain and maintain Accredited status:

Standard One Meet or exceed a set level of various forms of professional development activity that may improve or benefit their current or future professional practice.

Standard Two Maintain a true and accurate CPD record of their professional development activity.

Standard Three Retain and maintain satisfactory evidence to support their CPD record.

Standard Four Take part in an audit if requested.

Standard One Meet or exceed a set level of various forms of professional development activity that may improve or benefit their current or future professional practice

Formal learning

Structured CPD

Professional activity Work-based learning

Unstructured CPD

Self-directed learning

It is recommended that Members aim for a balance of activities, however, there are no upper or lower limits for how many hours of professional development a Member is expected to complete within each category but Members must carry out activities from at least two categories and complete at least 15 hours in total each CPD year.

Structured CPD Activity

Formal Learning Formal learning is structured, organised learning that is educational in nature and has predefined learning objectives and outcomes. Formal learning typically has some type of assessment or reflection and may come in the form of seminars, workshops, qualifications, distance or online learning, and courses.

Unstructured CPD Activity

To meet this standard, Members must have engaged in: • A minimum of 15 hours of recognised professional development activity during the previous CPD year.

• Activities from at least two CPD categories.

Recognised Professional Development Activity

The PGA takes a broad view of what constitutes professional development and does not prescribe a particular set of activities. Any activity from which a Member learns or develops professionally could be considered valid CPD, though Members should ensure that all CPD activity reflects their practice and development needs. Ultimately, the professional development a Member undertakes should result in improvements to their practice in some form.

The Four CPD Categories

The activities that The PGA recognise as professional development activities are organised into the four following categories: 14

Professional Activity Professional activities are those that benefit the professional development of the Member and either: • Develops or advances the professional skills, knowledge and expertise of other professionals within the Association, • Supports the management or organisation of the Association, or, • Promotes and raises the status of the Association.

Professional activities may come in the form of sitting on a committee, refereeing, lecturing, being an examiner, tutor, marker or assessor, presenting at a conference, organising a course, writing an article or paper for publication etc.

Work-Based Learning Work-based learning is professional development that usually occurs in the workplace when Members engage in new activities beyond those normally completed on a regular basis as part of their typical job November 2019

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M E M B E R E D U C AT I O N F EAT U R E role. It can also happen when individuals engage in routine activities but approach them differently.

Professional development can also happen as new experience is gained, greater independence and responsibility is given, or the complexity and scope of work undertaken increases. Some other examples of work-based learning are; • Learning by developing a new skill on-the-job, • Coaching from others, • Professional discussions with colleagues, • Expanding your role, • Major project work.

Self-Directed Learning Self-directed learning is learning that takes place away from the structured classroom environment and typically involves some form of self-study where individuals set their own goals and objectives. Examples of self-directed learning are: • Reading books, trade publications, or information from the Internet.

• Listening to podcasts or audiobooks.

• Watching videos.

• Reflective practice.

Standard Two Maintain a true and accurate CPD Record of their Professional Development Activity

Standard Three Retain and maintain satisfactory evidence to support their CPD Record Depending on the activity and CPD category, Members may be expected to provide different forms of evidence at different times.

Structured CPD Activity Evidence Formal learning activities should not be added to a Member’s CPD record until the activity can be verified by satisfactory supporting evidence.

If a Member’s CPD record is randomly selected for audit, they will be expected to show valid evidence for each structured activity they have recorded in an electronic format. Examples of valid evidence may include: • A copy of a certificate of achievement, attendance or enrolment • A copy of the event register • A copy of the event timetable • Supporting letter or statement from the event organiser Unstructured CPD Activity Evidence Professional Activity, Work-Based Learning and Self-Directed Learning do not require verifiable evidence, only a short explanation of why the activity was undertaken and what benefit was gained from doing it.

Standard Four Take part in an Audit if requested

To meet this standard, Members must maintain a full and correct CPD record that demonstrates their engagement in at least the minimum amount of recognised professional development activity during that CPD year.

This record should be presented in chronological order by start date and should provide for each activity undertaken: • The activity category e.g. formal learning, professional activity etc, • The type of activity e.g. structured or unstructured, • A short description of the activity, • A start and end date, • Hours undertaken completing or engaging in the activity, and, • Whether the activity is active or complete.

All structured and unstructured CPD activity must also be accompanied by a short explanation of why the activity was undertaken and what benefit was gained from doing it.

Completing and Maintaining a CPD Record In 2020, the PGA will be launching a new CPD platform to enable Members to complete, maintain and submit an annual CPD record.

Until the new CPD platform is available, Members should use the Interim PGA CPD Record 2019-20 document to record their CPD. Keeping complete and up-to-date records will enable Members to easily transfer this information across to the new platform.

The PGA Professional

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Each year, a random high percentage of Members who have submitted an initial CPD record to join the Accredited register or are already on the register shall have their records audited to ensure accurate and fair compliance.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO IN 2019/20?

Currently class ‘A’ status after the 2019 1 October Regrade If you’re currently a class ‘A’ status Member and would like to join the Accredited register on 1 November 2020, you must maintain and submit a CPD record for the 2019-20 CPD year (1st October 2019-31st October 2020) that meets the PGA’s CPD standards. The deadline for submissions is 15th October 2020.

Currently class ‘AA’ status after the 2019 1 October Regrade If you’re currently a class ‘AA’ status Member you will automatically be added the Accredited register on 1 November 2020. You will not need to submit a CPD record for the 2019-20 CPD year but you must still maintain a record for the year in case your records are audited in the future.

Further information

A more comprehensive overview can be found within the Jobs and Career Development area of The PGA’s website.

15

D R I V I N G R A N G E S   F EAT U R E

Home on the range

There are approximately 800 golf ranges in Great Britain and Ireland, ranging from the traditional large expanses of land where golfers can despatch balls into the far yonder to those equipped with state-ofthe art technology that offer cutting edge practice facilities and opportunities for fun and social occasions. Adrian Milledge checks out the latest developments.

Practice makes perfect: a customer on the range at Ledene Golf Centre, Staffordshire

The PGA Professional

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17

F E ATURE D R I V I N G R A N G E S

The Lone ranger Ledene Golf Centre in Staffordshire is the home of what can be described as a traditional golf range.

Boasting an 18-hole par three course and a covered 10-bay, floodlit 300-yard range, it plays a key role in getting youngsters and beginners into golf.

Growing the game: PGA Professionals Jeremy Nicholls (far right) and Matt Jacques (far left) run a junior academy every Saturday morning

I

18

‘‘

the 10-bay range which, at 300 yards in length is a challenge for the biggest hitter

‘‘

t’s mid-October, the sky is grey and forbidding, and golf courses up and down the land are closed, their greens and fairways saturated and bunkers flooded due to days of rain.

Not so Ledene Golf Centre in Staffordshire. Located six miles or so from Wolverhampton, the car park is full.

The cars’ occupants, if not on the par-three 18-hole course which has survived the worst of Mother Nature’s excesses, are practising on the range or short game area, or cranking up their calorie intake in the café.

“You have to drive here so we have to get the product right,” says Jeremy Nicholls, the head PGA Professional.

Given that a lot of his clients come from Stafford some 15 miles distant, it’s clear Nicholls and his small team are doing just that. “It’s all about giving value for money,” he explains, “We feel we achieve that – a year’s membership which includes unlimited use of the course costs £199 and a bucket of 75 range balls is just £3.

“We also have a special offer for senior golfers on Tuesdays and Thursdays when they pay £5 for a round.

“The course is very popular with senior golfers for whom playing a full size one is beyond their physical capabilities. There’s a good mixture in terms of the length of holes – the longest is 151 yards – and the course is flat.

“The course is busier in summer but the range comes more into its own during the winter. It’s floodlit and open until eight in the evening. It’s also a bonus for those

playing the course – people loosen up before they go out.”

For Nicholls, meanwhile, the 10-bay range which, at 300 yards in length is a challenge for the biggest hitter, is key to his thriving teaching business.

“I use the range for lessons – for individuals of all abilities and groups,” he says. “We run a junior academy every Saturday and a ladies morning every fortnight.

“There’s a teaching bay with mirrors and also a grass area as some people prefer to hit the ball off grass rather than mats.

“We’ve also got a short game area with bunkers and putting surface, so it’s a good all-round base to teach.”

Nicholls, who has been at Ledene since 2004, is not the only PGA Professional to use the range for teaching.

Matt Jacques, who works at South Staffs Golf Club in Wolverhampton and

Bay watch: the range at Ledene Golf Centre

has recently qualified as a PGA pro, helps out with the junior academy on Saturday mornings.

“Matt likes to get involved – he’s a link for the kids who want to progress and play at South Staffs,” says Nicholls.

“He also brings some of his customers here in the winter. We’ve got a gentlemen’s agreement with South Staffs.

“Peter Baker, the director of golf there, is a good friend of mine and I sometimes borrow his launch monitor if I need one for a lesson.

“We’ve also got Wergs Golf Club close November 2019

| www.pga.info

D R I V I N G R A N G E S F EAT U R E

Leicester Golf Centre’s range is kitted out with Toptracer touchscreen ball flight monitor equipment

The appliance of science Launch monitors and ball trackers can transform a traditional golf range into a cutting-edge practice facility, a mecca for fun and social occasions but there can be a caveat.

T

echnology is sometimes cited as a curse of the modern game, especially by traditionalists.

They rail against the gargantuan distances balls, despatched by clubs engineered specifically for the purpose, travel, thus making much of the game a contest determined by expertise with a driver, wedge and putter.

By contrast, technology is breathing life into golf ranges both in terms of golfers who want to indulge in meaningful practice and those looking for a fun and competitive experience.

Leicester Golf Centre is a case in point.

Run and owned by Anders Mankert, a

by. The pro Sean Ball is another good friend and a couple of juniors who started here have recently gone there as members.

“We’re more than happy for this to be the first rung on the ladder for beginners, especially youngsters. We know at some point they will want to move on to a bigger course and we’re a vital cog in the process of growing the game.”

The PGA Professional

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‘‘

Toptracer enables visitors to try their skills on some of the most famous golf courses in the world

‘‘

Swinging success: a youngster practises his technique

PGA Advanced Fellow Professional, the range was recently described as one of the best in the UK by BBC Radio 5 Live.

And, with each of the floodlit range’s 16 bays equipped with a Toptracer touchscreen ball flight monitor, it’s easy to see why.

“Toptracer enables visitors to try their skills on some of the most famous golf courses in the world,” explains Mankert, an award-winning coach whose career has included working closely with blind and visually-handicapped golfers.

“It also enables youngsters perhaps hitting a golf ball for the first time to see just how far and where their shots have gone, be encouraged, and perhaps start to progress from their initial visits into a game which could develop into a lifetime’s interest.”

In addition to youngsters getting a feel for the game, or offering accomplished golfers a state-of-the-art practice facility, the range at Leicester Golf Centre is often the stage for competitions or social occasions.

“We get pairs and groups using the Toptracer in competitions and having a fun time,” adds Mankert.

Such has been the popularity of the 19

F E ATURE D R I V I N G R A N G E S range that, within six months of it opening last year, a million balls had been despatched and it had become profitable.

However, Colin Jenkins, chairman of the Organisation of Golf Range Operators (OGRO) and owner of Grimsby Golf Range and Basildon Golf Club, counsels that investing in high-tec equipment does not necessarily guarantee a route to riches.

“I’m a brutalist,” he says. “I don’t think the cost of the technology is worth installing if you’ve got a range that is taking less than £100,000 a year.

“My range at Grimsby is taking about 90 grand a year. If I spent 30 grand on the technology I’d probably take 30 grand more.

“In which case, there’s no point in doing it. After four or five years all the technology stuff will be tired or broken.

“What’s more it’s a remote operation for me. I’ve got American Golf operating the shop, a self-employed maintenance man, and robots cutting the outfield and picking up the balls. It’s a simple operation and I employ no one.

“But if I was there myself and my wife had a small café on site and I was giving lessons all day, I’d want it to be the best. It would work beautifully and take a lot more.”

While equipping his Grimsby range with hi-tech equipment from the likes of Toptracer, Foresight Sports and Trackman

is a non-starter for Jenkins, he can see the benefits if the site is right.

“Ranges equipped with screen-based graphics can enhance the golfer’s experience,” he adds.

“Instead of having one golfer in one bay practising quietly they’re able to create a fun environment and have games in a bay with four or five people.

“That obviously transforms the finances of the busiest and best run ranges.

“It turns it into an experience of broader leisure rather than quiet practice for fanatical golfers.”

For Richard Hughes, meanwhile, a PGA Fellow Professional and owner of

Net profit The diminishing supply and expense of land means golfpods are the future when it comes to creating a golf range, according to Colin Jenkins, chairman of the Organisation of Golf Range Operators (OGRO).

L

and is a finite resource. Which is one reason why the land occupied by golf facilities, especially in urban areas, is coveted by developers for housing.

Similarly, the lack of it makes creating a golf facility or extending an existing one’s acreage to increase its length or accommodate improved practice facilities prohibitively expensive.

However, a solution is at hand according to Colin Jenkins, a PGA Professional and chairman of OGRO. “Golfpods are the future,” he says. “A golfpod is a big netted standalone golf range which can be erected anywhere.

“It gives user the ability to hit balls at least 25-30 metres, and to be able to monitor the direction and flight without requiring the normal dimensions and scale of a full-size driving range.

“They have just started being built and are the biggest revolution to hit golf ranges since I’ve been involved with them.

“The ability to have meaningful practice in a condensed area is just what’s needed to help the sport grow.

“If you were building a golf course but did not have a practice facility or had a course without the room for a conventional range, I would install a golfpod.”

Jenkins, who owns a golf range in Grimsby and Basildon Golf Club in Essex, speaks from experience when he extols a golfpod’s virtues.

Basildon was the site for the first engineered golfpod of its kind in recent years and, costing £60,000, measuring 15 metres in length and standing nine metres high, its introduction has proved popular with both the club’s owner and his customers.

20

OGRO’s Colin Jenkins

“It’s not floodlit and not fully covered,” explains Jenkins, who is also the editor of Golf Features magazine.

“There are only two covered bays and it’s more of a warm-up facility and somewhere to teach in inclement weather. It is not a cash cow but does give us very good return on the investment.”

The golfpod at Basildon was designed, manufactured and erected

by Hi-Nets, a company based in Hampshire, and is smaller than ones that have followed.

Not least at Horsham Golf and Fitness in West Sussex.

The golf range there was compromised for space when Neil Burke and his co-owners decided to sell a parcel of land to neighbouring Horsham Football Club.

Horsham Golf and Fitness Centre

November 2019

| www.pga.info

D R I V I N G R A N G E S F EAT U R E the Coalville Golf Centre in Leicestershire, utilising technology to coach is a major factor in the ongoing success of his business.

The 20-bay floodlit driving range is complemented by a shop, FootGolf course, coffee lounge and, most importantly, hi-tech golf studio.

The technological wizardry Hughes has assembled includes the latest FlightScope launch monitor, the X3, two 3D systems, two pressure plates and a HackMotion wrist sensor.

In addition, there is a separate studio equipped with a SAMPuttLab. It all adds up to a coaching facility

The SAMPuttLab at Coalville Golf Centre

The deal afforded the chance to work with the football club to create a sporting hub and raise cash to develop the business.

In addition to being popular with golfers, either for practising or as a warm-up facility prior to playing one of the two courses at the club, the range was the home of a teaching academy headed by PGA Professional Mike Yorke.

Its proximity to the newly-created football facility, however, meant additional and higher netting had to be installed but it soon became clear this did not offer 100 per cent protection against ball escape.

A better solution was needed, although the obvious options – increasing the height of the netting or reducing the size of the range – were impractical.

Salvation came in the form of a golfpod which, at 50 metres in length and 30 metres high embraces the existing range building, is the largest in Europe. It has now been open for a handful of months and the initial response from customers is positive.

“Many of our regulars have used it more than they did so in the past,” says Burke.

“We realise this may just be a honeymoon period and once people have got used to it, we will only then get a true indication.

“So far we have had good positive feedback with only a few who feel that a restricted ball flight of this nature does not fit their practice.

“We are in discussions with the leading technology companies to put ball-tracking technology into the bays to further enhance the enjoyment of the practising golfer.

“Once we have this facility installed that will appeal to all golfers, our goal is then to look beyond this traditional market with a truly modern, fun environment that is not just aimed at golfers trying to improve.”

In that respect, as the golfpod occupies a lot less land than a traditional range, its installation has resulted in a substantial area to be utilised for other golfing or leisure activities. Adventure golf is an obvious candidate – a case then of watch this space.

The PGA Professional

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used by golfers of all abilities and from far and near.

“Our clients come from as far afield as London and up north,” says Hughes, who delivered his Teaching with Technology seminar to delegates at last year’s PGA Members’ International Conference in Thailand.

“As well as amateur golfers, pros come here with their clients to teach and others have lessons.

“Some pros also come along to check out the equipment, see if it’s right for them or learn how to use it.

“Our coaching business is really big and is the key part of the operation.”

ON THE TEE

Huxley Golf matting at Gleneagles, The PGA National, Scotland

Three PGA Partners – Power Tee, Huxley Golf and Titleist– are major players in the business of equipping golf ranges.

Power Tee is the world’s premier automated teeing system and is currently installed and featured at 60 per cent of the golf ranges in the UK. These include four Ryder Cup venues and the home of golf, St. Andrews.

Huxley Golf, meanwhile, works with driving ranges across the UK and abroad to open up the game of golf to more people, more of the time by improving and enhancing their playing surfaces and practice facilities. The British company produces realistic, high quality, durable and low maintenance commercial practice greens, tees, mats and nets as well as artificial turf pathways.

Titleist offers a ball for golf ranges that is designed solely for practice – the NXT Tour. The threepiece ball comes in white or yellow, has ‘PRACTICE’ stamped on the cover and is not permitted for use in competitions. www.powertee.com www.huxleygolf.com www.titleist.co.uk

21

I N TER NATIONAL WO R K I N G A B ROA D : S W I T Z E R L A N D

Find your Swiss role Boasting a high quality of life – and an equally high cost of living – Switzerland is proving an attractive destination to develop a high-flying career for adventurous PGA Members.

A

lthough more commonly associated with skiing, luxury timepieces, tennis stars and triangular-shaped chocolate, Switzerland is proving a popular country for UK & Ireland PGA Professionals to further their careers, with 68 members currently employed in a wide variety of roles across the Swiss golf industry.

Boasting 98 golf clubs – 70% of which offer 18-hole courses – and over 30 indoor swing studios, Switzerland offers a welldeveloped golf market. There are currently over 88,000 registered golfers in Europe’s most land-locked country, who are served by around 280 qualified teaching pros.

and August), while those situated in lower lying regions enjoy at least nine or ten months of playable conditions.

With such a decent supply of facilities to play and practice, it is somewhat surprising that Switzerland has yet to produce any truly world class golfers, with André Bossert, who played on the European Tour between 19892009, being the most successful, with one European Tour title and one Senior Tour title to his name. Despite the lack of professional success, Switzerland remains a regular stop on the pro tours thanks to the backing of its luxury watch brands. The Omega European Masters, held at Crans-Sure-Sierre at the end

of August, is one of the most popular venues on the European Tour, while the Rolex Trophy is one of the highlights of the Challenge Tour season, with the 40-player event hosted by the exclusive Golf Club de Geneva. A visit to the luxury spa resort at Bad Ragaz is also keenly anticipated by the Staysure Tour for the Swiss Senior Open in July.

Given the relative shortness of the outdoor golf season in some regions, it is not surprising that there is a significant interest in indoor facilities, with the main cities of Geneva, Zurich, Bern and Lausanne all offering a number of swing studios and driving ranges. As in Germany, Swiss golfers

A COUNTRY OF CONTRASTS Switzerland is certainly a country of contrasts when it comes to golf, with the courses varying from mountainous tree-lined layouts, where side slopes abound and the ball flies for miles through the thin Alpine air, to more pedestrian parkland tracks laid out on flat valley floors. The contrast also applies to the playing seasons, with those courses located high in the Alps having their playing months heavily curtailed by snow and ice (Verbier Golf, for instance, is only open during July 22

November 2019

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WO R K I N G A B ROA D : S W I T Z E R L A N D I N T ER N AT I O N A L are required to pass a theory and practical test in order to be allowed to be let loose on the golf course for the first time, so undertaking an intensive course of lessons with a qualified PGA instructor is the only way for golfers to get hold of the ‘Authorisation Parcours’ golf certificate and make the transition from driving range to first tee.

Swiss Golf is the governing body for the game in Switzerland, overseeing all amateur tournaments, implementing the centralised handicapping system, and running the junior teams for national and international competitions, while the Swiss PGA looks after the interests of club professionals, hosting tournaments and running educational and training courses across nine regions. To become a Swiss PGA Professional, a person must complete the Swiss PGA Education programme or be a member of another recognised PGA, which fulfils the educational criteria of the Confederation of Professional Golf. The Swiss PGA has a joining fee of 250 Swiss Francs (£200), and an annual fee of 550 (£450).

MULTI-LINGUAL SOCIETY Stuck in the middle of the European Union, but not part of it, living and working in Switzerland will take a certain amount of adjustment, not least in the multi-lingual nature of society. While many Swiss people are multi-lingual, don’t expect to be universally understood if you speak French in the German part or German in the French part, or Italian in the southern regions.

Thankfully, English is most people’s second language and is widely understood in the main cities.

The country is divided into 26 cantons, each of which operate their own health and education systems and have discretionary powers when it comes to granting citizenship. This can mean all sorts of paperwork, including getting a new resident permit, if you decide to move from one canton to another, or even from one town to another.

Barring that, crime rates and unemployment rates (2.3%) are among the lowest in Europe, and the quality of life is among the highest.

The PGA Professional

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PGA Members’ experience Jonathan Voyle , PGA Professional, Pieterlen Driving Range, Nr Bern “After qualifying as a PGA Pro at 19, I worked at various clubs around Hertfordshire, including spells at Batchwood Hall, Verulam, Welywn Garden City and Knebworth. I was looking for a new challenge, and, as luck would have it, the ex-captain of Knebworth, who was the club director at Blumisberg Golf & Country Club in Switzerland, called head pro at Knebworth to ask if he knew anyone who would be interested in teaching out there. Aged 22, I jumped at the opportunity to experience a new culture, language and working environment and moved out there.

That was 30 years ago, and I’m still here. After 12 years, I moved to Wallenried Golf & Country Club near Fribourg, and I’ve been in current role as golf range manager at Pieterlen since 2016. I work on my own at the range, so my day-to-day role involves pretty much everything, from cutting the grass, picking up balls, maintaining the facilties and teaching. It’s a lot to do, but it’s very satisfying.

When I first arrived in Switzerland there were only 36 courses, and now there are more than 100. I am not sure there is the demand for that many, and I know that many clubs are finding it difficult to fill their memberships.

Winters can be long here, with many golfers putting their clubs away from November until March, so that means the golf season is short, but very busy, with long hours. I often arrange golf trips abroad in the winter to bring in extra income.

Switzerland is a beautiful country, and I enjoy the variety of languages and cultures and the outdoor way of life. I now speak German and French, and although English is widely understood, it’s much better if you can communicate with golfers in their own language, especially when you’re giving lessons. For any PGA Member looking to work out here I would recommend learning a language, but it could be French, German or Italian, depending on which part of the country you’re based.”

Julian Myerscough, Head PGA Fellow Professional Migros GolfParks “I’ve spent the last 30 years or so working at golf clubs and golf schools in Austria, Germany and, since 1995, Switzerland. I was initially headhunted to run a golf school at a public course owned by Migros, one of Switzerland’s largest retail companies.

Run along the lines of a co-operative, Migros owns seven pay-and-play courses around the country and we employ over 30 PGA Professionals, many of which are from the UK. Together the clubs host over 100,000 rounds annually, with over five million balls hit on our driving ranges. As well as offering traditional membership, Migros has a 19,000-strong club of its own, which offers handicap administration, as well as organising member competitions, events and other benefits. Migros has a long tradition of promoting sport and adult education through its ‘Klubschule’, and provides financial support for the Swiss PGA, as well as investing heavily in junior golf schemes.

While continental clubs were crying out for British-trained PGA pros back in the 80s and 90s, most have enough home-grown pros to cope with demand, so the opportunities aren’t quite what they were. The wages in Switzerland are high by European standards, but living costs are high as well. A big benefit is the pension system. My pros work 50-plus hours a week on the range during an eight-month season, which can be exhausting and take its toll on family life.

The Swiss are friendly, polite and courteous, and integration was easy for both my wife and I when we arrived. My two boys have grown up multi-lingual in a lovely environment, and I can highly recommend it was a place to live and work.”

23

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24

November 2019

| www.pga.info

Q&A Bould choices

I N T E RV I E W I N T ER N AT I O N A L

Donald Crawley, the Director of Instruction at The Boulders Golf Club in Arizona, explains why leaving Yorkshire for a new life ‘across the pond’ proved a good move all round

using video in every lesson, and sometimes ball monitor technology such as Trackman or FlightScope.

How would you rate the strength of the golf industry the US in 2019?

The golf industry has been on a decline in the

How does a boy from Harrogate

US for several years, but because the economy

end up becoming one of the most

is in relatively good shape we are having a

respected golf teachers in the US?

good year. Rounds are up, but it is harder to

I turned professional at 16 in 1974 and started

capture the same dollars per golfer per day.

Personally, I’m as busy as ever, perhaps because

out working at Oakdale Golf Club and then Pannal Golf Club, both of which are in my

Donald Crawley: left Yorkshire for Arizona

joined the late great John Jacobs at Delapre Golf Complex in Northampton. I started off as

I have a national recognition, a strong return business, and keeping the instruction simple

hometown of Harrogate. Three years later I

member of The PGA of GB&I, I’m also a Class A member of the PGA of America.

and practical. I have observed that many instructors tend to complicate matters, and rely too much on technology, which often confuses

one of John’s many assistants, but about three years into the job, John asked me to go out to

What does a typical working day

the average handicap golfer. People only come

Las Vegas for what was supposed to be a three-

involve these days?

back if they are improving, or at least enjoy the

week posting at one of his golf schools.

As Director of Instruction at the Boulders

learning experience.

While I was there John also recommended me to a group of club pros in the Chicago area, and I was offered a teaching position at a high-end private club, Exmoor County Club, which was about an hour north of Chicago. After a brief phone conversation, I took the job unseen, flew from Vegas to Chicago, leveraged that into other seasonal teaching jobs and played the South American Tour one winter.

Two years later, aged 23, I was appointed Director of Instruction of the John Jacobs Golf Schools in the States, a position I held until 2003. John was my mentor and dear friend of 42 years, and I am forever in his debt for giving me the opportunity to come to the States. It is fair to reveal that John never owned or operated the JJ Schools, but being his representative in the US certainly helped my career.

Since then, I have run my own teaching company, GolfSimplified, which operates all over the US, but mainly in Scottsdale, Chicago, and three clubs in Michigan. I am a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher (since 1999), and as well as being an overseas

– which is a 36-hole resort with a thriving

The PGA Professional

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academy – a typical work day starts with me

What are the best and worst parts

setting up my academy teaching area, and

about working/living in the US?

then teaching five or six one-hour private

The States is so vast that living communities

lessons, plus a two-hour playing lesson out

vary depending on the region. I find it

on the golf course. Many of my clients come

convenient for travelling – good road network,

for a two- or three-day intensive personalised

easy domestic flights – but mandatory health

school with me, so it’s great to have that

insurance and the cost of schooling/college

continuity.

can make it expensive if you have a family and

At the end of the day I answer all my texts and e-mails, book future lessons, and write personal summary lesson notes to every student. I work 60 hours week, 45 weeks a year. Across the US, very few golf teachers rack up more hours than that.

children in tow.

What advice would you pass on to other PGA Members who may be interested in working in the US? Anyone aspiring to work in the States will find it very difficult to get a work visa unless they

How does the role of the golf coach

are married to an American citizen. I was lucky

differ in the US compared to the UK?

to get my work permit and resident alien card

Coaching is no different in the States. Help

before I married and became an American

people to play better golf, and you’ll stay busy.

citizen.

I was impressed on my recent trip to England to discover how many club pros have an indoor

Where do you see yourself in five

swing studio attached to their shop. We have

years?

less of those in the States because golfers tend

I’ll be 66, so hopefully I’ll still be teaching, but

to follow the sun to find the good weather

probably doing maybe 40 hours across a four-

for playing and learning. I teach outdoors,

day week rather than the current schedule.

25

T RA DE N E W S

Cobra muscles in with King Forged TEC irons COBRA GOLF’S new King Forged TEC

hitting zone to maximize distance even on

irons feature a traditional muscle-back shape

off-centre hits.

with a hollow body design for softer feel and improved power.

The irons feature Arccos’s Cobra Connect technology, which enables golfers to track

The hollow body lowers the centre of grav-

their accuracy and distance using the Arccos

ity and helps maximize distance, forgiveness

Caddie app on a smart device. Electronical-

and playability, while the cavity in the head

ly-embedded sensors in the grip automatically

is injected with foam microspheres that fine-

record the distance and accuracy of every

tune acoustics and create the softer feel while

shot, so golfers can track their stats from

supporting a thin face for increased ball speeds.

round-to-round.

length of a 7-iron to reduce variability and

An updated forged face insert creates a

In addition to standard variable shafts, the

increase consistency between clubs. Lie angles

larger sweetspot for higher launch and faster

King Forged Tec One irons are also offered

are also adjusted throughout the set to pro-

ball speeds in a player’s iron. A tungsten toe

with single-length shafts (4-PW). The design

mote consistent trajectory and ball flights.

weight places the centre of gravity behind the

of each iron is matched to the weight and

RRP: £899/£999 st/gr.

Titleist rolls out TruFeel ball TITLEIST’S NEW TruFeel golf ball is designed to deliver longer distance and excellent control for golfers who prefer a softer compression ball. Boasting a new core and new aerodynamics for more distance with the driver and in the long game, the new ball features a proprietary cover which provides ultra-soft feel and excellent control on shots into and around the green.

A new sidestamp has been designed to double as an alignment aid, providing golfers the option for easy alignment without having to mark a line on the ball. The design was inspired by the most popular alignment aid available through the My Titleist customiser website since alignment options were offered to consumers in February last year.

TruFeel balls are currently available in white and optic yellow, with a new matte red option coming in January. SRP: £23.

26

Lynx goes to new lengths with Ai junior range LYNX GOLF has launched a new range of junior clubs that are proportionately resized to better suit young players than ever before.

The set offers completely different clubhead sizes and weights in each of six height-coded sections. For example, a 6-iron in its smallest Blue section of clubs is 7% lighter and 7% shorter than in the next size Red section. Similar levels of difference continue through the remaining Orange, Green, Black and Silver sections, with clubs getting progressively larger, longer and heavier.

Even the issue of ball size and weight has been addressed, with the launch of smaller, lighter balls that are easier for younger players to get airborne.

Stephanie Zinser, one of the two owners of Lynx Golf, explained the rationale behind the innovative new range. “We have utilised a proven mix of sports science, physiology, advanced computational methods to create the new Ai clubs to be absolutely in the correct proportions for young golfers. It’s a perfect model for scaling up to adulthood, and one which takes account of the child’s developing strength and slowly increasing swing speeds as he or she gets stronger, more confident and more able.”

The Lynx Junior Ai Range will be at retail in December and is being sold on an open stock basis. Single clubs will cost from £22.

November 2019

| www.pga.info

N E W S T RA DE

Arccos joins forces with SuperStroke to launch new putter grip accessory ARCCOS GOLF has joined forces with SuperStroke

to

launch

bag and was recently

SuperStroke adapter

adopted by Ping, having

an

been proven as a valuable

accessory that enables its

game-improving

Arccos Caddie Sensors to

nology while embedded

be seamlessly integrated

in Cobra King F8 and

into

F9 golf clubs over the

all

Zoom adds Style to winter gloves

SuperStroke

CounterCore and Trax-

tech-

past two years.

ion putter grips with an

It automatically tracks

existing Tech-Port.

and analyses a user’s

through

on-course performance

GOLF GLOVE brand Zoom is bringing

close collaboration bet­

via a sensor in each grip

some colour to the course this

ween Arccos and SuperStroke engineers, the

and a smartphone app. It then deploys artifi-

autumn with its Weather Style range,

new accessory meets the growing demand from

cial intelligence, developed in partnership with

which feature the brand’s unique

the Arccos Caddie user base and aligns with

Microsoft, to show users their optimal strategy

‘One Size Fits All’ weather glove.

SuperStroke’s position as the No.1 putter grip

and predicted outcome for every shot on any

Featuring Zoom’s unique Flexx-Fit

in golf.

hole in the world. This is calculated based on

technology, the Weather Style uses

The accessory consists of a custom-built

an individual’s shot history, other users’ per-

a mix of Lycra flex zones that fit the

housing that attaches the Arccos Caddie Putter

formance, wind speed and direction, elevation

contours of a golfer’s hand and feel

Sensor to a SuperStroke CounterCore or Trax-

changes, hole geometry, hazard locations and

like a second skin whatever the play-

ion putter grip, together with a tightening tool

more. Last year, players using Arccos Caddie

er’s usual size. Combined with a

and SuperStroke wrench.

for at least ten rounds, achieved a 3.79 stroke

honeycomb nylon pattern on the palm

average handicap improvement.

for enhanced grip, the Zoom Weather

Developed

The Arccos Caddie platform provides shot-tracking data across every club in the

RRP: £19.99.

Style is the perfect solution for golfers that want to play with a touch of Style

Sun Mountain launches customised bag programme

and have a great connection to their

INSPIRED BY the growing number of Amer-

red, white, grey, navy, royal, lime,

ican university and college golf teams adopting

orange, fuchsia and sand – adding a

its range of logoed stand and cart bags for

colourful and technical solution for

competitive matches, Sun Mountain is now

winter golf.

club whatever the weather.

The gloves are available in a choice of ten eye-catching colours – stone,

Ian Waddicar, managing director

launching a similar customisation programme

of Zoom UK, said: “The beauty of our

in the UK. The market leader in premium waterproof golf bags is offering a special rate for mini-

‘One Size’ technology for pro shops Sun Mountain stand and cart bags

is that they can virtually halve their

mum orders of 18 bags incorporating club,

of the Phantom model, can be customised

usual glove order. We have a men’s,

university or college badges on the front or

on two panels and features a 10-inch top, 15

ladies and junior option, so Zoom

side panels. The Sun Mountain stand bag fea-

full-length club dividers and eight front-facing

gloves will be a perfect fit for 99% of

tures a 9-inch, four-way top with an integrated

pockets. Both bags are available in navy, black

a customers. Orders are made in mul-

handle; an E-Z Lite dual straps with foam

and grey.

tiples of six, so slow-moving SKU’s

padding; and six pockets, plus a drinks sleeve.

The cart bag, which is based on the design

The PGA Professional

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Email sales@brandfusionltd.co.uk or visit www.brandfusion.co.uk for details.

like ladies or juniors don’t sit on the shelves forever.”

27

T RA DE N E W S

TGI gets to grips with TwoThumb TGI HAS announced a new agreement with TwoThumb Grip which will see its full range

Bernd Wiesberger

have always been dedicated to improving golf-

of over-sized putter grips made available to all

ers’ putting, be it an elite pro like Matt Wallace

of its 500-plus retail partners.

or a club golfer, we can all take advantage of

TwoThumb has enjoyed significant success

the benefits that oversized grips present, such

on Tour in recent years, with a wide range

as reduced grip tension and wrist break. And

of top players using the grips, including two

we hope that through our relationship with

of the top five in the current Race to Dubai standings. Matt Wallace has used the Two-

TGI Golf we can be part of the journey that Matthieu Pavon

Thumb Original for all four of his European

builds confidence, saves strokes, and ultimately makes the game more enjoyable.”

Tour victories, while Austrian Bernd Wies-

The TwoThumb range of grips has expanded

berger uses the Snug Daddy 27, and since

from the Classic ‘Original’ (a 180g rubber

returning from injury this year, has risen to 37

grip) to include grips of the same size, but dif-

in the world and secured wins at the Scottish

ferent weights, such as the Light (147g) and

Open and The Made in Denmark tournament

the Big Daddy Light (67g), ensuring there are

using this model on his putter.

oversized options for every golfer. The ergo-

Other pros using TwoThumb grips include

28

Richardson, Director at TwoThumb. “We

nomically-designed Snug Daddy range boasts

Matthieu Pavon (Big Daddy Light), Stephen

“We know our grips perform, but getting

a flat front to aid grip alignment and consis-

Brown (Classic Light) and Andalucia Masters

them in the hands of the European Tour’s elite

tency of stroke, while reducing grip twist. It

champion Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Snug

golfers isn’t always easy. But these guys use our

is offered in a variety of colours, with width

Daddy 30).

grips because they really trust them,” said Steve

options from 24mm up to 33mm.

November 2019

| www.pga.info

N E W S T RA DE

Odyssey unveils new Stroke Lab putters ODYSSEY IS to add two new models to its

construction promotes exceptionally high

range of Stroke Lab putter range with the

MOI for more stability. Additionally, a new

introduction of the Black Ten and Black Bird

microhinge star insert creates a firmer feel,

of Prey.

while providing the same roll characteristics

On sale from January next year, both new

of Odyssey’s Tour-proven White Hot Micro-

models boast a high MOI construction and

hinge, while a high-definitions alignment

Odyssey’s innovative Stroke Lab weight distri-

makes it easy to find the right setup at address.

bution to improve performance dynamics for

Priced at £269, both models will be available at retail from January 31.

a more consistent stroke.

The Stroke Lab design improves tempo and consistency of the stroke through a change in weight distribution in the multi-material shaft, with

Stroke Lab Black Bird Of Prey

Stroke Lab Black Ten

10g added to the head in the form of two sole weights, and 30g to the grip-end via a 10g-lighter grip and 40g end-weight.

In the Stroke Lab Black Ten and Stroke Lab Black Bird of Prey, a multi-material head

Drive participation with Golf Genius GOLF GENIUS, the leading provider of cloud-based tournament software, has announced a comprehensive winter league package to help golf clubs increase participation throughout the winter months. The completely flexible package offers a great way to keep a membership engaged through Golf Genius’ library of fun and varied formats, which together form a bespoke winter league or order of merit. High quality printed materials, email communication, and instant availability of online results further enhances the player experience, while in-app scoring speeds up scoring and simultaneously reduces work for the golf club administrator, who receives total support from Golf Genius’ team.

Many clubs have seen great success with the winter league proposal over the last few years, including Shipley GC in West Yorkshire, which has used the software to get more of its members on the course in the wintertime. Head PGA Professional, Nathan Stead, has been delighted with the implementation at the club: “The winter league was a real success here at Shipley. The members absolutely loved it and their feedback was overwhelming.

It definitely had a positive impact on participation,” he commented.

Craig Higgs, Managing Director of Golf Genius, added: “Using Golf Genius is a plug and play solution, setting up a simple best four of six monthly events with an order of merit play-off can be done in minutes, tailored to suit any number of formats.”

Clubs interested in receiving a free demo of Golf Genius’ winter league offering should email craig@golfgenius.com

The PGA Professional

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Foremost lays down the Law to drive digital marketing FOREMOST GOLF has appointed IT expert Tom Law to support the development of the group’s digital marketing projects.

With over 20 years of digital design expertise, Law will oversee all of Foremost’s digital touchpoints, adopting the latest technologies and innovations to enhance user experience across the range of new and existing digital products.

Under his remit, Law will be maintaining and developing the range of advanced products and services included in the Elite Marketing Programme Premium upgrade.

One of the group’s fastestgrowing digital projects is the Online Lesson Booking System, launched to member professionals last year. The fully integrated, free solution allows pros to optimise their booking diary and is promoted through their synchronised EMP digital marketing communications.

Andy Martin, Foremost Managing Director, commented: “Now that we’re offering more to our members than ever before, it is so important to be able to provide the right support and to have the right skill sets on-board to continually take our range of services forward. As digital marketing becomes an increasingly prevalent part of the golf Professional’s business we must react too, to make sure that our members are equipped with the best tools to reach their customer base and thrive.”

29

A D V E R T O R I A L

UNIQUE OFFERS AND A DEDICATED SERVICE BMW Group are proud to have supported PGA members for over 15 years with special offers available across their entire range of vehicles.

The PGA Affinity Scheme offers members and their

For more information on the BMW Group PGA Affinity

immediate family the opportunity to benefit from

Scheme, please contact the PGA Sales Team on:

exclusive stock offers and bespoke factory orders

0370 700 5215, by email at mail@bmw-issd.co.uk or

on the full range of BMW models, the complete

visit the new website at www.bmwpgasales.co.uk.

MINI range, BMW Motorrad Bikes and the growing range of BMW i vehicles and Plug-In Hybrids.

Based in Central London with national delivery, PGA member offers come direct from BMW Group through the dedicated PGA Sales Team. The team will be able to assist you with every aspect of your new car purchase offering a superior level of customer service and support.

Furthermore, the BMW PGA Affinity Scheme recognises that there are personal preferences where payment is concerned so, in addition to the cash purchase discount, there are also a number of highly competitive Contract Purchase options.

With a broad range of models to suit every taste, from our

BENEFITS SUMMARY: - Preferential Car Scheme available.

- UK nationwide home delivery can be arranged separately via covered transporter or collection from our Central London location.

- Part Exchange your car for a new one, with finance available.

- Friendly, knowledgeable team who are on hand to provide an easy one-stop experience.

- Your new car will come with 3 years Roadside Assistance, 3 years Warranty and 12 Months Road Fund License.

- Substantial benefits on all new BMW, BMW i, MINI and BMW Motorrad models throughout the entire range.

versatile and exciting MINI 5-door Hatch to the recently

30

launched new BMW 1 Series and BMW X7, BMW Group are

For the latest news and offer updates, please follow

confident there is a model to entice each and every member.

BMW ISSD on LinkedIn.

November 2019

| www.pga.info 

T R A I N I N G A I D S T RA DE

Aiding and abetting Owning and stocking a good selection of effective training aids and gadgets will help make lessons more fun and engaging for all levels of golfer and keep the tills ringing over the winter

Shot Scope V2 Not a training aid in a traditional sense, Shot Scope is a game analysis system and GPS unit all rolled into one that will help golfers to discover the strengths and weaknesses of their play out on the golf course.

The wrist-based unit links to sensors placed in the butt of each club grip that collates GPS data on every shot hit on the course, so that the player can record where they hit the ball with each club under proper playing conditions.

Over time, this builds up a comprehensive picture of course

SkyTrak

management, detailing distances

Part simulator, part launch monitor, part golf training aid, SkyTrak is enjoying a

hit with each club, common misses,

growing following among PGA Professionals in the UK and Ireland, with over

instances of under or over-clubbing,

500 having already taken advantage of its award-winning technology, which

and allow golfers to adjust their play

has a wide range of applications, from coaching and club fitting to simulator

accordingly. £225, shotscope.com

game play and skills tests – all at an affordable price.

Ideal for use on the range, for indoor studios and even for domestic use, SkyTrak is accurate enough for custom-fitting and gapping lessons, as well as in-depth swing analysis, while its access to over 100,000 virtual golf courses, including the world’s best simulator software, makes it perfect for gaming and skills performance.

Bag mapping, Wedge Matrix, Fairway Practice and Shot Optimiser are all recent software updates that enhance its features, while the integration of SkyPro also makes it a great choice for golf academies, swing studios and driving ranges. £1,895, skytrakgolf.com

Impact Snap Golf Trainer Designed by respected US golf coach Kelvin Miyahira, and

bad swing habits, this low impact training aid avoids the

endorsed by many PGA-qualified instructors worldwide,

risk the injuries caused by repetitive swings with a real

the Impact Snap Golf Trainer is a small golf grip with a

club and ball and can be used for lessons on the range or

ball bearing inside which lets the golfer know when their

for golfers at home or even to warm up before a round.

wrists are out of alignment and that they’re loading and

€99.95, impactsnapeurope.com

releasing the clubhead at the right time.

Designed to eradicate weak wrists, tight forearms, scooping motions, flapping arms, and a number of other

The PGA Professional

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31

T RA DE T R A I N I N G A I D S

AcuStrike The winner of the Best New Product award at the 2019 PGA Merchandise Show, AcuStrike is a felt mat that gives golfers instant feedback on ball strike and swing path, allowing them to immediately make the changes they need to improve strike, increase distance and understand their swing.

The mat changes shade when a shot is played, with the dark mark left behind clearly showing where the clubhead has struck the mat in relation to the ball placement. This gives instant feedback on the desired ‘ball-then-ground’ impact and also shows the path of the clubhead through the ball. Once a shot has been hit, the mat is simply wiped clear with the club and it is ready to go again, with the feedback from the last shot clear in the golfers’ mind.

Available in outdoor and indoor models, AcuStrike can be fixed to a grass

SkyCaddie SkyPro A trusted training tool for golfers

range using four tee pegs or alternatively the indoor version can be used

and teaching pros alike, SkyPro is a

alongside a traditional driving range mat.

lightweight, portable device which

£44.99/£64.99 (outdoor/indoor)

clips on to the shaft and records

acustrikegolf.co.uk

almost every aspect of the swing – including clubhead speed, swing tempo, clubface rotation, backswing length, shaft angles and swing path – and sends this data to a smartphone or laptop, where it can be digested in a user-friendly format.

The SkyPro app stores information on how a player typically swings every club in the bag, enabling them to store ‘good’ swings to use as a

Prak-tis

they be on the golf course, in a bay at

Awarded best training aid by Golf Monthly for 2019, Prak-tis was designed by

the driving range, or while swinging

PGA Member and respected tour coach Jeremy Bennett, and was created to

in a suitably spacious home or office.

help perfect every shot in the bag.

The aid lays flat on the ground and uses a vertical and horizontal system

Users can also view every element of the swing from any angle in

to help consistently guide a player into their perfect set up. There are

3D high-definition, while SkyPro’s

recommended distances from the ball ‘zones’ on the vertical rule, while the ball

Groove and Practice feature provides

position, width of stance and foot angles are provided on the horizontal rule.

instant feedback on successful

Prak-tis putting aid has three main functions; to perfect the path of stroke, to

swings, giving instant ‘alerts’ after

set up identically and optimally every time and to aid green reading. The visual

every swing, which identify the

template takes care of the stroke which

most common faults. It also features

is a 13-degree arc, back and through, the

challenge sessions to correct swing

ball position and width of stance rules

flaws, helping golfers to learn how to

ensure the same set up every time. There

correct their errors.

are also two dummy holes included for pace control.

“When Prak-tis is demonstrated

SkyPro’s 3D inertial motion sensors capture up to 100,000 data points from address to impact – 3,200

during a lesson, your client will want to

samples per second – providing far

purchase one, showing added value and

more accurate swing data than is

commitment from you as a coach, and

offered by a video cameras, which

ensuring your client practices perfectly

typically records at 24-60 frames per

every time,” says Bennett.

second.

Prak-tis Pro, £39.95, prak-tis.com

32

template for future practice, whether

£149.95, www.skycaddie.co.uk

November 2019

| www.pga.info

T R A I N I N G A I D S T RA DE

Eyeline golf putting mirror Hugely popular with teaching pros and tour pros, the Eyeline putting alignment mirror is a 12-inchby-6-inch mirrored surface that features sight lines to help players line up putts correctly. Ideal for lessons on the practice putting green at the course and for home use, golfers use the mirror lines to line up their ball in the indent and the horizontal line to put the putter face in the right location. The reflection gives a full view

Colour Path Golf

of the setup and stroke – eyes, putter face and shoulders,

Invented by PGA Professionals Kevin Merry and John

and creates perfect alignment muscle memory.

Glenn, Colour Path Golf uses a colour-coded system to

£46, eyelinegolf.com

bring visual simplicity to coaching. Coaches place shapes in the four primary colours on the ground to create simple, easy-to-follow maps, which give greater clarity to the path that the golf club should follow to hit the perfect shot.

“Our training concept uses colour as a visual aid to influence physical responses throughout various parts of the swing,” explains Merry. “A great example would be the use of the colour red, which relates to speed, power and control, and for us signifies where the fastest point of the swing should be in relation to the ball contact.”

There are multiple products in the range, which are designed to be used in conjunction with an online library of drills, games, lesson plans and coaching programmes.

As well as the coaching kits, golfers can also purchase

SG Pro Balls Created by Advanced PGA Professional Stuart Smith, who

their own CPG products to take away and ingrain what they have learned from their lessons.

CPG Pro Training kit £119.99, www.colourpathgolf.com

is based at Thetford Golf Club in Norfolk, SG Pro Balls are designed to help golfers learn – and coaches teach – the art of chipping, pitching and putting.

Each SG Pro Ball has three coloured areas – blue, red and

Puttout Pressure Putt This simple yet effective putting training aid has

green – each representing the part of the ball that must be

a parabolic curve which has a indented target

struck in order to execute a different type of shot. The blue

that is the exact size of a golf hole. Only the

area is for lob shots or getting out a bunker; red is for a standard chip; and green is for a running chip, pitch or putt.

In addition, there is a black dot that must always be visible on the top of the ball before the shot is played.

Smith is confident that SG Pro Balls will be a boost to fellow PGA pros when giving short game lessons. “They will help the coach point out in detail where the ball should be

perfectly struck shot for pace and line will stay in place, while misses – with the exception of the widest shots – are all returned back to the golfer for another attempt. £19.99 secondchance.co.uk

hit to achieve a successful chip, pitch or putt,” he adds. £24.99 for 6 balls, stuartsmithgolfacademy.com

The PGA Professional

| #makinggolfhappen

33

DRIVE OUR VISION SHARE OUR SUCCESS

partnership

THIS IS WHO WE ARE. Are you driven by success...

More than 480 of the country’s leading PGA Professionals are part of TGI Golf Partnership, Be part of atoforward thinking group. which exists assist them in running successful and profitable businesses.

TGI Golf Partnership offers current

and relevant business solutions

Contact us today to find out how and thought leadership to driven, we can help you.

engaged professionals.

tgigolf.com @TGI_Golf

/TGIGolfPartnership

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

Seven things that happen

partnership

DRIVE OUR VISION when you become SHARE OUR SUCCESS

a TGI Golf Partner

01

You make a one off payment You are a partner of TGI Golf and TGI Golf Travel

02

You are guaranteed the best UK and Irish terms from Partner suppliers Including all the biggest brands in golf

03

You have a dedicated Retail Consultant Free, in-store expert advice from the guys in the know

04

You are invited to fantastic events Some educational, some competitive - always valuable

05

You will receive annual profit distribution

06

You get access to TGI’s amazing marketing tools

As a Full Partner of the business, you share in our success

These allow you to take charge and tailor communications and POS to your business

More than 480 of the country’s leading PGA Professionals are part of TGI Golf Partnership, which exists to assist them in running successful and profitable businesses.

0% finance

07

> Best Buying Terms > Free Retail and

Marketing Advice

You get access to our exclusive 0% finance Contact us today to find out how we can help you. >apply) First Class Events arrangement, (terms and conditions

tgigolf.com

DRIVE @TGI_Golf

/TGIGolfPartnership

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

T RA DE T RO U S E R S

Making great strides olf trousers are increasingly coming under the fashion spotlight, with golfers seeking a distinct look and style. Quite simply, golfers want to be able to wear their golf trousers on and off the course, without looking out of place.

Fiona Reilly, Global Creative Director at PING says, “In menswear, we are picking up on the trend for a timeless retro, dressy feel. The use of sartorial detail makes trousers even more of a statement.”

Retro is definitely a key trend being picked up by manufacturers, reflecting what is happening elsewhere within the fashion industry. Daily Sports’ designer Pernilla Sandqvist says, “Among the trends that stand out right now is 1980’s fashion making a comeback with high waists, technical materials and neon and pastel colours.”

RELAXED Jodie Coles, Men’s Apparel Product Manager, Adidas adds, “The classic tapered trouser has historically been a consumer favourite, however, consumer demand is changing. A more relaxed silhouette is increasingly becoming the consumer favourite! Customers are increasingly asking for trousers which look great on and off the course. The jogger pant silhouette has proven to be a desirable trouser in the golf market highlighting the need for innovation in comfortable, performance fabrics to enhance the on course/off course appeal.”

“We’re seeing slim fit trousers trending in the golf trouser market, some tapering and even joggers are appearing more frequently on the course,” says Stephanie Stipac, Brand Manger, Oakley. “There’s a little street wear influence as seen on the PGA Tour on Fowler and Rooyen in joggers and Koepka in Air Max 90 shoes that’s translating into a clean look but with a little edge. Our Take Pro 2.0 is a great example of a functional 36

and comfortable pant with slight tapering but also a slit on cuff to fit about the shoe.

Little features go a long way in golf trousers such as the different length options with our Take Pro 2.0 to keep cuff detailing and

‘‘

1980’s fashion is making a comeback with high waists, technical materials and neon and pastel colours

‘‘

G

Versatility, style and performance are what golfers are looking for from their golf clothing – and trousers are no exception.

Röhnisch Palm Green slim straight fit £99.95 RRP

avoid alterations.”

Over at Röhnisch, the dominant trend is towards a high stretch trouser, which often is a pull on rather than possessing a traditional button/zip combination. These trousers tend to be of a much tighter fit – very narrow legs and tight at the ankles, often called 7/8 pants or ankle grazers.

The use of quality fabrics is definitely important. Cotton and twill are still highly popular materials, while Castore has opted for a blend of Italian polyamide elastane which is lightweight, highly flexible, water resistant and very durable. Röhnisch have noticed a trend towards high stretch cotton or highly breathable fabric for Spring/Summer use with a high waist fitting, whereas Autumn/Winter pants are more likely to have a warm brushed interior complete with a windproof and waterproof coating.

Glenmuir too has noticed a demand for fleecy lined winter trousers by both male and female golfers along with moisture wicking, water and wind repellent features.

Tom Beahon, co-founder of Castore, commented: “Discerning customers appreciate high quality fabrics, attention to detail and well fitted trousers – the days of sacrificing quality in the quest to make a ‘fashion’ statement are long gone.”

SUSTAINABILITY Sustainability is also making an impact within the industry. The Röhnisch range for SS2020 is highly focused on this issue, with the majority of the collection being described as ‘Better Choice’ involving organic cotton, recyclable material and the use of recycled materials. Designer Pernilla Sandqvist of Daily Sports comments, “We see a lot of sustainable and recycled fabrics and an increased interest in slow fashion.”

When it comes to choosing golf trousers, stretch has become by far the most November 2019

| www.pga.info

T RO U S E R S T RA DE

Blocks and prints When it comes to colour, the choice is wide ranging with something for everyone! Classic colours, such as navy, black, stone and grey, continue to be sought after especially given the trend towards versatile on and off course wear. Such shades blend into any environment whether work or play. A brighter, more varied colour palette is evident within the womenswear ranges with shades of blue, pink and mint becoming common.

Demand is strong for everything from plains and small prints to checks and large plaids. Patterns are popular at FootJoy with golfers opting for all types of patterns including plaids and neat prints. Tartan remains popular at Glenmuir while at Castore, Tom Beahon says, “Block colours with subtle design details are far more popular than overtly patterned styles.”

Navy Ashurst Men’s trousers £60

Glenmuir Stylish tartan features in Glenmuir’s Cuthberts men’s performance trousers. Soft and stretchy, Cuthberts easy to wear style enhances freedom of movement helping golfers rotate during play.

The Navy Ashurst trousers are perfect for cold winter days as they are fleece lined and incorporate excellent thermal qualities being both water and wind repellent. For ladies, the smartly fitted Talia offers similar thermal benefits while the performance trouser Lana’s striking white colouring adds a touch of coolness in warmer weather.

Comfort stretch trousers £89.95 RRP

Smooth Pull on style £99.95 RRP

Glenmuir stylish tartan look for Cuthbert £55

Fiona Reilly, Global Creative Director, PING comments, “For women we are picking up a trend for patterns and prints. The Daisy crop pant takes our ‘textured floral print’ and elevates a simple slim silhouette into fashion status. It interprets the barely-there approach to blooms, with a total abstract floral design offering timeless appeal that will span demographics and seasons. Small-scale florals and scattered springs are favoured for this feminine look, inspired by PING Daisy printed crop trouser sun-filled gardens.” £70.00 RRP

important feature. This improves the fit of the trouser and allows the golfer to move through the golf swing without obstruction.

The use of stretch waistbands rather than zip and buttons provide a more adaptable fit, along the use of Grippers at the waist to ensure that shirts stay tucked in and held firmly in place throughout a game. Castore are finding that the use of extended side zips for easy removal in interchangeable weather conditions and laser cut holes for added ventilation have become desirable features.

The PGA Professional

| #makinggolfhappen

Röhnisch Röhnisch’s Palm Green cotton and nylon mix stretch trousers possess a fashionable high waisted slim straight fit. Made from recycled 4 way stretch materials with a UPF 50+, the Comfort stretch trousers offer an easy to wear fashion choice in black, sand, navy and silver. A fashionable slim fit, 7/8 styling is on offer in the Smooth pull on trouser collection of black, black/white check and pale pink and white.

Slim fit Performance trouser £65

Performance regular fit trousers £65

Talia’s navy women’s trouser £60

White Lana trousers £70

Sunderland Sunderland’s men’s Vancouver Quebec trousers offer an ideal choice for wet weather as they are not only lightweight but possess a lifetime waterproof guarantee.

Easily packable, they feature useful antiabrasion tape at the hem.

Classic navy is also the choice for the women’s Sunderland Montana trouser complete with a lifetime waterproof guarantee. Made from breathable lightweight Vancouver fabric, Quebec trousers £70 Montana benefits from antiabrasion tape at the hem.

Montana trousers £70

FootJoy Made from woven stretch twill fabric, FootJoy’s Performance Regular Fit trousers offer a relaxed fit, with subtle branding. The stretch silicon gripper inside the waistband prevents the golfer’s shirt from riding up during play. Shown here in Grey, but also available in Navy, Black and Khaki.

The Slim Fit Performance trouser incorporates a modern, tapered fit cut trouser in woven stretch twill complete with a useful stretch silicon gripper within the waistband. Available in four colours: Navy, Black, Grey and Khaki.

37

T RA DE T RO U S E R S Bennett slim leg performance chino £70.00 RRP

PING The Bennett is a new trouser style for SS20 utilising a slim leg performance chino featuring a soft touch micro peach fabric finish.. Versatile, suiting all environments, the Bennett is cut in a 4 way stretch performance cotton fabric, with the added advantage of moisture moving properties. An extra touch of distinction is provided by the double jetted button fastening back pockets, trimmed with signature SensorCool ‘blue dot’ woven tape. Shown here in blue, Bennett is also available in black, navy and khaki.

Another new addition is the Daisy printed crop trouser sitting just below the knee and features SensorCool technology to ensure premium comfort on even the warmest of days. Daisy comes in pretty mint/white or navy/ bleached denim colour choices.

Daisy printed crop trouser £70.00 RRP

adidas The Ultimate 365 Competition tapered fit men’s trousers feature a water resistant finish for easy care and durability combined with a moisture-wicking stretch fabric for dry comfort and flexibility on every stroke.

Silicone gripper tape helps keep shirts firmly tucked in at all times. These trousers are available in navy, grey and black offering versatile choices to blend into any environment whether on or off the course.

Ultimate 365 Competition tapered fit men’s trouser £54.95

38

Take Pro 2.0 trousers in sage green and blue £55

Oakley Designed to be both highly functional and comfortable, Take Pro 2.0 trousers are slightly tapered, with deep pockets and tailored in lightweight, water resistant four way stretch fabric. A silicon-taped waistband keeps shirts firmly in place throughout the game. Several length options are available in four colourways – grey, stone, blue and sage green.

Castore The Sutcliffe 5 pocket style in black, navy or white is the ultimate all condition golfing trouser being tailored to perform in all conditions and providing an understated, comfortable cut around the calf. Pockets are cut directly into the fabric for a cleaner aesthetic and are perfectly fitted to hold standard size score cards, tees and spare balls. An extended ankle zipper allows ease of transition on-course and the specially designed waistband alleviates any chafing.

Montrose black Chinos are made from a premium Italian fabric which fuses the benefits of sports garments – moisture wicking, high flex and extreme breathability – with the tailored fit and understated style of a casual trouser.

Offering superb comfort and stretch, the Montrose Chino is a perfect trouser for travel, work and lifestyle.

Sutcliffe 5 pocket style all condition golfing trouser £150

Daily Sport

Irene trousers £99

Manufactured in Thermo ProStretch, a wind and water resistant material with a napped lining for extra warmth, Daily Sport Irene trousers are soft and stretchy, ensuring a good fit and maximum freedom of movement. Irene is available in popular fashion shades of aubergine, coffee and almond as well as black and navy.

November 2019

| www.pga.info

Q&A The power of T

I N T E RV I E W T RA DE

Chris Beaumont, marketing manager for Titleist golf clubs, explains the benefits of stocking its all-new T Series irons It has been a few months since

How can PGA Pros maximise

the launch of T-Series irons. How

performance through consumer

has the range been received by

iron fittings with the new

the trade and consumers?

line-up?

The initial response to these irons has been

We truly believe it is essential that

fantastic. From when we started seeding the

we provide our trade partners with

product on the worldwide professional tours,

training to best suit their needs,

to the numerous positive media reviews, the

delivering the best fitting of Titleist

new line has definitely performed. We then

clubs that the customer deserves.

seeded the product to our staff professionals in July, with unanimous approval.

We are confident our partners will see Titleist T-Series irons

From a consumer standpoint, while still

instant benefits from this new series of irons, but it is also important to remember the

early stages, the reaction has been something

T300 models, where we have introduced Max

incremental benefits that iron fittings bring

else, with so many golfers finding more speed

Impact Technology. Max Impact is a system

about, with a close look at both long game

and distance, but without sacrificing anything

combining our thinnest face, a structural

and short game gapping. With lofts changing

to achieve this. We are looking forward to

support and a polymer core. This system

so much over the years, it is essential that

seeing more golfers fitted into these irons

allows us to continue to improve performance

the consumer takes a really hard look into

over the coming months for further product

by pushing current materials to new limits,

their whole bag set-up to ensure they are

validation at all levels of the game.

providing a balance of power and performance

maximising every club.

unlike anything we’ve ever made. It is also a Where does the T-Series name come

visible story, so our partners in the field can

Why will a PGA Pro benefit from

from?

easily showcase the new innovations.

stocking Titleist clubs, in particular the new T-Series/620 range?

These are completely new irons, with new constructions – they are not an evolution of

What has been the uptake on Tour

We have one of the most thorough club

the AP irons, so we needed a new name and

with the new T-Series/620 range?

line-ups out there today that can suit any

new architecture. One look and you’ll know

The new iron line-up has already surpassed

discerning golfer, from someone who is just

they are strikingly new, but without doubt still

our initial expectations, with more of the

starting out to the world’s best. Whether that

100% pure Titleist.

world’s best golfers choosing to put them in

be our hugely successful TS metals, market-

play than any other. Titleist irons are currently

leading Vokey Design wedges, or our Scotty

What are the standout selling points

the most-played irons on both the PGA Tour

Cameron range of putters, the new T-Series

of the new T-Series Irons?

and European Tour.

irons finish the line-up by offering plenty of

They deliver a balance of

forgiveness in a product that is

power and performance unlike

filled with explosive distance

anything we’ve ever made. The

and speed.

T100 irons benefit from a fully

All in all, the Titleist club

forged cavity construction, a

range has something for

thinner, more responsive face,

everyone. In addition to this,

co-forged dual-density tungsten

we offer more trial and fitting

for exceptional balance and

opportunities to help PGA Pros

control, with tour-refined shape

get their customers dialled in to

with improved turf interaction.

the best fit for their game.

The very visible technology change comes in the T200 and

The PGA Professional

| #makinggolfhappen

Left: Titleist Thursdays fitting programme

39

T RA DE R E TA I L WATC H

Disney’s time PGA Fellow Professional Stuart Disney, Head Professional at The Mendip Golf Club in Gloucestershire, talks to Jules Appleby from Crossover Technologies about the importance of industry awards and what really sits at the heart of his business

How long have you been at Mendip Golf Club and how have you invested in your business?

I was appointed head pro in 2017, so just over two years. It’s a beautiful course, and the club has around 650 members. In the pro shop, our customers are around 80% members and the rest are visitors. We’re a small team consisting of me, my wife Suzanne, and a fantastic assistant pro, James Taylor. I also employ two part-time staff that come in during really busy periods.

When I first arrived here there was no indoor studio, so we made the shop smaller to make room for the new facility. We totally gutted the shop and modernised it, with new lighting, flooring and a more 40

The shop was refitted and redesigned in order to make way for a new indoor studio (below)

‘‘

We try to make our buying decisions based on fact, rather than gut instinct

‘‘

Who first got you into golf and who has inspired you along the way?

My dad gave me my first taste of the game when I caddied for him as a child. He encouraged me to join Torquay Golf Club as a junior, where I started my career. I later moved to Teignmouth GC to do my PGA training, where I learnt a lot from Peter Ward, who was the head professional there at the time. I qualified as a PGA Professional in 1993, becoming one of the youngest ever to qualify aged just 19.

A few years ago, I spoke at a conference alongside PGA Master Professional Alan Walker about growing the game of golf, and he’s been a mentor ever since. When I did have an idea I thought was worth pursuing, it was good to be able to talk to an industry expert.

The biggest lesson he taught me was one of reflection. You might think you know a lot, but there’s always someone who knows more, and I make a point of talking things through with other pros or my buying group, for example.

contemporary layout. The swing studio has been the best investment I have ever made.

It’s fitted with a GC2 launch monitor and it enables me to coach all year round, offer the best custom fitting service around, and also helps me to engage with members through the use of ‘Nearest the Pin’ challenges and ‘Long Drive’ events, along with members playing other courses if ours is closed or they want to have some fun playing indoors.

You’ve collected quite a few industry awards during your career.

How important are they to you and how do they help your business?

Receiving an award helps to confirm you’re on the right track. Running your own business, you’re out there on your own and regularly making decisions that could make the difference between a good or bad year.

You can feel quite exposed and awards can help to validate the choices you’re making.

The success of Stuart Disney Golf is built upon my ability to coach well, and working with members on improving their game sits at the heart of my business. In 2016, I was awarded PGA Development Coach November 2019

| www.pga.info

R E TA I L WATC H T RA DE of the Year, and two years later I won the Somerset Sports Participation Coach of the Year, which was fantastic. The chance to have lessons with an award-winning coach definitely helps sales and gives members the confidence that they’re learning from one of the best.

James and I are confident that we’re on top of the business enough to ensure stock levels are under control. As a result, we don’t receive visits from reps anymore, which I appreciate can be a good or bad thing. We’re still doing the same level of business – I’m just doing it on my terms now.

Do you work closely with your buying group?

I’ve worked with TGI Golf Partnership for a number of years and my retail consultant is a great ally. Earlier this year I was really pleased to win TGI’s Most Improved Business of the Year, which came about after some big changes I made in the pro shop, including empowering staff more, better retail processes, reporting and engagement activity with members.

As well as the buying group, we’ve worked closely with the retail experts at Crossover Technologies to make some improvements to how we managed the business. As a result, stock turn increased from 1.8 to 3.7 at the close of the year, and we reduced our stock holding from £43,000 to £28,000.

My profit margin increased from 26% to 34%, which is a huge amount for a small business. Basically, we now have an additional £20,000 in the bank that we wouldn’t have had, and I’ll make more profit.

Do you change your strategy in the winter months?

Yes, we focus more on bringing members into the studio. We run ‘Hit the Green’ and ‘Bullseye’ challenges, and late-night shopping events in the run-up to Christmas are also always popular. On a Wednesday we stay open for an evening of coaching, which could be a quick 15-minute fix in the studio. We charge a flat £5, and it’s a great offer to get people in the door.

How do you decide what to order?

My assistant, James, really has his finger on the pulse and uses all sorts of means to keep up with trends. Simon Keeling at TGI also has great insights and provides an

The Mendip boasts an attractive parkland layout

Stuart Disney with collection of his industry awards

invaluable, unbiased view.

Every week James runs reports from XPOS, including the Unpopular Products and Popular Products reports, which tell him what is and isn’t selling well, with a breakdown by supplier. We try to make our buying decisions based on fact, rather than gut instinct.

How do you manage your stock?

Stock management is something we’ve really improved upon over recent years and I’ve seen the benefits to the business. Like many shops, we used to do just one big stock take at the end of the year, but it took up a lot of time, plus it meant we really weren’t that on top of the stock.

Now we do smaller, more regular stock takes: one category at a time, for example. It means the weekly reports we run actually give us an accurate picture of the stock in the shop.

I cut down on pre-books a couple of years ago, and this year we aren’t doing any at all.

How do you attract new business?

Like many pro shops, we sell mainly to members and it definitely pays to optimise that customer base, rather than put a lot of effort into attracting new people. That said, our members are great for customer referrals, which I’m eternally grateful for.

We aren’t shy about collecting customer data, either at point of sale or using the TGI customer newsletter card. For any purchase over £5, we ask for the customer name and email address. We record the information against the sale in our ePos system, XPOS, and then all customers receive some form of email follow up from us. It’s called XMAIL and is a simple add-on to the sale system.

Most sales result in a ‘thank you’ from the shop and customers love it. It keeps the shop front of mind and many customers come back to buy additional products as a result. XMAIL is one of the best things we do that has made a difference and has brought in thousands of pounds of additional income over the last year.

For more information about Stuart Disney Golf visit www.mendipgolfclub.com/ the_pro_shop_team

XMAIL is proven to increase footfall to the shop and deepen customer loyalty. Many customers nurtured by XMAIL go on to make 47% larger purchases in the shop. A simple add-on to your XPOS system and for only £15 per month. crossovertec.co.uk 01454 418395

The PGA Professional

| #makinggolfhappen

41

A D V E R T O R I A L

A golfing New Year’s Eve in Tuscany Argentario Golf Resort & Spa, the PGA National Italy, proposes a special package for golfers who wish to welcome 2020 in style in Tuscany. The stay includes: 6 nights in a design room, practice round and registration for the Christmas Pro Am on 27 and 28 December, one welcome dinner plus New Year’s Eve grand dinner (beverages excluded) with party and fireworks, buffet breakfast and use of the wellness centre, driving range, tennis and padel courts. The rates start from 1234 Euro per person in a shared double room.

To receive more information or to book, please contact booking@argentarioresort.it

Argentario Golf Club – hosting a Christmas Pro Am in December

Chic surroundings at Argentario Golf Resort & Spa

Apart from golfing under the Tuscan sun, relaxing at the wellness centre and indulging in the delicacies of the resort’s Club House and Dama Dama restaurants, there are many local activities that visitors can enjoy exploring the territory and traditions. For example, Italians love the Presepe (Nativity) and getting creative with the preparation of a beautiful scene. The sea hamlets of Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano will host living nativities (Presepe Vivente), where locals recreate the characters, settings and events that took place in Bethlehem. There is also the Underwater Nativity on exhibition in the Argentario Mediterranean Aquarium until 6 January 2020.

Located between Tuscany’s rolling hills and the crystalclear waters of the Silver Coast, the Argentario Golf Resort & Spa is home to an eco-friendly golf course (BioAgriCert certification) that meanders through cork-oak woods and olive groves. The local microclimate allows golf to be played at any time of the year, even over Christmas and New Year’s.

Design and sustainability are at the heart of the luxury resort, which offers 73 rooms and suites, and 5 independent luxury villas with three to five bedrooms for holiday rentals right on the golf course. Luxury homes are available for sale on the golf course with the Argentario Golf Villas real estate project.

Owners benefit from a range of amenities and services offered by Argentario Golf Resort & Spa, including 24-hour security, property management and a rental programme.

Argentario is easily accessed from Rome Fiumicino Airport by car in just an hour, and day trips can be organized to nearby art cities like Rome, Florence and Siena.

Welcome 2020 in style

Cosy and welcoming clubhouse

Espace Wellness Centre

Comfortable and contemporary accommodation

Bring in the new year in sight of Tuscany’s rolling hills

Visit www.argentarioresort.com

42

November 2019

| www.pga.info

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

Scintillating Scottsdale Golf pros looking to take groups to sunnier climes in the winter months have long homed in on Arizona’s stunning desert landscape. With over 200 golf courses, an impressive tournament pedigree and 330 days of sunshine each year, it’s little surprise that the Grand Canyon state is one of our most popular golf pro destinations in the USA. Scottsdale 7 night package

đ&#x;›? 7 nights B&B at HYATT House

đ&#x;?Œ 4 rounds of golf: Champions course at TPC Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa, AK Chin Southern Dunes and Troon North

⚪ Buggies & Range balls included đ&#x;’ˇ From ÂŁ935 per amateur

đ&#x;‘? 5% commission and preferential rate for Pro

The stunning We-Ko-Pa golf club benefits from two of the best courses in the area

PLAY Set amid the Sonoran Desert, We-Ko-Pa is home to two of the best golf courses in the region, the Cholla and Saguaro, both of which offer an authentic taste of Arizonan golf.

The former is quintessential target-style golf, with ribbon-like fairways that twist their way through a striking desert landscape. With unobstructed mountains views of the Sonoran Desert, the Saguaro course is equally enchanting. Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the subtler and more traditional layout offers a stark contrast to

Good to know: FLIGHTS Direct flights depart daily from London to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) FLIGHT TIME Approximately 101/2 hours from London TRAVEL All year round but best for golf in October through to April VISA No, but you will need to apply for an ESTA online TRY The Desert Botanical Garden, where you can enjoy wonderful food and drinks while learning about the wildlife in the Sonoran Desert

Arizona’s other top courses.

Troon North Golf Club is host to another two of Arizona’s most celebrated courses and places emphasis on privacy, limiting the number of golfers allowed on the course each day to ensure visitors enjoy a stress-free round. Played against the stunning backdrop of the nearby Pinnacle Peak, the two courses serve up classic desert golf with lush emerald fairways stretching through natural ravines and peppered with cacti and giant granite boulders.

PRACTICE Whilst most courses in the area have excellent facilities, We-Ko-Pa is complemented by world-class practice facilities, including multiple target greens and premium practice balls on the range, four putting greens and a spacious chipping green, making it an excellent base if you are adding a coaching element to your trip.

STAY For groups looking to be close to Old Town Scottsdale’s vibrant nightlife, restaurants and cultural attractions, the HYATT House Scottsdale 3★ is a popular choice. Situated

The Pinnacle course at North Troon GC is a must play

The HYATT House Scottsdale is close to the vibrant nightlife and world class courses

close to the heart of the town, the relaxed and unassuming all-suite hotel is just a stone’s throw from many of the region’s top courses and golf clubs including TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa and Talking Stick.

It is also only 20-minutes drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

For more information on how the Golf Pro Travel team can help please contact 01753 752 880 or email pga@golfbreaks.com @Golfbreaks_Pro @golfbreaks_pro_travel

The PGA Professional

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

Raising the bar in Spain PGA Catalunya, previously home of the Spanish Open and current host of the European Tour Qualifying School, is one of Europe’s finest golfing estates. With two championship course layouts, stunning accommodation and some of Spain’s best practice facilities, PGA Catalunya is the perfect resort to take a group of members for a coaching break.

PGA Catalunya Package

đ&#x;›? 3 nights B&B at Hotel Camiral

đ&#x;?Œ 3 rounds of golf: Tour course and Stadium course đ&#x;š– FREE airport transfers (when staying a minimum of 3 nights and 3 rounds) đ&#x;‘? FREE shared buggies (on select dates in March, June, September and November)

đ&#x;’ˇ From ÂŁ489 per person

đ&#x;‘? 5% commission and Pro goes FREE with 7 amateurs

The stunning Stadium course is a true test for golfers

STAY The newly refurbished 5★ Hotel Camiral is situated in a stunning spot in the midst of the wonderful complex of PGA Catalunya, which has already established itself as one of the most popular golfing venues in the Costa Brava. The luxurious hotel benefits from 144 rooms with views over the golf course or driving range and was recognised on the Conde Nast Gold List in 2018. You can also treat your members to exquisite fine dining in the 1477 restaurant or maybe a less formal

Good to know: FLIGHTS Direct flights depart daily from most major UK airports to Girona or Barcelona FLIGHT TIME Just over 2 hours TRAVEL Best for golf from late March through to the end of October NIGHTLIFE The bars and restaurants of nearby Girona are just over a 20 minute taxi ride away TRY A night cap from the enviable list of whiskeys on offer in the stylish Lounge Bar at Hotel Camiral

bite to eat on the sunny terrace in the Club CafĂŠ. Whatever your plans, there is plenty to keep your group entertained at the Hotel Camiral.

PLAY Considered to be one of Spain’s greatest golf courses, the PGA Cataluyna’s Stadium Course is one of those layouts that every golfer should tackle at least once in their lifetime.

Thanks to ďŹ ve sets of tees on each hole, golfers of all levels can enjoy this wonderful course. But be prepared for a challenge. Old oak trees, evergreens, heather and numerous water hazards are just some of the obstacles that will require careful negotiation.

The Tour course is of equally breath-taking beauty as The Stadium. It is a shorter golf course, offering a little more leeway off the tee. Located next door to The Stadium course, it boasts a fantastic design and challenging layout. The course consists of wide open fairways and strategically placed bunkers and is a fair test to all levels of golfer.

The luxurious Hotel Camiral is perfectly located on site

PGA Catalunya benefits from some of the best practice facilities in Europe

COACHING FACILITIES PGA Cataluya boasts one of the largest practice facilities in Europe. The facilities include a large grass practice tee, a 2000 square foot putting green and extensive chipping area with 5 bunkers – each containing different sand.

For more information on how the Golf Pro Travel team can help please contact 01753 752 880 or email pga@golfbreaks.com @Golfbreaks_Pro @golfbreaks_pro_travel

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November 2019

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

Case study

Tournament-style trips

One of the our most popular style pro travel breaks are tournament style events, in particular the Ryder Cup. Easy to set up, yourself and a fellow pro take two competing teams to battle it out over a couple of days to see who comes out victorious!

Here, one of our Pro Travel Partners, James Winstanley from Burhill Golf Club talks about how he put together his own Ryder Cup style trip with his members.

How did you come up with the idea to run a Ryder Cup style Trip?

I came up with the idea when playing golf with a friend of mine. I was thinking of ways in which the members would enjoy a trip away and for the Pros to be able to play also. I had a great relationship with the Captain at the time so it was easy putting the pieces together. I asked my colleague Ben if he would be my partner and the captain asked the Vice-Captain and suddenly we had 2 teams. The members were then selected for either Team Captain or Team Pro on the first evening of the trip.

How did you market it?

After making the poster, it was sent out to the Members and within a week it was full up. This was based on 24 golfers, 12 on each team.

The hotel and golf club at Almenara is one of our most popular pro travel venues

Where do you go to play the event?

For the last 2 years we have stayed and played at the Almenara Resort in Sotogrande, Spain. This has worked well as the 27-hole golf course is on site and makes it so much easier to manage a large group. The second year the trip went from 24 golfers to 40 so it’s very important to have everything there on resort and not have to worry about transferring out each day to golf courses.

What format does your event take?

Three days of golf. Day 1 and 2 is a Fourball format and then the last day is singles. We provide coaching clinics before and after golf for the first 2 days. This is optional but most members take part as they want any advantage to win!

It also means the trip becomes profitable by adding a coaching element.

Is this an annual event?

February 2020 will be our 3rd year running the trip. This time around there will be 48 golfers including 4 Professionals.

This is a great opportunity for members to socialise together and for them to get to know us better. It is one of their favourite events in the calendar every year.

The Pro Team won the trophy on year 1 and the Captain Team won on year 2 so it’s all to play for this coming February!

It’s easy to market an exciting trip to your members

The Ryder Cup teams pose before battle

For more information on how the Golf Pro Travel team can help please contact 01753 752 880 or email pga@golfbreaks.com @Golfbreaks_Pro @golfbreaks_pro_travel

The PGA Professional

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45

T RAV EL O F F E R S

Pro travel tournament experiences Taking your members to witness the greatest players on earth ply their trade is an unforgettable experience.

Add in playing world class golf courses and you have the ultimate Pro Travel trip! PGA Professionals benefit from preferential rates on Tournament Experience packages as well as benefiting from our Breakpoints loyalty scheme! Here are a few of our most popular upcoming Tournament Packages to whet your appetite.

The Masters, Augusta 9th – 12th April 2020

Sunday at the Masters Package from £4,515

• 1 day pass (Full Sunday Hospitality) • 3 nights accommodation (Friday arrival) • On site Golfbreaks representation • Return flights (Atlanta), car hire and daily tournament transfers

The Open, Royal St George’s 16th – 19th July 2020

Weekday Package from £579

• Thursday and Friday Open tickets • 2 nights B&B at Burlington Hotel 4★ • On site Golfbreaks representation • Daily tournament train transfers

Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai 23rd – 26th January 2020

5 night package from £969

• Sunday Ticket to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic • 3 rounds of golf: Dubai Hills Golf Club, Emirates Golf Club Majilis and Trump International Dubai • 5 nights B&B at Vida the Hills 4★ • Invitation to the Golfbreaks Drinks Party • Return airport transfers and shuttle transfers included

Waste Management Phoenix Open, USA 30th January – 2nd February 2020

5 night package from £1,059

• Weekend Ground Pass • Upgrade to Sky Box hospitality available • 2 rounds of golf: Grayhawk and Ocotillo • 5 nights B&B at HYATT House Scottsdale 3★

For more information on how the Golf Pro Travel team can help please contact 01753 752 880 or email pga@golfbreaks.com @Golfbreaks_Pro @golfbreaks_pro_travel

46

November 2019

| www.pga.info

THE RYDER CUP 2020 CREATE A BUCKET LIST TRIP R Y UR E BERS

Accommodation in Downtown Milwaukee Thursday - Sunday Tickets for The Ryder Cup European Team Fan Rally Daily transfers to Whistling Straits Return flights & car hire Golfbreaks on site team

Packages from

£2999 Preferential rate for PGA Pros

Call our Pro Travel team on 01753 752 880

Email us at

Visit us at

pga@golfbreaks.com

www.golfbreaks.com/pga-pro

COACHING T H E O RY

What should golf coaches be teaching and how?

Iain Highfield and Matthew Cooke of Game Like Training Golf examine the benefits of psychological excellence and physiological adaptation

hat characteristics do ALL the best players in the world possess? We found there to be two that really stood out.

W

helps coaches and players think and practice in a way that will lead to the retention and transfer of golfing skill. And at the core of this framework is helping a golfer to:

1 2

1 2

So, while Golf Digest, Golf Channel, Instagram and YouTube all pump out golf content that explains what golfers need to change in their golf swing we decided to help golfers understand how they can practice in a way that will help them learn to deal with adversity and adapt to the environmental demands of the golf course.

Then something amazing happened, the golfers we were coaching started to enjoy practice more. Then something even more amazing happened, some of the golfers we worked with started to transfer their best ball striking to the golf course!

We had done it, team Game Like Training (GLT) had created a frame work that could answer golf’s most asked question, “Why, why, why, why, why (etc) can’t I take my range game to the golf course?”

The answer to this question, admittedly one that the GLT team has spent a decade trying to solve, (I know I made this sound way faster in the intro) is a framework that

evolve the psychological ability to deal with stress evolve the physical ability to adapt their swing to the demands of the golf course.

We’ve accumulated thousands of hours coaching golf at all levels, studying sports psychology, the learning sciences and – most

‘‘

Our brains learn, change shape, and make new connections via cognitive stress.

‘‘

The psychological ability to deal with adversity.

The physical ability to adapt to the demands of the environment.

48

Iain Highfield (left) and Matthew Cooke

importantly – spending time with some of the greatest minds in, not only professional golf, but also many other fields of human performance.

And what that has given us (apart from significantly less hair than we used to have) is a distillation of this vast bank of knowledge that makes it practical (and digestible) for golfers to get better where, and when, it matters most, the golf course.

So, here goes, in true GLT fashion, we DO NOT want to focus on what we do, we want to explain HOW in the hope that the evidence-based process we are going to share with you could help the players you work with take strides towards their golfing goals and dreams, but more importantly help them enjoy participating in this great game.

THE SCIENCE Our brains learn, change shape, and make new connections via cognitive stress. Cognitive stress induces a deeper form of learning that can only take place in a training environment that encourages a certain set of conditions. Hitting your favorite club 50 times in a row to the same target is not a desired environment as it would fail to stimulate cognitive stress, and zero learning would take place.

So, what does the optimal training environment for learning golf look like?

GOLF PRACTICE THAT LEADS TO RETENTION OF GOLFING SKILL (AKA swing changes sticking) Optimal spacing To forget is to remember; it sounds counterintuitive, but by adding the spacing effect to your training, you will be placing increased time between each rep. This creates cognitive stress as your brain / working memory is challenged to recall previous successful November 2019

| www.pga.info

T H E O RY COAC H I NG

Optimal variability I have said it once, so I will say it again – To forget is to remember. And, as well as creating space between each rep to create cognitive stress, varying the task helps achieve this. So now, as well as limiting yourself to 20 balls in 20 minutes, focus on changing the task / drill or target you are engaging in every five balls.

Optimal Challenge There will be a point when hitting the 20 balls in 20 minutes and changing task every five balls becomes too easy. At this point we will need to increase the challenge point to maintain cognitive stress and maintain learning. The way to do this is by increasing spacing and variability.

For example, your five ball sets now become three ball sets, and you must sink a three-foot putt between each set. This will help a player remain engage, induce working memory and ultimately learn!

At some point the goal of practice needs to switch from learning to performing. This is where players will really start to evolve the two factors that exude from every tour professional, the ability to deal with adversity and the ability to adapt to the demands of the environment.

One of the most powerful tools that team GLT have given to the players we work with is the ability to ask the following question, “During this practice session is my goal training to learn or training to perform?”

GOLF PRACTICE THAT LEADS TO TRANSFERENCE OF GOLFING SKILL (AKA your best golf game to the course) Increase context Golf is a problem-solving game that takes place in an extremely variable environment.

You may be able to access your desired swing motion off a flat lie, but can you adapt it to a ball-above-feet stance from the semi The PGA Professional

| #makinggolfhappen

‘‘

The psychological process of ‘chunking’ information is the piecing together multiple chunks of information to create a complete picture.

Is your practice goal training to learn or training to perform?

‘‘

reps, inducing a deeper learning than simply machine-gunning balls down the range.

Limiting yourself to hitting 20 balls in 20 minutes would be a good example of this.

rough with a cross wind? When training to enhance performance, we must make every effort to recreate and simulate situations we will be faced with on the course.

This will help us regulate learning as we develop the ability to ‘chunk’ information.

The psychological process of ‘chunking’ information is the piecing together of multiple chunks of information to create a complete picture. Developing the ability to ‘chunk’ will help us learn how to access and adapt new swing movements to the context of the golf course. The absence of this will drastically decrease our ability to perform.

Gamification Games have outcomes, just like playing in a golf tournament. Practice that does not contain outcomes will not help us prepare to perform. It will instead be very tough to inoculate the stress response that can occur under the pressure of playing for a score if we have not experienced this in training.

If a golfer fires their stress response, it is highly likely that his or her golf motion will become impeded, and the desired motion will regress back to its old pattern. Therefore, when training to perform, we must implement outcome goals for our training games and see if the student can access a high level of performance and desired swing patterns and shot dispersions under this increased stress.

Therefore, the ultimate goal is not to perfect a golf swing. Rather, it is to be able to learn how to adapt your generalised motor pattern to the environmental and

psychological demands of the golf course.

Learning to adapt during training to perform is equally as important as evolving movement during training to learn.

Golf Digest, Golf Channel, Instagram and YouTube will continue to discuss what the golf club does as it travels round a player’s body with no real care for HOW they learned this skill or HOW they transfer it onto the golf course under immense pressure. That’s WHY we do what we do at GLT. We passionately believe a golf revolution is coming and we want to be at the forefront when the world realizes psychological excellence and physiological adaptation are the driving forces behind every tour player and golfers must change their practice habits to enable them to learn these critical successful factors. The swing mechanics are merely a bi-product of this process.

If you would like to learn more about what Iain and Matthew do, check out their certification page at GLTGolf.com

WHAT TO WATCH • For more on golf motor learning, visit Dr Tim Lee’s blog series on GLTGolf.com • For more on how to add spacing, variability and challenge your coaching frame work search for GLTGolf’s Coach Practice Circuit playlist on YouTube • Search for GLTGolf’s best oncourse challenge playlist

49

COACHING B U S I N E S S

Junior coaching success Mark Johnson has been based at Styal Golf Club for over twenty years.

The 2019 England Golf Coach of the Year finalist has carved a career in junior coaching and speaks to PGA Business Relationship Officer (BRO) Danielle Thomas about his success at the Cheshire venue.

How did you get into junior

What has been the key to the

coaching?

success of your junior programme?

My passion was always coaching as opposed

Devoting time and effort towards it. There

to playing. I coach all level of players,

are tons of kids out there who want to play

although in the early days like most

golf and there’s not a lot in place for them. It

Assistants, I was given the job of looking

is quite often handed to the Assistant or the

after the junior section and my career has

trainee and it’s minimal pay on a Saturday

blossomed from there. I’ve kept on trying to

morning or a couple of hours on a weekend

push it and evolve it to where we are today.

morning, not enough to motivate them to put a programme together. I put a lot of time and

What is your junior programme

effort in and a lot of it is unpaid, so a lot of

structure and principles?

it is down to hard work and dedication. You

I decided to separate my junior coaching into

start with something small and nurture it into

a six to eight-year-olds’ programme and then

something bigger and better and it’s now a

a class for youngsters aged nine and over. We

successful programme and an integral part of

had two different age groups and they were

the business.

then split into abilities. That’s become quite key for us that we offer a large number of

The success of any junior section comes PGA Professional Mark Johnson

different level classes so there is an appropriate

wants to do it. I reference a book Bounce

little baby’ and I felt like had ownership of it.

written by Matthew Syed where he talked

busy coaching lots of juniors, was there wasn’t

At the time there were a few coaches at our

about talent hotspots. The common traits

enough support to provide a pathway for

club and I was the only one really motivated

of these hotbeds were an accessible facility,

them to become players or get involved with

to do it. Once I started putting more time

a motivated coach and the creation of an

membership. That was around the time of

and effort in, I was getting more reward back

environment conducive to learning and

becoming a county academy coach and that’s

including financially so it was a lucrative part

developing. It’s these little hotspots in sport

when I developed the whole junior programme

of my coaching diary. It’s always a dilemma

where good things come from. I thought,

in terms of adding competitions and events to

of trying to keep it inclusive and make sure

we’re going to be one of those. We’re very

create a great learning and social environment

everyone can afford it, but at the same time I

open and we’re a relatively new course.

for them to develop. There was something

put a lot more time and effort into something

for everyone from that point and there was

that’s worthwhile and a quality programme.

One of the things I realised when I was

a pathway for them to develop which we’ve kept on filling in the gaps to get them from beginners on the range, playing in par three competitions, to playing nine-hole and full 18-hole competitions, then going on to county and England level. There are pathways in place for everyone.

What inspired you to focus on coaching juniors?

Like a lot of the PGA Assistants, their first job is working with the juniors. The satisfaction

50

running it. You need a person in place who I got from that and the element it was ‘my

‘‘

there wasn’t enough support to provide a pathway for juniors to become players or get involved with membership

‘‘

group for everyone.

down to the motivation of the person

Styal Golf Club has just celebrated its 25th anniversary and it’s a fantastic facility for junior coaching. It’s friendly and easily accessible, we’ve got a par 3 course, a driving range and an 18-hole course open to everyone, so in terms of facilities we’ve got everything in place. We’re very family-orientated and we welcome new people all the time.

What changes have you made to your junior coaching programme?

We have expanded our professional coaching team and updated the contents of the programmes. I’ve now got two fantastic PGA

November 2019

| www.pga.info

B U S I N E S S COAC H I NG coaches working alongside me, as the vast

transferred to the new payment scheme, it

will improve. It takes a little bit of guidance

majority of our coaching is with the juniors.

went really well. For us it makes life easier so

and some coaching, but telling kids on a

We run sessions every evening after school

we don’t have to chase payments and from an

range how they should hold a club because

and throughout the whole weekend. We also

admin point of view it makes things easier,

this is what you should do just doesn’t go

cater for the juniors in the holidays too, with

there’s more of a long term tie from the junior

down well with them.

camps and events. We also run specialist days

and parent. We have 60 juniors signed up

that are geared towards different abilities

now and now we have an expanded team will

What advice would you give

and age levels, such as a short game day or a

look to grow this to 100 over the next six to

to someone looking to build a

technology day. The overall coaching structure

ten months.

successful junior academy?

has changed and we have now moved to a monthly direct debit payment scheme.

It’s now set up and all our clients have

‘‘

It’s about self-discovery, play and task-led learning, having a bit of fun and then throw in the coaching along the way.

If you’re going to do it, do it well and make What is the key skill of a junior

sure it works well for everyone. You can’t

coach and how do you make

go into it half-hearted or less because you

sessions more engaging?

won’t enjoy it, the kids won’t enjoy it and

Patience. It comes back to someone who

there won’t be a financial reward. I’ve thrown

wants to be there and doing it. You need the

everything at it, I’ve put a lot of work in,

element of wanting to work with kids. Every

but then the kids enjoy it, the kids improve

coach would probably agree coaching juniors

and everyone’s happy and the whole thing

are your hardest lessons of the week. You need

develops itself.

to try and find a balance of development, coaching, developing skills and games.

It’s about self-discovery, play and task-led

You need to have a long-term plan in mind. I see a lot of initiatives where people have gone into schools and taught 200 kids

learning, having a bit of fun and then throw

and then six weeks down the line, they’re not

in the coaching along the way. When you give

doing anything. It’s all about having pathways

kids a task they have to concentrate on they

and places to put them.

‘‘

Mark Johnson’s Golf Sixes team. A concept to encourage more junior players to take up golf

The PGA Professional

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51

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

Q&A Retail and royalty From narrowly missing out on a Ryder Cup place, to coaching royalty and developing his own successful retail business, it’s been an eventful career for PGA Master Professional Doug McClelland.

Golf to Silvermere. He now runs the day-today retail operation and is doing a great job, allowing me to take a back seat and spend more time with my grandsons.

How many PGA Professionals do you employ and how important are they to your business model?

Who inspired you to take up golf?

We have a team of 25 PGA Professionals

I wanted to be a footballer but my father said

and they are at the core of what we do.

I needed to take up another sport because

People want the right advice and knowledge

if I didn’t make it I’d be disappointed, so

and there’s nobody better than a PGA

he made me caddy for him. It turned out I

Professional to do that. At the end of the

didn’t make it as a footballer, but fortunately

day people want to play better golf and PGA

I’d started playing golf a little bit by then.

Professionals are the ideal people to get them playing better.

Who gave you your first golf lesson?

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Billy Waugh at Southshields Golf Club. I had four group lessons to keep my father happy

PGA Master Pro Doug McClelland with Tiger Woods

but I didn’t play properly until I was 16.

In retail I was friendly with one of the guys who was on the board of directors at Tesco.

enough for me, I had ambition and I wanted

I asked him, ‘What was the key to retailing?’

What was your biggest playing

to move on to a bigger challenge. My wife

to which he replied: ‘Always be in stock’.

achievement?

is American so we used to go there a lot and

The best golf advice I received from John

I won the Dutch Open, the Southern

my real inspiration came from seeing these

Jacobs was that the golf ball tells you

Professional Open, I was runner-up in the

big retail superstores. There was nothing like

everything, the golf ball is the best teacher

New Zealand Open, the British Matchplay

it here at the time in the early 70s. Seeing

in golf.

and Zambian Open. I missed out on a place

these great, big superstores inspired me to try

in the Ryder Cup team by £153!

and replicate what was happening over there.

You’ve been a PGA Member for

There were no big stores around dominating

more than 50 years. What has

How did you become head

retail. I thought if we can get that scale of

been your career highlight?

professional at Laleham Golf

operation over here and give people choice

I taught a member of the royal family for

Course?

along with brilliant service, then we’d be on

30 years and he opened the driving range

When I was playing I was getting

to a winner.

for us at Silvermere. Building a successful

disillusioned with the travelling. I was good

business has been great fun. It’s been a great

friends with Neil Coles who beat me in the

What made you bring your

British Matchplay final in 1973. He told me

business to Silvermere Golf

a friend of his was captain of Laleham and

Complex?

What does being a PGA Master

they were looking for a head professional. I

I moved to Silvermere in 1982 after

Professional mean to you?

went along, had a chat and I took the job.

previously running a facility where we did

It’s the highest accolade you can get. It’s

I had four very happy years there. It was a

everything; teaching, catering, running the

something to be proud of. The Association

great learning curve.

bar. I then encouraged my best friend to buy

doesn’t hand them out like confetti, so

it and we joined forces and that’s how it all

it proves I’ve left my mark in the game.

What inspired you to open your

started. I moved to Silvermere to concentrate

I consider it an honour but the most

own shop?

much more on the retail side of things. Terry

important thing is those first three letters –

Working in a pro shop was never going to be

Sims joined us and brought Left Handed

PGA.

The PGA Professional

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journey and hopefully it’s not finished yet.

53

P E R SONA L D E V E LO P M E NT  M A R K E T I N G

How to optimise your social media pages in 60 minutes

đ&#x;•›đ&#x;•š

Image: Freepik.com

Antje Derks takes you through an hour of good housekeeping for keeping your content in good shape and up to date

54

‘‘

First things first – make sure you’re using the correct image size for the corresponding platform

‘‘

O

ptimising your social media pages and improving your brand presence is one of those things people tend to put off – perhaps because it’s not deemed necessary – or because they’re not sure what it means. However, optimisation means that you can really see if a campaign is working and, aside from that, your platforms are your shop window.

Running a business single-handedly isn’t easy – I know, I do it and I teach full-time as well. You’ve got clients to look after, stock to order and posts to schedule, create and publish – but I promise you, the following tips

will only take a few minutes each and the whole thing can be done in an hour – if you focus and don’t get distracted.

First things first – make sure you’re using the correct image size for the corresponding platform. I have created a helpful box to help you. I will be looking at image copyrights in a future issue because that’s a separate matter entirely – and one you will be in hot water for if you infringe them. It is essential that you use the right image size – you want to look brilliant wherever you and your brand appears. By cropping a picture – something that takes seconds – you can make a huge difference to the quality of a picture.

Then zoom in on it – how does it look if it’s expanded. People are nosey and want November 2019

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M A R K E T I N G PER S O N A L DEV ELO PM ENT

CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS Make sure your handles are the same across all your networks. It means that you are easily identified and people can search for you without having to guess which handle is actually yours. So, if you call yourself Pro Golf Coach on Twitter, then make sure you have the same identity on Facebook and Instagram. You want to be in that drop down list without a lot

‘‘

it is important to separate your private and business accounts and make sure your settings are watertight on your personal accounts

‘‘

to have a good look at who they might be employing to coach them. You need to think about how an image will look if it’s small and appears in a social stream like Facebook on a device that isn’t a desktop. You want to show your brand in an optimal light whatever the size and network.

That leads me neatly on to the sort of image you should be choosing for your profile. I suggest you use your logo – and if you haven’t got one – use the same image across all your networks. This builds a consistency among your followers and that in turn builds trust. You want to stay at the forefront of people’s minds and if you have a different image for each platform, you will ultimately dilute your brand’s visual identity and recognisability – something you want to avoid at all costs.

of numbers or letters after your name. You want it to be a one click stop for clients and potential customers.

KEEP THINGS APPROPRIATE Make sure you untag yourself from inappropriate images – or images that are rubbish. There’s no harm in being tagged in on a social event at your club – so long as you’re slumped at the bar. You want to maintain an air of professionalism at all times. That is why it is important to separate your private and business accounts and make sure your settings are watertight on your personal accounts. You don’t want anything to ruin the image that you’ve been carefully crafting for yourself. It only takes one image to undo it all and

Social media Image sizes E Facebook profile picture: 170 X 170 pixels E Facebook cover photo: 828 X 465 pixels D Twitter profile photo: 400 X 400 pixels D Twitter header image: 1,500 X 500 pixels H Google+ profile picture: 250 X 250 pixels (minimum) H Google+ cover photo: 1080 X 608 pixels C LinkedIn profile photo: 400 X 400 pixels (minimum) C LinkedIn custom background: 1584 X 396 C LinkedIn cover photo: 974 X 330 pixels C LinkedIn banner image: 646 X 220 pixels Q Instagram profile picture: 110 X 110 pixels A Pinterest profile picture: 150 X 150 pixels P YouTube profile picture: 800 X 800 pixels P YouTube cover photo: 2,560 X 1,440 pixels on desktop

The PGA Professional

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you don’t want any legal comebacks either. I would see which photos you’ve been tagged in and remove tags from any you’re uncomfortable with, check who can see your tagged pictures and posts and change your settings if necessary, make sure you approve pictures before they’re posted and lastly, restrict who can tag you in the first place.

BE FOUND Make sure you can be found and that you are easily searchable. You can do that by using the right keywords in your profile to get your business, industry and niche discovered. You want to be one of the top people showing up in a Google search. It’s really quick and easy to identify the right keywords. Find out which words are most searched by people looking for professionals in golf. Tools such as SEMrush and Google’s own keyword planner are brilliant. Once you’ve found your words, update your social media profiles and website with those words.

Do that by adding them into your bio and description. If you work them in naturally, you will rank higher almost immediately.

CROSS PROMOTE Lastly, you want to maximise all your opportunities to cross promote your website and social media pages. On your social media profiles, there is a place to enter your website URL – but you can also enter your other social media profiles too – meaning you’re linking and cross promoting all at once. Facebook for example allows you to add multiple websites, LinkedIn allows you to add Twitter and Instagram allows you to add your website and Facebook and Twitter.

Once you’ve knocked yourself out adding all your links – make sure you test them too.

And any you have on your website. There’s nothing more annoying than clicking a link and getting a ‘404 error’ message. Then, choose your best content and pin that to the top of your social media page – it’s the first thing people will see.

None of this should take you more than 60 minutes, so go and make yourself a cuppa, focus and optimise your pages – and your brand.

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M A R KETING C A S E S T U D Y

Building the ‘wow’ factor Antje Derks talks to the Advanced PGA Teaching Professional Thomas Devine about the development of his personal brand and the FUEL Junior Golf Programme

‘‘

we just had an urge to create something special, something that was more than just golf lessons

‘‘

The FUEL Junior Golf Programme ethos is Person First, Athlete Second and Golfer third

F

or the past year at least we have been looking at the various strategies and techniques you could harness to build a successful personal brand.

Sometimes, it’s easier to ‘show’ rather than tell, so with that in mind, I had a little snoop about and came across Thomas Devine. He is – in my opinion – doing a rather sterling job and building a niche and personal brand around himself. I contacted him and he agreed to be a case study.

For those of you who don’t know Tom, he is an Advanced PGA Teaching Professional based at Oulton Hall Golf Academy in Leeds. He graduated from the AGMS course in 2012 and as part of his current

56

role, he is the FUEL Junior Golf Programme Director. FUEL Junior Golf was formed in 2014 and at present has over 170 children attending weekly coaching sessions.

In this article, Tom and I talked about how he has tried to grow his personal brand along with the FUEL junior golf brand.

something that was more than just golf

How did you go about deciding

How important do you think it is

your personal brand – your niche,

for golf professionals also offering

what you stand for, values etc?

a service (coaching, pro shop etc)

The FUEL Junior Golf brand/name was

to have a personal brand?

decided between myself and a few colleagues

In simple terms, a strong brand sells itself.

in 2014.

People buy into brands – not just products

I think at the time we just had an urge to create something special, but importantly

lessons. Our ethos is Person First, Athlete Second and Golfer third.

I suppose in summary, we want to create well rounded individuals that participate in sport for life – and, if they happen to excel or later specialise in golf, then that’s a bonus.

they offer. For example, Nike has a huge brand and people buy their trainers because

November 2019

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C A S E S T U D Y M A R K ET I N G they have a Nike tick on the side. There are

A properly packaged junior programme is a more attractive prospect than just a course of lessons

many other, similar shoes available, but it’s the Nike tick that people want Do you think your personal brand and reputation have meant more custom?

In terms of our FUEL Junior Golf brand, I think it’s helped us sell more junior lessons as we are marketing a programme that’s not just junior golf lessons. The reality with junior golf is that you are selling to the parents and with so many sports on offer for children these days, I think you have to create a certain ‘wow’ factor. With a strong brand and packaged junior programme, I think the sell is easier rather than just a “five-week course of junior lessons.”

If so, how did you go about it?

Honestly, we didn’t have anything strictly set in stone, but what we do is sit down once or twice a year to plan the next six months. We don’t use anything revolutionary, but tend to try and do the simple things properly. Plenty of direct mails, posters around the clubhouse,

‘‘

The reality with junior golf is that you are selling to the parents... you have to create a certain ‘wow’ factor

‘‘

Did you write a marketing strategy?

open days and also have new joiner offers to try and attract new players.

I certainly have not created all my own

If you could start again with a blank slate, what would you do differently?

I would have read more and found more answers to start with – with the internet, there are a lot of good sources of information about marketing and so on. ‘Success leaves clues’ is a favourite quote of mine. So, go find someone who has been successful and pick their brains.

What advice would you give or tips

How important is social media to

ideas! I have gleaned many from various

would you share to help a fellow

you? Which platforms are you most

sources and I’m happy to give some of mine

colleague improve their personal

active on? How often do you post

back. I have also had a few pros reach out

brand?

and what sort of things do best?

and ask for advice on how to grow their

For those that are doing tuition videos, a

We have found that Facebook is great for

programmes – I love that and I’m also happy

recording on an iPhone with dodgy sound

getting the parents engaged so that they can

to chat.

just won’t cut it now as the top guys on

get a taste for what the children do in lessons.

YouTube are creating really professional

We tend to only post videos as pictures are –

Do you have a social media

looking videos. On that note, the tuition

in our opinion – less engaging. More recently,

strategy or any tips to share?

video market is so saturated, so I would advise

we have started to use Facebook marketing,

I see a lot of social media that is “sell, sell,

people to try and think of something different

which has been successful in reaching out to a

sell”. Personally, I don’t always think this is a

for their facebook pages. Competitions with

larger audience than just people who like our

great strategy and would tend to try and share

free prizes for liking and sharing can be a

page. I also use Twitter, however the audience

engaging content before going for the direct

good way to increase followings, plus random

on my personal Twitter account is different.

sales pitch. If people start to recognise your

videos instead of the same old content being

There are a lot of golf pros in my following

content as useful or engaging, I think they

regurgitated. I would also say that an element

and along with trying to get my personal

are more likely to buy when you do put out

of controversy can sometimes spark debate –

views out about junior golf, I enjoy sharing

a post that is aimed at selling. A good friend

it’s ultimately about being different.

videos of best practice with others. I find that

of mine who is in the sales training business

some people are protective of their content

told me some time ago that you have to build

but for me, I’m keen to share as it promotes

your brand first before going for the big sell.

our brand but also helps others out.

(Wise man.)

The PGA Professional

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If you’re interested to see more, Tom’s website is www.tdgolfcoach.com and you can follow him on Twitter @ThomasDevinePGA 57

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

Exclusive offers on business essentials It’s time to get productive with these professional benefits for The PGA Members

This month’s highlights include

PGA Business Relationship Officers (BRO’s)

Financial peace of mind. Make it happen!

The 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 & professional lives of our Members. A wide variety of support is provided including (but not limited to):

You work hard for your money but is your money working hard for you? Lighthouse Financial Advice Limited (Lighthouse) are offering all Members a complimentary initial consultation with one of their professional financial advisers*. Call Lighthouse on 08000 85 85 90 and quote PGASS.

The Economist Subscribe now to The Economist, save 15% on a regular subscription price and receive a free copy of Seriously Curious*.

Reward Mobile Members can save on average, 26% over the lifetime of your contract on the latest phones, compared to EE direct*. Which means, you can make big savings and still be part of the UK’s number one network for the past five years in a row! The EE network comes with additional benefits, such as, six months Apple Music, BT Sport and Data Gifting.

Discounts with TM Lewin From classic office tailoring to contemporary smart casual inspiration for those casual Fridays, there’s endless looks to choose from. As a Member, you can take advantage of an exclusive discount through PGA Benefits. Visit the TM Lewin website and enter promotional code ‘PROGO18’ at the checkout.

10% off with Foyles If you are looking for books on professional or personal development, look no further than Foyles, the home for book lovers on the web. Choose from a wide range of books and genres, plus as a Member you can save 10% off at foyles.co.uk. Free delivery is available on all UK orders, plus sign up to their Foyalty card to earn points on every purchase*.

Visit the Foyles website and enter ‘PGA’ at the checkout.

• Business Reviews & Health Check • Contracts & HR • Marketing & Retail advice • Negotiating Retainers • The business of coaching support • Developing customer relationships • Identification of targeted training courses and educational opportunities • Building relationships within your golf club and/or facility For more information, contact tina.banner@pga.org.uk or call 01675 470 333.

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

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

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

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

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

More Members’ benefits overleaf ! >>

*Terms and conditions apply to all benefits. See website for details. Offers subject to change without notice. Lighthouse – Tax advice which contains no investment element is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Lighthouse Financial Advice Limited is an appointed representative of Lighthouse Advisory Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Reward Mobile – Savings compared to EE direct. Savings calculated over the lifetime of the contract. Prices correct on 01.07.19. T.M. Lewin – Cannot be redeemed against previous purchases or used in conjunction with any other offer, voucher, discount code or gift card purchases. Foyles – Unfortunately the discount is not applicable against certain items, including but not limited to already-discounted products, events, gift cards, book tokens, theatre tickets, A Year of Books, The Animator’s Survival Kit and Hobonichi. The discount is not applicable to Click and Collect orders or postage costs. Foyles reserves the right to alter products included or excluded from the scheme, and to add to or amend these terms and conditions. PGA Benefit web pages are managed and run by Parliament Hill Limited. Within those benefits are some benefits negotiated directly by PGA, and these are identified on the benefit web page.

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59

P G A M EMBERS H IP YO U R B E N E F I T S Health and Wellbeing Support 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.

IT Services by Silverbug* The helpline is open Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm, Wed 7pm - 9pm *Calls are recorded for training purposes only.

Only available in the UK. Confidentiality is maintained between callers and Prostate Cancer UK.

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.

Birdietime Offering members a free, 1-hour marketing consultancy session to identify practical step to increase your tuition revenues. To book your session, email info@birdietime.com or visit birdietimepro.com to learn more about our online booking and payment system.

Smarter Golf Energy Helping you use energy more efficiently and sustainably, cut down on utility overheads and help individuals’ chip away at their home energy bills, all for the betterment of the sport. Visit smartergolfenergy.co.uk

SkyTrak IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE

WE’LL HELP YOU EARN MORE FROM YOUR GREEN FEE REVENUE In partnership with The PGA, GoPlayGolf is designed to help you and your golf club benefit from the ever increasing numbers of golfers booking golf on-line.

6 BENEFITS TO YOU, THE GOLF PRO • Increase your green fee revenue • You pay less commission • You control the price • Bringing new golfers to you by providing an additional distribution channel • Works seamlessly with existing tee time booking systems • You don’t need an online booking system to benefit email: info@goplaygolf.co.uk for information

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

Turf Maintenance Equipment

by Toro Huge savings on cordless 40V PowerPlex handheld tools, perfect for home owner use and a special offer on our new Prostripe Rear Roller Mower for your clubhouse surroundings. For more product information, visit http://toro.com/powerplexuk and http://toro.com/prostripeuk To place an order on these limited offers or learn more, please share your contact details at pgamembers@toro.com

Golfplan from A-Plan Insurance*

from A-Plan Insurance

Members can earn £20 commission for each client introduced who goes on to purchase a Golfplan policy. For further information about becoming an Introducer, please contact the Golfplan team on 01527 868 160 or email info@golfplan.co.uk November 2019

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Visit the PGA Benefits site today via www.pga.info/members and select ‘My Benefits’.

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

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

Huxley Golf Incentive programme of up to £500 in commission when recommending customers to purchase an allweather home putting green. Call 01730 829 608 or visit huxleygolf.com

Personalised Luggage

by Asbri Golf 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’.

LG Special offers on selected LG products for PGA members. For the most up-to-date offers, log into member benefits, select the ‘Shopping’ section.

Pink Vehicle Leasing

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.

Travel Insurance

by Staysure* 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.

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.

Antalya Golf Club

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XPOS by Crossover Technologies XPOS is the ultimate sales and stock management solution designed specifically for golf retail. Used by golf professionals around the world to reduce stock, make the best buying decisions and improve profit margins. This great value ePos system is also bursting with features to save you time and money. PGA members can quote PGAX01 to receive 3 months free XMAIL, the integrated customer email service that drives footfall and increases loyalty to your shop. Contact us 01454 418 395 or via the CHAT button at: www.crossovertec.co.uk

Golfbreaks.com Access to bespoke golfing packages for you and your clients through the dedicated Golf Pro Travel Team. Benefit from the best rates in the market. Receive a five per cent commission on your booking.

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

Attractive, all-inclusive rates for members and family.

For The Sirene Hotel contact: volkan.cavusoglu@sirene.com.tr For Kempinski The Dome Hotel contact: erdinc.isbir@kempinski.com

20% off the flexible rate on www.argentariogolfresortspa.it Bespoke packages for members and clients. For availability and prices 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 Luxurious four-star accommodation, rates from £95 including use of the pool and health club. Spa days from £49 p/p. 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, visit the PGA Benefits site today via www.pga.info/members and select ‘My Benefits’. *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 2019. 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.

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SI TUATIO NS VACANT re c r uit m en t @ p g a . o r g . u k

Gerrards Cross Golf Club Head Professional

Gerrards Cross GC is a member-owned club founded in 1922, located in South Bucks. The Club has over 600 playing members, a challenging and attractive course and modern practice facilities, including covered driving bays, a teaching studio and a purpose built short-game area.

Our 600+ members comprise over 100 ladies and around 500 men, of whom around 100 are in our Intermediate category (ages 18-39). 34 of our members have handicaps of 5 or less. Located just a few miles from the M25, the Club attracts nearly 3,000 guests, visitors and society golfers annually.

Due to a recent resignation, the Club wishes to appoint a new Head Professional.

To date the Club has engaged the services of professional staff through a traditional service contract and the Head Professional has provided retail and coaching services to members and visitors.

The Board is considering options for the role of the Club’s next Head Professional.

Central to the new role will be coaching. The Head Professional, supported by one or more assistants, will be responsible for coaching the Club’s Academy members, our Junior Scholars and group lessons. Additionally the Head Professional will be required to provide one-to-one coaching as requested by members and visitors.

The second requirement of the role will be to support the management of golf operations. Golf operations includes: staffing our golf reception, managing competitions and course usage, equipment rental and sales of club-branded clothing and consumables (balls, gloves, soft drinks, etc.).

The Head Professional will be a member of the Club’s management team and will be expected to play with members in support of Club activities.

Based on our assessment of the retail market for golf products (clubs, trolleys, ‘designer’ golf clothing, etc.), the Club does not require the Head Professional to manage a traditional ‘Pro Shop’. However if applicants consider that the Club and wider market in Gerrards Cross could support such a shop, the Board could be prepared to make retail space available to the Head Professional.

If applicants wish to make a compelling case for a Pro Shop they will be required to submit a business plan as part of the final stage of the interview process.

The Club is prepared to offer either a service contract or an employment contract to the new Head Professional. Applicants should indicate which of these options they would prefer and propose an outline of the terms under which they would wish to operate.

These terms should focus on the incentive arrangements that would apply and how risks should be allocated between the Head Professional and the Club.

CV’s and Proposals to be sent to Adam Grint, General Manager at adam@gxgolf.co.uk or by post to Gerrards Cross Golf Club, Chalfont Park, Gerrards Cross, Bucks, SL9 0QA Application Deadline: 22nd November.

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November 2019

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re c r uitm en t @ p g a . o r g . u k S I T UAT I O N S VACA N T Headingley Golf Club are looking for a PGA qualified Golf Operations Team

Headingley Golf Club founded in 1892 is a thriving private club based in north Leeds which prides itself on being a welcoming Club with an active social scene. Our all year round course is a challenge to golfers of all levels and we provide indoor and outdoor practice facilities for members to use.

The Club continues to undertake on course ‘future proofing’ projects to ensure we continue to meet the challenges of 21st Century golf club that both our Members and Visitors will enjoy.

We are looking for two exceptional individuals, to form a team that will define ‘The Headingley Golf Club Experience’.

You must have previous relevant experience and be a self-motivated, high achiever with a demonstrable track record incorporating excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills with a strong focus on customer service.

The Team’s Key Responsibilities include:

• Establishing and operating a first-class golf retail facility.

• Ensuring all staff consistently deliver excellent service to members/visitors at all times.

• Taking personal responsibility for customer service excellence throughout the operation.

• Acting as an ambassador for the club at all times.

• Working with the Marketing Committee to devise and implement strategies focussing on income generation such as Member recruitment and visitor green fees.

• Working closely with all sections of the Club - Greenkeeper/Catering/Club Secretary.

• Organising buggy/trolley hire through the season.

• Ensuring competition responsibilities are carried out on competition days (club, corporate, society and open days) • Organising and managing the club’s practice facilities.

• Managing and developing golf coaching at the club.

• Developing and growing all aspects of the club’s Junior section including a Junior outreach programme covering the local area.

• Custom club fitting and Club repairs.

Closing Date for Applications 30th November 2019 Please forward your C.V. by e-mail to manager@headingleygolfclub.co.uk and/or contact the club on 0113 267 9573 (option 1) and ask to speak to the Manager, Jon Hall for a confidential discussion.

PGA Professional required at Golf World Stansted PGA Golf Professional or trainee required to join one of the most progressive golfing venues in the UK. Golf World Stansted is a modern forward thinking golfing venue that caters for the needs of all customers regardless of whether they are new, beginner or seasoned golfers. We pride ourselves on having removed all the barriers customers perceive there are to golf. With the help of our existing Pro we have created the largest junior academy in UK that continues to grow.

The successful applicant must be a modern forward thinking person who embraces the need to change golf for the future ahead. You will be required to provide private lessons to all golfers without impacting on the work carried out by our existing pro, however you may be needed to provide holiday cover for any existing pros. The job could include shifts in the pro shop or other parts of the business and this can be discussed at the interview.

Please contact Colin@golfworldstansted.co.uk for further info or submit your CV together with a statement of introduction about you and your needs.

Stansted The PGA Professional

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Golf World Stansted, Hall Road, Nr Stansted Airport, Essex CM22 6FL | 01279 812 865

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PGA Professional Golf Coach Wanted!

Moreton Hills Golf Centre requires a PGA Professional Golf Coach who is self driven with a proven track record in delivering world class golf coaching. Join our expanding team of professionals at the #1 family golf practise facility on the Wirral. Our busy facility is a great opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their coaching client base with great earning potential.

What our facility offers: • 50 bay floodlit driving range powered by Top Tracer • Short Game Zone • Putting green (opening Feb 2020) • 5 million balls hit annually on the range • Two private glassed teaching bays featuring Trackman • Outdoor grassed bays • 18 Hole Viking Adventure Golf Course

The Most Advanced Shot Tracking Technology in Golf

The successful self employed candidate must: • Deliver individual & group coaching to all levels of golfers • Have a passion to grow junior golf in the area increasing participation • Grow the game of golf through all society groups • Include golf technology when delivering their coaching i.e.

Trackman, video analysis • Be proactive with your CPD (continued personal development).

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

Wirrals #1 Family Golf Practise Facility

Cave Hotel & Golf Resort Golf Sales Manager Cave Hotel is a brand new 40-bedroom luxury boutique hotel and restaurant recently opened at Boughton Golf Club now re-branded as Cave Hotel and Golf Course. We are appointing a new Golf Sales Manager to coordinate all group golf bookings across two busy sites whilst based out of Cave.

Person Specification: Applicants should have previous experience of golf sales and will become an integral part of an existing dynamic sales team. Excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, self-motivated, sales driven are all essentials for this role.

You will work within an existing sales team whilst reporting to both the Sales Manager and Director of Golf.

Specific Experience: Responsibilities: You will have experience • Responding to all customer enquiries via telephone or email. of using Microsoft Office, CRM systems, social media, • Selling the venue and our third-party advertising sites. existing packages, as well as Own transport essential. upselling & adding value.

• Coordinating all bookings and Employee Benefits: events from enquiry through Staff Lunches/Dinner. to the event day.

Staff incentives.

• Meeting and exceeding targets.

• Working with third party listing sites. Liaising with HOD’s on a weekly basis to coordinate and handover event details.

Please send CV & Covering Letter to steve.mitchell@cavehotels.com.

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For further Information about our facility visit: www.moretonhillsgolfcentre.co.uk Please apply via email including CV and covering letter to: simoncorp@majorgolfdirect.com

JD Golf Academy Drayton Park Golf Club

We are looking for an enthusiastic, driven assistant or qualified professional to work at our 20-bay floodlit driving range.

We have recently had Top Tracer installed in each bay, which has markedly raised our profile and taken us to another level.

We are looking for a person with impeccable customer service skills, plus teaching and club fitting experience. Currently our junior section is thriving and growing rapidly and is a section that we are actively encouraging and supporting.

The candidate we would like to appoint would show initiative in filling their own lesson and club fitting diary and an explanation of how this is to be achieved will be expected at interview.

Salary to be discussed.

Please contact Jonathan Draycott with your CV and covering letter to jonathan.draycott@btinternet.com November 2019

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re c r uitm en t @ p g a . o r g . u k S I T UAT I O N S VACA N T PGA TEACHING PROFESSIONAL GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Due to retirement the position of Head PGA Golf Professional at Thirsk and Northallerton Golf Club, North Yorkshire, will become vacant in December 2019.

The ideal candidate will be PGA qualified and display an enthusiastic, proactive attitude.

The selected candidate will have sole responsibility for the management of the Professional Shop and have the ability employ their own assistant or shop keeper.

The role is that of a traditional Professional who will be a

key figure at the Club, providing appropriate golfing services to members and visitors. The Professional will also work in harmony with the Management Committee to progress the development and profitability of the Club.

The financial package will be negotiable but will be framed around a retainer and other incentives.

For further information please contact the manager at Matt.creighton@hotmail.com Applicants should apply by submission of CV before 10th November 2019 with interviews to be held in late November.

Training Applicant / Registered or Qualified Assistant.

This is a great opportunity to work at a busy private members club that is ranked in the top 50 courses in Britain and regularly hosts major events.

The applicant must be, enthusiastic, positive, friendly and outgoing, an effective team member, have an interest in merchandising and enjoy providing an excellent level of customer service to members and numerous visiting parties.

You will gain experience in the running of a successful pro shop and time will be available to coach and play at our excellent facilities.

Located just outside Tredington in Gloucestershire, Sherdons is owned by Richard Ballard PGA, a teaching professional with over 24 years experience working with players of all abilities - adults, juniors, ladies, seniors, beginners as well as playing professionals, coaching European and Euro Pro tour players.

In addition to delivering coaching through the Richard Ballard Golf Academy, Sherdons comprises an excellent 26 bay driving range, challenging 9 hole golf course, new adventure golf course, an active club membership of over 380 members and over 10,000 pay & play visitors per annum.

This vacancy provides an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, pro-active, newly qualified PGA Professional looking to make a mark, progress their career and develop the business potential of Sherdons.

BENEFITS Basic Salary, paid holiday entitlement, sickness pay, one bed apartment, staff rate on club food, free range balls and green fees.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES • Take the lead on the development and delivery of an exceptional Junior and Youth Coaching programme.

• Develop their own coaching client base with member and visitors through high quality golf tuition.

• Support the Academy in the delivery of adult group coaching and development programmes.

• Support a professional retail shop providing excellent front of house customer service.

• Strong engagement with members and visitors.

PREFERRED TECHNICAL SKILLS • PGA qualified teaching professional.

• Experienced in using Trackman 4 for lesson delivery and club fitting.

• Proficient in the use of word processing, spreadsheet and email packages.

• Able to demonstrate social media skills to engage and develop business.

• Experience in using Pro Agenda for lesson booking and management would also be an advantage.

Hosts of the 2006 WGC AMEX Championships & 2016 European Tour British Masters, The Grove have an exciting full-time opportunity for a registered assistant (T1 or T2) to join our professional team.

DESIRED PERSONAL SKILLS • Enthusiastic, self motivated person requiring minimum supervision.

• Team player prepared to go the extra mile to help get things done.

• Confident, professional approach to coaching.

• Friendly, approachable and patient, with strong interperonal and communication skills.

• Ability to juggle more than one task whilst maintaining high standards at all times.

• Time management and prioritisation.

• Tact and diplomacy, showing respect at all times for other people’s opinions.

• An ability to spot business opportunities as they occur.

PGA fees will be partially sponsored within the package and staff accommodation is available.

WWW.SHERDONS.CO.UK

C.V. and cover letter to: john.green@foremostgolf.com

The successful candidate will have a keen interest in Retail operations and must be confident and capable in delivering golf lessons to players of all abilities.

A track record of delivering five-star customer service is required and previous experience at a leading 5* venue is preferred but not essential.

Please apply online at: https://isw.changeworknow.co.uk/ralphtrustees/vms/e/careers/positions/bzhN3cEIndyiCFq5b6xoP5

The PGA Professional

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To apply or to find out more about the role email: professional@sherdons.co.uk Applications should include your CV and be marked as “PGA Teaching Professional Application” Closing date for applications is Thursday 30th November 2019.

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SI TUATIO NS VACANT re c r uit m en t @ p g a . o r g . u k John O’Gaunt Golf Club PGA qualified Coach required to join busy private members club. The successful applicant should be highly motivated with experience of developing and delivering successful coaching programs. Access to fully equipped teaching studio plus some shop hours if required to supplement income.

ASSISTANT Professional required.

30+ hours per week with coaching opportunities available, depending on experience and stage of PGA training.

Flexible working hours within our golf team.

Send cv to Lee Scarbrow at lscarbrow@yahoo.ie

Kingswood Golf & Country Club Kingswood has a proven track record of developing successful, dynamic PGA members.

They are now looking for an enthusiastic assistant to join their highly skilled, forward thinking professional team.

This is a rich and varied golf operations, retail and coaching role, a great first step on the ladder for someone wishing to develop the modern skills vital for career progression.

Kingswood is well positioned in a popular part of Surrey.

The club boasts, a vibrant membership, a significant level of visitor footfall, a modern retail outlet, onsite hotel, range and custom fit facilities.

Please email Ian Golding: ian@kingswood-golf.co.uk Portstewart Golf Club Portstewart Golf Club are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated Qualified Assistant Professional. This is a superb opportunity to work at a highly acclaimed private Members’ Club and DDF Irish Open venue.

The successful applicant will have a passion for golf and retail, be enthusiastic, flexible, good communicator, team player, with excellent organisational skills. The individual should be competent in operating computer systems, be able to build relationships with customers, members & visitors alike and assist in coaching.

To apply, send your CV and cover letter to judy@portstewartgc.co.uk

Ultimate Golf Superstore, Walsall.

Sales Executive (Full time/Employed) Applicants must have passion and enthusiasm to deliver the Ultimate customer experience. Salary is £18k to £20k, flexible working hours required.

Range of employee benefits Key focuses of role: including: • Delivering sales • Bonus structure • Developing relationships • Free practice facilities and with clients discounts on equipment (up to • Working towards individual 50%) and team KPI’s • Staff uniform provided • Delivering a first-class • Personal/staff development custom fit experience opportunities Email CV and cover letter to sales@ultimategolf.co by 29th November

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Leadbetter Golf Academy, Indonesia

With over 40 academies globally, Leadbetter Golf Academies deliver premier golf instruction for players of all ages and abilities.

We are recruiting for a new academy focused on junior development in Jakarta. The successful candidate will become a Certified Leadbetter coach. Previous experience developing and working full-time with juniors is necessary. Experience playing competitively and working in Asia are beneficial.

Candidate should be knowledgable about youth development initiatives.

Renumeration: • £25,000 nett.

• Annual bonus.

Please send CV with photo to • Leadbetter Certification. stephen.moriarty@leadbetter.com • Housing allowance.

by November 12.

• Relocation allowance.

Start date: January 2020.

Have you come to a career crossroads? Not sure which step to take next to move forwards?

We are here to help!

The key to having a satisfying career is knowing yourself, knowing your strengths, understanding your values and identifying what you need to do your best work.

Identifying and landing a role that fits around you - rather than you trying to fit it - is what leads to greater personal fulfilment and job satisfaction.

The PGA’s very own Business Relationship Officer network are here to provide members with FREE career planning and advice. Get in touch with your local officer today and take steps towards making 2019 the year you move your career forwards.

Email recruitment@pga.org.uk

FOR SALE

FOR SALE PERSONALISED PGA CAR REGISTRATION

£3,750

For more information contact: mark.foreman@foremostgolf.com November 2019

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