December 2011

What a year 2011 turned out to be... Besides the headline grabbing stuff by Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy, the PGA South Region has been grabbing a few of its own recently. After his successful defence of the 2011 Virgin Atlantic PGA South Region Order of Merit, in late November Richard Wallis (Walmer & Kingsdown) won his first national event, the Titleist PGA Play Offs at the Antalya Golf Club in Turkey. Then Craig Sutherland and his playing partner Colin Rutter from Cherry Lodge won the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship at Loews Lake, Las Vegas. And to make your golfing prospects even brighter in 2012, Virgin Atlantic are continuing their partnership with the PGA South Region and through Destination Golf are launching a new referral scheme for PGA Professionals to encourage us all to play some golf abroad. Wherever you intend to play your golf in 2012, on behalf of the PGA South Region I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Sam Smith Regional Secretary, PGA South Region

Sam Smith Regional Secretary, PGA South Region

Wallis wins Titleist PGA Play Offs in Turkey It was a case of where eagles dare as Richard Wallis snatched a dramatic victory in the Titleist PGA Play-Offs in Turkey. read more

Kent club wins Virgin Atlantic Pga National Pro-Am Championship Biggin Hill duo Craig Sutherland and Colin Rutter from Cherry Lodge Golf Club are flying high after winning the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship in Las Vegas. read more

Callister climbs Kilimanjaro and raises £20,000 for charity Jonathan Callister, Chief Executive of Pentland Golf and PGA member, has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity between October 27 and November 6, 2011. He exceeded his original target, delivering instead no less than £20,000 for Demelza. read more

Flynn flies out to Burma to train top Burmese amateurs International golf coach Kevin Flynn (Tournerbury Golf Centre) has just returned from Myanmar in Burma, having been asked to go there by the PGAs of Europe (PGAE) on behalf of the R&A as a part of their Worldwide Golf Development programme. read more

Rennie and Brant take Wellington to the top David Rennie, coach to no less than 40 budding golfers at Wellington College, and his PGA colleague Jason Brant (East Berks) who has looked after the College's team players for the last 10 years, are obviously doing excellent work. According to College master i/c golf Iain Henderson, not only has Wellington won the Schools Cup in 2011. read more

Game improvement Struggling with those bunker shots? Clifford Gough of West Hill has another video tip that will improve anyone's game read more

Destination Golf's new Development Manager helps new PGA voucher scheme Ben Blackburn, PGA Teaching Professional at Kings Hill Golf Club, has been appointed Business Development Manager for Destination Golf in partnership with Virgin Atlantic. As well as providing PGA Professionals with a point of contact for they golf travel needs, he will be overseeing the new voucher reward scheme, giving pro shop customers £50 vochures for each group of four, booking holidays with Destination Golf and Virgin Atlantic. read more

On the move ... Alastair Welsher from Taunton & Pickeridge will be moving into the Head Professional's role at Reigate Heath GC in February 2012. Top of his class in the PGA Training Programme, both the club and Alistair have high expectations and we wish him and his fiancee Gemma all the best. An application for membership of the PGA South Region is also on its way, Alistair ... Our tallest-ever Tournament Controller Tom Large is now in the States following his dream of coaching the stars, while Mark Spratt joins the team at PGA South Region as our new and not so tall Tournament Controller.

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