R E G I O N A L
N E W S
East
Good day Vienna IAN CAMPBELL has left Cheshunt to take up a new position as a teaching professional at Wels Golf Club in Austria, writes Tony Rushmer. Campbell, 37, has always enjoyed the global opportunities on offer to a PGA Professional and has worked in Mauritius, the Czech Republic as well as a previous stint in Austria. But he settled at Cheshunt for almost three years and carved out a reputation for himself as one of the best players in the East region. In 2016 he won an Order of Merit tournament at Aldwickbury Park and finished runner-up in the annual standings behind Rob Coles (Maylands Golf & Country Club). Campbell said: ‘The highlight of my time in the region was finishing second in the Order of Merit in 2016. I came so close to winning it…in the end Rob (Coles) overtook me. “Another highlight was finishing fifth in the PGA Professional Championship the same year. It gave me a good chance of getting in the PGA Cup team and kept me working on my game when I wasn’t coaching. “The East region has some great pro-ams and there are
some very good players that play regularly on the circuit. I will miss it as I have made some really good mates and have learnt a lot from the players I have played with.” Campbell is planning to keep up a commitment to his own game alongside the new job at Wels. The Scot added: “Austria has a good PGA circuit to play on, along with the national open and pre-qualifying for the European Tour’s Austrian Open – so there is plenty. “I would like to come back to play in our PGA Professional Championship during the summer but I’ll have to see how work is going. “My new position is purely a teaching role, including coaching the club teams – men, ladies, and junior club teams. It will also involve taking groups away on golf trips during the winter.”
PGA North relishing Pleasington move IT’S ALL CHANGE for PGA North which has taken up residence at Pleasington Golf Club, writes David Birtill. Regional manager Jonathan Paine and tournament director Andrew Chadwick have been joined by newly promoted tournament controller Daniel Huxley and Joe Whittaker, who runs the office. “The new staffing structure gives the region much more scope to attend to all the Members’ needs,” said Paine. “The office at Pleasington is fully equipped to allow all staff to fulfil their roles. The region was formed in 1985 when Norman Fletcher was its first secretary, a position he held for eight years prior to his appointment as association manager at PGA National Headquarters. The first official office was based at Mere before moving to its 30-year tenancy at Bolton Golf Club. “We have certainly come a long way from those early days,” said Paine. “I hope that this positive move will allow the region to develop further.” Paine followed Dennis Nutter, Andy Salmon, Jim Croxton, Roger Butler and Graham Maly in his role of managing the largest region outside Scotland. Peter Bedford, Pleasington club’s vice chairman, enthused: “I think it’s a kind of perfect partnership. 16
North
“To attract PGA North, the biggest region in the UK outside Scotland, and be connected with what’s going on in the game puts our club on a pathway to develop ourselves. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us. “Part of our drive is to try to get into the top 100 English courses.”
(from left) Daniel Huxley (tournament controller), Jonathan Paine (regional manager), Andrew Chadwick (tournament director), Joe Whittaker (office administrator)
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