The PGA and FootJoy have announced PGA Professionals Alex Beckett and Evie Carter as the winners of a national competition celebrating PGA Members who have best served their clubs and local communities.
The #FJThanksaPGAPro campaign was relaunched for 2022/23 and invited golfers to nominate and share stories of how their PGA Professional has supported them, while appreciating their outstanding service to the game.
Beckett, who is based at Frilford Heath Golf Club, has ‘done wonders for ladies group coaching’ at the Oxford-based facility according to one nominator. “He makes golf fun and has a modern, easy to understand teaching style,” said Meredith Wilson. “He is lovely to young and old alike and popular with his colleagues. Frilford Heath is very fortunate to have Alex in the team.”
“I’m absolutely delighted to be announced as a winner,” said 35-year-old Beckett. “I absolutely love what I do for a living and the members and the team at Frilford Heath are fantastic and so supportive. I’m over the moon to have been nominated. It means a lot to me personally too. I moved from Norwich to Oxford for this role and this makes it feel totally worth it.”
Carter, one of three coaches based at The Golf Centre Coalville in Leicestershire, has been described as an ‘inspiration’ by her nominator, Kevin Hallam, who commented: “Not only does her passion for the sport encourage all those she coaches, but it has also helped her achieve a great cohort of young people to enjoy the sport. Evie has not only inspired my daughter but inspired so many other young people.”
Carter, 29, said: “I’m so overwhelmed and over the moon to be part of the #FJThanksaPGAPro campaign. It means so much to me, as I love my job and it’s so kind that my clients have nominated me. Massive thanks to The PGA and FootJoy for running this project.”
Both winners, chosen by a combined PGA and FootJoy panel, will be rewarded with a pair of FJ MyJoys and a FJ waterproof suit. Those who nominated the two winners were in with a chance of receiving a pair of MyJoys and a FJ Midlayer, with one lucky winner selected randomly per PGA Professional.
The competition also rewarded golfers who participated and shared their support for PGA Professionals, with three entrants and their nominated pro winning a pair of FJ shoes each. In addition, the first 25 participants to share their nominations received a pair of FJ socks.
Commenting on the success of the campaign, Robert Maxfield, Chief Executive of The PGA, said: “We have been blown away by the level of nominations this year, with more than 1,600 people nominating their PGA Professional. It’s been fantastic for us to collaborate once again with one of our Principal Partners, FootJoy, and promote the important role PGA Professionals play in helping and supporting people of all ages, gender and ability, take up golf or improve their game. The FootJoy and PGA panel had a difficult decision to make when considering all of the fantastic recommendations received for each nominee, however, I would like to congratulate Alex and Evie for being named winners of the competition.”
Russell Lawes, FJ Brand Director, added: “Members of The PGA are a pivotal touchpoint for golfers of all standards. In acknowledgment of this, with the privileged position FJ holds as the nation’s best-loved golf footwear manufacturer, we believe we should lead the way in recognising greatness among those who represent the very best of the golf industry. After the success of last year’s campaign, it is so uplifting to see the huge inpouring of nominations from golfers who took the time to put their pros forward.”