There will be no fewer than nine debutants at The R&A Swingzone this year as The PGA and its dedicated team of PGA Professionals once again provide free coaching lessons at the 2023 Open Championship.
A 23-strong team of coaches has been selected to provide free 15-minute lessons to the public across eight days at Royal Liverpool from 16th – 23rd July, 2023.
Making his R&A Swingzone debut is James Harraway who missed out on the opportunity to coach at two Open Championships due to illness.
“I thought my opportunity had gone after I deferred following my cancer illness, but The PGA kept faith,” said Harraway. “They (The PGA) have been very accommodating and understanding in holding a place for me to coach this year, and I really appreciate it.
“I am really excited to be part of the team for the week, coaching the spectators, and watching some golf. It’s a little bittersweet as my wife and I have a newborn so it will be tough being away from him, but this is something I have always wanted to do and be a part of – on the career bucket list as a PGA coach.
“I have always enjoyed networking with other PGA Professionals and bouncing ideas and thoughts off one another so this will be the ideal opportunity. Working as part of a team was one of the appealing factors in my decision to work at The Open so I am excited for this also.”
Josh Salmon is the newest elected PGA Member on the PGA coaching team this year having completed his PGA training in 2022. Salmon said: “I’m so excited for the week, working at a Major championship is a dream come true.
“I’ve worked really hard on my coaching over the last few years and the opportunity to work with some of the best coaches in the UK at one of the best events of the golfing calendar was something I knew would further benefit my coaching practice and help me network with other amazing coaches.
“Working at The Open is an opportunity to network, learn from and pick the brains of coaches who I have a huge amount of respect for, so I hope to leave the week a more experienced coach.”
One familiar face returning to this year’s R&A Swingzone is Alan Bradshaw. The Lancashire-based pro first coached at 2005 Open Championship at St. Andrews and 23 years on, he remains passionate about helping people improve their game.
“As with every year, I cannot wait to coach at The Open,” said Bradshaw. “Being so close to home this time, the enthusiasm I have to put smiles on all the golfers I coach has never left me.
“I am looking forward to seeing and improving individual golf swings of many thousands of spectators that will visit The R&A Swingzone, and for them to take away a little something that will encourage and ignite their enthusiasm for the good of the game.
“Every day is a learning day,” he added. “In all the years I have coached, I have seen and learnt from some exceptional and talented coaches ich as Peter Ball, Ian Bailey, Kevin Caplehorn, Sarah Bennet to name a few, and this year will be no exception.”
Allan Martin, PGA Coach Education Manager – Scotland and organiser of the PGA Coaching activity at the R&A Swingzone, added: “The PGA and our diverse team of PGA Professionals are all looking forward to offering free golf lessons to the public at this year’s Open Championship.
“It’s very pleasing to see so many new faces as part of the coaching team this year. It shows just how much PGA Professionals want to get involved in this type of event, which is a fantastic week for them to meet and coach people of all ages, gender and ability and to promote golf for all.
“This year we’ll be promoting PGA Play – the Association’s new online platform which connects people looking for lessons with a local PGA Professional. We hope people having a 15-minute lesson will be inspired to visit the platform and book a lesson with a PGA Professional in their region.”
The full complement of PGA pros at Royal Liverpool is: Ian Bailey, David Bartlett, Sarah Bennett, Callum Beveridge, Ian Blair (debut), Alan Bradshaw, Kevin Caplehorn, Jamie Crocker (debut), Jamie Cundy, Neil Curtis (debut), Sophie Daws, Thomas Devine, Geraint Dixon, Tom Gibbs, Martin Goldie, Samuel Greenhalgh (debut), James Harraway (debut), Denise Hastings, Nick Lowe (debut), Josh Salmon (debut), Connor Thomas (debut), Matthew Turnock and Neil Williams (debut).