Ping, Callaway and Peter Millar were celebrating last week after being among the headline winners at the TGI Golf Awards, which were held during the TGI Annual Business Conference at Trump Turnberry in Scotland.
All supplier awards are decided via the group’s annual supplier survey, where its partners from across the UK & Ireland score the brands on a variety of categories including product quality, customer service and delivery times.
Ping took the top honours in the supplier section, picking up the Partner Supplier of the Year award for the fourth year in a row. The brand once again walked off with two awards, also winning Product of the Year for the G400 driver. Ping has now won five times overall, winning every year bar one since the inception of the TGI Golf Awards in 2013.
Ping managing director John Clarke (pictured above, left) said: “Over many years we have forged a great relationship with TGI and the Supplier of the Year award is one of things that touch every part of the business so a huge thank you to everyone at Ping – the Solheim family, everyone in the office from marketing and sales down to the guys who build the clubs.”
For the first time ever there were joint winners of the Product of the Year award, with Callaway also recognised for the success of the Rogue Driver. It was a double for Callaway too as they were crowned Hardware Supplier of the Year, while Peter Millar took the award for Apparel Supplier of the Year.
Mark Hilton, Peter Millar’s International Managing Director commented: “We are incredibly proud to have won this award as it recognises what was a very prosperous year for the brand, as well as the hard work and passion that resonates through our entire team.” This is the second time we have claimed this award and we’d like to thank all of the TGI Golf partners who voted for us. We are committed to enhancing our product range and renowned customer service in the years to come and, of course, retaining our title in 2019.”
Other partner award winners included Simon Hanson from Kemnay Golf Club in Scotland who took home the New Partner of the Year award, while Howley Hall PGA Pro Ryan Rastall picked up Pro Shop of the Year and Stuart Disney from The Mendip Golf Club added the Most Improved Business award to an impressive collection of accolades he has won in recent years.
The prestigious Partner of the Year award was given to Ardglass PGA Professional Paul Vaughan just three years after he won New Partner of the Year award. Vaughan, who became the first Irishman to win the award, saw off competition from fellow nominees Gordon Cattrell (Middlesbrough GC), Stuart Callan (Bathgate) and Jon Earl (Ifield).
He said: “It’s an amazing feeling to have won this award just three years after becoming a partner. How have I done it? I just keep my head down, work hard and keep evolving, introducing new things to the business and being open to change, you have to be willing to change to become the best you can be. The team I have at Ardglass have played a huge part in me winning this award, I would be lost without them. It’s key as PGA Professionals that we give our assistants an element of ownership of the business. If you have faith and trust in them to do what they want then they will help you take your business forward. At Ardglass we place a big emphasis on talking to the customer, not just in store, but through email marketing and social media too, they have both been huge for us. We believe that if you’re not talking to your customers then someone else is.”
Eddie Reid, TGI Golf Managing Director, added: “The stunning surroundings of the iconic Trump Turnberry was the perfect setting for our awards night. Over the years this event has grown to become a true benchmark of quality for both suppliers and Partners, which is clear to see when you listen to what it means to the winners. Congratulations to everyone who walked away with an award and to the team at TGI Golf who once again put on an amazing evening.”
For more information on the TGI Golf Partnership visit tgigolf.com.