A team of talented Scottish PGA Professionals will play their part in helping the Ryder Cup go with a swing by giving hundreds of free lessons to spectators.
The expert coaches drawn from clubs across the country will be staffing the PGA Swing Zone in the tented village at Gleneagles where they will be giving both swing and putting lessons.
The swing zone is open from Tuesday, September 23 to Sunday, September 28, and is aimed at golfers of all ages and abilities – whether beginners or single figure golfers.
Among those giving lessons is Mearns Castle Golf Academy’s George Boswell at what will be his first Ryder Cup.
“People often tell me I have the dream job and they are correct,” said Boswell. “To help fellow golfers in their quest to get better at golf and have fun playing it gives me great satisfaction and no more so than at the Ryder Cup.”
PGA in Scotland chairman, John Mulgrew, is also one of the coaches and he is looking forward to adding to the spectacle of the event.
“I’m delighted to be coaching at the Ryder Cup,” he said. “I’ve done a few Open Championships where I’ve done the swing zone but never the Ryder Cup so it should be really special.
“We’re looking forward to meeting golfers of all ages and abilities and within the 15 minutes making a start on getting them on the road to playing better golf and encouraging them to go to their local PGA professional for more coaching.
“We will also be videoing their swing and emailing it to them with feedback from the lesson.”
Mulgrew is also hoping the legacy of the huge interest in the biennial contest, which has been given added impetus with Stephen Gallacher’s selection for Europe, will have a positive effect in the weeks following the climax of event.
“With the Ryder Cup coming at the end of the season hopefully this gives clubs the chance to keep the season going, keep people interested and get more people playing golf,” he added.
“I know some clubs are organising activities on the back of the Ryder Cup to try and keep the interest and hopefully we can play our part at the swing zone.”
Brian Mair, secretary of the PGA in Scotland, whose regional headquarters are based at Gleneagles, believes the swing zone and PGA pros will prove a big hit with fans.
“The PGA is proud to have some of the best coaches in the world and I know the 11 pros working at the swing zone will showcase that perfectly,” he added. “We believe passionately that the way to better golf, and enjoying your golf more, is through your PGA professional and this is an ideal chance for golf fans to witness arguably the biggest event in golf and also give their own game a boost with some expert tuition.”
The full list of PGA professionals taking part is Andrew Munro (Elie Sports Centre), Lesley Mackay (Lesley Mackay Complete Golf), Gavin Cook (Elie Sports Centre), John Mulgrew (Airdrie Golf Club), Ian Muir (Ian Muir Golf Ltd), Bob Collinson (Bearsden Golf Range), Gordon McLeod (Monifieth Golf Links), Ryan Scott (Loretto School Golf Academy), George Boswell (Mearns Castle), Nicola Melville (Nicola Melville Golf) and John Murray (Deer Park G&CC).
The opening times of the PGA Swing Zone are Tuesday and Wednesday: 9am – 5pm
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 8am – 7pm. The swing zone is in the tented village and includes three nets and a practice putting green.
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