It’s been a memorable few weeks for Anders Mankert who has capped off a national coaching nomination with being awarded PGA Advanced Fellow Professional status.
The long-standing Cosby Golf Club head professional tops the list of recipients in the latest APAL (Accreditation for Professional Achievement & Learning).
Sweden-born, but 20 years at his Leicestershire club, Mankert is a busy club pro combining coaching and club-fitting duties and running a successful retail operation.
He has particularly excelled at coaching blind and visually impaired golfers which has earned him a nomination in the disabled category from the United Kingdom Coaching Certificate (UKCC) annual awards.
Mankert credits European Tour coach and PGA Master Professional Pete Cowen as an inspiration. “Pete coached me for many years and has been very helpful in my career in terms of coaching,” said Mankert. “Also when you see Pete’s work ethic you see what you have to do to move forward.
“It is in my nature, I start coaching at 7am – even now when it is pitch black outside. If I’m going to do something, I do it to my absolute best. It means putting in extra hours but that is what you have to do.
“When I came to Cosby there was nothing – it was a shed. I put in, at great expense, a great shop and studio, and now get people coming from all over the country. I’ve been lucky enough to pick up one or two awards down the years and I’m very proud to receive Advanced Fellow status – it’s probably my greatest honour. To be recognised by your peers is very humbling.”
Also recognised in the awards is Scot George Boswell, a coach at Mearns Castle Golf Academy in Glasgow, who celebrates being accorded PGA Fellow Professional status.
Boswell worked closely with the late and widely respected coach Adam Hunter and has worked with Scottish national boys and men’s teams.
Meanwhile also recognised for their on-going commitment to their careers are the following who have all attained PGA Advanced Professional status: Paul Aitkens (Golf Foundation), Matt Antell (Reigate Hill), Lewis Atkinson (Gerrards Cross), Gavin Crockett (Leitershofen, Germany), Thomas Devine (Oulton Hall), Adrienne Engleman (Colmworth), Andrew Jinks (Germany), Jamie McConnell (Butch Harmon School of Golf, UAE), Richard Sheridan (St Andrews Links), Bryan Smith (Emirates, UAE), Michael Sweenie (Dreamland, Azerbaijan) and Mike Timson (Belton Park).
APAL recognises the success, experience and personal and professional development of its Members through four additional membership categories from PGA Advanced Professional, PGA Fellow Professional, PGA Advanced Fellow Professional and PGA Master Professional.
PGA News www.pga.info
Anders Mankert www.andersmankert.co.uk