A quartet of golf professionals have been awarded the PGA’s highest status of Master Professional. Legendary coach Bob Torrance, Ian Rae, Colin Clingan and Mickey Walker were confirmed with the honour this month and join a select band of professionals to have attained the top honour including the likes of Pete Cowen and David Leadbetter.
Torrance is recognised as one of the game’s top coaches having helped guide Padraig Harrington to three Major triumphs in the past 18 months. Rae is national coach for Scotland at the Scottish Golf Union and has coached a number of European Tour stars.
Fellow Scot Clingan, who is based at Windmill Hill Golf Club in Milton Keynes and turns 70 next year, has been a distinguished servant of the PGA having served on a number of regional and national committees as well being a renowned business tutor and marker for the Association.
Essex-based Walker, who is attached to The Warren, has led a distinguished career including being chairman of the European Tour and captain of both the Solheim and Curtis Cup teams. She was awarded an OBE for her services to golf in 1993.
“We should extend our congratulations to these latest members of the PGA who have been recognised as Master Professionals,” said PGA chief executive Sandy Jones.
“They have clearly advanced the standards in their own particular area of expertise and set targets and marker posts for those within the membership who wish to aspire to such a high degree of competence.
“This reflects the great knowledge and high degree of skill that exists throughout the PGA membership.”
The award is given to professionals with a minimum of 15 years experience in the game and recognises a significant contribution to the development of golf.
The quartet were not the only professionals honoured with more than a dozen professionals receiving awards as part of the PGA’s APAL (Accreditation of Prior Achievement and Learning) programme.
The PGA’s David Colclough and Thurlestone’s Peter Laugher have been made Advanced Fellows of the PGA. Mark Day (Whipsnade GC), Malcolm Scott (Alresford) and Jon Woodroffe (Pedham Place Golf Centre) have attained Fellow status.
Finally, Clive Coombs (Vale Hotel Golf & Spa), Mark Desmond (Swanmore Golf Centre), Colin Fisher (World of Golf – Glasgow), Ian Parker (Royal North Devon), Stuart Syme (Dumfries & County) and Karl Kelly (Elm Green) have achieved Advanced status.
PGA www.PGA.info