Paul Hebdon, a key member of Branston Golf & Country Club’s Golf Professionals is celebrating achieving the double status of the Professional Golf Association’s (PGA) Fellow Professional and Director of Golf membership designation. Paul is now one of only fourteen PGA members in the world to have achieved this double. Of the nine based in the UK just three are based in the Midlands.
Paul, (51) originally from Yorkshire is now in his fourth year at Branston Golf & Country Club’s Golf Academy where he works alongside the Club’s senior advanced PGA professional Steve Hadfield, specialising particularly in helping young people and ladies get into golf.
‘I joined my local golf club at the age of 11, that being the earliest allowable age of entry at a time when attitudes towards junior golfers were not as welcoming as they are now’. said Paul.
‘In my late teens I took up an apprenticeship starting first at Pannal Golf Club and then off to California before returning to Yorkshire at Fulford Golf Club to complete my qualification.’ he added.
From there Paul took up a teaching post followed by a Head Professional & Golf Operations Director at a resort in Austria leading eventually to becoming a national coach for that Country. Although left with little time for competitive golf he did play on the Asian Tour and the Space Coast Tour in America.
‘Now in my fourth year at Branston Golf & Country Club I enjoy working in this family friendly Club, with great facilities and excellent staff. I’m thrilled to have attained my new qualifications as both Fellow of the PGA and PGA Director of Golf that gave me an insight into how other departments at Branston function so successfully.
As well as continuing to help develop the skills of our very strong golf membership and teaching facility for members and the public at Branston Golf Academy my aim is achieving PGA Master Professional status whilst adding to my 500 or so collection of books on golf!’ exclaimed Paul.
‘At Branston, that’s famous throughout the Midlands and beyond for its encouragement of ladies and young golfers of all abilities we’re thrilled for Paul and delighted to have him as a key member of our talented team of golf professionals’.
‘He & Steve Hadfield create a terrific programme of events including Get Into Golf , Girls Golf Rocks and GolfSixes as well as helping so many of our members improve their golfing skills’ said Tom Storrar, golf manager at Branston Golf & Country Club.
Branston Golf & Country Club www.branstonclub.co.uk
Pictured: Paul Hebdon (left) proudly displaying his PGA Fellow & Director of Golf certificates with Steve Hadfield Branston Golf & Country Club’s head professional