Darren Bartlett, who will relocate from Derbyshire with his wife and two children, is expected to start the role next month.
He will take over from current head professional, Matt Collis, who is leaving the club to pursue a career outside of golf.
Bartlett has been a head professional for more than seven years and has worked to develop an active golf academy teaching golfers at all levels from beginners (ladies, men and junior) to county and professional players. He turned professional in 1997 having had an accomplished amateur career (playing off +3).
After winning a golf scholarship he relocated to the USA and spent four years competing on the circuit in Florida, including playing on NFPGA Moonlight Tour (USA), Buy.com Tour and Hooters Tour (USA). He then returned to Europe and competed on the Challenge Tour and the Mastercard Tour (now known as the Euro Pro Tour) for three years. In partnership with current European Tour player, Robert Rock he won a European two-man event in Valderrama.
In the UK he has reached the Open qualifier finals on five occasions (narrowly missing out by one shot in 2004) and has competed for many years on the Midland Area circuit, winning more than 30 Derbyshire events in recent years. He has also won the Derbyshire Order of Merit on three occasions and the Derbyshire Pro’s PGA Champion, sponsored by major golfing companies (Titleist & Mizuno).
Bartlett said: “I am absolutely delighted to be taking up the post of head professional at Caversham Heath Golf Club and look forward to meeting members, welcoming new guests, developing the Caversham Heath Golf Academy and working with a fantastic team at a first class golf course with outstanding facilities.”
General Manager, Matt Ackerman said: “We were inundated with applications for the position and the quality of those applicants was hugely impressive, leaving us with a very difficult decision. However Darren’s professional career, coaching skills, team ethic and personality made him our number one choice and we are thrilled to have him as part of the team at Caversham Heath.”
Caversham Heath Golf Club www.cavershamgolf.co.uk