Alex Boyton

Golfing Herald met up with Alex Boyton, PGA Professional at Cottingham Parks Golf & Leisure Club.

Alex Boyton’s golfing journey all started when he was aged about 10 and he ‘followed’ his older brother around Sutton Park golf course…but then one day his brother ‘let him’ play a few holes.

From that inauspicious beginning, Alex got a half set and started to play, albeit only in the school holidays as at the time he was playing junior football to a very high standard. However, after a successful trial with Leeds United, he suffered a dislocated knee.

An opportunity for an Assistant arose at Skidby Lakes Golf Club and so, despite no real amateur record and playing off a handicap of 7, Alex took a ‘leap of faith’ to pursue a career in Professional Golf. Within months his handicap was down to 3, enabling him to register for the 3-year PGA Training Course.

Since successfully qualifying, Alex has continually developed his love and passion for coaching with a particular interest in the coaching of juniors. Since moving to Cottingham Parks about 5 years ago he has, in conjunction with PGA Professional Mark Thompson, established the biggest junior academy in the East Riding of Yorkshire. As a recognition of their work, Mark and Alex received the prestigious Golf Foundation ‘Laddie Lucas’ award for creating more opportunities for girls to play golf.

Although his focus is coaching, Alex has achieved success as a player, including winning a regional qualifier for the 2013 Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship and losing a playoff for the coveted Harold Lees Trophy.

Cottingham Parks Golf & Leisure Club

Established in 1994, Cottingham Parks Golf & Leisure Club is located about 5 miles North West of the historic port city of Kingston upon Hull, England.

This Par 72 parkland course measures 6,453 yards from the White Tees and provides an excellent test of golf for players of all abilities. The 18 hole layout makes great use of the picturesque landscape (which was previously farmland), augmented by several manmade water features and hazards.

Family owned and forward-thinking, Cottingham Parks is a very welcoming and attractive venue for visitors, societies and charity days alike.

In addition to the golf course, other facilities at the Cottingham Parks complex include:

• Pro Shop offering a full range of golf merchandise and equipment
• PGA Professional coaching and tuition
• Fairways Academy (Driving Range and short game facilities)
• Health Club including a Gym, Fitness Classes, Swimming Pool & Spa
• Modern clubhouse including function rooms for Weddings, Parties and Corporate Hire
• Equestrian Centre (Livery & Events)
• Holiday Lodges

Also, an application for a 70 room hotel has recently been approved.

The First Tee

Golfing Herald (GH): It was a bitterly cold and very windy morning when I arrived at Cottingham Parks and yet the car park was almost full!! As Alex explained, the weekly EGGS competition is played on a Tuesday…like most clubs up and down the United Kingdom, the British weather very rarely puts off golfers of a ‘more mature vintage’…my words, not Alex’s!! After settling down in the Clubhouse lounge I ‘teed off’ by asking Alex when and where his golfing journey all began.

Alex Boyton (AB): I have an older brother, who is 4 years older than me. He was a member at Sutton Park Golf Club. During the school holidays, he used to ‘look after me’ and I used to walk around the course with him. One day we got to (I think) the 15th hole and he let me hit a shot.

(GH): How old were you when your brother ‘kindly’ allowed you to play a shot?

(AB): I would have been about 10.

(GH): Were you caddying for your brother on the day you hit that first shot?

(AB): No, just messing about really!! He let me play the last few holes. Got to the 15th and with a Driver, I hit the ball to the top of the hill and then started from there. Got a little half set myself then joined (as a junior member) at Sutton Park, though I didn’t play a lot as I was playing a lot of football at the time.

Football Trial

(GH): Yeah, I was going to ask you whether you were you into any other sports?

(AB): Football to be honest. I played a lot of representative football such as Hull Schools. I was at the Hull City Centre of Excellence.

(GH): What was your position?

(AB): I used to play centre back or left-back as I was left-footed. I spent a lot of my time playing Football.

(GH): Was there any possibility of you pursuing a career as a Professional Footballer?

(AB): Yeah…I was at the Hull City Centre of Excellence for a while. I had a trial for Leeds United and got invited back but I dislocated my knee between the trial and the subsequent invite!! I did not go back due to this injury. I then had a choice between York City and Hull City and went to Hull in the end.

School Holidays

(GH): Could we just pause for now the football footprint and come back to golf…when did you start to play golf on a more frequent basis?

(AB): I used to play in the (school) holidays. My mum used to work at the Council so she got (me) a cheap pass. So I played a lot at Sutton Park with my brother and with friends. Then, one of my best pals, his dad was a member at Hornsea Golf Club. So he took us there and we joined up. My pal’s dad used to drop us off on his way to work at about 08:00 and we would play 36 holes…and a game of snooker in between each round!! Then he would pick us up at night on the way home from work. It was brilliant!!

First Role

(GH): When did you think or start to realise that golf could become much more than just playing in the school holidays?

(AB): I had always had a passion for golf even though I was playing football which took up a lot of my time. I always looked forward to playing golf. Could not wait for the holidays to start so that I could get out and play golf. It was probably when I went on my work experience from school to Karl Worby, Professional at Skidby Lakes Golf Club. This was before Skidby and Cottingham Park Golf Clubs amalgamated. From there I started to do a little bit of part-time work at Skidby in the school holidays. I was always fairly good without really playing that much or practising. No real lessons. But going back to where we paused on my football, I had left Hull City and started to play semi-professional for a local team but then I started to pick up a few injuries.

(GH): By then were you in your late teens?

(AB): I was about 16 or 17. Then Karl Worby said he had an opportunity at Skidby and he thought I could be good, even though I was only playing off a handicap of about 7 or 8 at the time. Karl said he needed an assistant and wanted to know if I would be interested. He believed that in a short space of time my handicap would come down. I suppose in hindsight if I had given up football a few years earlier and concentrated on my golf I might have played at a higher level as an Amateur…you never know. But I had some great times playing football and really I would not have changed anything. So I started working full time for Karl at Skidby.

Turning Professional

(GH): I trust that Karl’s belief was spot on and that your handicap came quickly down?

(AB): Yeah…I got down to a 4 handicap in about 6 months as I applied to the PGA when I was 18. By the time I started my PGA course I was flitting between 2 and 3…think I was 2.6 in the end when I officially turned Professional. I am sure I would have got down to scratch but this was a quicker route to become a Professional Golfer.

(GH): I assume that you then had to undertake the ‘Playing Ability Test’?

(AB): Yeah, took the playing ability test and passed. By the time everything had gone through I had just turned 19 when I started the (3-year) PGA Training in 2004. Really enjoyed it. Passed everything the first time, which was the main aim. Received some really good advice from Karl. He said, “Get your PGA training completed and then if you feel like you want to focus on playing then you have your PGA qualification to fall back on”.

Looking Back

(GH): Very sage advice from Karl…just taking a checkpoint and looking back, do you think you were always destined to have a career in professional sport…golf, football…?

(AB): I have always had a love and passion for most sports. Love golf, love football and yes I always wanted to do something in sport. I really enjoy what I do…just really lucky.

Harold Lees Trophy

(GH): What events did you play in as an Assistant Professional?

(AB): I played in a lot of the Yorkshire OOM (order of merit) events. That was good…a really good grounding. Some good players played in those events at that time. I played in the PGA North Region Assistant Pro events. I tied first for the Harold Lees Trophy at the Dore and Totley Golf Club. One of the oldest trophies in golf. Lost in the playoff, unfortunately.

Playing Standards

(GH): At that stage, and assimilating the advice from Karl, did you think about playing full time?

(AB): I played in a (British) Open regional qualifier in 2007 at Pannal Golf Club, so it was very close to when I qualified. I was playing with Chris Hanson, who is a very good player and went on to play on the European Tour. I bogeyed the first two holes then parred the next sixteen holes to finish on 2 over par, to miss out on a playoff place by 1 shot. Chris shot 7 under and that sort of told me ‘there and then’ that the standard is just incredible. I was working full time at Skidby and probably practising only a couple of hours a day, so did not have the time to practise more or play full time.

(GH): At times we all play out life via the prism of ‘ifs and buts’…as you called out earlier if you had finished playing football earlier…and if you had started concentrating on golf earlier…then maybe you would have been at a higher playing standard by the time of that 2007 qualifier…and your golf may have turned a different corner…all ‘ifs and buts’!!

(AB): That’s right. When I started my PGA training I was sort of behind some of the other Assistants and Professionals. But that gave me the incentive and determination to practise hard and try to catch them up. It was not long before I ended up winning a Yorkshire Assistant Pro event and I was regularly in the top 5 or 6 each year. I was quite satisfied as I had started behind but had caught up. It is difficult to understand just how high the standard is but when you play with someone like Chris Hanson it does ‘hit home’!! Thus I started to focus on Teaching and that is my main passion.

Teaching

(GH): In preparation for meeting up with you today I uncovered several articles in which you shared your passion and love of being a Teaching Professional, in particular the coaching of junior golfers.

(AB): I think my passion comes simply from the enjoyment of ‘doing it’. Meeting a variety of people…I now work with children as young as 4 and that gentleman over there (pointing to one of the members in the Clubhouse Lounge) is now in his eighties and I gave him a lesson last week. The standard of golfer I teach varies from the complete beginner all the way through to Professionals. It is that variety and the enjoyment of seeing people getting better.

(GH): And looking at the various testimonials, Cottingham Parks has a tremendous reputation, both locally and nationally, when it comes to the coaching of juniors and the Junior Academy…very much a team effort?

(AB): Definitely…I have been here nearly 5 years now and Mark Thompson has been here about 16 years. Chris Gray, who is now the General Manager at Cottingham Parks started the Junior Academy and a Junior Development Programme which receives various funding and sponsorship…Mark then took this programme on. It got to a point where, when I got invited to come to Cottingham Parks from Skidby he needed to expand the Programme, but there was only Mark. In fact, we now have 10 different coaching groups on a weekly basis…a girls-only group, 5 ladies’ groups, 3 men’s groups and 1-2-1 lessons. The Golf Foundation is very supportive when it comes to junior golf.

Laddie Lucas Award

(GH): On the subject of the Golf Foundation, one of the articles I did read in preparation for today was about Mark and yourself winning the prestigious Golf Foundation ‘Laddie Lucas’ National Award.

(AB): Yeah…Mark had done some work with the Sirius Academy (in Hull), doing some girls only P.E. classes. With funding provided by the Golf Foundation, we then organised some taster sessions for about 300 girls in the local secondary schools from years 7 to 11. From this, we developed regular StreetGolf at the school(s) where the balls are restricted to 30% of normal distance but using normal size golf clubs.

(GH): So do Mark and yourself spend some time out at the local schools?

(AB): Not so much now. Will Webster, who works here and is coming to the end of his PGA Training now helps out.

Teaching Philosophy

(GH): Do you have a specific Teaching Philosophy?

(AB): My approach is very much teaching the player…different ages, differing abilities. Also, some golfers may have restrictive movement or a particular injury, so very much adapting to the specific player. I have certainly got (coaching) preferences, such as if I am teaching a new golfer I focus on a good grip and good posture. With juniors, I like to try and establish good basics, keep it fun and let them build up from there.

Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship (North East)

(GH): Returning to the playing side of golf, I noted that in 2013 you won the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship (North East) which was played at Fulford Golf Club…what if anything can you remember about the event?

(AB): I remember it was really windy. I would need to check the scorecard but I think I birdied 3 of the last 4 holes. I was not doing anything special but then my game just clicked. At Fulford, you come back across the road for the final few holes and that day they were all into the wind. It was playing tough. I just ground it out and finished with a few birdies.

(GH): Would that be your best win as a Professional?

(AB): I think so. There was a lot of experienced Professionals playing in the event and it was certainly a really nice confidence boost.

(After the interview, I found Alex’s hole-by-hole scorecard whilst writing up this article…he actually birdied 16, 17 & 18 to win on countback!!)

Playing Today

(GH): Rolling the clock fast forward to today, what competitions do you now play in?

(AB): I play a lot of Yorkshire Pro-Ams where it is great spending time with the members, making sure they really enjoy the experience and hopefully want to play again. I also play in Yorkshire PGA events as working and coaching full time it is really difficult to book a few days off to go away and play outside of the county. I suppose the only National events I play in now are the Open regional qualifier and the PGA Professional Championship qualifier…the latter is a great event because if you qualify the final is a 4-day event with a 2 round cut.

The best facet of your game

(GH): What would you say is the best facet of your game?

(AB): Pretty solid ball striking…I am (generally) good playing in windy conditions. Just pretty steady.

(GH): Do you enjoy the extra challenges presented when the weather ‘becomes a factor’?

(AB): I always feel that when you get certain types of weather you get some players that won’t be ‘up for it and they won’t fancy it’…but for me playing a lot in the Humber Alliance Winter League you get used to the varying and challenging conditions. I don’t mind it when the conditions are tough. Usually means that your better ball-strikers come to the fore. If it is a wide-open course on a really nice day then it is usually a little bit easier to score. In January, I went out to Portugal for a Pro-Am and a lot of the guys who were playing were going to the Senior’s Tour School. It was really interesting watching them play…players such as Gary Wolstenholme and David Morland, who has just finished second on the Champions Tour in the States. Where they were better than me was from 40 to 50 yards in. They were really good. No mistakes really.

(GH): From observing players of that calibre, are you looking to focus on your approach/short game for the forthcoming season?

(AB): I have had a few lessons recently off Steve Robinson at Sandburn Golf Club. He is a very good coach. During the season it is difficult to get time to practice. So yes, we have been working on my pitching. I always learn a lot when I have lessons. As a Professional, certainly for myself as a Teaching Professional, you have to be continuously learning.

Best Ever Round

(GH): It doesn’t necessarily have to have been your lowest ever score but hitherto what has been your best ever round?

(AB): I think the best ever round I have had was not long after I had started my PGA Training. I played in a Yorkshire PGA event at Cleckheaton and I think I started off with a couple of bogeys. I then played 10 holes in 6 under in the middle of the round and I think I finished 4 under, but that was such a confidence boost getting quite deep on the card. I had not done that in an event before. Yeah, that round was really good from a confidence perspective as I did not have much of an amateur career so to do it in a Professional event not long after turning Pro was a nice feeling.

Advice

(GH): What advice would you give to any aspiring amateurs who are looking to or thinking about joining the Professional ranks?

(AB): For playing professionals, do as much as you can each day. Don’t put off anything until tomorrow, like pushing practice back by a day when you should be practising today. The years fly by quick so I would say just give it everything. Practice as hard as you can…you need that drive to self-motivate. You have to have a bit of luck and invest if you can on the team around you. If you want to be that top player then just make sure you leave no stone unturned. On the PGA/Teaching side, it’s that commitment to learning how to interact with people, customer service, learning about teaching, learning about how to repair clubs. There are so many facets to being a club Pro. It is very much a role of continuous improvement.

Biggest Change

(GH): Alex, during all the years you have been involved with golf, what would you say is the biggest change you have observed in the game of golf?

(AB): The equipment and fitness. When I was a young Pro the gym side of things focused on lots of stretching but no real strength work. But now if you look at the top players they are all athletes, such as McIlroy and Koepka. They are lifting weights at a speed which builds up their power. A combination of the athleticism and the improved equipment means they are hitting the ball much further. Going on from that we have a Gym and a Health Club here at Cottingham Parks and last year I did a personal training course so that I could learn more about the body to develop that into my coaching…and possibly I would like to go down the TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) route in the future as there is a call for TPI when working with better players.

Outside of golf

(GH): What are your interests outside of golf?

(AB): Rugby League…I go to watch Hull FC.

(GH): Are you a Season Ticket Holder?

(AB): No, but my daughters have season tickets. I try to go to the Gym and generally just like watching sport…Rugby, Football and so on.

Favourite Sporting Event

(GH): What is your favourite sporting event?

(AB): The main sporting event I look forward to is the Masters.

(GH): Why the Masters?

(AB): I think because it is played when it is spring and getting towards the start of the golf season (in the UK). The location and scenery are just stunning. I have been to the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final a few times and when Hull win that is enjoyable!! I enjoy watching the FA Cup Final, World Cups…any major sporting event really. But number one would be the Masters.

(Not long after interviewing Alex it was announced that the 2020 Masters had been postponed due to the Coronavirus…hopefully it will be played later in the year)

Bucket List

(GH): Assuming you have one, what is at the top of your golfing bucket list?

(AB): I would love to play courses such as Pebble Beach. There are so many great courses in the world that I could easily reel off 10 or 12 I would love to play. Playing Pebble Beach would just be incredible.

Fantasy Fourball

(GH): In addition to yourself, who would you pick for your dream fantasy Fourball?

(AB): Certainly Tiger…I would love to play golf with Tiger Woods. I grew up watching him when he was the best and is possibly still the best. There was a mystique about him but he now appears to have opened up. I would love to play with Tiger just to see how good he is.

(GH): OK, so Tiger makes your Fantasy Fourball…next pick?

(AB): I would say, Elvis Presley…I am a bit of an Elvis fan.

(GH): Since starting this series that is the first (and possibly the last) time Elvis has been selected!! And your final pick?

(AB): I will go with Jack Nicklaus to compare him and Tiger and see who ‘looks the best’.

(GH): Who do you partner in this dream Fourball?

(AB): It would have to be me and Elvis against Tiger and Jack!!

If not a Professional Golfer

(GH): I know we touched upon this topic earlier in our chat, but if you were not a Professional Golfer, then what?

(AB): I think a lot of young lads would love to be a Professional Footballer and I was no different, but I was not quite good enough. I think any coaching profession involved with a sport, such as a PE Teacher. Anything involving sport, most definitely.

Favourite Golf Course

(GH): Which is your favourite golf course in the UK?

(AB): Probably the best course I have played is Royal Birkdale. Just an incredible golf course which is built naturally through the dunes. It is just immense. To walk and to play where you have seen so many good players and coming up the 18th towards the Clubhouse. You can really imagine what it must be like walking up the last in the Open…I think I tapped in for a par at the last and waved to no one!!

(GH): And your favourite golf course outside of the UK?

(AB): It would have to be Pebble Beach. I think it is about $500 to play but you can get on the course. The history of the course, watching it on TV, all of the iconic holes…just everything about it really.

Marooned

(GH): If you were to be stranded or marooned on a remote desert island, what three items would you not be without?

(AB): I would take some sun cream as I am quite pale…Factor 50!! Probably the Sky Sports TV Package and I think a radio for some music to keep me company.

The Nineteenth

(GH): And finally. You put your current role and responsibilities on hold whilst you are in temporary charge of the R&A. What idea(s) would you like to implement for this great game of golf over the next few years?

(AB): I think the speed of golf needs to improve. I think we need to play faster. I think possibly a shorter form of golf as well. It is difficult for your ‘mainstream’ golfer who may have a young family to get out for 4, 5 or 6 hours a week to play a round of golf. Maybe some short formats such as 5 or 6 hole competitions which could be played in an hour or so. To keep golf current and relevant we need to find a shorter format for your average person to come and enjoy playing. I think the ‘Play Ready Golf’ initiative and 3 minutes to look for your ball are both helping the pace of play. I think making sure you play a provisional ball helps speed up the game, rather than looking for the ball and going back to play another. I think you need to be courteous to your playing partners and have an awareness of how quickly you are playing in relation to the group ahead and behind. Be ready to play when it is your turn.

(GH): Alex, a great way to finish at the Nineteenth. A massive thanks for your time today and for kindly sharing an insight into your golfing journey so far. Also, many thanks to the kind hospitality of Cottingham Parks Golf & Leisure Club.

Please click here for more information about Cottingham Parks Golf & Leisure Club.

Acknowledgements

In addition to Alex and to Cottingham Parks, I would also like to say a huge thanks to…

• Diana Diaz ~ Marketing Coordinator, Pebble Beach Company.
• David Evans ~ Secretary, Cleckheaton & District Golf Club.
• Jon Dry ~ General Manager, Fulford Golf Club.