Ed James

Golfing Herald met up with PGA Teaching Professional Ed James for our Meet the Professional series.

Ed was introduced to golf by his Grandad who was a member at Gainsborough Golf Club in Lincolnshire, England. But it was not until a few years later when he received a Xmas gift of golf lessons that Ed became ‘hooked’. From that moment on, Ed knew he wanted to be involved in some capacity with the game of golf.

Ed joined Gainsborough Golf Club, a club with a thriving junior section where he was allocated an initial handicap of 28. Over the next few years, Ed played in junior and senior competitions at Gainsborough and a handful of Lincolnshire county competitions. Ed left school at 16 but after about 6 months at college, an unexpected opportunity arose at Gainsborough Golf Club, namely a vacancy for an Assistant Pro. Thus, aged only 17 Ed joined the professional ranks.

After gaining his PGA Qualifications, Ed spent 2 to 3 years as a PGA Teaching Professional at Gainsborough. From there he moved to PING to become an Equipment Specialist where he focused on custom fitting, ensuring the golf equipment used by his clients was relevant to them. This role expanded to work with ‘Battle Back’, an organisation that supports injured servicemen, with playing golf a rehabilitation outlet, which for Ed was an incredibly varied and rewarding experience.

In April 2019, after about 8 years at PING, Ed decided to set up on his own, specialising in coaching to provide a bespoke service to all of his clients. Ed is currently the only PGA Professional in Lincolnshire who offers TPI screening and through TPI he has recently become involved with coaching the Lincolnshire County team.

Ed’s playing appearances today are ‘few and far between’ as a consequence of his conscious decision to be a full-time coach, a role where his passion to improve the game of golfers of all abilities was evident throughout our conversation.

Hope you enjoy.

The First Tee

Golfing Herald (GH): Just before the festive period, I had the pleasure of interviewing David Edwards at Forest Pines Golf Club (for the 13th article in this series). As we were leaving the lounge at Forest Pines, David kindly introduced me to Ed…before either of us could say “Nice to meet you” or “Have a great Xmas”, David ‘suggested’ to Ed that he should participate in the series…luckily Ed agreed and thus I travelled back to the superb Forest Pines complex a couple of weeks ago to meet up with Ed and I ‘teed off’ by asking him when and where his golfing journey all began.

Ed James (EJ): My grandad played. He was a member at Gainsborough Golf Club and he introduced me to golf when I was about 8 or 9. But I never really took it that seriously as I was really into my football at that time.

(GH): As in playing?

(EJ): Yeah…I was playing for the school team, Scunthorpe, Lincoln…so football was my main sport when I was young. Then I got bought some golf lessons as a Xmas present when I was about 12. I went and had the lessons and it kind of got me a little bit!! In fact, I was absolutely hooked by it and within several months I had given up playing football and golf was then the sporting journey.

Hooked

(GH): Can you remember what it was about those initial lessons that, and no pun intended, got you ‘hooked’?

(EJ): I don’t know…maybe after playing football which was team-based I enjoyed the individual aspect of golf. All I remember is that I really enjoyed it, got into it and was encouraged to join Gainsborough Golf Club by Steve Cooper, who was the coach at Gainsborough at that time and he was the one who did those initial lessons and I have never looked back. Got playing, started to meet other people and I really enjoyed the competitiveness. Then I started to play in competitions and tried to improve and tried to win.

(GH): Just taking a small step back, how old were you when you joined Gainsborough?

(EJ): I was about 12 or 13 when I joined.

(GH): And can you remember submitting your cards to attain your first official playing handicap?

(EJ): Yeah…and my first handicap was 28 which is probably what most people are allocated. But then we all have that season where it comes down by 12 or 14 shots!!

(GH): Not all of us have that sort of season!! Seriously though, did you set yourself any targets at that stage?

(EJ): No…at that age I was just playing and enjoying it and see where it goes. No target orientation until I got my handicap a bit lower and then I had a bit more incentive to achieve. For example, making the county squads.

(GH): What was your handicap down to when you started to make the transition to target and goals setting?

(EJ): I guess I always had the intention of getting my handicap as low as physically possible. The drive was always to be as good as I could be and get my handicap as low as it could be. I don’t think I put a timeframe on it. It was very much a case of going out and doing the best I could do. My handicap started to tumble and then I started to try and play as part of the (Gainsborough) junior team.

Junior Golf

(GH): What level did you have to reach to be selected for the (Gainsborough) junior team?

(EJ): For a long time if you weren’t a 5 handicap or better you would not get in the team.

(GH): An excellent standard.

(EJ): Unbelievable. You needed to be Category 1 to make the team. We had a junior section of about 60 kids at that time!! The standard was absolutely amazing.

(GH): Why do you think Gainsborough had such a flourishing junior set up?

(EJ): Steve Cooper was the Head Pro at the time, though he has retired now. He was unbelievable. He would do junior coaching every Saturday morning, attracting more and more juniors. I guess we all kind of encouraged and pushed each other on. One person improved and everyone improved. We were just a big group. We would turn up on a Saturday morning at 09:00. Steve would coach us then we would go out to play then have something to eat in the clubhouse. A really good and close team set up.

Professional Opportunity

(GH): How did you progress once you had achieved Category 1 status and were playing for the junior team?

(EJ): I suppose as I got a little bit older I decided I wanted to do the PGA Training and be involved with golf in some sort of professional capacity. I left school at 16 and enrolled at college but really all I wanted to do was to be involved with golf. I then got an opportunity at Gainsborough as they wanted to take on an Assistant Pro and asked whether I would consider this. I had probably only been at college for about 6 months when they asked me this question. So naturally, I went and spoke to my Mum and Dad!!

(GH): How did they respond/react to the offer from Gainsborough?

(EJ): They said if that is what I wanted to do then drop out of college and do it.

(GH): At such a young age did you have a clear plan of what you wanted to achieve as a Professional…for example, did you have aspirations to be a full time playing professional or did you want to focus on teaching/coaching?

(EJ): I very much had an open mind. Without a doubt, everyone wants to play as a professional. There is still part of me who would love to do that but then realism just takes over!! Today, for me coaching is probably my main passion. I love coaching and helping people with their game, which I am sure we will talk about shortly. The buzz I get from seeing their games improve, scoring well and winning competitions is great. That is my real incentive…how can I make others better?

(GH): Ed, I will certainly be returning to chat about your coaching and other phases of your professional career so far but for now, before turning professional were you playing in Amateur Events at County or National level?

(EJ): I played in Lincolnshire county competitions but I never played any events at National level.

(GH): Junior and Senior?

(EJ): Predominately junior though I played a few of the senior events such as the Lincolnshire Amateur and the Lincolnshire Poacher.

Playing Test

(GH): What was your handicap when you joined the professional ranks much sooner than you expected?

(EJ): I got down to 1 at that point. For the PGA you had to be off 4 or better so I was kind of comfortable with that. You have to do a PGA playing ability test as well if you are not scratch or better so I had to go and do that. I was lucky enough that I actually won the qualifier that I went to which was nice as that got me sailing through. More pressure on that day than I can ever explain!!

(GH): When you say ‘playing ability test’, what did that entail?

(EJ): The test is playing 2 rounds at a regional venue and I went to a course called Stratford Oaks. You have to play 36 holes on a day and I think the cut off point was something like 14 over par for the 2 rounds. Which you think ‘if I am off 1 handicap that should be comfortably achievable’. But you have got the pressure of the situation as a whole year’s work is on the line on this day and if you don’t pass that test you can’t actually enrol on the PGA Training course!!

(GH): Very much score based as opposed to position-based.

(EJ): Absolutely…all about ‘do you have the ability to play to the standard the PGA expect you to play to’. So I guess they set the cutoff score as a buffer for factors such as the ‘pressure’ and variation in the weather conditions.

Midlands Assistant Champion

(GH): I can’t even start to imagine that sort of pressure!! OK, so you have passed the playing ability test and then undertook the (3-year) PGA Training course. Whilst training, did you have any success playing in Assistant Professional Events?

(EJ): I played in a few regional Midlands Assistants events. I actually won the Midlands Assistants Championship in 2009 or 10 at Forest Hill, near Leicester. I shot a 64 and I think I won by 3 shots.

(GH): Was that a course record?

(EJ): No…the course had actually been shortened a fraction as they were doing maintenance work on 1 or 2 holes so the course was a little bit shorter so the score couldn’t stand. I played in quite a number of Lincolnshire Pro-Ams. Also played over in Portugal a couple of years in Pro-Ams.

Teaching Philosophy

(GH): After successfully completing your PGA Training, did you continue to be attached to Gainsborough Golf Club?

(EJ): Yes…once I qualified I became a full time teaching professional at Gainsborough, working alongside Steve Cooper. He was the Head Pro and I was his understudy and I did that (teaching/coaching) for about 2 to 3 years.

(GH): Were you teaching players of all ages and abilities?

(EJ): Yeah…seniors, junior coaching with some as young as 6 years old…weekend golfers, ladies’ classes…a whole variety of lessons and classes at that point. I absolutely loved it.

(GH): What is your approach or should I say your philosophy to teaching?

(EJ): I think in my case my approach has developed over the years as I have learnt more about (say) the golf swing. Everybody is so different so I don’t have a single philosophy. It is hard to say this is ‘the method’.

(GH): So very much adopting a chameleon-like approach?

(EJ): I was going to use the phrase ‘adaptable’. I try to be as adaptable as I can to each individual. For me it is not a matter of what I want to do but what do they want to achieve. One of the first questions I usually ask a new client is “What are you looking to achieve…what are we trying to do?”. That might be ‘I want to get my handicap lower’ or ‘I want to the hit the ball with a fade or a draw’ or ‘I want to improve my short game’.

(GH): After assimilating an understanding of what your client is hoping to achieve, do you then tailor a single or group of lessons accordingly?

(EJ): Absolutely. Structure a plan, personal to them, which says if you are going to achieve that goal we need to be doing this, this & this. From my perspective, and I am sure every other coach who is out there, the value of the coach is massive. It’s trying to get players to engage with coaching. Once they have crossed that line and started they then see the benefits.

GH): A parallel I would draw is that I spent over 30 years in a Corporate Environment and whatever level I was at in that environment I would be mentoring or being mentored or undertaking some sort of personal development…so why change outside of that environment. Thus in your recreational time, such as playing golf, then work with a coach on some sort of basis to learn and improve.

(EJ): Absolutely right. I agree. Anyone who strives to be better should seek advice.

Custom Fitting

(GH): Ed, a couple of minutes ago you said that you taught/coached at Gainsborough for 2 to 3 years…so what next on your professional roadmap?

(EJ): From there I took the opportunity to work for PING. They owned Gainsborough Golf Club so it was kind of on the doorstep. Yeah, an opportunity arose to go and work as a sort of Equipment Specialist.

(GH): That sounds quite a departure from the first few years where you focused on Teaching.

(EJ): I was working more in the custom fitting of equipment. So still working with players but making sure that what equipment they have is relevant to them. In many ways, my remit was unchanged from my role at Gainsborough but now coming at it from a different angle.

(GH): I have to put my hands up and say I am one of possibly thousands of golfers who have never been custom fitted for golf equipment, so what is the process you go through with a client who wishes to be ‘custom-fitted’?

(EJ): There is a 4 step process. The first thing is to take into consideration the physicality of the client…height, length of arms, size of hands, etc. Then you get a club that is potentially a better physical fit for you…such as the length of the shaft, the lie angle of the head and grip sizing. You can then start testing on the actual swing, looking at the plane of the swing…does it need to be flatter or more upright? Then look at the shaft technology…weight, flex, etc. and how that might alter ball flight and consistency. You have varying forms of head technology. Look at irons these days in that you can have anything from a minimal blade to the biggest, oversized, chunkiest iron!! Then evaluate how does that influence your ability to perform. Ultimately what you are doing is effectively pulling a 14 club combination all together that offers that player the best outcome they can get from their clubs.

(GH): Thanks so much for outlining the process…so very much expanding your approach with additional tools/ammunition but with the same aim of improving a golfers game.

(EJ): Absolutely. Allowed me to look at a player from a different angle and how I can change things over and above just the client’s technique. Today, that is partly why I now brand myself not just as a coach who can work on your technique but also as someone who at the same time can take a really good look at the equipment you are using and give you good advice there as well. Trying to make sure we are approaching your game from all possible angles and to get the best performance out of your game.

Specialisation

(GH): On the subject of ‘all possible angles’, have you or do you get involved with the mental side of the game?

(EJ): I would certainly say I don’t know enough about that topic and to really stand out and give advice. I would rather give no advice than bad advice. That is how I tend to look at it. In those kinds of areas, I would be directing a player to a specialist in that field. I think I probably know enough people within the industry who can help out such as physical therapists, personal trainers and mental coaches. I know people who can help in those areas. For example, if I have got a player who is struggling physically to cope with what they are trying to achieve, then I would recommend people who could assist and help address the issue.

(GH): In many ways, no difference from today’s elite professionals who might have a coach, a physical trainer, a mind guru, a dietician, etc. Effectively building a specialist support network to cover all bases.

(EJ): Absolutely. I don’t think one person can specialise in all fields. If I specialise in golf performance…how you hit a golf ball, the swing and your equipment, then I can do all of that. But for me to then take on the mental aspect, the physical aspect and everything else you just couldn’t possibly specialise to that degree to really cover all knowledge bases.

Trust

(GH): You mentioned earlier that PING owned Gainsborough Golf Club, so were you still based there in your role for them?

(EJ): Yes. We had the PING European fitting centre based there so that was predominately where I was working. We had an appointment-based system where I would see 5 people a day, pretty much every day. Those people would vary based upon their needs…high handicappers, playing professionals on say the EuroPro Tour, county amateur golfers, PGA professionals and so on. So all abilities from a very good standard of golfer through to the absolute beginner who had been to the driving range 3 weeks ago and loved it and now they want to buy a set of golf clubs!!

(GH): Just picking up on the absolute beginner, they are putting a lot of trust in you on what equipment is best for them.

(EJ): They do. People do adapt to the equipment they use but if they are not using the correct equipment they will work and adapt their swing around that. Subconsciously yes, but they will be doing that. As a consequence, they may develop a poor technique because of their equipment. So actually it is important that they have a club that is the right length for them, and a good weight for them and that the grips are the right size to aid on how they develop a technique. If someone is an absolute beginner you are actually giving them the pathway to then improve. But you could put a hurdle in that pathway by giving them some equipment that is not suitable.

Playing

(GH): Your role at PING sounds really fulfilling, so I dare I ask about the playing side?

(EJ): Playing had definitely stopped. I was working (for PING) Monday to Friday, 9 until 5. More office-based hours rather than working evenings and weekends and more flexibility to the working day and week. Playing had to be pushed to one side in order to fulfil this role. That is where my competitive play almost stopped a little bit. At the end of the day that was the decision I made.

(GH): I am not sure if ironically is the correct term to use, but you get into the sport of golf through the enjoyment of playing and like you did reach a level where you wanted to and were able to become a professional golfer and yet the irony a few years later is that you are doing everything but playing!!

(EJ): Absolutely right. For me I always wanted to be involved in the game, helping people with their game. That is my passion.

Battle Back (No Limitations)

(GH): How long did you work for PING?

(EJ): I was with PING for about 8 years. Predominately a lot of custom fitting, a lot of events and consumer shows. I would go down to the PGA event at Wentworth every year and be in the hospitality tented village. We would do Scottish Golf Shows and London Golf Shows. We would do a lot of training where account holders would travel to us from all over the UK and Europe and learn how to custom fit. I also took on the role of ‘adaptive fitting’.

(GH): What is adaptive fitting?

(EJ): That was basically custom fitting anyone with physical limitations, such as people with prosthetic legs. I did a lot of work with an organisation called ‘Battle Back’ for injured serviceman and they use golf as a form of rehabilitation? They had a whole number of different injuries, though some are not necessarily physical injuries. Some are mental conditions such as PTSD but they still use ‘Battle Back’ for rehabilitation. Ultimately, some of the servicemen can’t use standard equipment. Some of the guys were playing golf from out of a wheelchair, so their legs were locked into a position, so they needed a different length of (golf) club. So that presented a challenge in terms of weight, flex and lie. I was fortunate enough in that anybody who needed that type of support would come to see me personally.

(GH): An incredibly rewarding experience.

(EJ): Very much so. Some of the injured servicemen only had one arm so the biggest challenge there was how heavy the golf club needed to be for them. I had some guys who didn’t have hands so we had to work on how they would actually hold a golf club. I have to say without PING some of the solutions we came up with would not have been possible. They can do all of the creating and manufacturing as required. Just amazing. There was an example of a Swedish guy who was a quadruple amputee. He had 2 prosthetic legs and no hands, so we fashioned different ways on how to hold and swing a golf club…amazing.

Leap of Faith

(GH): After PING, where next on your golfing journey?

(EJ): April 2019, so less than a year ago, I decided I was going to set up on my own. Took the plunge and left PING. There was an opportunity here at Forest Pines and I set up as ‘Ed James Golf Coaching’ which in time will become ‘Ed James Golf Performance’, where I can now coach people and also work on their equipment side.

(GH): OK, so you are now independent and self-employed but based out of Forest Pines Golf Club, so are all your client’s members of, or visitors to, Forest Pines?

(EJ): Currently, I get clients from local courses so they are not all Forest Pines members. I get quite a few clients from my previous club, people who used to come and see me 10 years ago when I was coaching at Gainsborough and have now found out I am coaching again. So that is nice. I have given myself about 2 years to build my client base and see where I get to. I am essentially not on the payroll but Forest Pines Golf Club has kindly allowed me to use all of the facilities…the practice area, the championship course, the gym. Forest Pines have been fantastic since I came.

Bespoke Service

(GH): Any regrets?

(EJ): None at all. I am trying to add more to what I do. I now do TPI (Titleist Performance Institute), which focuses on how your body influences your golf. I now do TPI physical screenings on people and see how they can move and what physical limitations (if any) they have and how that influences their ability to swing a golf club. I can focus on how an individual moves and devise a technique accordingly.

(GH): Also, one of your recent tweets said that you had just commenced county coaching.

(EJ): Yes. I did a Lincolnshire county coaching session literally 3 weeks ago. They basically ‘dragged me in’ as one of my friends from PING (who plays off +3 and who I help with his game) and I did some TPI screening on him. He went back and told his friends at the county and they said: “right let’s all do it!!”. I went over to Spalding Golf Club and I conducted TPI screening on all of the county squad. In fact, I have actually got the county team coming here in a few weeks time for a coaching session.

(GH): Word of mouth and networking.

(EJ): Yeah.

(GH): Now that you have made that leap of faith and effectively set up your own golf practice, will we be seeing you back playing?

(EJ): In a way, I hope I am so busy that I don’t have the time to play!! But on the other hand, I hope I can play. I really don’t know what the answer to that question is!! My main focus is to build up the business and create a bespoke service for each client. As far as I am aware I am the only PGA Professional in Lincolnshire that offers TPI so that is a unique service I can provide.

The best facet of your game

(GH): When you were playing, what would you say was the best facet of your game?

(EJ): General accuracy. Not having a particularly big build I could never hit it as far as a lot of the guys but I was relatively good at hitting fairways and hitting greens. My short-game I would always say was my weak area.

(GH): Any particular reason why that aspect was the weakest?

(EJ): Didn’t practice enough. In hindsight, as a coach that is the one area I would be telling myself to practice the most!! But back then when I was only 15 or 16, did I want to go and stand on a putting green for an hour or did I want to be on the driving range smashing drivers!! Looking back I should have put more focus on my short game…hope some of my clients aren’t reading this!!

Best Ever Round

(GH): Continuing the theme of ‘when you were playing’, what was your best ever round…and it doesn’t necessarily have to have been your lowest ever score.

(EJ): As I mentioned earlier, I shot a 64 at Forest Hill when winning the Assistants Championship and I followed that up with another 64 a few weeks later on our Vice Captains away day at Elsham Golf Club. Yeah, I did a couple of 64’s in the space of a month which was probably my best streak of form.

Biggest Change

(GH): Ed, 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?

(EJ): I think every facet of the game has evolved massively over the past 10 or 15 years. Research has gone deeper into golf and therefore you look at the elite golfers on tour now and not only do they have a coach but they have a personal trainer, equipment specialists, a nutritionist…they also have personal therapists making sure they are loose and supple. Very much the ‘Tiger effect’ and now there is not a single player who is not doing it. Even coaches now specialise. Now you have putting coaches, short game coaches and long game coaches. And in technology, if you look at drivers from say 15 years ago vs. drivers of today there is no comparison.

(GH): All about gaining fractions against the field and when extrapolated over a season it can make such a difference.

(EJ): Correct. 1 shot per round across the season is a huge difference. Not so long ago players would finish a round of golf and then have a couple of drinks in the hotel bar.

(GH): And no doubt some would have had a drink before their round!!

(EJ): Absolutely. Now, it is on the range before a round then afterwards maybe into the gym, a massage and no drinking. Totally different environment. Sport, in general, has gone that way.

Outside of golf

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

(EJ): I am still a big football fan. Big Man Utd Fan…

(GH): …you could have told me that fact earlier!! Only joking, but how does a Lincolnshire lad end up supporting Man Utd, as I thought only people born or living in London supported them!!

(EJ): I was actually born in Stockport, on the outskirts of Manchester. But then my dad was relocated to Lincolnshire when I was only about 2 or 3.

(GH): Do you ever get the opportunity to watch them?

(EJ): Not as frequently as I would like but maybe go (to Old Trafford) 2 or 3 times a season. Never miss a game if they are on TV. My wife hates it but that is the rule!! Yeah, follow them intently though I would like to see them do a little bit better than they are doing right now.

(GH): Could be worse…I was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne so I have seen many lows when it comes to Football!!

(EJ): Yeah…football is always a topic for conversation wherever you go.

Favourite Sporting Event

(GH): What is your favourite sporting event?

(EJ): The Open. I have been to the Open maybe half a dozen times or more. I remember going to my first Open in 2001 at Lytham. My dad took me and I loved it!! I could sit and watch it all 4 days without getting off my sofa. The Open just grabs my attention. Whether it is the links golf and the variations presented by a links course I don’t know but I would go every year if I could. The atmosphere is just amazing. Just turning up at the venues and seeing all of the grandstands and the overall set up, it just feels very special.

Fantasy Fourball

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

(EJ): I would have to pick Tiger and I am sure most golfers would pick him. As I was growing up he was in his prime, the world #1. As a Man Utd fan, I would probably have to pick Eric Cantona. Absolutely loved him at Old Trafford.

(GH): Would he be allowed to play golf with his shirt collar upturned?

(EJ): I think I would allow that…I don’t have a problem with that!! I know he had a bit of a mental streak, like when he jumped into the crowd and kicked that fan, but just what he brought to the pitch and the excitement that could happen at any second.

(GH): And your final pick?

(EJ): I think I would go down the football route again and select Sir Alex (Ferguson). Just because I think I could learn so much from him. You could argue he was the best ever sporting coach for what he achieved. How did he do that? What was his process? As a coach, there would be so much I could learn from him…helping people, getting the best out of people, motivation…I think I could learn so much.

(GH): Looks like a great fourball…so would it be the 2 golfers against the 2 from the world of football?

(EJ): That would be fair!!

If not a Professional Golfer

(GH): If you were not a Professional Golfer, then what?

(EJ): When I was younger it was always football, but I think I would have been involved with sport in some sort of capacity.

Favourite Golf Course

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

(EJ): I was lucky enough last July, along with 3 friends, to play at Carnoustie. That is one hell of a challenge.

(GH): Did you play Carnoustie from the tips?

(EJ): No, but we played off the white tees so not far from the tips. It was long enough. That was a fantastic experience.

(GH): What was it about Carnoustie that made it such a great experience?

(EJ): I had been to the Open there in 2007 when Harrington beat Garcia in a playoff. I went with a few friends up there that year and camped in a campsite a couple of fields away from the 10th tee!! Freezing cold but a good laugh. To go and play it was just something else. Links golf is great fun and I would definitely play there again without a doubt. One of my aspirations is to play each course on the Open rota, hence why I started with Carnoustie. My plan is to play them all and in a few years, be able to say I have played them all.

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

(EJ): I think the course everyone wants to play and is top of my bucket list is Augusta National. I know that is borderline impossible to get a game at Augusta but you never know.

Marooned

(GH): If you were marooned on a remote desert island what would you not be without?

(EJ): My wife…and then our dog…and then possibly a subscription to a Sky Sports Package on the TV!!

The Nineteenth

(GH): And finally. You put your ‘Ed James Golf Coaching’ business 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?

(EJ): I would probably go down the route of making golf more accessible rather than any major rule changes. I know there are governing bodies out there who are working hard to make the game more accessible…whether it is reducing fees, giving rounds of golf away free, just trying different ideas to get more people into golf. It is not a cheap game to play, we all know that and it gets expensive with membership, attire, shoes and equipment. That does create a restriction with the ongoing costs to play. Whether it be focusing on young children or people who have just retired, just try different initiatives to attract them so that they can enjoy golf the way we do.

(GH): Ed, a great way to finish at the Nineteenth. A massive thanks for your time today and for kindly sharing a fantastic insight into your golfing journey so far. Also, many thanks to the kind hospitality (again) of Forest Pines Golf Club.

Ed can be contacted via email (edjamespga@gmail.com) or by clicking on the link to his Facebook Page

Acknowledgements

And finally…I just want to say a big thanks to…

• Katie Green ~ Office Administrator, Thonock Park
• Rachel Crowden ~ Administrator, Forest Hill Golf & Conference Centre
• Matthew Clark ~ PING Europe Limited
• David Edwards ~ PGA Fellow Professional & International Trick Golf Show artist

…for so kindly providing photos to augment this article.