PGA News
Ryder Cup exhibition tees up at St Albans
unique opportunity to delve into the history of one of sport’s greatest events during a special Ryder Cup exhibition in St Albans. The Ryder Cup Heritage
G
Exhibition tells the story of golf’s most famous tournament and it takes place at the Verulamium Museum from Friday, April 20, to the end of June.
olfers and sports enthusiasts will have a
Oldcorn set to defend championship title
D
efending champion Andrew Oldcorn will be focused in both senses of the word when he returns to defend his ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship title at De Vere Slaley Hall
on June 7-10. The Scot registered his maiden senior tour title with a nine stroke
triumph 12 months ago to gain a unique PGA double following his win at Wentworth in 2001, but his Order of Merit aspirations for the rest of the year were subsequently derailed by a debilitating eye condition. Oldcorn, however, is back fighting fit following successful surgery and
will head another star-studded field of ex-Tour and Ryder Cup veterans who will converge on the Northumberland resort for the 72-hole event. “Winning last year was a huge moment in my career, obviously in
terms of getting the PGA double but also my first win on the Senior Tour,” he said. Oldcorn was four over after nine but flawless over the remaining
63 holes of the tournament to cruise to one of the easiest wins of his career. “I hardly made a mistake, but even with three or four holes to go I
A series of fascinating items
and memorabilia will be on display, charting the iconic golf event from its earliest beginnings as a friendly match between British and American PGA professionals through to the impact made by one of St Albans’ most illustrious sons, Samuel Ryder, who donated the famous gold trophy. The exhibition features
personal items from past players as well as rarely seen photographs while a series of specially created display cases and graphic story boards recount the history of the matches, covering its growth from a friendly competition to one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Organisers are also hoping
that the exhibition can be a useful educational resource and will encourage local schools to visit the museum and discover the Ryder Cup’s rich links with St Albans.
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didn’t feel close to victory. It is that sort of course. Both my caddy and I had lost track of how many clear I was and it was only when I was going down the last that I felt I would win.”
PGA accolade for Ex-Tartan
F
ormer Tartan Tour No 1 Kevin Stables has earned PGA advanced fellow professional status.
The accolade, bestowed on the Scot in the latest APAL
(Accreditation for Professional Achievement and Learning) awards is another feather in the cap for Stables who has enjoyed a wide ranging career from Tour player to dedicated club professional at Elgin Golf Club. Stables was one of several Scots to receive APAL awards including
Downfield head pro, Ken Hutton, and Ladybank’s Sandy Smith who were both made PGA fellow professionals. PGA advanced fellow status is just one below the highest ranking
category of PGA master professional and it is another highlight for Stables who once finished 10th behind Jose Maria Olazabal on his PGA Championship debut at Wentworth.
Pro Shop Europe April 2012
Dome is where the heart is
A
PGA professional has admitted he feels like
‘the cat who got the cream’ as he oversees a unique £7.5m golf and leisure facility near Hartlepool. North East native Craig
Donaldson is the pro tasked with managing the project which is generating a stir around the town as the centre will be based around three giant Sport Domes shipped in from the USA. The venture sees
Donaldson working with local entrepreneur Brian Morton, whose other business interests include bars and hotels in the town. “This will certainly have a
massive ‘wow’ factor when the domes are in place and the facilities it will have. There is nothing like this out there in the country,” said Donaldson. Having recently received
planning permission, the development plans to open its doors on July 20 to coincide with the 2012 Olympics. At the heart of The Sports
Dome facility is golf with its multitude of opportunities firmly focused on making it a family-friendly golf centre. The golf dome, which is
2500m2, will comprise four golf simulators for honing the game, one of which has 170 of the world’s best golf courses to play, a pitching area, indoor netted driving range and a nine-hole putting course.
Courtesy of Getty Images
Courtesy of Andy Forman Courtesy of Phil Inglis at Getty Images
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