FIELDREPORT
The other Poulter
Golfers living in or near Milton Keynes are bound to run into Danny Poulter sooner or later. Paul Trow catches up with him as he takes charge of the new iPlayGolf centre on the edge of town
T
he name Poulter rings alarm bells. The US Ryder Cup team might try to exorcise its hex at séances while mere mention
prompts classic-car dealers to drool at potential six-figure sales and sniffy Condé Nast types to rail against perceived fashion crimes. You either love him or loathe him, and Ian
Poulter is the first to acknowledge, usually with an ear-to-ear grin, that he can be a bit flash. Ferrari-flash, that is. However, this interview was conducted with
Danny Poulter, who couldn’t be more removed from his in-your-face younger brother – both in lifestyle and, well, style. Also a professional golfer, he cheerfully
admits to a modest playing record and is admirably relaxed about his journeyman status. Where he loyally draws the line, though, is at
unfair criticism of his younger brother, who attracts more than his fair share of opprobrium Stateside, due mainly to his Ryder Cup exploits. Recently, a snide, undercover poll labelled Ian the most overrated star on the PGA Tour, along with Players champion Rickie Fowler. “Ian is probably the most determined golfer
I’ve ever met… correction, the most competitive person,” says 41-year-old Danny. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing tiddlywinks with him, or table tennis, pool, snooker, you name it – he wants to beat you. “Just look at his on-course stats. He’s not No.1
in any department but he grinds away on all levels. I think the key to the Ryder Cup is it’s a team sport with all the camaraderie that goes with that. You’re not playing for yourself. You’re playing for the other 11 guys in your team; in fact you’re playing for a whole continent. “Head-to-head he’s one of the best players in
the world and on his day he can beat anyone. He’s won 16 tournaments, including a couple of WGC championships and the Volvo Masters, so for people to claim he’s overrated is ridiculous. “Yes, he’s outspoken, but at least he isn’t
frightened to express his opinions.” Danny, also outspoken on many topics, can look back with satisfaction on his own 30-year
18 SGBGOLF
career that began as a junior at Chesfield Downs Golf & Country Club in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Since then, he has travelled as far as South Africa before returning almost full- circle to Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire. Aſter running the council-owned Windmill Hill Club in Bletchley for the best part of a decade, he has recently taken over as director of golf at iPlayGolfUK, a new, all-singing, all- dancing, indoor emporium spread across 6,400 square feet on an industrial estate just off the M1. Along with head professional Greg Tilbury, he heads up a team of PGA-qualified instructors and custom-fitters. Also inside this Aladdin’s Cave are six
simulators showcasing 80 of the world’s top courses along with a host of Crazy Golf-style challenges, state-of the-art swing-monitoring kit and IJP Design clothing. Open from 9am to 11pm from Sunday to Thursday and as late as 1am on Fridays and Saturdays (the licence runs
to 3am if needed), it is very much a social centre as well, with a sports bar, all-day catering, super- size HD screen and VIP dining facilities. “I started coming here to practice last winter,”
Danny explains. “I got chatting to Neil [Wilcox, the owner, managing director and a former financial advisor] – our children go to the same school here in Newport Pagnell – and he offered me a consultancy role to help expand his vision and set up the teaching and custom-fitting operations. “Gradually our chats evolved into me coming in as director of golf full-time to manage and oversee everything. The blueprint has been set and the business is definitely expanding. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to play the game, regardless of ability or age – from beginners through to pros like Charley Hull. “One of the things we specialise in is gap
testing – whether it’s to custom-fit clients or give them more knowledge about their own games.
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