Derek James – Head Professional / Golf Director
Southbroom Golf Club
| What led you to becoming a PGA Professional?
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It was a natural progression when retiring from being a Tour Professional for 14 years and still wanting to stay in Golf. I became a PGA Club Pro at Southbroom in Feb 1997 and have been running Golf at Southbroom, Southbroom Pro Shop and teaching for the last 23 years. |
| How long have you been in your current position?
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Feb 1997 – present date = 23 years |
| What does your job entail?
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Golf Director/ Shop Owner, Member of Southbroom Executive Committee, The Green Keeper reports to me. A Member of the Greens Committee, the Marketing Committee, Teaching, Golf Development, Golf Operations, Prize Giving’s, Running of Tournaments including Course set up etc. |
| Do you have any environmental or sustainability goals that you have met and would like to share?
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On the Golf Course we are paying major attention to indigenous planting and ensuring a water wise golf course. We do not use any municipal water. We have a continual program of encouraging Junior Golf. I do free junior golf clinics and occasionally we have free junior golf on a Sunday. |
| Please give us a brief outline of the path you took to lead you to your current position | Club Professional Category With the birth of my daughter in 1996, I immediately realized that Tour Golf was not for me. I still wanted to stay in the in the golf industry so becoming a Club Professional was my next move. The position at Southbroom became available, I applied and it’s really been a fabulous journey. I threw myself 100% into the Club Pro / Golf Professional life. Building the Pro Shop up, teaching daily, playing with the members, encouraging amateur golfers to play better & enjoy their game. Golf Course management, course set up, course design and construction. Everything to do with Golf at Southbroom
Coach Category For me, going into Coaching was a natural decision when starting at Southbroom. I do believe that coaching is an integral part of my position at Southbroom GC. I love seeing my Members and visitors playing better. Over the years there has been a steady demand from overseas golfers for lessons and golf holidays, many now return annually and have to gone on become members and home owners in Southbroom. I really love working with kids and youngsters and watching them develop a passion for golf, just so rewarding. I have also worked with many Tour Players which I truly thoroughly enjoy. More than anything I just love to teach at any level. I have spent a lifetime studying the swing and how best I can help my students. The Short Game has always been a real passion of mine, I love working on it and it is a part of the game that is seriously not taught enough – and possibly not quite understood enough. |
| Why do you feel that you would be a good candidate to win this award?
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This is a tough one as there are so many great candidates whom I respect, so all I want to say is that I am not sure there is anyone more passionate about the game of golf than myself. I do love every aspect of the game and as the years have passed, I really believe that I have become better and better at what I do. |
