Ian Eveleigh -General Manager
Nike Golf at Global Golf
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eveleighian |
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@GolfNutEves |
| What led you to becoming a PGA Professional?
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I’ve always been a fan of sport, and after school wasn’t entirely convinced with studying travel and tourism, luckily got wind of studying Golf Directorship and Club Management at Allenby Campus and one thing led to another so I ended up working part time and at Dainfern and carried that through with doing my apprenticeship once I completed my studies |
| How long have you been in your current position?
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9 months |
| What does your job entail?
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Overseeing the entire operations for Nike Golf |
| Do you have any environmental or sustainability goals that you have met and would like to share?
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In my 13 years of wholesale experience I mostly dealt with the AHEAD brand, and I will never forget how much talk surrounded the Bamboo and Coconut Polo’s we ran around the year 2012. It was such a success that one local company copied the bamboo shirt… but without the sustainability attribute. Now I am dealing with Polo’s that are recycled from their bigger brothers, or shoes made from older recycled shoes and plastics. So although this isn’t something I am able to drive personally. Its great to be a part of the journey
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| Please give us a brief outline of the path you took to lead you to your current position
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After completing my apprenticeship, I was looking for a change of scenery and I started repping for a clothing company called Flags Lifestyle Wear. Things didn’t work out all that well there and the company no longer exists for it, but I knew I enjoyed being on the road helping various clubs pro’s and their unique environments. So I needed to make another plan and I looked for a more stable company and or brand to continue servicing the industry with.
I knew I had to get in with Global Golf as I liked who they were and believed in what they were doing, and especially how they treated us at Dainfern, one thing led to another and when the AHEAD Brand Manager at the time moved to Australia I took over… along this 13 year expedition and the love of ‘being on the road’ I serviced accounts in the Middle East and Mauritius as well as took on the introduction of Peter Millar and G/FORE into South Africa along side my AHEAD responsibilities. So when we took over at Nike Golf last year all the signs pointed to this next chapter, and understanding how, arguably, the world’s biggest apparel brand works
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| Why do you feel that you would be a good candidate to win this award?
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Having my original understanding of what shop staff deal with from behind the counter I always brought that experience through in as much of what we did as I could. Its always been the drive, to provide solutions for each of the unique environments our Pro’s find themselves in. What works at one club doesn’t necessarily work at another… and they could be neighbours. So, finding that balance was key, building the relationship is key, earning the trust probably the hardest part of it all. And I think I did a good job of it in the end.
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