29th May 2008
Shrewsbury Golf Club has a new PGA Professional who already knows all about the club.
John Richards was once Junior Club Champion and Junior County Champion, and captained both the club and county juniors, and now he's returned to Shrewsbury in a professional role.
"I'm delighted to effectively be coming home, and it's a great honour to be appointed at such a great club," said John.
He turned professional in 1990, trained to become a PGA Club Professional at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club in Kent, and then worked for PGA Golf Management setting up training establishments in Singapore and Berlin.
For the last ten years, he has worked in Bristol where he developed a retail and teaching business, but with his roots in Shropshire he is happy to move back and put something back into the Shropshire golf scene.
"My wife, Anne, is from Shropshire, and we have two young children, so Shropshire is a wonderful place to bring them up," said John.
"I am very interested in increasing the number of golfers in the county and will be holding classes for juniors and beginners, as well coaching the established players."
One of his first initiatives is to organise a series of Family Golf days at the club in Condover, to encourage friends and family members to try their hand at the game.
The sessions will be held on several Sundays through the summer - June 15 and 29, and July 20 - from 2.30pm to 4pm.
"It's a great opportunity for beginners aged from six to 14 to have their first taste of the world of golf, and total beginners are very welcome. We'll be providing the golf balls and the equipment, so it really is a chance for people who have never tried the great game to get involved."
John has also overseen a complete refit of the golf shop and will be networking with local companies, helping them to organise corporate golf days.
Pic: John Richards - the new Professional at Shrewsbury Golf Club
