Ace golfer on course for PGA professional career

A golfer inspired to pursue a career in the game after holing in one within weeks of picking up a club is on course to realise his ambition.

Hampton Court Palace Golf Club assistant professional John Powell, pictured above right with PGA in England (South) chairman Rob Edwards, had his love for the game cemented with the ace at a tiny par three course at the age of just 11.

And he has got off to the almost perfect start in his three year PGA Foundation Degree studies by finishing runner up in the Titleist Rookie of the Year awards.

Powell, now 27, initially had thoughts of being a stockbroker on leaving school, but his love of golf stayed with him and his long term aim is to become a head PGA professional.

He spent three years getting his handicap down to the required four to enable him to turn pro and he hasn’t looked back.

As part of the three year degree programme run in conjunction with the University of Birmingham, Powell is studying sports science, coaching, equipment, retail, business and marketing and has found it a rewarding process.

“I’m a little older than many of the other assistants but this is definitely the career I want so I made sure when I started that I would give it my best shot,” he said.

“I’ve really enjoyed the golf coaching aspect which has improved my knowledge tremendously.

“The sports science, despite being tricky, has some really interesting elements for both my own game and also to put into teaching. The whole course gives you a much broader understanding of the different roles of a PGA professional and has opened my eyes to the range of different careers within golf.

“I really enjoy interacting with the members and that kind of thing so I see myself as going down the head pro route.”

In the intervening years since his dramatic introduction to golf, Powell has had a further two hole in ones but admits the memories of the first one are still vivid.

“I can remember the buzz and excitement of that hole in one as if it was yesterday and it really made me fall in love with golf, although it was a bit of an horrific ace because I fatted a seven iron which rolled up a bank and then down into the hole,” he said.

“As a kid you’d love to be involved in sport so to be a golf professional is something I really enjoy.”