APAL awards for Andrew and Ross

Golf entrepreneur John Andrew has been awarded PGA Fellow Professional status in the latest APAL (Accreditation for Professional Achievement and Learning) awards.

Also honoured is US-based Dylan Ross who has earned recognition in the United States for his junior coaching.

Andrew established Direct Golf 20 years ago with a £2,000 loan from his father to rent a shop in Huddersfield and turned it into a multi-million business operating across the UK and Europe, employing more than 50 of his fellow PGA pros in the process.

Former Royal Aberdeen assistant Ross (below) has also enjoyed success overseas in a career developing youth academies in Dallas and Mexico with the aim of giving talented young golfers the springboard to gain a university scholarship in the United States.

David Colclough, The PGAs head of member education, commented: “The APAL awards are designed to reflect and reward the achievements of PGA Members for their skill and expertise across the golf industry and both John and Dylan have proven successes in their chosen fields.

“We’ve always believed that PGA qualification should just be the start for any PGA pro and that the desire to keep improving, implementing learning gained both in the workplace and through more formal CPD is imperative to sustained success in whichever part of the golf industry you make you way. Both these professionals are evidence of that.”

Meanwhile also honoured in the awards with PGA Advanced Professional status are Jonathan Bullas (Lakewood Ranch), Martin Gallagher (Track Meydan Golf Club), Adam Jones (La Moye Golf Club), Andrew Shaw (Callaway Golf) and Nicola Stroud (Gower Golf Club).