Head PGA Professional at Naas Golf Club, Bernard Quigley, is looking forward to a pre-season trip to Antalya, Turkey with his members as he gears up for another busy golfing year.
Quigley enjoys the trips which have grown in popularity as it gives members both new and current a chance to socialise.
“We are doing a members trip to Antalya in Turkey which is a golf coaching holiday and a social holiday. New members are coming which is great for them to meet some people and help them if they were nervous to put their name on the timesheet before, it’s great for everyone.
“It’s great to get to know members and clients on a more personal level. You are playing golf with them, socialising with them and experiencing a culture with them.”
An inaugural Paddy Harrington scholar to NUI Maynooth, Quigley turned professional in 2007. After 13 years coaching in Carton House, The National Golf Academy, Tullamore GC and as a Leinster Golf Development Coach he is now based in Naas Golf Club where he coaches golfers of all ages and abilities.
Quigley has recently upgraded his swing studio facilities and feels having the most up to date technology is essential to provide the best service to his members.
“I recently upgraded all of that to bring it up to base. New launch monitors, new mats, new computer etc. Launch monitors give a much better quality practice for strokes gained. We have Rob Brazill in there for Q-School on the Sunshine Tour so I let him in there practicing away while the weather is poor.
“If you have an indoor studio you need a launch monitor. Some of the parameters it gives you such as angle of attack or low point of strike is something the naked eye can’t see or maybe if they get it wrong they’re playing a guessing game. It’s a tool that backs up what you might be already thinking. Technology keeps golf at the forefront of my mind.
“I have a lot of custom clubs and you never want to blame your equipment because the game is hard enough in itself but if the equipment is not aiding the golfer it’s good to have all the options of shafts and heads to hand over and improve their game. My coaching philosophy is less is more so I want people leaving with less information but the correct information.
“We do retro fitting so re-shafting which can help people, I have a digital lie and loft machine which has been invaluable.”
The Naas clubman has revamped his online website where members and visitors can access his services which range from, custom fitting, individual and group lessons and trackman certified coaching.
Quigley has also benefited from the PGA Play facility which he feels is a real asset for the PGA Professional and golfer alike but believes it could be advertised better if it is to realise its full potential.
“I’ve got a lot of non-members. I have my own website which has been redone. It’s been fantastic for me for new clients to come to Naas."
Quigley completed his PGA Qualifications in 2010 at the University of Birmingham in the UK and he feels it has helped him adapt in all areas of the golf industry.
“It was a lot more study than I thought. Without it you are in no-mans land. But it thought me business, coaching, physiology, psychology and from that point of view the course is second to none. It’s something people shouldn’t approach lightly as it’s a big undertaking.”
Quigley has a couple of PGA Pro-Am wins on his CV and his career highlight to date is competing alongside former European Tour players like Damien McGrane, Simon Thornton and Colm Moriarty.
He doesn’t want to stop there and his biggest PGA success could be his impact on the junior game in Ireland with a desire to set up a junior academy in Kildare.
“Winning a couple of pro-ams over the last few years and compete against former European Tour pros has been a real highlight for me. Going overseas and playing in different PGA events has been brilliant.
“I set up a junior academy when I was in Tullamore which got nearly 100 kids into golf and I would love to do something like that in Kildare if someone wanted to invest into it.”
