David Mortimer: The keys to success at Galway Golf Club

19/07/2024

David Mortimer is a seasoned PGA in Ireland champion and he’s winning again at Galway Golf Club.

A two-time Irish PGA Championship winner and a British PGA champion between 2006 and 2010, David Mortimer plays a very limited number of pro-ams these days with his main focus on improving the golf club experience for his members at Galway Golf Club.

Having worked in Carton House Golf Club from 2005 to 2010, a move closer to home and to his wife’s native Galway has been the perfect fit for Mortimer who has enjoyed his fourteen years as the Head PGA Professional.

“I never really played full time golf; I would play an odd tournament and since I moved to Galway, I’m looking after running the business and teaching. The last tournament I played competitively was the Irish PGA in Seapoint a few years ago,” said Mortimer.

“My wife is from Galway so for me to move back to the West was an opportunity I had to take, especially at a busy golf club. It’s nice to be closer to home.

“We have a big membership and it’s one of the biggest in the country at close to 1700.”

Mortimer has had numerous young PGA Assistants come through his stable since moving to Galway in 2010, including current PGA Assistants’ Championship winner Andrew Hickey and he loves to see his assistants utilise the skills they have learned on the diverse PGA Programme. He believes the course is a gateway to the world and that I can take you anywhere in life – even caddying for a five-time major champion!

“The PGA Programme is great but if you only half do it, it’s hard to get jobs afterwards. Anyone who does it right and goes through it correctly will do well.

“When I did my training, Ricky Elliott was doing his training in Lake Nona but he decided to do his PGA training at The Belfry as well. He was living in the States at the time and because of his PGA training he ended up becoming a caddie, and quite a successful one, with Brooks Koepka.

“What benefit would the PGA be to him? Well, Brooks’ caddie can’t be with him all the time so what’s the next best thing? Have a PGA caddie. I’m sure he’s helped with that because it’s all to do with training. Another guy I know went down the route of Director of Golf so there are plenty of avenues and it’s about deciding which one you want.”

One of the more popular stops on the PGA in Ireland schedule is the Galway Golf Club Pro-Am which has been a roaring success and Mortimer strives to ensure his members get full enjoyment out of the day.

“We try to make it as beneficial for the members as possible, to give them value back for the day. It’s their day. Last year we had 48 teams with mid 40 members playing in it. The PGA did a great job and it ran very well and everyone was happy.

“Some pros would bring their own team that they know, so overall, the pro-am has been very successful for the club when we’ve had it.”

Mortimer, a native of Connemara, won the first of his Irish PGA Championships in 2006 at Druids Heath before adding a second crown in Seapoint in 2010. However, one of his biggest PGA successes is capturing the PGA Professional Championship, just three weeks before winning in Seapoint in 2010. A year later, he earned his spot as part of the 2011 PGA Cup team.

However, he was one of the first PGA professionals to install an indoor swing studio which he feels has been one of the most successful decisions he has made at Galway Golf Club.

“I was probably one of the first ones to build an indoor studio. It’s a modern swing studio with lots of data to give back to players. When I came here in February 2011, I gave a lesson to a couple of clients and it was snowing and that showed me there was no other way forward, I had to get the indoor studio.

“It gives you great options and because of the launch monitor and people want to see the data. They can stick to their process whereas when you are outside people are results orientated and they forget the drills and the process.”

The Burkeway Galway Golf Club Pro-Am takes place on August 22^nd this year and it promises to be another roaring success!