15/04/2025
After just a few short months in his new role as Director of Golf at the K Club, where he oversees operations on both the North and South courses, Michael Maxwell is embracing the challenge of hosting a DP World Tour event in September.
“The early conversations and planning have already started. Tournament weeks are fantastic to be a part of.” says the Scotsman, who has gained a wealth of big tournament experience during his career in the golf industry at Carnoustie, Wentworth and Sunningdale.
“I’ve learned a lot from the previous tournaments I’ve been involved in and the key to a successful week is in the buildup and planning.
“We hosted the Challenge Tour in 2024 on the South Course here at The K Club which was a great success. In 2025 we have the Irish Open on the North Course and are hosting it again in 2027, which will be the 100-year anniversary of the Irish Open.
“Hosting tournaments has been a big part of our history and our owner Michael Fetherston is keen to continue hosting such prestigious events and welcoming everyone to The K Club.”
Michael has fifteen years of experience working in the golf industry at some of the most world-renowned golf clubs, varying from Open Championship venues to private members clubs.
A junior golfer at the famed Carnoustie links where Pádraig Harrington won the first of his two Open Championships, Michael had his first introduction into the inner workings of the golf industry and it didn’t take him long to realise that he wanted to pursue a career in golf operations.
During his time there, Carnoustie hosted both the Senior and Women’s Open Championships. “I grew up in Carnoustie and played my junior golf there, then started working in the professional shop in 2010, under Colin Sinclair.” he explains.
“Carnoustie is an Open Championship venue where it would be very busy for seven months of the year, welcoming visitors from all over the world. Colin taught me a lot about the importance of customer service and I gained a good foundation of golf shop operations, which helped guide my career.
“It was great to be involved at both the Women's Open and Senior Open and gain valuable tournament experience.”
In 2013, Michael swapped the links for parkland and they don’t come much bigger than Wentworth, home to the flagship event on the DP World Tour, the BMW PGA Championship.
“Wentworth gave me a very different experience of golf operations as part of a bigger team and the opportunity to work at two BMW championships. It also allowed me to develop my coaching which was a big aspect of the job there.”
Michael then left Wentworth for Sunningdale where he spent nine years working as an assistant golf professional.
“Sunningdale is one of the best member clubs in the world and I have a lot of great memories from my time there, from two Senior Opens, to building friendships with the members.
“Working under Keith Maxwell, I was able to combine my experience, bringing together coaching and allowing me to be more hands on with the operations. It meant that you had to be very good with time management, juggling the daily operations along with the member and visitor requests.”
Michael joined the K Club in October of 2023 and he is enjoying the challenge of having to cater for both members and visitors across both the North and South courses.
“The K Club is a big resort, 550 Acres. We have the two courses, two clubhouses, roughly 1000 members across both courses and when you add in visitors and tournaments, it’s a very busy resort. It’s about getting the balance right with visitors and members and we have a great team here who do a fantastic job.”
Michael’s career to date is a great example of the opportunities that can arise from completing the PGA qualification and the Scot completed four years between 2010 and he is nearing the end of his PGA Director of Golf qualification with an eye cast towards PGA Excel.
“The PGA is a worldwide recognised training programme. It gives you an all-round element to your training and creates a good foundation for wherever you want to go. I wanted to pursue the operational route, I always wanted to be the Head Professional or Director of Golf.
“Everywhere I’ve worked has been slightly different, which has allowed me to experience very different types of clubs. The PGA training gives you a great basis to build on and an insight to the different routes a Professional can take which really helped me on my journey.
“You have to continue your development and the PGA offers lots of great ways to do so. I’m at the final stage of my Director of Golf qualification. Then, PGA Excel is something I intend to do as a next step and keep progressing and developing professionally.”
When looking to recruit PGA professionals, Michael always keeps a keen eye on the progression of any potential employee in order to provide the best possible service.
“Have they completed the PGA Training Programme? Are they continuing to upskill by taking on some of the other development frameworks like CPD (continuous professional development), PGA Learn, PGA Excel or a Director of Golf qualification?
“When it comes to recruitment we want someone who is passionate about the PGA, the industry and being part of The K Club. We are always looking for people who are keen to progress and develop, to further strengthen our team.
“Certainly, when it comes to hiring professionals, having a PGA background is very important.”
Interested in becoming a Director of Golf? Don’t miss the next Induction Day for the PGA Director of Golf qualification taking place on 15th May 2025 at the PGA National Training Academy. Book your place by clicking here.
