Goodman eyes Turkey sizzler

Keen traveller Julian Goodman is aiming to tee up a trip to Turkey in the Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge.

PGA Professional Goodman regularly organises golf holidays for the members of his home club Winter Hill, in Berkshire, and is currently preparing for golfing break he has booked for a group to visit the Algarve later this year.

But should he and club captain Peter Horner come through the regional qualifier at Bowood Golf Club on August 3, they would tee up an additional trip to play golf in warmer climes.

The duo would head to Antalya Golf Club for the £15,000 championship final, taking place over the PGA Sultan Course on November 25-26.

Goodman has experience playing in pro-am events having competed in the prestigious PGA National Pro-Am final in Las Vegas earlier in his career.

“Hopefully that experience will stand me in good stead,” he said.

I do like playing in pro-am events and I know that all it takes is to have a good day and suddenly you’re in the final.

“We’ll definitely give it our best shot, although I do feel that I’ll be going in a bit rusty.

“I’ve had a bad back for the last few weeks and that has stopped me from playing.

“Of course I would relish the opportunity to play in Turkey. I’ve been to the country before but never played this particular course.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about it so it would be good to try it first-hand.”

Goodman is looking forward to playing alongside Horner, one half of a well-known husband and wife double act at the golf club.

“Peter’s wife is actually the lady captain, so they are both very involved at the club and well-known to the members,” Goodman explained.

“He’s been here a long time so I do know him well. He’s a good player and I’m looking forward to playing alongside him at the qualifier.

“I’m sure he would relish the chance to go to Turkey just as much as me.

“You never know if we go out there and play well it might just be our day.”

Other pairings competing in the west regional qualifier at Bowood include: Martin Stimson and Alun Killa (a) (Ashburnham), Darren Griffiths and Clive Evans (a) (Carmarthen), Gary Milne and John Fairman (a) (Exeter), Simon Swales and Jeff Price (a) (Radyr), and Gary Marks and Peter Phillips (a) (Worlebury).