Hind relishing new role in the west

Much-travelled PGA Professional Kevin Hind has returned closer to home to take over the regional secretary role for The PGA in England & Wales (South West). 

The 44 year old has enjoyed a career that has taken him all over the world from Dubai to China - all a long way from his golfing roots in Cumbria. 

Hind turned pro at 17 - just three years after picking up a club for the first time when he became instantly hooked on the game playing at Stoneyholme Golf Club, Carlisle Golf Club and Silloth on Solway 

"Morning, noon and night I breathed golf, even practising my putting on the carpet at home when it was dark," he recalls. 

His passion fired, he got his first post under the late Ian Hayes at Basingstoke Golf Club and later qualified under another well-respected PGA Member, Andrew Hall , who at the time was at Blackmoor Golf Club. 

It's proved an inspired career move with Hind having garnered an impressive CV working across the globe - often in fledgling golf nations. 

At 24 he grabbed his first opportunity to work abroad in Saudia Arabia - this was to be the first of a number of posts overseas including Dubai, Pakistan, Spain, China and Hong Kong. 

During his nine year spell in the Middle East he helped set up the PGA of UAE - where he was secretary and later taking on the role of chairman. 

In Pakistan he set up a golf and country club, in Hong Kong he was director of golf at Clearwater Bay in before moving to Mission Hills. 

"I moved around from country to country gaining a lot of experience, especially in the Middle East and Asia - two massive hubs where the game has really expanded," he said. 

Hind wears his PGA badge with pride and says its standing overseas is going from strength to strength. 

"The Asian and Middle Eastern market value massively the brand of The PGA. It is huge. If you have a particular teaching federation guy and a PGA Professional - then forget about the other one - they want the branding, especially when you go into China - they want the best of the best so they want GB&I PGA professional who is rated highly with regard to their mastery of a range of skill sets and flexibility." 

With a wealth of experience under his belt, Hind is now looking forward to turning that to positive effect in the south west region.

"It's a great challenge, as an Association we set the bar high in terms of levels of expertise and what a member expects from us. With around 800 members spread out over a large area, it's going to be fun and a challenge I'm looking forward to." 

Currently based in Dorset, Hind is moving east of Exeter between Dorset and Devon with his young family - two boys aged six and nine. Jack & Josh have yet to take up the game but enjoy being around the golf club, especially having a ride in daddy's golf buggy and Hind will no doubt keep golf in the south west on the right track.