Ben Kerr is no stranger to juggling multiple roles, and 2025 brings yet another to his already packed schedule. The highly respected PGA Professional, whose career spans the Suffolk-Cambridgeshire border, has been appointed captain of the PGA’s East Region—an accolade that reflects his deep commitment to the sport.
Since 2019, Kerr has served as head professional at the prestigious Royal Worlington and Newmarket Golf Club, balancing pro shop management with an extensive coaching portfolio. His influence extends beyond the club, leading the Cambridgeshire Area Golf Union’s boys’ squads and temporarily overseeing key junior development responsibilities. A dedicated competitor and an active member of both the Suffolk PGA and East Region committees, Kerr continues to make a significant impact on the regional golf scene.
With so many responsibilities, here, Kerr shares his strategies for managing a demanding professional life.
Get an online booking system
“I’ve been using one for year – it’s a big time-management tool. I don’t go back and forwards over email or text with dates to people. I send them a link to the diary. It’s always open at least four weeks ahead.”
Set your coaching schedule and stick to it
"In the past, if I only had one available slot over the next three weeks and someone couldn’t make it, they’d often ask, ‘Do you have anything else?’ I used to be bad at just saying no—I’d squeeze in an extra session at 5pm on a Thursday to accommodate them. I think that came from a fear of losing business. But when I was doing that, it was probably the only time I didn’t enjoy the job. My weeks felt unpredictable because they were always changing. Now, I tend to say, ‘That’s what I’ve got... I’d like to help, but I can’t.’ More often than not, people will take what’s available."
Support your home team
"I mentor two PGA trainees—Matt Pearson and Elle Gamble—who are fantastic and largely manage the shop on a day-to-day basis. I try to be as approachable as possible. When it comes to their PGA training, I always tell them I’ll review their assignments before they submit them and answer any questions while they’re writing them. At the start of each training year, we go through their assignment deadlines, and I say, ‘These are your due dates for getting them to me.’ They’ve always been great about it—at worst, they’ve handed it in a day after our agreed deadline."
Making use of phone reminders
"I try not to keep everything in my head—I rely heavily on my phone for reminders and notes. If you tell me something and I don’t write it down, there’s a good chance it won’t get done. I don’t even attempt to memorise everything anymore, because I think that’s what leads to stress and sleepless nights. Instead, I keep a running to-do list on my phone rather than carrying everything around in my head, trying not to forget."
The importance of delegation
"It’s crucial. I couldn’t tell you exactly how I’ve developed that skill—it’s probably just experience and realising over time that you simply can’t do everything yourself. I’m still not perfect at it, because I sometimes have the mindset of, ‘If you want something done properly, do it yourself.’ But I’ve been learning that some tasks don’t require my involvement—someone else can take them on instead."
Prioritisation makes a difference
"I try to plan my days and set aside time for the tasks I know need completing. It’s also important to recognise that your list of priorities won’t always match someone else’s, and that’s okay. I’ve become quite good at identifying what can wait and what needs immediate attention."
