Manchip wins John Jacobs award

GUI National Coach Neil Manchip has been honoured with the prestigious John Jacobs Coaching Award by the PGAs of Europe at their annual awards ceremony in Turkey.

“I’m delighted to get this award,” said Manchip speaking to Golfnet.ie.

“It’s a lovely achievement. It’s been a really exciting year, there’s been so much going on. There was a stream of massive achievements.”

The 42-year-old has been the national coach with the Golfing Union of Ireland since 2005.

Perhaps best known in recent seasons as Shane Lowry’s coach, he has guided the Irish star throughout his amateur and professional career.

The John Jacobs Award for Coaching and Teaching is presented to a coach who has excelled during the year.

Manchip’s list of successes in 2015 include Lowry’s breakthrough win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and a repeat victory for Ireland at the Home Internationals. And with a record five Irish players selected on the GB&I team that won the Walker Cup, it was a momentous year for Irish golf.

“Everybody likes to get some recognition and get some feedback on what they’re doing,” added Manchip  who is following in the footsteps of Rory McIlroy’s coach, Michael Bannon - the first recipient of the award in 2011.

“I am really privileged to get to work with these players. This award is a reflection on me but it’s also a reflection on Shane’s golf and on all the amateur guys’ golf. I’m just there to accept it on their behalf.”

Hailing from Edinburgh, Manchip began his coaching career at Turnhouse under Kevan Whitston.

When Whitson moved to Royal County Down in 1992, Manchip followed his mentor and has been based in Ireland ever, He joined Royal Dublin in 1999 before taking up his role with the GUI six years later. Married to Aideen, they have one son, Hugo (7).

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him,” said Manchip of Whitson.
“He is still a major influence on my career.”

John Jacobs was another coach to make a big impact on the young Scot.

“He was a guy I would have looked up to because he’d written some lovely golf books during my formative years. I really loved his books and his illustrations around the books and his explanation of things.

“He was always very straightforward and didn’t try to elaborate on things that didn’t need to be elaborated on. I met him a few times and he just had a lovely way about him. I was always very fond of him. It’s flattering to get named for his award,” added Manchip.

The John Jacobs award was established in honour of one of the most respected and influential coaches of all time. Yorkshire native Jacobs was one of the most sought after coaches in Europe during his illustrious career.

“It’s a reward for so much of what everybody has done in Irish golf, all the other coaches at provincial level, all the volunteers that put in so many hours. I’m accepting it on their behalf,” said Manchip, who also paid tribute to Sport Ireland – formerly the Irish Sports Council.

“Without Sport Ireland’s support and the support we receive from Sport NI and the GUI’s members, we couldn’t have the international programme that we do. We wouldn’t have the success that we do.”