Mulgrew and Murray ready for SwingZone swansongs at 150th Open Championship
12/07/2022
For a certain generation of golfers, a ball plucked from John Mulgrew’s Normandy Driving Range back in the day was just about as iconic as the Penfold Heart used by Sean Connery’s 007 in Goldfinger.
The purloining of said balls was so prolific, the PGA Master professional famously had the words ‘stolen from John Mulgrew’ stamped on them. “Maybe somebody will turn up at the SwingZone with one of them?,” chuckled the tireless 75-year-old as he looked forward to manning the popular PGA facility at the 150th Open Championship in St Andrews.
It will be a fitting swansong for a hugely respected and valued PGA stalwart whose links with the association go back some 57 years. “This will be my last SwingZone … but it doesn’t mean I’m retiring,” said the indefatigable Scot whose passion and energy for the game remains undiminished. “I know many people are desperate to retire but I’ll just keep going. I don’t know what I’d do if I did finish.”
Along with Edinburgh-based John Murray, who will also be making his last SwingZone appearance, the two Johns will provide all walks of golfing life with a huge amount of accumulated experience and knowledge.
For Mulgrew, the opportunity to be involved at a very special championship is something to savour while the bustle of the SwingZone and its regular turnover of 15-minute lessons will keep the sprightly veteran on his toes.
“St Andrews is a unique place and there will be a wonderful atmosphere,” said Mulgrew, whose Normandy facility in Renfrew was the first full-time range in Scotland. “It’s very satisfying seeing all the different people. The main thing is to try to get a couple of key points over in 15 minutes. You’ll not sort everything but you just want to make sure they walk away with something to think about. Most importantly, you hope that if the SwingZone is their first taste of golf then they are keen to carry on.
“Every swing you see is different so you need to have a sharp eye and mind. Sometimes you can give too much info in a lesson. It’s important that they know what you have been teaching them. I’ll ask them when they leave the SwingZone to repeat what I have told them and show me the position of the swing I have tried to get them in. You can’t make them perfect but you can give them something to work on.”
Mulgrew, who has manned the SwingZone at three Opens as well as the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, never managed to compete in golf’s oldest major during his playing pomp although he does have a nice memory of trying to qualify for it.
“I actually played with a very young Sandy Lyle in a qualifier for the Troon Open in 1973,” he reflected. “He was hitting it about 40 yards past me. After about eight holes, his caddie came up to me and asked me how old I thought he was. I said I thought he was 18 or 19. He was actually only 15. He was a phenomenal talent. He didn’t make it that time but a year later he qualified for the Open at Lytham.”
As for Mulgrew’s own qualifying campaign? “WelI, I birdied the first then hit the green in two on the next and four-putted,” he said with a wry chortle. “Putting was never my strength. Hopefully nobody asks for a putting lesson at the SwingZone.”
For Murray, meanwhile, the opportunity to work as part of the PGA team at golf’s most cherished championship will be a belated birthday present. “I turn 59 on the Sunday before the Open,” he said.
Originally from Dublin, Murray has worked in and around the Edinburgh area for over 30 years and is excited as ever to get the opportunity to spread the PGA gospel.
“The SwingZone is great PR for a PGA professional,” said Murray of the platform upon which a pro can really showcase the value and range of their expertise. “You are trying to spread the message that it’s a good idea to get a lesson from a PGA pro. I always urge people to go and see them before they fall into bad habits.
“Golf is a very individual game and everyone is different. You can look at the best swings in the world and they don’t swing it the same but the basics are all there. Get those right and you can develop a swing around them. The best lesson I get is with someone who has never picked up a golf club.
“Most people play this game for enjoyment. They’re not making a living out of it, they’re having fun. They’ll have more fun if they hit good shots. So look around, see who your nearest pro is and book a lesson. It’s not expensive and it’s worth it in the long run.”
While the general golfing public will benefit from all this wisdom, the SwingZone also provides plenty of fulfilment for the PGA pros themselves.
“I’d recommend doing the SwingZone to any PGA pro,” added Murray, who coaches at the Melville Golf Centre on the outskirts of the Scottish capital. “You meet great people and catch up with fellow pros you may not see otherwise. It’s a wonderful experience. It’s a busy week but very rewarding.”
Murray, Mulgrew and the rest of the team are raring to go as the SwingZone gets set to swing into action.
