New Head Pro at Alwoodley as John Green steps aside after 35 years

29/07/2024

For the first time since 1989 Alwoodley has a new Head Professional after John Green stepped aside after 35 years in the post – Lee Morrisroe is the Leeds club’s fifth Professional in 112 years, joining from Garforth.

Green joined the club in 1989 after training as an Assistant Pro at Harrogate. He then moved to Sand Moor in Leeds as a qualified Assistant before Jonathan Foss was asked to stock the shop and place a Pro from his team at nearby Alwoodley.

“I took over from Ian Duncan, who retired after 27 years, he was George Duncan’s (Open winner and Ryder Cup captain) son. Norman Rowell (1946-1962) was Alwoodley’s Pro before and, before him, was Jack Gaudin (1912-1946) so that’s only four Pros in 112 years!” explains Green who continues to share his time between the shop and the office.

“I never had an interview at Alwoodley, I think my interview was those two years doing it on behalf of Jonathan at Sand Moor, and then the club asked me to do it on my own. When I joined, Alwoodley was almost what you think Alwoodley would be. It was lots of plus fours and plus twos and the club tended to keep themselves to themselves.

I think I was pre-destined to do this sort of job. I knew that I really enjoyed the coaching side, I really enjoyed the retail, the club fitting and the banter with members too. People would say to me, this is possibly a job for life and I always thought that was a funny thing to be told at 24 years old. I just enjoyed being here and I just liked to look after the Alwoodley members.”

Over Green’s time at the club the perception of Alwoodley has changed immeasurably. From a quiet members’ club, it now hosts some of the leading amateur tournaments – in 2019 it held its first Brabazon Trophy and this year it will stage The Girls Amateur Championship.

“Even now Alwoodley is seen as a little bit elitist but actually when you speak to and get to know the members, they are absolutely lovely. In some ways I have probably fought to change that reputation quite a bit. I always thought that was really important to flip that, they might have this impression before they walk through the door, but when they get there they say ‘Do you know what, they were all really nice!’.

“I wouldn’t say that I've been over the top, but I want to smile and chat to golfers when they walk in the door. I want that to be their first welcome and my assistants do the same thing. The club has evolved. They have had to get a little bit more progressive, more organised and business-like.”

Morrisroe certainly fits the new criteria having co-founded The Golf Room Garforth with PGA Professional Gareth Johnson. Having grown up at Howley Hall, where he played alongside Marcus Armitage and Danny Denison, he turned professional at 20. He would do his training at Willow Valley before moving to Oulton Hall to work under Mark Pearson as a full-time coach. Then came the opportunity at Garforth with Johnson.

“We undertook a full shop renovation and installed an indoor studio, which, combined with a fantastic team, resulted in a highly successful business. I spent five and a half years there before the opportunity at Alwoodley became available.

“The first time that I ever played Alwoodley was with my dad, and it was a twilight offer. I thought it was the best place ever and I played here in the Yorkshire Amateur when Richard Law won it in 2008. The thing that I love about Alwoodley is that you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. You have the red kites, the heathland and the whole feel of it. It just has a sense of being very premium. And I love the feel around the 1st tee and how the clubhouse sits behind it.”