Nuneaton butcher aims to make mincemeat of rivals in Golfplan final

A Midland butcher, who realised a lifelong ambition by becoming a club captain, is aiming to carve out success in a prestigious national golf championship in Turkey.

Tim Parker, (left) captain of Nuneaton Golf Club, teams up with PGA Professional Craig Phillips (right) in the Golfplan Insurance PGA Pro-Captain Challenge which is being staged at Antalya Golf Club from November 21-22.

The pair will be up against nine other clubs in the £25,000 final which is supported by leading Lloyd’s underwriter Canopius, and it will cap a memorable year for Parker who is the youngest captain in Nuneaton’s history.

“It’s been a great year as captain, I’ve been a lucky man,” said Parker, aged 49, who runs a family butchers business in Nuneaton.

“Everything’s fallen into place. I’ve followed in my father Frank’s footsteps as he was captain of the club about 16 years ago.

“I’m the youngest ever captain at Nuneaton, most club captains are a little bit older, but we’re trying to have a little bit of a different outlook on the game.

“It was always an ambition of mine to be club captain later in life, but it just came a bit sooner than expected and to make it to Turkey has just been the icing on the cake.”

The pair qualified via the regional final at the Vale Golf & Country Club in Evesham and Parker, who plays off a handicap of 14, hopes Phillips’s know-how will prove useful as they bid to land the title which is contested over 36 holes on the acclaimed PGA Sultan course where Tiger Woods was in action last year.

“Craig’s played this final before so I’m hoping to use his guidance,” he added.

“He’s done a lot of work at the club with the juniors and is bringing on some good players - plus me!”

Phillips added: “I played in the 2008 final with previous Nuneaton captain Liam McHugh. We didn’t win but to get to this event is great in itself, everything else is a bonus.

“Tim is hugely excited about the prospect, reaching the final is the biggest thing he’s ever done in golf.

“We’ve recently opened a new indoor facility too so we can get plenty of practice in ahead of the final.”

New sponsor Golfplan is backing the tournament to raise its profile in clubs and make golfers aware of its comprehensive insurance products which it believes set it apart from its rivals including the guarantee of like for like replacements in the event of stolen or lost equipment.

Roger Harvey, managing director of the Bristol-based firm, commented: “We’re looking forward to our first grand final and wish all the finalists the best of luck.

“The final in Turkey caps a great first year of sponsoring the event in which we’ve seen some fantastic golf and also been able to highlight our new range of comprehensive insurance products which are aimed at golfers seeking unrivalled cover.”

New sponsor Golfplan is backing the tournament to raise its profile in clubs and make golfers aware of its comprehensive insurance product.

The product  includes replacing stolen clubs with brand new equipment, liability cover in case a wayward shot damages someone or something and can even cover your bar bill if you manage a hole in one!

Roger Harvey, managing director of the Bristol-based firm, commented: “We’re looking forward to our first grand final and wish all the finalists the best of luck.

“The final in Turkey caps a great first year of sponsoring the event in which we’ve seen some fantastic golf and also been able to highlight our comprehensive insurance product which is aimed at golfers seeking unrivalled cover.”