Outstanding South West pros recognised

Bowood teaching professional Simon Shanks, left, has been named coach of the year by the PGA in England and Wales (South West) in the annual awards ceremony at Woodbury Park.

Formerly of West Wilts and Kingsdown, Shanks earned double distinction in 2013 when two of his pupils earned national honours. His fellow Bowood professional Nick Brennan represented The PGA in the biennial match against the United States, achieving a significant singles win.

Leading Bowood amateur Jordan Smith played regularly for England, won the Brabazon Trophy, and was selected for the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team against the United States.

Shanks, the Wiltshire PGA secretary, is an England Golf Academy coach, head coach to both the Wiltshire Boys and Wiltshire College Golf Academy, and has more than ten years’ experience.

Over the past five years he has also coached players to success in county championships, boy’s county championships and into the final of the Faldo series four years in a row.

Nigel Bicknell, who retired as Truro professional after 40 years, was named the PGA Professional of the year. He joined the PGA in 1965 and trained at Dyrham Golf Club in North London. He was instrumental in building Tall Pines Golf Club in 1989.

His passion has always been for coaching and he has mentored more than 100 juniors to attain a minimum of county standard at junior or senior level with 16 becoming golf professionals.

He has taught a number of players who have represented their country including Billy Downing, Tom Murtagh and Matt Floyd, who represented England Boys. Perhaps his greatest success was with Rhys and Ben Enoch who both won Welsh national titles and were full Welsh internationals.

Others included Lynda Simpson, English Strokeplay champion and a Curtis Cup player, and Sarah Jane-Boyd who is a current England international, British Open Amateur Stroke-play champion in 2012 and the current English Women’s champion.

Bristol Golf Centre’s Chris Moon won the TGI Partnership award as the best third year assistant. Celtic Manor Resort’s Joe Ferguson won the second year prize and Bristol and Clifton’s Andrew McGreevy was chosen as the best first year assistant.

Cennydd Mills (Pyle and Kenfig) won the Blenkarne Cup as the leading assistant professional for his achievements in training, development work and success in tournaments. 

He was the highest placed in the Race to Woodbury Park standings in eighth, finishing runner up once and never outside the top 12. He capped his season with a victory on home soil at the South Wales Festival. His playing achievements were complimented by solid examination results in Year 2.

It was hardly a surprise that Rhondda Golf Club’s David Pocock was named development professional of the year for he received eight nominations. The Aberdonian previously won the Golf Union of Wales PGA development pro of the year.

His role is varied. He is a Golf Development Wales tutor, holds junior leader and street games workshops and is a Tri Golf activator. He has coached in 35 schools offering 1,400 school children taster sessions and after school activities. He has worked with 11 clubs without a PGA pro to provide pathways to introduce youngster and beginners into coaching.

Under the Valleys Golf Enterprises banner, he worked with local authority sports development units, giving opportunities to disabled and disadvantaged young people, encouraged more than 200 youngsters in paid weekly coaching and has made a significant input into the development and success of the Welsh Mini Masters Tournament.

Gareth Bennett (Cottrell Park) was named charity fundraiser of the year. He ran the London Marathon in 4 hours 9 minutes and the Cardiff half marathon in 1 hour 46 minutes. He has undertaken many fundraising activities in his club to raise money for Garrison Girls, a charity that raises money for the victims and families of soldiers suffering from the unseen injuries of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The captain’s player of the year was the easiest decision Peter Laugher (Woodbury Park) had to make during his year of office. Liam Bond (Marriott St Pierre) won four of the seven Race to Woodbury Park events and also led the European Tour Wales Open at Celtic Manor at the halfway stage.

He holed an eagle putt to claim the final spot in this year’s BMW PGA Championship via the PGA Playoffs and finished his season with a stroke average of 70.2