Reynolds reflects on five decades as a proud PGA Professional

11/10/2023

Royal Cinque Ports Club Professional Andrew Reynolds looks back on his 50-year career and 45 years at the Kent links as he prepares for a well-deserved retirement.

Andrew Reynolds left home at the age of 16 to join Ellesborough, near Aylesbury, as an assistant professional. He qualified in 1974 and, after a brief spell at Ruxley, he moved to The Berkshire.

Three years later and Royal Cinque Ports were looking for a new professional. That was in 1978 and the rest, as they say, is history.

Tell us about how the job that would define your working life came about…

I spent a very happy three years at The Berkshire working and playing golf under the mentorship of Keith Macdonald. I tried to play but realised I was not as good as I thought I was. I came back from not winning any money at a tournament one Monday morning and Royal Cinque Ports were looking for a Professional. I applied, interviewed in the summer of 1978, and I started on my 24th birthday as Head Professional 45 years ago.

What motivated you to become a PGA Professional?

Although I enjoyed all sports, I liked golf because the performance was down to the player. You could play football or cricket and you could play fantastically, and the rest of the team could play poorly and you could lose. I didn’t like that. I think with golf it is a fantastic game because it is down to me. The great Ben Hogan saying goes: “If it is to be, it is up to me”. So, I started in golf and to behold it has been a pretty good journey.

What have you enjoyed most working at Cinque Ports?

I never thought I was going to be a club pro at a club as good as this for 45 years. Like every young pro, I thought I was going on tour to win the Open and become a Ryder Cup player but as we know there are very few people who are that successful. However, what has been fantastic is that at a club like this has given me a very varied lifestyle. The Club Professional does everything. If I just played or just taught or just managed the shop, I think I might get a little bit bored, but because I do a little bit of everything it keeps my brain working quite well.

There have been a lot of highlights. Having very good players pop in is one. Tom Watson came to the club to deliver a clinic during one of the Opens at St George’s. He got soaked in the rain and all the members thought he was going to go into the clubhouse afterwards. But he didn’t. He came into the shop and said put the shutters down and he came into the back of the shop with my guys, and we had extra staff on because the Open was on, and he just sat with us and chatted for over an hour which was lovely.

Jack Nicklaus came when his son was qualifying for an Open. I was in the back office and he said to the boys: “Is Mr Reynolds in?” I came out and he said: “Hello, Mr Reynolds, my name is Jack Nicklaus, would it be alright if I watch my son hit a few balls on your range?” I said: “Of course, Mr Nicklaus, do whatever you want.” He came back in and asked if this was the prevailing wind. It was into and across, left to right, the one we all hate. I said it was. He said: “Fantastic. If you can hold a ball straight in that wind you can play anywhere in the world.” In later years we hosted the Grand Match. We had that for over 30 years and Peter Alliss became a very good friend and a very good member here. I was always the floating reserve and on one occasion I had the opportunity to play with Manuel Pinero.

How has the golf industry changed over the last 45 years?

When I started, the pro got a little shop at the end of the car park and was left to get on with it. The PGA Professional had to make a pound any way they could, and we were hugely reliant on a small group of members supporting us. I repaired golf clubs, taught all hours of the day, didn’t have too much time off, sold what I could sell and played in alliances, but I was looked after by a smaller membership. These days, the internet has had a huge influence on the golf industry. The pro must be better if he or she wants to own their own shop and retail. PGA Professionals need to work very hard but the rewards are still there if you graft. The biggest change is the commitment from people. The definition of a professional is ‘someone who is doing something as a job, rather than a hobby. A professional person is someone who is very skilled at a particular activity’.

We as PGA Professionals need to be very skilled in all manners of golf. This ensures the go-to person is the golf pro. I think it is really important that PGA Members get a good grounding and are skilled in all areas. I see a lot of club members transitioning from doing it as a hobby to playing golf as a professional and a lot find it quite tough. Many don’t realise the hours they have to put in. I gained a huge amount of my knowledge through playing golf with other PGA Members and asking lots of questions. The introduction of the internet has put a wealth of information at our fingertips. However it remains to be seen if all of this information is reliable.

What have you learned over the years?

I have always tried to learn something every day. If I have not got some knowledge in a particular area, I seek it out.

When I first started and I was playing alliances, we were playing and competing against each other, so golf pros did not share information with other golf pros. People’s income was supplemented by playing, so they didn’t want to give information away. I would always try and ask questions when playing and I probably infuriated some but that is how I gained my knowledge. I kept trying to improve myself and still do.

What are some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?

Without Keith at The Berkshire I would not have been the pro that I am. His advice, knowledge and help was fantastic and he moulded me and my late friend Andy Hall. Keith was a wise, sensible man who taught me to work hard and be very disciplined. He taught us to never get too familiar with members at your club because you are at your work and they are at their leisure. He would not let us NR in competitions as he saw it as giving up. He instilled in me a great work ethic and the importance of maintaining professional standards at all times and to give your best every day. I have had many assistants, lots at good jobs now, and I have tried to train them in the same way, I might be a bit tough sometimes, but they have done well and have gone on to some great jobs and have learned how to look after people.

What championships have stood out?

The Amateur Championship in 1982 was the first big event that I had been involved in. As a club, we have grown since then and had Amateur Championships, Ladies’ Amateur Championships, the Brabazon Trophy and Open Qualifying. Watching Charles Schwartzel win the Brabazon, that was probably the best golf I have seen around here. It was a 30-mph wind on a bouncy course with long rough. Every round, the wind was in a different quarter, it went right around 360 degrees. He was masterful.

In my time, the course has got better, I have had some influence over that and the facilities we have here are great.

Talk about some of the relationships you’ve built…

My first boss, David Creamer, was taken quite seriously ill in the second and third year I was there. I learned how to run a business very early on while I was an 18-year-old assistant: ordering, selling, doing everything. I understood the retail side of the golf business very quickly, I had to learn how to make a profit. I learned on the job and had to learn quickly. I have had over 25 assistants qualify during my time, and some are doing fantastically. Sam Smitherman, one of my former assistants is coming back here as Head Professional. The existing team are really good. My ethos really is to try and make them better than me.

What are you most proud of?

Helping people reach their potential and being recognised by my peers as being someone who is competent. If fellow golf pros think you are doing a good job, that is pretty good to me. The members here respect me. I feel very lucky. I have enjoyed the opportunity to give back to the industry when I can, it has given me a wonderful lifestyle.

What are your retirement plans?

I am going to take it easy for a bit. After 40 years of marriage, I think I must give something back to my wife. We are going to travel a bit. My wife was born in Africa so we will be going there for a visit.

I have been asked to be Club Captain here at Royal Cinque Ports in 2026 – a great honour for me. When I started here as Club Professional in 1978, I was only allowed into the clubhouse if I was invited by a member. So, 45 years on, I must have done some things right if they have asked me to be Club Captain. I don’t want to stop completely; I have had one or two companies come to me and ask if I can do a few things with them.

What advice would you give to aspiring PGA Professionals?

Give 100 per cent in all areas. If you get really stuck into it for 10 years you will build a good reputation.

Look for opportunities, seek them out and take them. If things come up and you have not quite got enough knowledge, seek it out. Ask successful people how you do something. I left home at 16 and my dad said to me two things: If you have made a mistake, put your hands up. And remember the most important five words in the English Language are ‘can you help me please’. If you ask people for help, the good people will help you.

Focus on giving great service to your customers. If you give good service to your customers, the profit will come.

I am just a simple guy from an ordinary background, I have worked very hard and I have had a fantastic lifestyle because I have committed to it. The business is out there, the reputations can be built. I have been the luckiest man alive being the Head Professional at this club for 45 years, I have just had a fantastic time.

You are going to spend 50 years of your life working. If you can find a job where you want to go to work every day that really is something. I have wanted to come to work every day.