Shanks samples a taste of the high life

Simon Shanks is enjoying some of the lifestyle of an elite player through his outstanding prodigy Jordan Smith, the early-season sensation on the European Tour who has already broken into the world’s top 100 in his first season.

This year Shanks has already travelled to Qatar and South Africa. 

Now he hopes Smith, 24, will remain high in the rankings so he can accompany him to the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, North Carolina, in August.

That would be the 36-year-old Wiltshire-based coach’s second trip to the States. The Bowood professional was recently reminded of his previous visit supporting Smith at the 2013 Walker Cup in Long Island. He found a flag in his garage signed by both teams, including Matt Fitzpatrick and PGA Tour regulars Justin Thomas, who won back-to-back events this year, and Patrick Rodgers.

He has made previous coaching trips to the Middle East, the last to Dubai before this season started, and has closely followed Smith’s round-the-world career after taking over as his coach ten years ago.

He said: “Jordan is a Derry Hill lad and lives next to the golf club. When he was 14 I started on improving his short game but he was getting advice from several quarters. 

“I had a chat with him and his dad Martin suggesting that he would benefit by having one voice as coach and left it to them to decide.”

Since then Wiltshire PGA secretary Shanks, who became PGA South West coach of the year in 2013 and has been heavily involved with county coaching in Wiltshire, has shaped Smith’s climb up the amateur and professional ladder.

After winning major amateur events and becoming an international and Walker Cup player, Smith turned professional and has won four times. 

He topped the 2015 EuroPro Tour order of merit in his first season. Last year he added the Challenge Tour Road To Oman title to make around £200,000 and claim a European Tour berth.

Shanks, who played amateur golf at West Wilts and spent five years as assistant at Kingsdown before moving to Bowood ten years ago, loves coaching.  

He said: “I soon realised I was never going to be the next Nick Faldo so the next best thing was to become a coach. It’s fantastic now I am able to meet top coaches like Pete Cowen at Tour events.”

He maintains regular contact with Smith who also works with strength and conditioning expert Rob Hobkinson from Leeds. They speak most days and use an on-line website to send and receive videos. Smith offers his statistics each round for further analysis.

“A lot of guys change things when they get on Tour but we have remained on a steady keel and have not had too many blips so far,” added Shanks. “It has been a great journey. He’s a quiet lad and feels really comfortable. He is not overawed by anything and takes it all in his stride. I always felt he could make it. It’s now up to him. His plan is just to play the next hole well. It’s like the elephant in the room if you look too far ahead.

“His aim was to keep his card and happily he is well on the way to that. A top 60 ranking and qualification to the Race to Dubai would be great.”