Timson making his mark at Newmachar

Advanced PGA Professional Mike Timson has made quite an impact since leaving Belton Park in Lincolnshire to become the operations director at Newmachar Golf Club, near Aberdeen.

Working in tandem with a team that includes Greg McBain, who returned to his golfing roots to become the club's head PGA Pro, Timson's business plan is working wonders across the board.

In May 2017, just 20 kids were receiving non-PGA coaching at Newmachar through clubgolf, the club only had 40 junior members and was 120 full members short, so was losing money.

In June 2018, more than 100 kids received PGA-led coaching per week and 240 different kids received coaching during the month.

The junior membership had risen to 75 and is growing weekly while the overall membership has increased by 15 per cent.

The Newmachar Junior Golf Academy is helping to deliver golf to over 500 local kids through school visits, with a fun golf booklet being used effectively in that respect.

"I came here on May 1 last year and the committee bought into the business plan I put on the table," said Timson.

"At Newmachar, we aren't waiting on Scottish Golf bringing people through the doors, which seems to be the problem in Scotland.

"We are driving things forward and the club's investment in the Junior Golf Academy is being rewarded."

Staffing levels are also increasing. "We've got one trainee starting soon and another one in September," added Timson.

"I'm delivering the business plan as operations director and it's great to be working with Greg, who is not only a local boy but is also a good player so is helping to add credibility to the Junior Golf Academy."

In addition to McBain, who is delivering on-site coaching, Timson's current team includes Garry Ogg, the club's assistant operations director who is driving membership recruitment.

Also heavily involved in Newmachar bucking the membership trend is Gordon Forbes, a level one clubgolf-trained coach who is delivering in-school classes and is the club's junior organiser.