Transition time at Sheringham as Jubb steps down

22/01/2025

2024 marked the end of an era at Sheringham Golf Club - and the passing of the baton.

Autumn 2024 marked the end of an era at the North Norfolk club. After 28 years at the helm, Mike Jubb hands over the reins as the club's head PGA Professional to Ryan Pudney, who steps up as the sixth person to fill the prestigious role in Sheringham's 133-year history.

Here, Jubb reflects on his time at Sheringham and the essentials of coaching, while Pudney shares his vision for the future of the club and pro shop.

“I have been very fortunate to work at a club like this,” reflects 62-year-old Jubb. “I think the club has developed and got bigger.

“Sheringham has a very good reputation in Norfolk but it has a better reputation outside the county. From a visitor point of view, we continue to see the same societies coming back year on year, which I think is a really positive thing. I’ve just done a booking for next year for 20 guys that played today.

“That says a lot about the golf, first and foremost. But then also the staff – we’ve got a really hard-working team. I’m really pleased to have been here, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Essex-born Jubb joined the PGA in 1982 and became fully qualified four years later. A fine player in his late teens and early 20s, he had a brief crack at competing for a living but found the standard just a little too hot.

“In the old days you had to pre-qualify for the European Tour on a Monday morning,” he recalls. “So, I had a sponsor for one year who took me to the Dutch Open and German Open but I wasn’t good enough – I didn’t get through. I decided to go down the club pro route. I did my training and the rest is history.”

“The club have been kind enough to give me a honorary life membership,” he says. “I’m hoping to play a few senior events next year. I want to get back to a reasonable level – I want to become competitive again.”

Spoken like a diehard golfer – the quest for improvement never ends.

Ryan Pudney steps up to become Sheringham’s new head professional on the back of a glowing endorsement from his predecessor in the position.

“Ryan will be fine,” says Jubb. “Ryan’s worked with me for two and a half years. I don’t think you’ll get a better guy to take over from me. He’s very hard working and a good coach.”

If, by his own admission, Jubb is old school, then Pudney represents the newer breed of PGA professionals. He studied sports management at university and then went on to secure his PGA qualification.

But if there are differences between the two men, there are also many similarities. Both hail from Essex and moved to Norfolk to pursue their career at coastal courses. Jubb worked at The Links Country Park Hotel and Golf Club in West Runton; Ryan has spent time at Royal Cromer, Mundesley and Hunstanton.

And one area the pair are in complete agreement on is their passion for Sheringham Golf Club. Pudney first played there as an amateur in his late teens, igniting a love that has endured and grown.

“It’s just such a magical place to be,” says Pudney. “I’ve played a lot of golf at a lot of nice golf clubs and it’s very hard to find somewhere with comparative views. The setting, the steam train up and down on one side – it’s just unbelievable. We’re very fortunate.”

Aside implementing from a new sales system, there will be other modernisations around the pro shop. Pudney plans to stay in touch with all the members via a regular newsletter. Plus, there’s his coaching offering which includes the use of a state-of-the-art indoor studio accompanied by launch monitor analysis.

However, if it is a case of ‘in with the new’, Pudney still holds the greatest respect for all the work his departing boss has carried out in his long innings at Sheringham.

“He’s been very successful doing what he’s done for 28 years,” says Ryan. “My one biggest takeaway is the loyal service he’s given the club over his period of time here I really do see the time and effort he’s put in. It has made him a very loyal servant to the club.”

Jubb shares his essentials of coaching

His first appointment in Norfolk was at the Links Country Park Hotel and Golf Club in West Runton. But in 1996 he moved a few miles west to take up the prestigious head pro’s position at Sheringham. Since then he has coached countless golfers of all levels.

“I think a lot of teaching should be kept simple – I’m very old school,” he says. “First of all, I think you have to have good foundations. You work very hard on setup, getting pupils into the most natural position they can. Good foundations, keeping it simple, building that confidence with your pupil.

“Course management is also massively important – I think on-course lessons are really valuable. A lot of medium to high handicappers have never had good management. When they’ve got a 7-iron-lie back into the fairway, they’re still going with a wood and they just make it worse for themselves.

“I’ve always thought that playing the game is all about good alignment, good rhythm and good course management.”

Jubb’s common sense approach led to a connection with the Norfolk County Golf Union for whom he coached the under-18s. There was also a brief link-up early in the millennium with England Golf, helping with regional coaching.

“I just assisted Paul Ashwell (an acclaimed PGA Professional and currently an England Golf National Squad coach),” says Jubb. “I think it was two sessions if I remember right. It was enjoyable. At that time Oli Fisher was under Paul’s umbrella.”

Jubb points out that that the sport has evolved rapidly since then and says its top-flight players are “professional athletes”. Back in the day he can remember many big names, visiting Sheringham for pro-ams: “They would be up all night!”

This November Jubb will attend several functions and oversee his final few group coaching sessions after which he will call time on his career. But that will not be the end of his association with Sheringham.