Lachlan Chamberlain is among four associate golf professionals at Golf Creek Country Club. Photo: Indy.
Of all the golf clubs in Canberra, one stands out – not just for its greens, but for the number of golf pros on them.
With more associate pros than any other club in the city, Gold Creek Country Club has become a magnet for ambitious professionals and an incubator for emerging talent.
Club coach Damon Welsford knows why.
“We have a fantastic, young and vibrant team, an excellent course, and facilities they can fully access for practice – something that’s limited at some clubs,” he says.
“Craig Smith, the general manager, goes to great lengths to build solid relationships with these young guys.”
Then there’s Damon, a former golf pro and long-time certified member of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of Australia.
The PGA of Australia, which promotes the game, organises major tournaments and trains professionals, is the gatekeeper for anyone pursuing a golf career whether as a professional player, coach, a game developer promoting the sport, a small golf business owner or a manager.
To graduate and gain full (vocational) membership, associates must complete the PGA’s membership pathway program: training and assessments in core competencies, a consistent playing standard over a set number of rounds and a minimum of 4000 hours of industry employment over three years.
“This is a competitive industry, so the PGA wants graduates to leave with a well-rounded education,” Damon says.
“My guys do 20 to 40 hours in our pro shop every week and they get paid for that. They do everything from customer service to stocktake. We work hard to make it a good working environment for them to grow in – one in which they’re learning all the time what it takes to succeed in this industry.”
Promising young golf pros are attracted to Gold Creek Country Club by the facilities and the faculty including coach Damon Welsford. Photo: Indy.
As with any university degree, the program includes assignments with strict deadlines and a practicum that builds skills for lateral moves – from player to coach, for example.
Damon and Craig each mentor two associates – a relatively high concentration of Canberra’s up-and-coming golf talent.
One of them, Lachlan Chamberlain, stunned audiences when he claimed a maiden adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory at the Eastwood Golf Club Pro-Am in Melbourne in his first year.
The pro-am series provides one of the few opportunities where amateurs can test their mettle among professionals.
“Whatever Lachlan decides to do, I’m sure he’ll excel – he’s strong, talented, determined and willing to learn,” Damon says.
“You need all those things to succeed. You also need a handicap of under two just to be considered. Most clubs would have fewer than 10 people with that kind of record.”
Now in his second year of the program, Lachlan hopes to become a professional golfer – but is also keeping the door open for management or coaching.
“The associate degree means I can get immersed in the world of golf,” he says.
“It’s a full-time gig. I work in the pro shop at Gold Creek, I study, I train, play trainee matches and I travel around when there are events and tournaments on. I’m really enjoying it. The coaches and the facilities are great.
“I plan to play more of the pro-ams this year and my goal is to play in a few of the tour events at the end of the year as well. I started playing golf when I was about six but I fell out of love with it for a while there. It’s safe to say I’m back in love now.”
For more information visit Gold Creek Country Club.
Original Article published by Dione David on Region Canberra.
