Gareth Lewis,
a Pencoed-born 28-year-old PGA pro, has been recently appointed
as Manager, Coach education & the PGA in Wales.
He has been handed the task in a joint initiative between
the Golf Union of Wales and the Professional Golfers' Association
to implement a long term strategy for coach education and
Welsh PGA members.
Lewis, who began his career
at The Belfry rising to golf manager, before moving to Machynys
Peninsula Golf and Country Club at Llanelli, will represent
the PGA in Wales with a specific blueprint to usher in more
new volunteer coaches to support the drive to increase the
numbers playing the game.
"It's the first time
the PGA has had a central figure in Wales so it's a blank
canvas, and I've got the opportunity to put my mark on things,"
he said. "I'm
a very proud Welshman and I'm very proud to be a PGA member,
so it's the perfect combination."
Lewis paints a colourful
picture of Welsh golf with the impending Ryder Cup already
galvanising the game there and he's determined to build
on the momentum.
"There is a lot of
hard work going into promoting golf in the run-up to the
Ryder Cup so the last thing I want is for everything to
be forgotten after 2010," he said. "I want to
continue raising the profile of golf long after the Ryder
Cup has been played."
Based at the GUW offices
at the Celtic Manor Resort, Lewis will manage PGA affairs
in Wales including developing a workforce of volunteer coaches,
implementing Levels I to V of the PGA Coach Education programme
and work closely with a number of key partners including
the Golf Union of Wales, Golf Development Wales and Sports
Council for Wales (a key funding partner).
He will also oversee the
development of the professional game within the country
by providing playing opportunities for professionals and
leading amateurs with aspirations to become professionals.
"My main role is to
get more people taking on coaching roles and get more coaches
working in Wales," he explained.
"They don't have to
be qualified PGA professionals necessarily. The coaching
structure enables volunteers to work alongside trained PGA
pros. As the PGA's person in Wales it's now my job to make
sure everything is running smoothly."
If you would like to contact
Gareth, his office number is (01633) 436048 and his e-mail
is gareth.lewis@pga.org.uk
2007 Solheim Cup - Selection
for Becky Brewerton 
Some
of the very best players on the Ladies European Tour were
on hand at the S4C Ladies Championship of Europe at Machynys
to pass on some coaching hints and tips to groups of beginner
girls from around West Wales.
More
than 100 volunteers will get the chance to rub shoulders
with some of Europe’s best women golfers when the
S4C Wales Championship of Europe returns in August, for
the third year running, to Machynys Peninsular Golf and
Country Club.