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Meet the Pros
Scott
Scott Macaskill is an award-winning Professional who has amassed a wealth of experience in over 25 years in the job. Starting his Professional career as Assistant at Downes Crediton G. C. in 1995, Scott moved on to become Head Assistant at Churston G. C. in 1996 where he remained for 2 years during which time he completed his training and successfully qualified, earning the Titleist National Assistants Award for excellence in his final PGA examinations. His next move was to take on the Head Teaching Professional’s post at Elfordleigh Golf and Country Club in 1998 where he remained for 3 years. During this time he established the new golf shop and played an important advisory role in the establishment of the additional 9 holes which made Elfordleigh a true 18 hole course.
From there he returned in 2001 to Downes Crediton to become Head Professional. His reputation as a coach had grown during this time and he became coach to a Europro Tour Professional and many Devon County juniors. Coaching juniors has become an important element of Scott’s career and he has successfully established junior coaching schemes at each of his clubs. Alongside his role as a PGA coach, Scott has enjoyed success in competition both as an amateur and on the local professional circuit and more recently achieved the highly respected, Director of Golf qualification from the PGA which is proving useful in his position as Golf Manager.
Ian
Ian Marshall is one of the most knowledgeable and respected coaches in the area. His regular columns in the Herald over eleven years made him the face of golf coaching in Plymouth!
His first post in golf was Assistant Professional at Thurlestone G. C. for 6 years from 1980 during which time he became PGA qualified. While there he also taught at Dartmouth Naval College and Kingsbridge Sports Centre. In 1986 he was appointed Golf Professional at Elfordleigh Golf & Country Club where he soon built up a reputation as a first-class coach. One junior who Ian taught from the beginning, and is still good friends with is Miles Tunnicliff who won two Tour events, two Mauritias Opens and was a regular on the European Tour.
Ian moved to the prestigious Walton Heath G. C. as Head Assistant in 1990, where he worked with a lot of the top coaches and taught many European Tour, Senior Tour and LPGA Tour Professionals. From there, he secured the Head Professional’s post at Ballards Gore in 1992 where he remained for 3 years. Ian returned to the West Country in 1995 as Professional at Staddon Heights G.C. for eleven years, before a nine year stint as Head Professional at the Plymouth Golf Centre.
Ian has been at Boringdon Park for 8 years now and although mainly a coach, Ian has also kept his hand in with his playing career, competing at a good level and often being in the prizes. Ian also hosts several golf holidays each year and these have proved very popular. Such was Ian’s success as a host that he was recognised as a brand ambassador for Golf Breaks.
Ian’s coaching mantra is simple. Anyone can improve if they are taught properly and are willing to practice. His love of coaching and golf is there for all to see and his simple coaching method is easy for anyone to pick up.
Jez
Jez Willmott started his golfing career in 2001 at the China Fleet Club in the dual role of teaching Professional and Assistant Manager of the golf shop. Jez completing his PGA training in 2005 and has gone on to become one of the most knowledgeable coaches around. He moved to Plymouth Golf Centre in 2006, where he found that working with other Professionals of like mind, he became more aware of his coaching skills. With a keen eye for study and finding new ways to improve the golf swing, Jez has the gift of being able to help everyone he coaches. His enthusiasm and willingness to help people is infectious.
Jez is certainly not new to teaching, as all his working life, he has spent teaching sport of various kinds. He is a qualified RYA level 5 windsurf instructor, a dingy sailing instructor and a BCU qualified instructor in canoeing. His qualifications enabled him to teach in Greece, Turkey, the Canaries and Barbados, so don’t be shocked if you see him windsurfing across the 18th hole’s lake!
With his feet now back on land, he is now fully focused on drawing on all his teaching skills to improve his client’s golf swings. Although his clientele come from all age groups, he has enjoyed particular success with the juniors whilst running coaching programmes at various clubs with great success. He continues to play an active role in schools sport links, disability coaching and many outreach programmes and is always researching current methods to stay current with his coaching.