New Year, New Coach!
Exciting news!! We have a new coach joining the team. In December, you will see Jason Best taking the lead on junior coaching, then in January he will be offering private lessons for juniors, beginner and higher handicap players (28+).
Jason will be completing the New Zealand Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Training Programme to become a full member of the PGA over the next 3 years. This means that he will work alongside me to gain experience in coaching and all other areas of the golf industry. There is an also a playing component of the programme that Jason has to complete. If you see him around, come and say hi and welcome him to the EF Golf and OBGC Team.
As one becomes two, I thought this might be a nice time to tell you a bit more about Jason…
Jason, What got you into playing golf?
I was a sports mad kid that loved to give all sports a go. At the age of 14, I bought a set of very old golf clubs at a garage sale for $10.00. That summer I started playing golf at Takapuna Golf Course and was instantly hooked on the game.
Tell us a bit about your golfing history and any career highlights:
I played junior golf at Pupuke Golf Club and spent my summers at Omaha Beach. I started playing golf more seriously in my late teens, playing tournament golf around the North Island.
I have also been lucky enough to play golf abroad in the UK, Portugal, USA, Canada and Australia. My top 5 courses: Kapalua Plantation (Maui), Makana North (Maui), Predator Ridge (British Columbia), Cabot Links (Nova Scotia) and Wairakei (Taupo). One of my favourite golfing experiences was attending Jack Nicklaus’s last major events - the 2005 Open at St Andrews and The Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne.
My career highlights:
Best amateur at the Omaha Pro Am (69 in Rnd 2)
Senior Club champion, Omaha Beach Golf Club
Represented Omaha Beach Golf Club, Warkworth and Huapai Senior Pennant teams
Low Handicap: 0
What other experience have you had in the golf Industry?
I have been involved many different parts of the golf industry,
working as the Director of Golf at Pupuke Golf Club, in retail at Nevada Bobs Superstore in London and later I ran my own Golf Travel business where I sent groups to Hawaii, Australia, USA, Canada and hosted international tour groups visiting New Zealand. I will be helping Emma to do some golf travel over the next few years and hope to use these skills to run events and take groups abroad for coaching and playing experiences.
What made you want to undertake the PGA Programme?
I wanted to combine my passion for golf and coaching, and in the past year have loved helping out with my sons golf and football coaching. I feel the PGA of New Zealand offers the best training and foundations for me to succeed as a Golf Coach. The PGA of New Zealand holds the highest values and standards and has served New Zealand Golf for over 100 years and offers a world-class training program.
Do you have any future goals in golf?
I love golf and I want to continue to be passionate about golf, keep improving as a player and developing my coaching skills. I look forward to my next 3 years working on the PGA Trainee programme.
I also want the opportunity to introduce people to golf and help golfers improve their skills and enjoyment of the game of golf.
My kids have also taken an interest in the game so I look forward to watching their games develop and learning all great values associated with the game of golf that I experienced growing up.