KEEN surfer and golfer Alex MacGregor is on the crest of a wave after the efforts of six PGA pros were recognised by a leading golfing charity.
MacGregor, a PGA professional at Addington Court who grew up in the surfing mecca of Perranporth in Cornwall, is a member of the Surrey HSBC Golf Roots Programme. Likewise, the five other PGA professionals at the club.
The award, for the best major project, was presented at Wentworth yesterday during the Golf Foundation's annual prize-giving ceremony.
The county-wide project involved 25 PGA professionals from 15 different golf facilities who, supported by a number of trained leaders, ran Tri-Golf and Golf Xtreme sessions in 90 primary and 17 secondary schools.
The activity involved 6,300 youngsters, almost half of which were girls. In addition, almost 1,000 pupils received follow-on coaching in the clubs and 81 youngsters have already become new junior members as a result.
"The HSBC Golf Roots project is very strong in schools here as part of the School Games," said Golf Foundation chief executive Mike Round. "And Surrey's County Golf Partnership has been an excellent supporter of the Golf Foundation's aim to reach more youngsters through golf and help instil the Skills for Life benefits of the game."
Meanwhile, Addington Court, which welcomed 60 per cent of the children who received school taster sessions back for beginner coaching, was described by Round as 'the star of the show'.
MacGregor, who trained at the club to become a PGA professional before qualifying last year, said: "Simon Shepherd, Paul Oliver, myself and the three other pros have worked hard with Surrey Golf Partnership, the Golf Foundation and Croydon Schools Golf Partnership to try and give a pathway to children to get into the sport.
"We've worked with 3,000 plus school children over the last three years by giving them taster sessions in the schools.
"Then we've given them affordable options at our golf centre to encourage them to carry on. It's been a great success."
Croydon is a world away from Perranporth where MacGregor learned to play golf at the local club as well as surf, but he is relishing the experience of working there and teaching youngsters.
He added, "It was a great place to grow up but Croydon offers a different lifestyle and a challenge.
"It's got a bad name after the riots of two years ago and a lot of the kids have not had the opportunity to try golf."
