Douglas GC Pro Shop

Busy Times at Douglas Pro Shop

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Douglas Pro Shop Feb 2019_2

Stephen Hayes and Shane Livesey

There’s quite a bit going on in Douglas Golf Club at the moment, from new members to course developments, and changes to personnel it’s a busy place.  The Pro Shop run by club professional Stephen Hayes is also a busy spot with a new member of staff and a new teaching facility now up and running.  Stephen, who has been the Club Professional in Douglas since 2010 had a fitting bay at the range for several years until the extreme weather got the better of it.  “Unfortunately the old bay got blown down in Storm Ophelia in late 2017” explained Stephen.  “I had built this teaching bay with my brother in law and Dad when I was Club Professional in Kilkea Castle in 2009.  We had it loaded onto lorry in 2010 and transported to Douglas when I took up position so it’s fair to say it served me well for nine years.  The new teaching/fitting bay is addition to the indoor bay.  The new bay has Continue reading →

Shane settled in Douglas

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Douglas Pro Shop Feb 2019_2

Stephen Hayes pictured with Shane Livesey who is the latest member of the Pro Shop team at Douglas Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

Shane Livesey is the newest member of the pro shop team in Douglas, the 21 year old joined Stephen last year and has enrolled in the three year PGA Professional programme.  Shane, who played Senior Cup with Monkstown and previously worked with David O’Sullivan in Cobh, is enjoying his new role in Douglas.  “I have settled in very well since joining Douglas Golf Club as an PGA assistant Pro last August thanks to the help and support of both Steve and Dave” said Shane.  “It is great to have the opportunity to work in such an established golf club, the members have given me a great welcome and are very supportive and interested as to how my PGA training is going.”  Mixing the full time role in Douglas with his studies can be a challenge as he explained.  “My PGA training started in October 18 and since then there was been a big change as now I have to balance working in the pro shop, assist in coaching the juniors, studying, and also trying to practice. The lectures and assignments are all Continue reading →

Stephen Hayes new Performance Centre at Douglas Golf Club

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Stephen Hayes Performance Centre_Mar 2018.jpgStephen Hayes has just opened a new performance centre in Douglas Golf Club, the Club Professional in Douglas has invested in a brand new facility for members and clients to learn and hone their golfing skills.  Previously Stephen had worked from a teaching bay in the driving range, but that bay was a victim of the storm in October so an alternative was Continue reading →

Long Read: Hayes at Home in Douglas

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Stephen Hayes pictured in action in Douglas Golf Club.Picture: Niall O'Shea

Stephen Hayes pictured in action in Douglas Golf Club. Picture: Niall O’Shea

It’s six years since Stephen Hayes took the reins at Douglas Pro Shop, taking on the challenge of working in one of the oldest clubs in Cork.  The past six years haven’t been great for the golf industry but in that time the PGA Professional developed a large following.  Working from one of the busiest courses in the county, Hayes has built a strong business in what was a tough time for everyone involved in the business.  Being a club pro can be a demanding job, the shop must be open 364 days a year, and for up to 12 hours a day during the summer months.  Add to that the fact that you need to find cover for the shop if coaching or playing, or even taking a day off, and you’ll soon realise that a pro-shop can be a demanding business for a PGA Professional.  Over the past two years the retail landscape has changed, the internet has become a real alternative to the high street or on-course shop.  The high street Continue reading →

Aimpoint Clinic returning to Douglas Golf Club

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Aimpoint Express is returning to Cork next month.  Stephen Hayes from Douglas GC Pro-Shop is teaming up with Donal Scott again to bring a two-hour masterclass on the popular green reading system.

Donal Scott

Donal Scott, Aimpoint Level 3 Instructor

Scott is one of only three qualified Aimpoint coaches in Ireland and the Leopardstown based PGA Professional has been working with the system for around five years: “I first became interested in AimPoint in 2011 when I contacted a friend and mentor mine John Graham about the possibility of hosting a clinic here in Ireland.  I completed my training with the founder Mark Sweeney that year as he was over in Ireland for the Solheim Cup that year.  Worldwide you have 45,000 amateurs, 500 juniors and 200 tour pros who have been coached in AimPoint green reading.  Adam Scott and Continue reading →

O’Donovan’s China Challenge

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Bandon’s Brian O’Donovan is a busy man, building his career in China.  Having moved there a few months ago he popped up on the PGA Tour China last weekend.  The competition was the Buick Open, and  Brian made the entry list thanks to a qualifier earlier in the week.  He travelled from his base in Shenzhen to Guangdong to try his hand on the Asian arm of the PGA Tour. Continue reading →