Go to the pros

If your local professional seems a little busier than usual in the coming weeks, then it could be as a result of an initiative taken by the PGA at the European Open at the K Club. Well over 500 punters availed of the

free lessons provided by a squad of club pros in a specially constructed six-bay practice area in the tented village. There is clearly a great demand for quality instruction, with hardly a 15-minute slot unclaimed during the four days of the tournament and some disappointed customers had to be turned away.

"We did it last year as well and it was a great success," said Shane O'Grady (Black Bush) during a short break from teaching. "It's important for the golfing public to understand that we are not just good golfers but we are qualified to teach the game. Many people aren't aware that they can come to a PGA teacher for a lesson even if they aren't a member of a club."

It works both ways, of course, and O'Grady is confident of repeat business resulting from the exercise. The other professionals at the K Club were Mark Callan (Ward), Wayne O'Callaghan (Carrig Dhoun), Bobby Browne (Laytown & Bettystown), Chris Spence (Royal Belfast), Wesley Ramsay (New Forge DR), David Hayes (Dungarvan) and Ian Kerr (Carlow).