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 ‘The
best part of the job is being able to watch the world’s greatest
players in action……..’
Alan Hedley, sports journalist with
The Journal, on what it takes to be a Golf Writer.
I’ve been
a journalist for 32 years, covering soccer, then rugby and golf. I work
for the Journal, a North East paper, and have a regular golf feature
“A Round with Hedley”. Also, I occasionally write for national newspapers
and magazines, and I’ve done some television and radio work. I’ve been
a member of the Association of Golf Writers since 1985.
I came into
my job through an unusual route. I started to train as a teacher, but
had second thoughts after six months. Purely by chance I was given the
opportunity to cover soccer for a local weekly paper. Following a six-month
trial, I was given the job and have never looked back, working for the
Shields Weekly News, Shields Gazette, Sunderland Echo, Newcastle Chronicle,
and now The Journal.
My busiest
times are when the rugby and golf seasons overlap. I can be at a rugby
press conference in the morning, interviewing a player at midday, covering
a rugby match in the afternoon and dashing off to catch the end of a golf
tournament in the evening. Fortunately, that’s rare. There’s no such
thing as a typical day though and anyone who wants regular hours and time
off shouldn’t even contemplate being a sports journalist. There is no
such thing as a day off if there is a story breaking!
Best
part of the job: being able to watch the world’s
greatest players in action for nothing (and close up).
Worst
part: Travelling. I must have spent years in
airport lounges, train stations and cars.
My
favourite all-time player: Nick Faldo, probably
because I like his single-mindedness. I have interviewed him three times
and he has been unfailingly helpful and pleasant, totally unlike the way
he is portrayed by some of the national press.
The
nicest golfers I have ever interviewed and talked to have been Arnold
Palmer, Greg Norman and Gary Player, but I really did like talking to
John Daly because he was so honest about his life and problems.
Funniest
interview: Payne Stewart, sadly no longer with
us – a great loss to golf.
If
you want my job ………..
Read the
advice under Sports Journalism in the Qualifications section.
 "The
best part of my job is travelling around Britain and Europe meeting
lots of different people AND working with the best golfer Britain
has ever had"
Ben Heyhoe-Flint,
Golf Development Manager,
on what it takes to assist in the management of Nick Faldo.
Ben Heyhoe-Flint has the enviable job of assisting in the management of
Nick Faldo.
This includes pro-actively finding products and events that are
suitable for Nick to promote as well as working closely with existing
sponsors so that they derive the most out of Nick's marketing potential.
For example, Ben is on the phone 6 times a day to the marketing
team of Nick's new sponsor Eighteen Global working out how best
to develop the new association!
Ben also spends a lot of time marketing the Faldo Junior Series
(www.nickfaldo.org/faldojuniorseries), Nick's fabulous initiative
to nurture the next generation of British champion golfers.
My job involves a lot of travelling and meeting young people who love
golf. I try and spot potential professional golfers, so I can encourage
that talent. Sometimes that involves advising on sports scholarships for
young players to play in America."
I started work as an Intern with a large sports management company in
July 1996, 3 days after graduating from Durham University! I was asked
to create the Faldo Junior Series from scratch so at the very beginning
it was a sharp learning curve and I worked in a variety of roles; events
organiser, press officer, PR & Marketing.....! The job has now evolved
into a pure Marketing Executive role.
To be good at this job you must be able to:
Think of ideas how to make projects more exciting so that they appeal
to everyone.
You must have commitment to follow through the ideas until they are completed.
You must be at ease speaking to people at all levels. Be able to see what
you are offering from the other side of the table.
BEST PART OF MY JOB: Travelling around Britain and Europe meeting
lots of different people and working with the best golfer Britain has
ever had.
WORST PART OF MY JOB: Has to be the paperwork.
IF YOU WANT MY JOB : You need a friendly, outgoing personality
because you must be able to communicate well with people at all levels.
To get on in PR you have to build up lots of contacts and get to know
a lot of people. When you do meet people, remember to make a note of their
name, their title and contact number. Then, keep a link with them by keeping
in contact with them. Get yourself known.
It's a good idea to try and get work's experience with a PR company. Work
hard and get to know the people there. Before school holidays start get
in touch with them and see whether you can help out during the holidays.
'Being pro-active shows that you are keen to get on and helps to keep
you fresh in people's minds.
There are lots of different areas where you can develop your skills at
meeting people and communicating well. I worked in a variety of roles
before getting this dream job. Most of all, have a passion for the job
and enjoy it!'
Simon Edwards - Director Of Instruction at The Jack
Nicklaus Golf School, De Vere Carden Park Hotel Golf Resort and Spa.
 I
have been the Director of Instruction for 4 years and obtained the
job after playing full time tournament golf on many different tours
around the world. I was approached by the resort to become a Nicklaus
Instructor and now am also a Nicklaus philosophy training instructor
after gaining my qualification in August 1999. My job is mainly
tuition from individual lessons to big corporate events for people
such as Hitachi, Sony and many others. I also run a retail operation
and train my assistants to PGA qualification.
If you were
interested in a job such as mine you need to get a handicap low enough
to join the PGA training scheme,work through to PGA qualification and
with a lot of dedication hard work and long hours you can achieve all
the success you want.
Kate Egford,
HND Course Leader in Golf and Leisure Management.
Kate has been HND Course Leader in Golf and Leisure Management at Myerscough
College for the past 2 years, previously working at Preston College, lecturing
in Sport Science.
My academic background is that I have a PE first degree and MSc Sport
& Exercise Science.
My playing background is England squad 1992 - 1999 and have played county
golf since 1990.
The job is definitely not 9am - 5pm and you definitely take it with you
all the time.
I have some of my lecture ideas half way round a course and I am always
doing a marketing job as the College is still a well kept secret - although
through hard work it is now losing this tag.
Anyone wanting to get into this field needs a degree and in a related
subject, I think sports marketing will be one of biggest growth areas
in near future along with my own area... Sport Science and how it relates
to Golf.
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