In Demand Coach Foster Aiming To Play A Good Game

Published: 04 June 2009

An Irish pro who cut his teeth playing against European Tour stars like Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will aim to carve out some glory of his own at the Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship.

Johnny Foster who teaches at the golf academy at Green Acres, is among the 156 competitors in action at Great Britain and Ireland’s flagship event at Dundonald Links from June 16-19.

Foster, a past South of Ireland champion (1998) and Irish PGA Assistants’ winner (2004) is now a sought after coach but he still loves to compete as he did as a top amateur for Irish youth and senior teams between 1997-2000.

It was during this period he played a lot of golf with and against the likes of McIlory, McDowell, Open champion Ben Curtis and Ross Fisher.

“I admire them all very much, I think you respect people making a living from playing and having to deal with the pressure that comes with it,” he said.

Foster’s busy teaching diary restricts his playing opportunities but he admits he can’t wait to hop on the ferry across to Troon and pit his skills against the best PGA professionals.

“Teaching and coaching is my priority but I’m looking forward to being involved,” he added.

“Last year I found the standard very good. I missed the cut at Moortown so I know I have to play well.”

A host of other Irish pros will be making the trip across the Irish Sea including Eamonn Brady (Clontarf), John Kelly (St Margarets) and Rob Giles who teamed up to win the European Team Championships in Spain last November.

Brady will be making his debut in the Glenmuir event, which carries a £78,000 prize fund.

“This is my first year playing in it but I’ve talked to a lot of the lads about it like John Dwyer and it’s a tournament with a great reputation,” he said.

“The Glenmuir is one of the premier events on my calendar. I just played the Irish Open, it was tough with the weather, but I shot level par for two rounds and still missed the cut. It was an eye opener and showed I just need to work on short game.”

Brady, who is head pro at Clontarf – the nearest club to the centre of Dublin, has previously played on the Challenge, Europro and Canadian Tours.

These days he has to ration his playing excursions with the demands of lessons and running a busy shop.

“It’s a balancing act – that’s the art,” he said. “But I have got the experience of playing in the bigger competitions. I’ve put a lot of work in, done all the practicing of hitting golf balls.

“I can get away with not playing so much. The thing you lose is the short game but you have good and bad days with that, but the rest stands you in good stead.”

Follow the fortunes of the 156 strong field with live scoring from Dundonald Links exclusively on www.PGA.info

Dundonald Links will also host the Glenmuir Women’s PGA Professional Championship over June 18 and 19.