2024 Platinum
Some 650 professionals took part in regional qualifiers for the championship and 156 players from eight regions made it through to the hotly-contested final, where Glenmuir increased its brand presence and took the opportunity to showcase its new Glenmuir and Performance logos.
High quality banners and branding was present around the 1st tee, 18th green and the driving range and the latest Glenmuir Spring/Summer 08 and Autumn/Winter 2008 brochures were available in the Moortown clubhouse.
Said Colin: "The addition of live scoring for the first time and the increased Glenmuir branding certainly added to the atmosphere and increased the profile of the event.
"Glenmuir has supported the PGA Professional Championship for more than 21 years and we look forward to continuing this relationship, which underpins the country's leading tournament for club professionals."
Many of the competing professionals were delighted by the decision to stage the final at Moortown. Defending champion John Dwyer said: "I arrived on the Monday morning and got a bit of a buzz with memories of last year but had to put that to one side.
“Moortown is a great golf course and as long as you're under par, you're going to be in contention but you can't relax, somebody might have a two or three shot lead but you can't let up anywhere."
The 2008 Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship was finally won in the wind and the rain by West Berkshires Paul Simpson after a thrilling sudden death play off with Andrew Barnett.
After collecting the coveted silver trophy and £10,000 first prize Simpson said “"I'm surprised to be honest, the way I was playing before I came into the tournament, I didn't really give myself a chance but shooting 67s in the middle gave me a little bit of confidence.," he said. "It's a fantastic highlight”
And North Wales professional Andrew Barnett, who finished as runner-up for the second year in succession, said: "This is a great golf course, fantastic, I've played it four times and it's a proper course where you've got to drive it well and put the ball in right place off the tee otherwise it can catch you out."
During the Pro-Am prior to the championship, Burnley GC Junior Section was presented with a winners plaque and £1,000 worth of clothing from the new Glenmuir Junior clothing range for winning a competition to find the junior section of the year.
The Lancashire-based club was adjudged the overall winner in the Glenmuir sponsored competition while Kames Country Club, Roe Park Golf Club and Trefloyne Golf Club finished first in Scotland, Ireland and Wales respectively.
Clubs were judged by an illustrious panel including former European Tour supreme Ken Schofield, Golf Foundation chief executive Mike Round, Duncan Weir from the R&A, and broadcaster Renton Laidlaw.
There were just six junior members when Baker, 34, launched a junior initiative three-and-a-half years ago. Now the junior section is 80-strong and another 40 youngsters turn up regularly for weekly coaching sessions.
All clubs that entered were also rated on a range of criteria including size of junior section, coaching programmes available, initiatives to encourage girls to play, and access to practice facilities.
The club's PGA professional Matt Baker, junior golf organiser Gloria Varley and juniors Nathan Scofield and Alister Higson played in the Pro-Am.
Photo caption: Matt Baker (Pro at Burnley GC) Gloria Varley (Jnr Golf Organiser) and juniors Nathan Scofield and Alister Higson were presented with their prize by Andy Bough (Marketing Director, Glenmuir) and Parnell Reilly (PGA Captain).
Notes to Editors:
Glenmuir is a brand right at the heart of golf. Preferred supplier to the European Ryder Cup team for more than 20 years, it also enjoys partnerships with the PGAs of Europe, The PGA, The European Tour, The Open Championship, and The English Golf Union. Glenmuir is official clothing supplier to the Golf Foundation, Ryder Cup Wales 2010, The SLGA, and The Golf Union of Wales.