Royal Liverpool pro named PGA captain-elect
Royal Liverpool head PGA professional John Heggarty has received an early Christmas gift after being named PGA Captain-elect.
The 56-year-old will take over the role when Nicky Lumb, who takes over from Neil Selwyn-Smith next year, completes his two-year office in 2017.
Heggarty, who became head pro at Hoylake aged 23, said the call from PGA chief executive Sandy Jones had come out of the blue. He said: “I was quietly getting on with my life, we’d had the Open this year which was pretty full on, and I’d just started settling down and then I got the call from Sandy.”
‘It was both a surprise and something that didn’t take me long to accept’ Heggarty added: “I have been privileged to represent the members of Royal Liverpool as their professional for over 30 years and to now have the opportunity to represent the members of the Professional Golfers’ Association of GB&I is a wonderful honour having been closely involved with the PGA for an awful lot of years.
“Ultimately when you become captain of the PGA you are treading in the footsteps of PGA Professionals that are names from the history of the game so it is a tremendous honour.”
The association’s first captain in 1901 was James Braid. Other names to have held the role include Harry Vardon and Sir Henry Cotton.
“During my captaincy I will be very keen to reach out to as many of my fellow PGA members as possible and I’m looking forward to representing the PGA to the best of my abilities,” added Heggarty.
Heggarty’s first assistant’s role was at Hayston Golf Club in Glasgow, later moving to Shaw Park in Alloa, before moving south to become an assistant to John Morgan at Royal Liverpool.
His first head pro job was at Wirral Ladies aged just 21.
PGA chief executive Sandy Jones said: “We are delighted to appoint John as captain of the PGA. He has given long and dedicated service to PGA at county, regional and national level. He has attained PGA Master Professional status and I’m sure he will be a huge asset in the role of captain to The Professional Golfers’ Association.”
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