Biography English

2012

 RETIRED

2010-2012 HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL, ST OSWALD-FREISTADT GOLF CLUB, AM GOLFPLATZ 1, 4271 ST OSWALD, AUSTRIA.  

St Oswald-Freistadt Golf Club is an 18 hole championship golf course measuring 6112 meters par 72 with a perfect driving range and practise facilities in Upper Austria. It has a magnificent modern clubhouse powered by solar energy and can offer all the services expected from a 1st class golf club. St Oswald has 600 members and one can enjoy panoramic views of the Austrian countryside from the golf course and clubhouse terrace.

Austria is the sixth country I have lived and worked in.  

2009  HEAD PROFESSIONAL, WAGENFELD GOLF CLUB, OPPENWEHERSTR 83, 49419 WAGENFELD, GERMANY.  

Wagenfeld Golf Club is a 18 hole golf course with a 6 hole short course and good practice facilities. It has approximately 400 members and also a very nice 17 room Hotel.

2008 (1 year contract)  HEAD PROFESSIONAL, SOLASTRANDEN GOLF CLUB, NORDSJOVEIEN 280, 4053 RAEGE, NORWAY.  

Solastranden Golf Club near Stavanger is the only Norwegian Golf Club to have a 12 month season due to its location. It is an 18 hole links course built on sand with a 3 hole short course and driving range and is in the process of further developing all its facilities. There were 1200 members.

2007 (2 MONTH CONTRACT) HEAD PROFESSIONAL, GOLF CLUB ANSBACH, ROTHENBURGERSTR 35, 91598 COLMBERG, GERMANY.  

Ansbach Golf Club is a 9 hole golf course with good practice facilities near Nurnburg.

1999-2006 HEAD PROFESSIONAL / GOLF OPERATIONS, GOLF AND LANDCLUB, GUT-UHLENHORST, 24229, DAENISCHENHAGEN, KIEL, GERMANY.  

Gut-Uhlenhorst Golf Club opened in 1989 and has now 27 championship holes and a 9 hole short course. It has very good practice facilities with a good sized driving range, 2 putting greens and 2 pitching greens with practice bunkers. 

1991-1998  HEAD PROFESSIONAL / DIRECTOR OF GOLF, HILL BARN GOLF CLUB, WORTHING, SUSSEX, BN14 9QE, ENGLAND.  

Hill Barn Golf Club opened in 1935 and is an 18 hole downland/parkland golf course measuring 6224 yards with a par of 70. It was owned by Worthing Borough Council and had the reputation of being the best municipal golf course in Great Britain and has held tournaments such as The British PGA Championship, The World Under 25 Championship and The United Friendly LPGA Championship. There were 900 members and is also a pay and play golf course.

 ASSISTANT POSITIONS

Head Assistant to my father Phil Higgins, Head Professional, Hill Barn Golf Club.

Assistant to Geoffrey Gledhill, Head Professional, West Sussex Golf Club which is regarded as one of the most prestigious premier private golf clubs and golf courses in the South of England.

Assistant to Sir Henry Cotton, Penina Hotel Resort and Golf Course, Algarve, Portugal. The Penina Hotel and Golf Course has a reputation as one of the best resorts in Europe.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Head PGA Advanced Golf Professional/G1 Diplom Golf Professional.

• British PGA teacher and instructor (for the golf swing and club fitting).

• British Golf Foundation coach.

• Class AA Club Fitter & Maker.

• Authorised Ping Club Fitter.

• TPI Certified Biomechanics & Golf Fitness Instructor (C.G.F.I.)

• PGA Certified Health & Golf.

• PGA Certified Golf Club Management.

• World Host Customer Services Certified.

• CRB Certified (Working with children).

Listed below are people whose teaching techniques and philosophies I am familiar with: 

John Jacobs, Alex Hay, Sir Henry Cotton, Michael Pilkington, Bob Toski, Claude ‘Butch’ Harman, Michael Hebron, Nicklaus/Flick Golf Schools, Jimmy Ballard, David Leadbetter, Denis Pugh, Peter Kostis, Phil Ritson, Gary Wiren, Hank Haney, SNAG, Stack & Tilt.

Listed below are some of the people I have played with, worked with or known during my career: 

Arthur Havers 1923 British Open Champion, Max Faulkner, Sir Henry Cotton, Eddie Whitcombe, Hector Padgham, Arthur Monk, Gerald Micklem, Donald Steel, Leonard Crawley, John Jacobs, Alex Hay, Arthur Lees, Harry Busson, John Clements, Michael Hebron, Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam, Ken Brown, Brian Barnes, Pepe Gancedo.

Playing and Tournament Achievements in Brief

I have played golf for my Country 3 times and played on 3 PGA Tours.  I have enjoyed tournament success both as an amateur and professional and played golf worldwide.  During my career, I have had 6 Holes in one, am the holder of 2-course records, and have played with 5 British Open Champions and 3 US Masters Champions.  I have a passion for the game of Golf and enjoy sharing my enthusiasm and knowledge with people of all ages and abilities.