Almost two decades after completing the Applied Golf Management Studies (BSc) programme, Matt Chalmers is helping other PGA Members follow in his footsteps and forge their own careers in Southeast Asia through GOLFTEC.
The company delivers technology-led coaching through indoor studios, using data and an established teaching system to help golfers understand and improve their swings. Its regional network includes two facilities in Singapore, alongside centres in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Bangkok.
With the business continuing to grow, Chalmers wants to connect with PGA-qualified coaches who could contribute to GOLFTEC and develop within the company. Anyone hoping to work in Singapore must hold a bachelor's degree to secure the necessary employment pass, leaving AGMS graduates particularly well placed through their combination of a degree and PGA training.
"I want AGMS graduates and PGA Members to know they have somebody here they can trust," Chalmers said. "They would be coming to advance their careers, and I understand what it is like to move abroad. I want to look after them personally as they settle in, before we begin working on their professional development."
His confidence in PGA Members comes from almost 20 years carrying the qualification himself and seeing where it can lead.
"A PGA qualification will always turn my head because there is a mark of quality associated with it," he explained. "It shows that somebody has completed a demanding programme to the required standard. I am a proud PGA Member, I value what the qualification has done for me and I want to help other Members develop their careers abroad."
Chalmers' route to Singapore began when he enrolled on AGMS in 2004. Having grown up in Bahrain after moving there with his family from Scotland, he had always intended to pursue an international career.
After graduating in 2007, he completed his PGA training at Royal Guernsey Golf Club and secured a coaching role at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. He later became Head Professional at the club where he had grown up in Bahrain before spending a year working for the PGA in Beijing, an opportunity his degree helped him secure.
"AGMS was the platform that got me started in the golf industry," he said. "The coaching and coach education we received through the PGA were amazing, and the degree has opened doors throughout my career. When you are working in Asia, having a degree can almost become part of your passport."
That career brought Chalmers to Singapore and GOLFTEC in 2017. During nine years with the company, he has progressed from Coach to Centre Manager and now into his current role as Director of Education. He has also completed a master's degree in sport coaching with the University of Birmingham, focusing his research on how British PGA Professionals working overseas learn and develop.
As Director of Education at GOLFTEC, Chalmers continues to coach while supporting colleagues with their teaching and wider professional development. His aim is to give coaches a clear system for delivering effective lessons while helping them understand how to build and retain a client base.
"My job is to support our coaches with their professional development, coach education and teaching quality, so they continue to improve and want to grow with GOLFTEC," he said. "If I can help coaches perform well and provide a high-quality service, I can have a wider impact on the growth of the game."
Alongside the earning potential available to successful coaches, GOLFTEC offers routes into areas including education, management and custom fitting. Chalmers believes the company's expansion can provide long-term possibilities for people who arrive with a passion for coaching and the desire to keep improving.
Relocating overseas also involves building a life away from work. Chalmers draws on his own experience to help new recruits understand what awaits them in Singapore, find their feet after arriving and feel supported as they adapt.
"Through hard work, I have established a happy life in Asia and developed a role that feels tailor-made for me," he said. "GOLFTEC offers legitimate career development, and I want to become someone PGA Members can rely on to tell them honestly what life overseas involves and help them make the most of the opportunity."
PGA Members interested in career opportunities with GOLFTEC in Singapore or elsewhere in Southeast Asia can contact Matt Chalmers at [email protected].
