Kerr Page is relishing the challenge offered by his new role as ‘golf manager and teaching professional’ at Middleton Hall Golf Club.
Earlier this year Page switched from a long-term position at Gedney Hill to take on a wide-ranging brief that sees him split his time between the office and the golf facilities at the Norfolk club.
The job calls on him to use a wide range of skills – as did his previous position – many of which he acquired when progressing through his PGA Foundation degree.
From overseeing competitions, to liaising with the green-keepers and the club’s shop, through to taking society bookings and green fees, plus much more besides, Page has plenty of plates to keep spinning. It’s why he feels that being organised is an essential aspect of his role.
Page, 38, said: “You’ve definitely got to have your time management right. Writing down notes just to keep on track so you can’t lose where you are. It’s essential when you’re doing the management side. Queries, phone numbers, email addresses…you’ve got to log everything.”
He identifies another similarly important element – being there for the members. Or as Kerr sums it up: “Trying to make sure everything’s running smoothly and that the members are happy. I’m the person they come to first. If it’s a major problem, we’ll talk to the owner and make sure we get it resolved correctly.”
Page developed and honed his skill set during 14 years at Gedney Hill. In a neat scenario, he became head PGA professional at the Lincolnshire club where he first took up golf in his early teens.
“I had to run the golf course – the managerial skills sort of started from there,” he said. “I was sort of allowed to just get on and do it and build Gedney Hill up. I think they only had 100 members and when I left there was just over 200 members. I basically did everything there – club fitting, repairs, teaching through to the business management side of it.”
A connection was forged with Middleton Hall late in 2021 when Page – a PGA Level 3 coach – began to teach from there every Thursday. A few months later, new owners Dave and Fatna Freeman arrived at the club and it wasn’t long before Page was offered his current position. “There’s 500 members here,” he said. “I was looking to improve my career and take on the next step and a new challenge.”
It’s a move that’s working out for Page and comes with an added bonus in that he only lives a 10-minute drive away from the scenic parkland course. He splits his time around 50-50 in terms of office work and teaching. Morning wills often see him dealing with emails and other correspondence before he puts on his coach’s hat for a couple of hours. Afternoons follow a similar pattern in terms of time division.
Page is excited not only by his new role, but also the progressive mood of the club, where the new owners have already made a positive impact. There is a spacious new facility for functions, while Page is very much part of the discussions about on-going upgrades to the course itself.
“David’s very keen – this is his first golf club,” said Page. “Already in three months he has built a new pond on the 18th. We’re changing a few tees…we’re trying to improve the golf club to make it better for the future.”
