The PGA is delighted to announce the final PGA Excel awardees for 2025, rounding off the year with a rare double as Tim Rouse and Chris White earn Master status.
PGA Excel recognises Members who have made a significant and sustained impact in the golf industry across the categories of PGA Professional, Coach and Manager. The framework helps Members elevate their careers and showcase a commitment to higher professional standards.
This quarter, 12 Members achieved a higher designation:
Master Professional
Tim Rouse – Teaching Professional at Northamptonshire County Golf Club
Master Manager
Chris White – General Manager at Royal Golf Club Wadi Safar
Advanced Fellow Professional
Sandy Smith – Head Golf Professional at Ladybank Golf Club
Andy McMahon – Director of Golf at Hogs Haven Golf Club
Advanced Fellow Coach
Russell Evans – Senior Coach at Steven Orr Golf Academy
Mark Gregson-Walters – Head Coach at Centurion Club
Fellow Professional
Nicola Melville – Head of Golf at Nicola Melville Golf
Fellow Manager
Sean Graham – Director of Golf at Foxhills Club & Resort
Nick Daniels – General Manager at Machynys Peninsula Golf & Country Club
Fellow Coach
Simon Robinson – PGA Senior Professional at Close House Golf Club
James Quinlivan – Trackman Range Owner at Mullingar Golf Academy
Advanced Professional
Ernie Lee – Director of Business Partnerships at Macau Professional Golfers’ Association (MPGA)
“Congratulations to all 12 Members on earning their new designation through their dedication to professional development and commitment to making a continued impact on the game of golf,” said Tristan Crew, PGA Executive Director – Membership.
“To have two Members earning Master status in the same quarter is hugely encouraging. Special congratulations to Tim Rouse and Chris White on their achievement – a prestigious recognition that now only 68 Members have achieved.
Tim Rouse, the 83rd Captain of The PGA and Teaching Professional at Northamptonshire Golf Club, shared his delight at joining the elite list of Master Professionals. He said:
“Honestly, it was a mix of pride, gratitude and disbelief. You work for years with your head down, focusing on doing the best possible job for your members, your club, The PGA and fellow PGA Members – so when someone tells you you’ve reached this milestone, it takes a moment to sink in.”
Earning Master status completes a rare hat-trick of PGA achievements for Rouse, which also includes captaining the Association in 2023, as well as leading the GB&I PGA Cup team a year later.
“Each role represents a different facet of what it means to be a PGA Member and to be trusted with the responsibilities of captaincies is something I didn’t take lightly. Being named a PGA Master is particularly special because it recognises a long-term contribution and commitment to the profession.
“PGA Excel is one of the most valuable assets available to PGA Members because it gives us a clear, structured way to evidence our professional growth. Whether we are focused on coaching, management, retail, or another pathway, it helps us articulate our skills, demonstrate our progression, and showcase the improvements we are making."
“For those who haven’t engaged with it yet, I’d say this: it’s not just a formality – it’s an opportunity.”
Chris White completes the Master pairing as a PGA Master Manager. The Royal Golf Club Wadi Safar General Manager reflected on his achievement.
"I’ve been a PGA Member for 35 years and have always been proud to be a Member. To have been given the opportunity to further develop and be recognised through Advanced, Fellow, Advanced Fellow and now Master Manager is another significant benefit that the Association offers.
“It is important to continue not only a club and business’s trajectory, but one’s own personal development and that of those around you. I am genuinely proud and appreciative of the recognition."
White emphasised the value of PGA Members when building professional teams, particularly when their efforts to better themselves professionally are so clear.
“I would always explore a PGA Member first at any level of recruitment.
“I think employers are always looking at people who pursue continual development and learning. You do need to keep improving and if you can get accredited on that journey, it demonstrates that you’re someone who wants to improve themselves week in, week out.”
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Click here to read more from Tristan Crew about the importance of PGA Excel to golf industry.
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