Dumfries & County PGA Professional James Erskine was crowned Partner of the Year at the annual TGI Golf Awards, staged in Harrogate.
The event, held at the Double Tree by Hilton hotel, also saw PING claim a seventh Partner Supplier of the Year award, as voted for by the group’s Partners.
Erskine took the top gong of the night, seeing off fellow nominees Brendan McGovern (Headfort), Nick Williams (St Enodoc) and Phil Toomer (Shrewsbury Driving Range).
Erskine said: “I’m truly humbled and honoured to have won this award, especially when you look across a Partnership that has such outstanding PGA Professionals across the UK & Ireland.
“My business was founded on giving children the opportunity to play golf at no cost. The Stanley Morrisons charitable trust and Children’s trust founded by fellow TGI Partner Kieron Stevenson, have been instrumental in assisting me along the way to delivering golf to over 20,000 children across a 100-mile area in the south of Scotland in the last decade.”
Leading figures from the golf industry attended the event where both PGA Professionals and suppliers are recognised for their achievements over the course of the year.
Andrew Humphreys (pictured) of Aberdovey Golf Club claimed the Pro Shop of the Year award, while the team at Royal Portrush Golf Club won the Marquee Pro Shop of the Year.
Ian Ridsdale of Wrag Barn Golf Club picked up the Most Improved Business of the Year award, while Mark Butler (Mark Butler Golf Academy) was New Partner of the Year.
The supplier awards, which are decided upon by the TGI Golf Partners through the group’s annual Supplier Survey, saw PING nominated in every category – a first for the event – and collecting a seventh Partner Supplier of the Year award, while also winning Hardware Supplier of the Year.
Callaway picked up the Product of the Year award for its Rogue ST range, while Peter Millar took the Apparel Supplier of the Year crown for the third time.
The awards coincided with TGI Golf’s Business Conference, which saw Partners and their guests from across the UK and Ireland meet up for two days of educational seminars as well as a Brand Showcase.
The Brand Showcase saw nearly every Partner Supplier attend and gives Partners the opportunity to meet and to catch up with brands that they deal with already and to consider taking on something new.
Educational seminars were hosted by customer experience expert, Ian Kelsall, Peter Jones, Director of Jones Regan Wealth Management and TGI’s Retail Consultants.
Dr Paul Wood (pictured), VP Engineering at PING, alongside former Olympian and double Commonwealth Gold Medal winner Chris Cook, also gave an incredibly motivating presentation.
TGI Golf MD, Eddie Reid closed the conference with his report on the group’s position as well as a look forward to the season ahead and the challenges Partners may face.
Adele McLean, TGI Golf Group Services Director, who organises the event, said: “It has been lovely returning to Harrogate as we have many good memories of the town having hosted the Golf Trade Show here for so many years.
“It was amazing to see so many of our Partner Suppliers attending the Brand Showcase and I’d like to thank all of them and our Partners for coming along and making this such a fantastic event. Also, a particularly big thank you to all of our speakers who delivered great seminars, Partners left the event with new ideas and motivated for the season ahead.”
