The Ross On Wye-based coach is making the short trip to St Pierre for the Welsh National PGA Championship with well-founded optimism after his Pyle & Kenfig triumph a year ago
Zach Galliford's victory in last year's Welsh National PGA Championship at Pyle & Kenfig was remarkable for many reasons. Eight years previously he had captured the Welsh Amateur at Southerndown and therefore his victory 10 miles up the road made him just the fourth player to do the double.
But before playing his opening round, he was only able to hit a handful of shots.
"I couldn't actually hit balls as I have gout and I couldn't really swing it. So I've gone from potentially pulling out to hitting about five balls when I was physically fit and able but I couldn't hit more than a 30-yard chip shot.
"Then I hit 15 or 16 greens in bad weather. There was just a lack of expectation so you might as well just swing with freedom and see where the ball goes."
The first round at Pyle resulted in a one-under 70 and a one-shot lead before day two brought some heavy weather which Galliford managed perfectly.
"You just knew it was going to be very difficult, which probably plays to my strength. I'm better when it's more about grinding it. I chipped in for birdie at the 2nd after hitting a pair of 2-irons and that was such a bonus – I was two-under through five when you would probably be happy with being one over.
"I checked the leaderboard at the turn and I was four or five ahead and that's when the heavens opened and it got really bad weather-wise. Knowing the course, you’ve got to get through the 10th and thankfully I hit driver, 5-iron when everyone else was making bogey.
"The last three are brutal holes, especially when it's raining, so I played the 17th as a three-shotter. The final tee shot that was probably the most I've thought about a shot for a long time. Normally my straightest club in the bag is driver but it was raining like crazy so I manufactured a 3-wood and it probably only flew 180 yards but ran to about 250. And that's when I knew it was pretty much a done deal and game over."
In the end, he would add a closing level-par 71 for a four-shot triumph.
"The Welsh is probably my biggest event of the year. I think there are three other players who have won the Amateur and the Pros and that was always in my mind to try and win both. There might be bigger events but this one means more to me" - Zach Galliford
There would be two bits of help which also helped Galliford to his first Welsh PGA crown, a tournament that dates back to 1904.
"There's a member at my club, who is about 85 years of age, and he's actually helped me lots with the mental side. The biggest thing I've taken away is reframing – so reframing my scenario and reframing my situation. I was able to see the bad weather as a positive. He was a banker by trade but he's very fascinated by the mind and he's helped me with some of my players as well because if you don't have a strong mental game in bad weather, it will eat you up."
The second foot up was reuniting with his old teacher and Master PGA Professional Luther Blacklock.
"I went to see him at the end of July as I was struggling with a few things. I hadn't seen him for about seven years but we had a session and then I played in an Open Series event at Copt Heath and I shot 65 in the first round after implementing the changes. I thought that was a good sign and then I played well the week after and then it was the Welsh Pros.
"The Welsh is probably my biggest event of the year. I think there are three other players who have won the Amateur and the Pros and that was always in my mind to try and win both. There might be bigger events but this one probably means more to me."
The final cherry on the cake was automatically qualifying for all the Open Series events which gave Galliford a first-time visit to Royal Dornoch in June. He opened up with a one-under 69 before eventually tying for 14th.
"There were something like 360 Pros for only 160 spots but, because I knew I was in, I thought I've got to go. So I planned a road trip with one of my best mates and we played Gleneagles, Blairgowrie, Dornoch three times, Cabot Highlands (Castle Stuart) and the Old Course at St Andrews. How privileged is that – just to be able to play those courses."
This year's Welsh PGA takes place at St Pierre which is only 40 minutes from where Galliford, who hails from Borth and Ynyslas, now coaches at Ross On Wye.
"It's great for my members and the players who I coach and I think there'll be a lot coming down to watch. I probably haven't played it for about 15 years when it was Wales schools versus England schools so I'll have a practice round on the Wednesday and then we'll go from there."
The Welsh National PGA Championship takes place St Pierre Golf Club from Thursday 4th to Friday 5th September and you can follow the live scoring here.
