ALLAN STAYING ON AS COFFS HARBOUR’S HEAD PROFESSIONAL
WHEN it all came to the crunch, Matt Allan signed on for a further five years as the Coffs Harbour Golf Club’s Head Professional because it’s a natural fit.
Having joined the Club originally as a junior more than 30 years ago, Allan said it’s hard to see him being anywhere but at Coffs Harbour as it’s a Club he so clearly loves with a passion.
“I guess it’s my Club. If I wasn’t the Pro here I’d be a member here,” Allan said.
“It feels like home so it’s extra special to be elevated to that position as the Club Pro, it’s a big honour, huge honour.
“Particularly at this Club with 27 holes, just a great membership and lot of really good people and it’s got such a really good atmosphere.
“Sometimes you’ve got to go away to realise what you’ve got and there’s not many Clubs like this so it’s pretty special to be the Pro of it.”
Having already been in the position for 15 years, this new contract extension will see the Pro who was recently named as one of the top-50 Club Fitters in Australia become the Club’s second longest serving Club Professional.
“I don’t think I could ever leave here now because there’s so many things to get done and we want to get done,” the 44-year old said.
“At the end of the day, if you move it’s going to be the same thing so you might as well be here at Coffs Harbour. Great golf course and a beautiful place.
“You think about it (moving) in the back of your mind when you do get offered something but I don’t think I’d ever move. I think it’s just a great spot and you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else really.”
Club President Russ McConchie said when the only negative regarding Allan anybody could come up with is his lifelong support of the Dragons, it made the decision to extend the tenure of the Head Professional an easy one.
“The Board is elated to be able to announce to its members that it signed Allan on for another five years as the Club Professional. Matt has been an outstanding professional at the Club for a long time and a great Club man,” McConchie said.
“He always goes above and beyond when assisting members, provides generous sponsorship of the Club, events and junior program, regularly plays with members and makes new members feel welcome, buys into the Club’s ‘family’ culture and is completely dedicated to his teaching and fitting service.
“On top of all that, the clinics Matt runs we believe are industry best practice and have a great success rate in members joining.”
For Allan it’s now onwards and upwards in the future.
“We’ve been at the forefront of beginner golf in the area if not the country and we’ve got some of our own programs that we’ve designed that really work now and the conversion rates of beginners to new members have been phenomenal,” he said.
“I’d like to get everyone in Coffs Harbour at least attempting to play golf because it’s such a good sport and anyone can play it.
“We’re getting a new indoor teaching studio and undercover practice bays in the near future and that will be exciting.”
