Dear Industry Colleague,

Shane Lowry has become a legend throughout Ireland for his heroic triumph at Royal Portrush. The course was as gorgeous and stunning as the fairest of fair maidens, but turned into a vicious monster on Sunday afternoon to destroy the cards, hopes and dreams of the multi-talented, multi-millionaire golfers who had assembled to try to claim the Claret jug. Sixty-eight years have passed since Max Faulkner won the Open at Royal Portrush; the world has changed and golf has changed immensely in that period, but despite a few tweaks and changes to the layout in recent years, the challenge of this classic links course remained largely the same. Beguilingly beautiful, with nasty fangs.

Shane Lowry, a golfer blessed with a luscious short game and a powerful individualistic swing, overcame all of his nerves to claim a great victory. Having carefully played himself into position on Thursday and Friday, his outstanding 63 on Saturday was golf of the very highest order. Unafraid, bold, precise, aggressive and yet always with velvety assurance with chips and putts, he destroyed the field and took a four stroke lead into the last round, despite Tommy Fleetwood chasing him hard.

On Sunday, with nerves a quiver he boldly holed out on the first green for a bogey five, when a card wrecking six could have stamped a different tone on the rest of the afternoon. From then on, he played with poise and confidence and if his guts were churning with the momentous feat he was producing, you wouldn’t have known. It was a ballsy display.

Ireland now has it’s Open and it has a new golfing hero. Utterly fabulous - what a week. Golf is in great shape.

Our leading article this week features Alan Walker’s superbly run Garon Park.  Throughout his career, Alan has created tens of thousands golfers by providing first class facilities and a high level of professionalism and customer care.  He has set new standards for the role of a PGA professional and shows how hard work, commitment and innate intelligence can cut bring much success. Anyone looking to develop a top-class facility or considering a career as a golf professional, would do well to spend some time with Alan Walker.  Golf is indeed in great shape.

Best wishes, Colin Jenkins