Devon Features

Tommy Horton Short Game Masterclass
Twenty-one Devon PGA Professionals attended a day organised by Royal North Devon Head Pro, Iain Parker. The event took place on the short game areas at RND and although there was a chilly wind, the overhead conditions were dry and sunny. Tommy and his wife Helen are walking the South West coast path in stages over the next few years, and having spent just a day in his company you can immediately feel the energy organisation, and enthusiasm, that he used to reach the very top of the Professional game.	Tommy Horton
He has several top ten finishes in the Open and was leading British player on three occasions, he played two Ryder Cups and was both Captain of the PGA and Chairman of the European Tour Committee for many years. He started the young Touring Pros week in 1978 which ran for 23 years, and along with coaching legend John Jacobs, has helped some of the best European Tour players including several Major winners, at the start of their Tour career. All the Devon Pros who were at RND on Monday were eager to pick one of golf`s most astute brains. They were not disappointed, and the content and delivery of the sessions were superb, he also found time to tell some great stories from his time on tour, playing with and competing against all the great players of the last 50 yrs. Tommy Horton giving the Devon pros a short game masterclass
Having played with Nicklaus, Watson, Seve, Greg, Sandy Lyle, and all the other greats in the game, he is uniquely qualified to pass on his incredible knowledge. The short game is, he feels the key to success at any level of the game, and having witnessed Phil Mickelson winning the Masters the previous evening, with some stunning short game shots, his point carried even more relevance.
How to get out of a bunker	The sessions covered, bunker play, pitching, lob shots, etc and all the players there benefited greatly from his advice, which they can now use in both their own game and coaching at their clubs. It is hoped that we may be able to organise more sessions in the future in the West Country and it was felt that now that Tommy has seen how much he can help the Countie's Professionals, and how keen we all are to get him back, he could combine some coaching with his new passion for walking the SW coast path.