CentreCup ambassador Chris Jenkins has been appointed by the English Golf Union (EGU) as an England Regional Coach with responsibility for the East Region.

His role, carried out with fellow PGA Professional David Brooks, encompasses performance coaching for a squad of the most talented golfers in the region between the ages of 14 and 18. Thanks to the upcoming opportunities in the new AASE scheme (Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence) this will be expanded with a second regional squad of 16 to 20 year olds and hence the need for two coaches.

The majority of the coaching sessions will take place at the EGU National Training Centre at Woodhall Spa and involve development in all areas of performance including golf specific technical skill, fitness, psychology and strategy. Chris has already incorporated CentreCup into the programme for the East Region golfers.

Chris is based at Crowlands Heath Golf Club, is an advanced member of the PGA and has received widespread recognition for his work in developing young golfers. He became personal coach to Oliver Fisher in 1996 when Oliver was aged nine, and guided him through to his entry onto the European Tour in 2007.

CentreCup ambassador Chris Jenkins becomes an EGU England Regional coach.

During his time with Chris as his coach, Oliver broke a number of amateur and professional records including the youngest golfer to play in the Walker Cup and the youngest Englishmen to gain a European Tour card. Oliver achieved a ranking of 51st on the European Tour Order of Merit in 2008.

Chris has brought this experience to the role of Essex County Coach, a position he has fulfilled since 2006.

David Brooks is a PGA Advanced Professional who coaches full time at The Warren Golf Club where he is the Head Professional. He has fulfilled the role of Essex County Coach since 1998, and is personal coach to a broad range of golfers from both the amateur and professional game.

David is also retained by the PGA National Training Academy at The Belfry to tutor on the residential courses delivered to assistant golf professionals enrolled on the PGA Foundation Degree. This role involves tutoring on all theoretical and practical aspects of golf coaching, and the integration of Sports Science into player development programmes.

CentreCup Pro® – the new total short-game training aid – was given its worldwide launch at the GTEC Golf Show in Harrogate this week.

CentreCup Pro is the Tour-standard version of CentreCup®, the putting machine being used by more than 150 teaching professionals in the UK since it was first made available in July this year.

Smart professionals are using CentreCup and CentreCup Pro to generate additional income in a number of ways:

CentreCup Pro putting training aid at GTEC golf show

1.    Increasing the price of putting lessons that incorporate CentreCup and CentreCup Pro.
2.    Using CentreCup and CentreCup Pro to create courses of short-game lessons.
3.    Creating a ‘CentreCup Club’ at their club and hiring the units to members anytime they want for a £30 annual fee.
4.    Staging group putting and chipping demonstrations to members, societies and corporate groups for a £5-10 a head.
5.    Staging indoor putting lessons in evenings and in bad weather.

Both training aids have been specifically designed to help teaching Pro’s generate more revenue, with one Midlands-based Pro taking more than £1,500 within two weeks of receiving his unit.

Launching CentreCup Pro at GTEC, inventor Ian Melville, PGA Professional, said: “We are delighted to showcase CentreCup Pro for the first time at GTEC with Foremostgolf.

“Our aim with both products is to help Professionals generate extra income – either by increasing their volume of short-game lessons, or by adding an extra dimension and value to the lessons and packages they already offer.

“CentreCup and CentreCup Pro deliver instant results that golfers can physically feel and easily understand without over-analysis - or the need for expensive computer-based software and systems.”

CentreCup, which is currently available at an introductory price of £345, promotes a ‘straight-back and straight-through’ putting stroke and can be used for greenside chips.

CentreCup Pro, available from February 2010 with an MRP of £1,350, is the complete short-game solution. It can be used for a ‘straight-back and straight-through’ putting stroke – but, crucially, it can be inclined for a ‘in-square-in’ stroke and can be used for longer chips and pitches from 100 yards in.