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.

Ian Melville from CentreCup in Glenmuir clothing

Glenmuir, one of the world’s leading golf clothing brands, has become the official clothing supplier to CentreCup.

Ian Meville is now wearing a specially-embroidered Performance Club shirt, with matching Woburn sweater and StormBloc Pro windshirt as he travels the country demonstrating CentreCup to PGA Professionals.

The official CentreCup demonstration team will also be decked out in Glenmuir at trade shows and events and will be wearing the team kit at the PGA Merchandise Show in Florida in January 2010 as we exhibit for the first time outside of the UK.

Ian Melville says: “Glenmuir is a fantastic brand and we’re proud that they have chosen to endorse us.

“They are the official suppliers to the European Ryder Cup Team and have relationships with all the major associations in golf, like the PGA and Golf Foundation, so to have them on board is great news and we thank the team in Lanark for their support.”

Glenmuir’s marketing manager, Helen Logan, chose stone and white garments to complement and showcase the distinctive orange and black CentreCup logo. All clothing is also embroidered with the famous Glenmuir 1891 logo.

www.centrecup.com

CentreCup has made its debut on the European Tour after accepting an invitation to attend the European Open at the London Club earlier this Summer.

Aussie star Brett Rumford, Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Argentinian Rafa Echenique were among many Tour stars who used CentreCup during practise for the top event. And during the Wednesday Pro-Am, former champion jump jockey John Francome (now a top TV racing pundit) came along for a go.

CentreCup inventor, Ian Melville, said: “I’d like to thank The Tour’s David Garland for allowing us to attend the European Open. For a new product to be inside the ropes at such an early stage of its development was very exciting for us.”

Ian also met up with Yes! Golf’s Tour coach Phil Kenyon, who was very interested in CentreCup.

www.centrecup.com

TV racing pundit John Francome tries the CentreCup training aid on his way to finishing fifth in the Pro-Am.

Brett Rumford tries CentreCup at the European Open.

CentreCup, the world’s #1 putting training aid, went on the road last month and exhibited at the Scottish Golf Show, Glasgow - and got a phenomenal reaction from Scottish golfers.

Thousands of golfers queued to have a go on the incredible putting machine, with comments ranging from “the best putting aid I have ever seen” - I Colquhoun, Haggs Castle GC; to “amazing, superb, got to have one” - Craig McEwan.

CentreCup inventor, Ian Melville, PGA Professional, said: “This was the first time the public have seen CentreCup in all its glory. We took two prototypes to the NEC Golf Show but the Scottish Golf Show was effectively our worldwide launch.

“We couldn’t have been more delighted with the response to CentreCup. Many golfers appreciated what CentreCup does - to put the shoulders in complete control of the putting stroke. Once they got on the training aid they holed putt after putt in their thousands.”

CentreCup is already being used by Solheim Cup captain Alison Nicholas at her academy in Birmingham, and other leading players and coaches are all now using the putting training aid to give lessons to all standards of golfer.

Andy Gorman, a teaching Pro at the Alison Nicholas Golf Academy and CentreCup instructor, said: “Many golfers at the Scottish Golf Show thought CentreCup was the best putting training aid they had ever seen.

“As a teaching pro it is very hard to coach a perfect putting action - but CentreCup gives instant feedback on what it feels like to make a putting stroke as good as Tiger Woods’.”

The first shipment of CentreCup putting training aids arrives in the UK at the end of April, and will sell online at CentreCup.com priced £295 + VAT.

Pictures from the Scottish Golf Show:

Young golfer tries out the CentreCup putting training aid

Ian Meville demonstrates CentreCup at the Scottish Golf Show.

Swingrite UK Ltd - manufacturers of CentreCup, the putting training aid launched to universal acclaim at the NEC Golf Show in November 2008 - has developed an additional new putter brace for CentreCup which positions the golfer’s hands ahead of the ball at address.

The new brace has been developed by Ian Melville, a PGA Professional and inventor of CentreCup, and Paul Pepper, CentreCup’s design engineer.

It gives golfers and teaching professionals the option of replacing CentreCup’s standard vertical hand and putter brace with a patented ‘offset brace’, making CentreCup instantly appealing for golfers who prefer their hands to be slightly ahead of the ball.

Said Ian: “Some golfers, particular Tour players and low handicap players, like a forward press in their putting stroke of around 3 degrees ahead of vertical.

“Scientific studies have supported the belief that forward hand positioning locks the wrists into a firmer position, reducing wrist involvement and ensuring that the golfer therefore putts with the larger muscles of the shoulders rather than with a ‘wristy’ action.

“This action also helps to keep the left wrist (for right-handed golfers) strong and firm and aimed towards the target line through the stroke.”

CentreCup has been designed to promote a Pure InLine Square Stroke and is fully adjustable along its patented Chest Brace, allowing the golfer to position the ball further forwards in their stance.

Now the new brace, which fits easily into the top part of the Putter Brace, also enables the hands to move ahead of the ball, effectively delofting the putter and minimising the chances of the ball ‘hopping’ or bouncing off the face.

Added Ian Melville: “The new brace brings an added dimension to CentreCup. While the majority of golfers will use the standard vertical brace, it was important for us to design an offset version for players who want that forward press.”

S-Blade putters - which use fantastic new ‘curved face’ technology - were CentreCup’s official putter suppliers at the NEC Golf Show from November 21-23.

Thousands of golfers witnessed us holing putt after putt with the distinctive S-Blade Greenstreak and lots of you asked where you can buy one.

CentreCup used S-Blade putters at the NEC Golf Show

The putters are available from Spherical Blade the Wales-based putter company. S-Blade putters have a gently curving face which guarantees to put class-beating end-over-end roll on the golfball.

Putts hit with an S-Blade are far less likely to skid or bobble than those hit with other putters - a fact which has been proven in laboratory testing at the Quintic consultancy.

S-Blade MD Ian Smith gave us a range of putters for the show, ranging from 30 inches to 35 inches, enabling us to custom fit for length using CentreCup.

And a massive percentage of visitors to our stand realised they needed to use a shorter putter - a fact that legendary putting guru Harold Swash (of Yes putters) has been talking about for years.

CentreCup inventor Ian Melville uses an S-Blade Greenstreak when he plays, and earlier this year shot a front-nine 29 at Rutland County Golf Club using the ‘flatstick’.

Said Ian: “When golfers used CentreCup it was hard for them to miss a putt anyway - but when combined  with the outstanding performance of the S-Blade putters, the visitors to our stand really appreciated the difference.

“We are all about getting the ball rolling early. CentreCup and S-Blade putters are leaders in this important area of putting.”

S-Blade can be contacted on: 0845 555 2525.

PGA Pro Ian Melville uses S-Blade putters

Visitors to the NEC Golf Show holed a staggering 21,183 putts over three days at the CentreCup stand, as the new training aid was demonstrated to the public for the first time.

With two CentreCup putting aids running in tandem on the stand and on the portable putting green, at one point golfers were queueing for more than an hour to get a go on the new ‘putting machines’.

CentreCup team members used mechanical tally counters to log how many putts were holed by visitors - which included Tour pro golfers Alison Nicholas, Felicity Johnson and Carl Watts.

CentreCup putting training aid stand

CentreCup inventor, PGA Pro Ian Melville, said: “We were clicking like mad. Bearing in mind that each CentreCup was specifically adjusted to custom-fit each visitor, which takes a little bit of time, we would probably have broken the 30,000 putts barrier.”

CentreCup works by locking the putter in a brace which stops hands and wrists from breaking. A unique chest brace and slide bar design also stops the golfer’s shoulders from twisting, so the putter face is always delivered square to the ball and target line.

This PILS (pure in line square) stroke is recommended by none other than Dave Peltz, one of the greatest golf short game instructors in the world.

Andy demonstrates CentreCup

By making sure your eyes, shoulders, forearms, hips, knees & feet are all aligned - and keeping the putter square to the aimline throughout the stroke - CentreCup guarantees a straight-back-and-through path.

CentreCup eliminates all of the problems that cause poor putting and uses unique and patented technology to promote only good putting technique.

CentreCup has been developed to enable golfers of all abilities to discover how to make a repeatable, rhythmical putting & chipping stroke.

• Develops muscle memory for a perfect pendulum putting stroke
• Encourages smooth rhythm
• Eliminates off-plane shoulder twisting
• Eradicates wrist break - the putter is locked in
• Putter face is always square to the ball
• Promotes straight back and straight through action
• Keeps lateral sway to a minimum
• Guarantees release through impact
• Starts and keep putts on line
• Ball rolls without skid or hop
• Develops confidence and feel

CentreCup will be available online at CentreCup.com in January.

CentreCup was launched to golfers at the NEC Golf Show this weekend - with thousands of golfers and some of the biggest names in the sport all amazed by our sensational new putting training aid.

At one point during the weekend, golfers were queueing 32-deep to get a go on our ‘putting machine’ with inventor Ian Melville and fellow PGA Pro Andy Gorman from the Alison Nicholas Golf Academy dispensing advice and demonstrating CentreCup.

Alison Nicholas uses the CentreCup putting training aid at the NEC Golf Show

Harold Swash, one of the world’s great putting coaches visited us for a demo, as well as two-time Major winner, Alison Nicholas; English Ladies European Tour star, Felicity Johnson; and former European Tour star, Carl Watts (now a highly-regarded coach).

Today’s Golfer, the UK’s biggest-selling golf magazine interviewed Ian Melville for their website with resident teaching pro Dan Frost, and the lovely Sophie Horn from showmethegolf.tv also got a televised putting lesson for their next broadcast.

Said Ian: “We had an incredible show. The response to CentreCup has been nothing short of phenomenal.

“Many visitors said we were the best putting training aid they had ever seen or used. And for me, personally, to have Harold Swash on the stand was a great honour.”

CentreCup goes on sale from www.CentreCup.com in January.

CentreCup inventor Ian Melville, a teaching professional for more than 15 years, believes most golfers are using a putter that is the wrong length for them.

While a lot of golfers have discovered custom-fitting for irons, precious few have had their ideal putter length assessed and instead simply opt for off-the-shelf models in a standard 35inch variety.

During the testing of CentreCup - the revolutionary new putting and chipping training aid - Ian discovered that around 90% of golfers would improve their putting if they used a shorter model.

He said: “CentreCup uses a fully adjustable putter brace and mirror system to help the golfer line up to putt with their eyes directly over the ball.

“In many cases, golfers could not achieve this using their normal putter. But when we used a shorter putter their alignment and posture was much better. As a result, using CentreCup they were able to produce a perfect inline pendulum putting stroke - with the putter face staying square to the ball and target throughout the stroke.”

CentreCup works by taking the hands, wrists and arms out of the putting stroke and enabling the shoulders to control the stroke. It’s impossible to break your wrists or move your arms independently of your body.

And because shoulders remain square to the target during the stroke, the putter face simply cannot open or close.

CentreCup officially launches in the UK at the NEC Golf Show in November.