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.

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, 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.”