Germany-based Ian Peek, a PGA tutor, golf aid inventor and consultant to the R&A and PGA's of Europe, received his Advanced Fellow of the PGA award last week.
The highly-respected PGA professional, who has carved out a rewarding 20-year career in the industry - and all of it overseas - was back at PGA headquarters to pass on his knowledge to the next generation of PGA professionals in his capacity as a swing tutor.
However, the Scots-born pro, found time in his schedule to collect the second highest honour awarded under the PGA's APAL (Accreditation of Prior Achievement and Learning) system.
Peek, inventor of the worldwide selling NMS fault fixer and PSP Perfect Swing Plane, reflected on his elevation and encouraged his fellow PGA professionals to be part of the APAL programme.
"I've always been motivated and I like learning and improving myself. So I asked the Association about this about 10 years ago and was told this programme was ongoing," he said.
"In 2005 the criteria was launched and I was given Fellow status. Having got that I wanted to be an Advanced Fellow and consequently I have worked the last four years towards that.
"I have enjoyed what I've had to do but always at the back of my mind it was to achieve Advanced Fellow status, which is what has driven me.
"I think the fact the PGA is promoting these awards is also driving other colleagues. Most golfers are competitive and other PGA professionals have asked me, 'how did you get it? what did you do?'. I just tell them to go to the PGA, where they can find the criteria, and to put their case forward because these are significant achievements."
08 March, 2010