Hastings earns place among 66 PGA Masters in latest PGA Excel awards

18/06/2025

The PGA is delighted to announce the latest PGA Excel awardees of 2025, with Denise Hastings cementing her place as one of 66 Members with Master status.

Awarded quarterly, PGA Excel recognises PGA Members who have made a significant and sustained impact in the golf industry, whether as a PGA Professional, Coach, or Manager. The framework enables Members to benchmark their expertise, gain a recognised status and elevate their careers across the golf industry.

This quarter, 12 PGA Members have achieved new designations through PGA Excel:

Master Coach

Denise Hastings – Head Coach, Denise Hastings Golf Schools

Fellow Professional

Andrew Collison – Head Professional, Royal West Norfolk Golf Club

Matthew Allanson – Partnership Manager, Acushnet Europe

Daniel Whitby-Smith – Head Professional, Drayton Park Golf Club

Fellow Manager

Darren Lewis – Head Professional & Manager, Lea Marston Hotel & Leisure Complex

Fellow Coach

Stuart Reynolds – Teaching Professional, Staverton Park Hotel & Golf

Advanced Professional

Ross Hudson – Head Professional, Royal West Norfolk Golf Club

Alyson McKechin – Head of Golf & General Manager, Golf It!

Richard Mackenzie – Smith – Head Professional, Queenwood Golf Club

Harriet Matthews – Head of Golf, Malvern College

Advanced Coach

Anthony Johnston – Head Coach, EnglischMan Golf Trips

Alex Clapp – Golf Coach, Alex Clapp Golf

Through the PGA Excel framework, each Member has demonstrated professional excellence, career development and a commitment to continuous improvement, earning a new status that reflects their achievements and standing in the industry.

Tristan Crew, PGA Executive Director - Membership, praised each of the awardees for their dedication and success:

“Congratulations to all 12 Members awarded new PGA Excel designations. This is a testament to their continued impact in the golf industry.

“Special congratulations to Denise on achieving Master status - a rare and prestigious recognition that reflects decades of dedication and innovation in coaching. She truly exemplifies what PGA Excel represents.

“As more Members engage with the framework, its value as a benchmark of excellence becomes increasingly clear, not just for individuals, but for the wider industry as well. In an ever-changing industry, it is vital that our Members are looking for opportunities to showcase excellence and reap the rewards through PGA Excel.”

Denise Hastings, Head coach at Denise Hastings Golf Schools and the fourth WPGA Member to reach Master status, reflected on her achievement.

She said: “It means the world. I’ve put my heart and soul into this and after coming off tour, I knew I wasn’t the best player in the world. So, I wanted to be in the best coach I can be.”

“This journey has been in progress for a while now. It’s not the easiest thing to achieve but to do it, to become a Master Coach, is an honour.”

“People always tell you to dream big – and that’s true – but then you want to dream even bigger and that’s what I’ve done. I’ve worked as hard as I can and PGA Excel can be a vehicle to take you where you want to go. People take notice.”

“I'll always try to improve. What drives me is to be the best I can be to help those that I teach. If I were hiring, I would absolutely look at those who have done their best to better themselves and PGA Excel is a way to do that.

Also among the awardees is Daniel Whitby-Smith, a former PGA Cup player and newly awarded PGA Fellow Professional. He highlighted the personal and professional value of the process:

“I’m really proud. There are so many great PGA Professionals out there, but PGA Excel helps you stand out from the crowd.

“Having it on your CV boosts your chances when applying for jobs. It puts you a step ahead of other candidates. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. When I was unwell, I had more time on my hands, and this felt like a productive way to use it. I’m glad I followed through.

“I’m only 30, and I feel like I’ve already accomplished a lot. But I’ve got more to give, and reaching Master status is one of my goals for the future.”

For Harriet Matthews, now recognised as a PGA Advanced Professional, PGA Excel offered a pathway to showcase and build upon her contributions to the game, whilst ensuring she offers the best possible experience for her clients.

She said: “I am so proud that the work I’ve put in within the golf industry has been recognised. I am delighted to achieve Advanced status.

"I enjoy helping other people achieve their goals and by me improving at what I do, they are receiving a higher level of coaching."

For anyone unsure about applying, she offered simple advice:

“Just go for it. You’ll never know unless you try. Even if you’re not awarded immediately, the feedback you get will put you on the right path.”

Darren Lewis, the sole Fellow Manager among this quarter’s awardees, emphasised the value of supporting PGA Professionals in their development.

“I am amazed and honoured to be awarded PGA Fellow Manager status,” he said.

“I took a completely different path in my career 27 years ago when I became a manager, taking on the role of Head PGA Professional and Golf Shop Manager at Lea Marston.

“With the support of PGA Membership categories, PGA Learn, and PGA Excel, both individuals and teams can achieve meaningful success. I continue to learn every day from other PGA Managers and Professionals.

“I’ve come to truly appreciate the role of both PGA Professionals and Trainees within my team. We actively encourage them to take advantage of every opportunity for development. Looking ahead, if I were to recruit new professionals, their engagement with CPD, PGA Learn, and commitment to advancing through PGA Excel would be a significant factor in my decision.”

Click here to start your PGA Excel self-assessment.

Click here to read more from Tristan Crew about the importance of PGA Excel to golf industry.