PGA professional Tony Pennock is celebrating a major success at the England Golf Awards 2023.
Pennock works as the general manager at Seckford Golf Club, which was recently named as the ‘Club of the Year’ at a glittering awards event, staged in Manchester.
Pennock, who qualified as a PGA professional in 1979, has been a major part in the Suffolk club’s return from the brink.
He took on the role of ‘GM’ around five years ago at a time when Seckford was up against some serious financial challenges. Indeed at one point in early 2020, the club was facing bankruptcy.
But the Seckford team, with Pennock as a driving force, has fought back through a string of initiatives. These have served to not only boost the club’s coffers, but also create a unique identity on its fairways and in its clubhouse.
Seckford’s popular Points4Golf4 scheme has made the sport accessible to all, while Pennock – a dynamic 64-year-old – has launched and runs ground-breaking ‘Fore-Get-Me-Not’ golf sessions for people living with dementia.
In announcing the award, England Golf recognised how Seckford had “become the beating heart of its community.”
Pennock said: “Winning the award was an absolute honour and, I think, a triumph for the little clubs.”
In his own words, Pennock has a “passion for getting people to play golf with no barriers.” He also understands the financial challenges faced by golf clubs – and how to find solutions for such problems.
He said: “I’m probably the most knowledgeable person in the world about modern flexible memberships and how to run a golf club on a shoe string.”
While he may have been central to Seckford scooping the England Golf gong, Pennock is quick to point out that the triumph was down to the efforts of many.
He summed up: “I’m very proud of our team. The recognition of what we’ve done makes me very proud indeed.”
PICTURE CAPTION - Tony Pennock (centre, holding the award) and members of the team from Seckford Golf Club celebrates that winning feeling at the England Golf Awards 2023.
