1 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:06,640 Welcome back to Line by Golf, the podcast exploring the 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,240 journeys of people linked by the game. 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:11,200 I'm your host Ross McGuire, and this week I'm thrilled to bring 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,920 you Kenny Monaghan, the head Professional at Stirling Golf 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,800 Club and owner of the Strathclyde Park Family Golf 6 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,640 Centre in Hamilton with his wife Amy. 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,360 In this episode, we've discussed the exciting events Stirling 8 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,800 Golf Club have got planned for this year and also delve into 9 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,640 the transformation of the Family Golf Centre at Strathclyde Park 10 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:30,840 in Hamilton. Let's go over to Kenny. 11 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:36,960 Kenny Monaghan joins the show this week. 12 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:38,600 Kenny, great to see you again. How are you doing? 13 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,840 Ross, thanks for having me. Yeah, it's a pleasure. 14 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:45,440 And thank you very much for inviting us back for a second 15 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:46,440 time. I really appreciate it. 16 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,560 No problem at all and and Kenny, you're in the place I was going 17 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:51,240 to start with Stumbling Golf Club. 18 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:54,160 You get some exciting updates are coming for this year. 19 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:55,920 So what's going on at Stalin these days? 20 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,320 Yeah, so I'm sitting in the middle of the place just now. 21 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,000 It's as pretty busy. Stalin's a brilliant place. 22 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,319 I love it too. But the sun has finally started 23 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,040 coming back out in Scotland as well. 24 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,960 So winter restrictions getting lifted. 25 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,120 I have these. Getting excited for the start of 26 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,400 the golf season now, which kicks off for us next week. 27 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:18,040 Yeah, to answer your question, I've got UGI both up here this 28 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,640 year. We've done really well over the 29 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:23,360 last few years trying to get the the whole kind of name out 30 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:27,160 there, broaden the horizon. I'll be back there with the 31 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,440 introduction of like, but in the Scottish golf Rota for example, 32 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:31,840 with all the events now for about. 33 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,760 But in Scottish PJ Rota, they've been holding some modern America 34 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,920 events for the last few years. This year in particular, we get 35 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,160 2 new ones that are exciting. One in particular is the 36 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:50,160 Scottish PGA Order of Merit. It's the fair, yes, very sex, 37 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,640 whole Order of Merit program that we're hosting here. 38 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,640 We're led to believe that's would be the biggest program in 39 00:01:55,640 --> 00:02:01,000 Scotland in 2026. Very, very lucky to have one 40 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:06,240 members that are willing. Also such a successful local 41 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,479 business there that's come on board to sponsor this as a taken 42 00:02:09,479 --> 00:02:15,480 sponsor and really helped us get this event and it's something I 43 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:17,840 think it's a first for Scottish PJ. 44 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,000 Day one I'll start with a pro only event. 45 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,440 Day two, run into a combination of pros only in the moment and a 46 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:30,160 shotgun afternoon Pro 1 as well. So very exciting for us because 47 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:35,400 we have started this event as part of our plans to try and 48 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,480 raise a bit of money for the club and exciting new clubhouse 49 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:43,480 project that is a club have been pushing towards the last few 50 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,080 years and this will get the ball rolling. 51 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:48,000 My thoughts. So it's brilliant. 52 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,400 Yeah, we couldn't have done it without SES, the guys and Mayor 53 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:56,040 Paul Lord, Managing Director, the owners, Fletcher family that 54 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:57,760 all get great association with the club. 55 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,960 Been incredible that they've all come so willingly forward to 56 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,440 help us with this and very exciting. 57 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:06,120 Yeah. Am I right in saying that 58 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:07,560 they're based in Barnett born Kenny? 59 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,560 Is that right? They were, I don't know exactly 60 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:11,560 all the insurance and outs of it. 61 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:13,360 There was a bit of change of ownership. 62 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:16,040 I believe some of it was sold. That kind of moved. 63 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,160 FES is still there, but maybe not in the original capacity. 64 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,960 And I'm moving closer down towards us here at the Golf 65 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,720 Club. But yeah, local business 66 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,960 eventually grew all over the UK as far as I might believe. 67 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:34,240 So fantastic. Stubborn's got a pretty nice 68 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,120 compass already, you've got a great possession with the 18th 69 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:39,200 team right there. So is there going to be much 70 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:40,960 change in terms of the club post or is it? 71 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:45,360 Allison as way above my pay grade, all of us, but the 72 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:47,280 members have been discussing it for a few years. 73 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,800 You can't stand still. One of the best things that have 74 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:52,240 come in and work at the Golf Club here. 75 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,360 They've always tried really hard to keep getting better and 76 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:59,000 developing things. We've spent the last 8 to 10 77 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,040 years doing a lot of that work on the golf course itself. 78 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,080 That practice facilities would be one of the best practice 79 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:10,960 facilities going in the country. But the attention has always 80 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:14,400 been sorted as the tension has been moving towards trying to 81 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,000 bring the clubhouse up to what we believe kind of matches the 82 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:18,839 facilities that will go on the course. 83 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,200 And on the practice frame. We've got arguably one of the 84 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:24,800 best backdrops in the country there as well with the castle 85 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,360 behind us. So it'd be nice to maybe try and 86 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,920 tie in with that and we'll get someone else to set and have a 87 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,840 better for our members and, and I guess, but also just raise the 88 00:04:33,840 --> 00:04:35,400 profile of the whole place as well. 89 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:41,080 So Yep, members clubs, you know, can be difficult at times, these 90 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:45,240 nonprofit organizations that are trying to get improved while 91 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,040 nobody enters getting these projects off the ground. 92 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,880 As you said, you know, that's, that's more than a committee and 93 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,760 members than it is to me. But organizing this and marking 94 00:04:56,760 --> 00:05:00,160 W the PGA and committee, that's just a small thing that I can do 95 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,320 to try and get the ball rolling on it really. 96 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,240 Yeah, and that's really exciting what happened, you know, the 97 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,040 largest pro arm in Scotland and all the great players that would 98 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:10,720 come see. You've got some brilliant guys 99 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,840 in the time tour at the moment who are who are going to be 100 00:05:13,840 --> 00:05:15,040 there right loss. Agree. 101 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:16,560 Yeah, we hope so. We hope so. 102 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,240 Historically this event has kind of been a pro event for a few 103 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:23,200 days and there's been about 100 odd pros. 104 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:27,560 So we're based on that number and hopefully it doesn't clash 105 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:31,400 with anything or some of the bigger names might be going to 106 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,880 play on Myself and Scott are actually going to dust off our 107 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,160 clubs as well and playing this one of our new assistant cause 108 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,680 Adam as well. So nerves have already started 109 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,680 to some of the bets that owned the Pro shop have been quite 110 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:48,040 interesting so far. So now the members are all 111 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:50,440 coming back out from winter hibernation, I'm sure they'll be 112 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,000 giving us a little bit of added pleasure. 113 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,880 I'm guessing. I'm guessing you're not taking 114 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,440 score for the longest drive for. No, no, no, no. 115 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:01,680 I put them by 1 the last time, right? 116 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,720 So I may get that. And then while we're live on 117 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,200 radio here. So we'll see how that works. 118 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,720 That's time, right? Brilliant, brilliant. 119 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,440 But it's not the only tournament Israel can you mentioned another 120 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,160 one that's coming up of? Course, of course. 121 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,040 Yeah, this year, very exciting for us. 122 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:19,920 Here we are now officially the final qualifying venue for this 123 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,840 year's Seniors Open Championship, which is obviously 124 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:29,720 going to be Elder Glen Eagles. We were selected by the RNA, 125 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:31,960 which is great to host this event. 126 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,040 This is huge for us because there'll be some really big 127 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,800 names at that point, obviously qualifying for a major. 128 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,840 And again, really just one of the remits of my job was always 129 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:44,520 to try and get the club a little bit more of a profile. 130 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,200 That's just kind of bad stuff. As much as I don't have much to 131 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,920 do with it, that's just as the whole sign and get some name out 132 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,760 there a little bit more. So already we're starting to see 133 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,160 players already get in touch. They're looking for practice 134 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:58,480 rounds and. Really. 135 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:00,680 Wow. Rumour has it you'll be 50 by 136 00:07:00,680 --> 00:07:04,440 then, so maybe a real big name that's starting to call us and. 137 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,600 I can confirm that we'll definitely be 50 by then. 138 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,600 Whether I'm there or not is a different question, but we'll 139 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:12,160 get there. We'll give a go. 140 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:13,680 And some tea. I'll take you down for a 141 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,080 practice round as well, but you need to negotiate that off 142 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,360 there. Try to do Kenny Gallagher or 143 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:19,960 John Johnson. Now that would be awesome, 144 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:22,880 wouldn't it? I must say I listened to both of 145 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:24,880 those podcasts there a couple of weeks ago. 146 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:30,520 And my other job packing up golf balls in the moment for my sons. 147 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,160 I put podcasts on from time to time. 148 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:34,640 I listened to that one. I thought it was amazing. 149 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,040 Chinese in particular, just talking about playing these 150 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,520 heroes and stuff like that. Really inspired. 151 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,680 Yes, there's really phenomenal and it's great for the area. 152 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:47,120 It's great for Sterling to have that coming to and I think it 153 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,640 just reinforces the quality of the golf course and the test 154 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:51,800 that it's got. Absolutely. 155 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:53,960 The views are incredible for the course, aren't they? 156 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:59,240 Yeah, I mean, look at one of the best backdrops going as 157 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,480 beautiful blue skies, which we don't get much, but we do see 158 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,840 people walking around. You know, I'd say all the time 159 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:08,640 that there's camera phones out all the time just taking 160 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,040 pictures. We're fortunately kind of 161 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:13,880 piggyback off the back of being so close to Glen Eagles. 162 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,560 We got a lot of us and visitors passing by maybe the main road 163 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:21,120 also coming from down South to Medicine Andrews, for example. 164 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,880 So yeah, it's good listening. We just need our name out there 165 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,480 a bit more. It's busy with the members 166 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,280 anyway, so the projects like this, we need to raise a wee bit 167 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:34,360 more and profile revenue, whatever and get this place 168 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,240 project done, which would be exciting. 169 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:40,760 So yeah. I think on that, Kenny and I've 170 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,360 talked about us quite a bit on this podcast with different 171 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,320 people. I think in Scotland we take a 172 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,440 lot of what we've got for granted. 173 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,080 And obviously I don't love in Scotland anymore. 174 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:53,760 But you know, I was up recently and obviously met you. 175 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:58,920 I was at Sterling as well and and saw score and I think you 176 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:00,240 need to be away for a lot of our time. 177 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,920 I know you lived in Dubai for a while, but when you come back, 178 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:07,240 you actually start to really see things like the castle, like the 179 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,560 local hills. And I just don't think in 180 00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:13,480 Scotland we shout enough about what we've actually got. 181 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:17,200 Yeah, look at big golf courses, get lots of headlines and lot, a 182 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:20,240 lot of press. But even then, the rest of the 183 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:24,040 country's got so many good places to go, so many beautiful 184 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,400 sights, and we just take it for granted. 185 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:27,960 You go on. Yeah, there's a castle, there's 186 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:29,960 Wallace, and you just walk past it. 187 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,000 It's crazy. I've told this story a few 188 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:35,320 times, but the I was very fortunate. 189 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:39,280 I wanted to buy Greek final six years and they used to the 190 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:44,320 seaplane that landed on the Creek 3 or 4 times a day and the 191 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:46,960 novelty at the start and I first went out there was OK, this is 192 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,240 incredible. This planes landing here, people 193 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,480 getting on and off. After about two or three years 194 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:55,800 I'm starting to complain that it was landing and the top of my 195 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,480 backswing or you know, and I was about to hit an important part 196 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,960 or something like that. I do have the same feeling as 197 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,160 you and I can match you and I was like, you never really take 198 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,120 these things for granted as on a doorstep. 199 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:11,080 But we also have some wonderful golf courses that maybe I'm 200 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:14,840 let's say over £100 initial that everyone seems to talk about. 201 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:20,600 You can get out and play so many hidden gems in this country for 202 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,280 a fraction of the price. The big ones are great. 203 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,680 Lesson are very good, there's no doubt about that. 204 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,160 But some of the lesser known ones are very good as well. 205 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,000 Yeah, absolutely. And then can you touched on your 206 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,600 your other sight line in terms of packing up golf balls, but 207 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,760 that's for a range that you own. I'd love you talk about that 208 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:39,720 venture and how it's gone after the first year. 209 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,920 Yeah, we touched on that the last time we caught up. 210 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:44,320 And when was that? A year ago. 211 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,720 Yeah, it's something like that. Yeah, it was just no long after 212 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:48,480 you'd opened. Yeah. 213 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,640 Yeah, I thought it was a good idea at the time. 214 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,760 And no, I'm only joking. Yeah, my wife and I, we've had 215 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,520 just the Strathpate Park Family Golf Centre in October 2024, 216 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:04,280 been a what? A one kind of 18 months to be 217 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:09,760 honest with you, a site that's been there for probably 60 plus 218 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:13,440 years. So as long as I had, sorry. 60, 219 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:16,520 Yeah, a few different, well, it's kind of operated in some 220 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,080 slightly different ways. Historically, there's got a 221 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:20,760 small municipal golf course there. 222 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,880 There was a starter element to the golf course plus the driving 223 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:31,360 age cafe and retail etcetera. Previous Pro Valley Walker and 224 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,360 his business partner, they had it for about 31 years, right. 225 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,560 But since we've taken over, I mean most of our work's really 226 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:42,880 just been in kind of re energizing the place and bring 227 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:48,240 it up to maybe a spec. This may be more commonly 228 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:50,240 expected. Now. 229 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:53,960 We've got a 24 day driving range. 230 00:11:54,560 --> 00:11:56,280 We put in a brand new retail shop. 231 00:11:57,440 --> 00:11:58,880 That was one of the first jobs that we did. 232 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,120 We brought Top Tracer technology into the driving range in 233 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:07,640 December 24, which has been incredible for us. 234 00:12:07,680 --> 00:12:10,800 Absolutely. I mean, some of the success that 235 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:12,080 we've had, we couldn't have done it without. 236 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:19,440 That April last year, we got Buddy's Cafe off the ground, 237 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:25,160 which is about a 35 seat cafe, heroin addition to the facility. 238 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,400 Because there's some way where people can now come and spend 239 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:30,200 some time, even if they're not golfers. 240 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,920 So we'll see loads of families arriving, mums get in for coffee 241 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:36,240 and some lunch and maybe the kids going out and having some 242 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,360 bowls. But I'd stick some of the 243 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:42,000 programs, the coaching programs that we offer kids, junior 244 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:45,200 Academy, ladies coffee, morning groups, ETC. 245 00:12:49,080 --> 00:12:51,240 If you've been enjoying the show, please do remember to 246 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,760 follow on your favorite podcast platform and share it with a 247 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,960 friend. Now let's get back to the pod. 248 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,000 And then kind of back end of last year, we got McDonald's 249 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,160 sports therapy. We built a facility there for 250 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,720 lots of sports therapists and joined us. 251 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,480 Kale's been great. He's been helping the all winter 252 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,880 actually with my dodgy curves and he's got a up to speed. 253 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:19,920 I'll use that excuse again, the pro. 254 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:21,440 I've made enough for a nightmare. 255 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,560 And again, you know, just different people, different 256 00:13:25,560 --> 00:13:28,480 clientele. We we also built a conference 257 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,960 room and there which we know you're getting some regular 258 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:35,960 customers coming into one company in particular hire out. 259 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:39,120 So they had board meeting every month, last Thursday of every 260 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:44,720 month, like manufacturers coming in, Titleist and Callaway, Under 261 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:47,080 Armour. I've been renting this remote 262 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,680 for a week or so to see all their retail partners as well. 263 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:54,320 So yeah, just collectively bringing lots of different 264 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:57,520 people to the place. But not just the golf range 265 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,120 anymore, we've got a number of different kind of have been used 266 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:04,400 that people might want to come to a facility for or even get a 267 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:08,200 replay park at the Sun for the kids on Ross when you come back 268 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,640 up there to Scotland there. If I can't hear any golf. 269 00:14:11,800 --> 00:14:15,040 Some of those be slides, Yeah, I think you might have some balls 270 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,640 at the range. As long as my handicap slider in 271 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:18,920 the right way, that will be fine. 272 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:25,000 Yeah, I mean it's, it's the, the golf centre has been great. 273 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:29,680 The Tom and people come into the place now, the buzz, the 274 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:34,200 atmosphere, positive feedback that we get, the introduction of 275 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,360 Top Trace. And as I said, we, we actually 276 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:41,720 go to Madrid at the weekend. My wife and I, we are very 277 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:45,880 fortunate to win the newcomer of the year awards from Top Trace. 278 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:49,080 They're having, I think it's a global awards ceremony in Madrid 279 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:52,440 next Monday, which we're going to very excited about. 280 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:57,760 But because of that, we've actually accelerated some plans, 281 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:01,600 extension plans, which we also get underway next week. 282 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,800 We're going to put in seven more days into the driving range. 283 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:10,040 We're also going to introduce 2 custom fitting and coaching 284 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,560 bays. And we're really going to bring 285 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:17,760 all our bowl washing and cleaning operation really in the 286 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:21,360 21st century, let's say. So hopefully no more early 287 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,640 moments for me out in the dark picking up golf balls and those 288 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:28,520 dust plastic clicker chips that we've all seen. 289 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:30,600 At least you at least you won the. 290 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:36,320 Oceans, I warned, yeah, it's about an old skill. 291 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:40,120 We're doing it there. But as I said, yeah, lesson 292 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,440 usage of the place has gone through the rest and we need the 293 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,520 extra days. We don't want to disappoint 294 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,920 customers that are coming. We also want to bring that more 295 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,000 modern. But a big part of that there is 296 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:58,040 we could speed up a lot of the processes that we've got and 297 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,880 that one in particular is very labor intensive, picking the 298 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:03,160 balls up and manually clean them. 299 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:07,360 I honestly don't think, I certainly never took that into 300 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,320 account when I went to a driving inch and balls all the time. 301 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:13,440 You just see the balls going to be, you don't really think about 302 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,320 them getting packed up. You don't really think about the 303 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:19,120 operation of them getting cleaned and back out there 304 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:21,640 again. Some things for later on that 305 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,640 day or something from the next moment. 306 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:26,400 There's quite a lot goes into it for sure. 307 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:28,400 Yeah, yeah. And then that much? 308 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:30,880 As it starts with, I'm looking on this camera, you know, the 309 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:33,080 even last night. I'll put that down and drive 310 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:37,160 Mitch, but. One of the things I was going to 311 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:42,600 ask you, Kenny, is how many golf balls do you have in a week, for 312 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,360 example, or even a month? What kind of numbers do you 313 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:47,880 actually pick up, Gavin? They're all high, right? 314 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,560 Then still you get packed up. So how many golf balls are 315 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,720 getting hurt? The Top Tracer have this amazing 316 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:55,960 management system. We can basically. 317 00:16:55,960 --> 00:17:00,040 Track. The usage of pretty much what 318 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:03,960 every player coming through, the driving and what they're doing, 319 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,200 what their habits are, how they practice, how long they practice 320 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:12,280 for, how many balls what, what part of the Top Tracer 321 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:15,040 technology do they use. We know it is actual golf. 322 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,040 We've got lots of different skills, tests and fun. 323 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,920 It is been more traditional golfers on your elite level 324 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:25,839 golfers. Without a shadow of a doubt, 325 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,320 about 70% of our overall usage is my practice. 326 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,560 It's just them, which is basically just that into your 327 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,400 club, hit your balls, see how far they go. 328 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:38,680 Most people just want to use that form of playing a goal. 329 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,200 But also on top of that, we can see how many balls get hit every 330 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:46,720 day. And last year, 2025 new 331 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,560 technology, we didn't really have much records to put out 332 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,360 against. We set a target of 5 million 333 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:55,800 golf balls to be hit in a year. We ended up hitting 6.2 million. 334 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:00,840 Wow, it was incredible. This year, we're already about 335 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,760 100,000 UPS for year to date compared to where we were last 336 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,000 year. So that's huge for us. 337 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:10,040 That's, again, just kind of backs up that we're using that 338 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:13,880 data to help us. What's the plans of extensions 339 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,240 and why we need them? Yeah. 340 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:19,760 So seven more bays should just ease the flow of it. 341 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,560 I'll tell you a funny story. We actually brought in puzzle 342 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:26,480 system. Oh, yeah. 343 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,480 So once in a restaurant, you know, you've all been in other 344 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:32,520 restaurants but pretty busy. And we give the puzzles out. 345 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:36,720 We can have 24 people on the bays we can have. 346 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,600 We've got about 20 odd puzzles that we can run out, puzzles at 347 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:42,000 times, people waiting. Seriously. 348 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,080 Very regularly actually. Maybe peak school holiday 349 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,440 season. Let's say that these blood and 350 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:50,320 buzzles, it's all I hear at night. 351 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,560 I think when I sit down there and the couch at night I can 352 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:57,800 hear them buzzing away. Some people can't cheat to get 353 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,760 the sleep pack in golf balls and how much mark I can clear off 354 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:01,120 them. Yeah. 355 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:05,840 That was going to generally doze off in the evening so yeah, 356 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,120 Hassan. Hopefully with the seven extra 357 00:19:08,120 --> 00:19:11,600 bays we can just ease everyone's expectations and and make it a 358 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,240 nicer place. Yeah, I mean, that's incredible. 359 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,080 It's great to see the investment as well, Kenny. 360 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:20,920 I think the other part for people maybe aren't aware, not 361 00:19:20,920 --> 00:19:23,720 necessarily from Lanarkshire area, but I'd love you to talk 362 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,400 about the situation where they go, the driving engine actually 363 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,120 is located. I think it's a really good place 364 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:32,720 for folk to get to regardless of, you know, how far they might 365 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,080 be away. And when I say how far you could 366 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,520 be up to 30-40 minutes, that'd be right and get it quite 367 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:39,960 easily. Yeah, I mean, so a lot of our 368 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:42,320 members here, there's another facility. 369 00:19:42,360 --> 00:19:46,360 So here at Stalin, sorry, not too far away from Yeah. 370 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:53,320 And we are 32 miles from Stalin. Our members can straight down 371 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,920 there mated. It'll get in about just over 25 372 00:19:55,920 --> 00:20:00,840 minutes give up to you and it's so accessible, right? 373 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:04,920 It's right back buying on the motorway there, the M74 heading 374 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,560 South. Right and tucked in behind 375 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:13,080 Hamilton services there so easy to get to there's a lot of 376 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:17,120 people in maniture as as coming from a variety of different 377 00:20:17,120 --> 00:20:20,600 angles. But on the outskirts of Glasgow 378 00:20:21,960 --> 00:20:24,560 and the right on a motorway there that ever they can get to 379 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:29,760 us very, very quickly. Certainly is part of the reason 380 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,160 why it's so busy, for sure, something that we 381 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,240 underestimated, I think, when we first started it. 382 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:39,160 But yeah, I would say for most people there who can get to us 383 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,280 pretty quickly, yeah. Yeah. 384 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:45,400 And then you touched on families coming along and because maybe 385 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:47,680 just getting dropped off and got into the range and hunting 386 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,200 balls. But what are you seeing in terms 387 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,040 of a trend maybe for different types of golfers? 388 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:56,800 And I think actually even R and A are talking about us now that 389 00:20:56,800 --> 00:20:59,080 everybody's a golfer effectively had a golf ball. 390 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,040 So what are you seeing in terms of the range and how the usage 391 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,760 has changed as well? Yeah, there's a shadow that we 392 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,520 see. So I'm very fortunate that work 393 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:12,000 at two different facilities that although they're all under the 394 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,520 golf umbrella that are two completely different ends of the 395 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,200 spectrum. So I'd agree, traditional 396 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:20,280 golfers, members, handicaps, experience, they know what 397 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,520 they're doing when they get there at times. 398 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:25,400 As much as they use driving ranges as well, there's 399 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,800 definitely that entry level element to help Tracer. 400 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,400 They bring a whole new demographic of people, whether 401 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:37,960 it's age or experience. And the gaming element of it is 402 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:40,320 no something that everybody expects but gets everyone 403 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,200 excited for. But I do think they're driving 404 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:47,160 ranges have a place that I probably again underestimated 405 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:51,000 before really being an owner and operator and one now for 18 406 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:55,200 months watching what people's trends and who's actually coming 407 00:21:55,200 --> 00:22:00,720 along. We firstly park, we're back in 408 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,800 an entry stage, the introduction stage I should say. 409 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,040 We've got a team of golf pros that they're coaching all the 410 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,800 time that maybe not introducing, but they integrate them to the 411 00:22:11,800 --> 00:22:15,880 game. That should lead into Golf Club 412 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:17,800 memberships. We've got really fortunate 413 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,320 roundabout club and sort of roundabout the driving range. 414 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,880 Not only have we got Strasburg Park, which is a municipal golf 415 00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:29,280 course right on our doorstep 300 yards away from us, there's a 416 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:34,760 variety of different North and South Lanarkshire Municipal then 417 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:38,040 10 minutes from us and there's private members clubs there, 418 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:42,240 Hamilton Record and Bobble Castle, for example, not just 419 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:45,720 two minutes down the road there that people might never have 420 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:48,520 considered unless they come to a driving age. 421 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:50,600 Build up that confidence, build up that little bit of an 422 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:54,840 experience. But yeah, we've all got to work 423 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:59,040 together, right, to try and help the golf industry in Scotland 424 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:02,120 keep going. The weather's getting worse for 425 00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:04,920 sure. It's getting more depressing, 426 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:07,320 for sure. Or maybe I'm just seeing that as 427 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:10,120 sex in the morning when it's bulk collecting time. 428 00:23:10,120 --> 00:23:15,640 But yeah, listen, as I said, I underestimated it before I'd 429 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:17,840 taken it on. I was so self-centered around my 430 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:22,040 own golf and my own practice. But there's definitely a place 431 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:25,120 for driving ranges around the country, the home of golf, 432 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:28,120 right? A lot of people come into play. 433 00:23:28,120 --> 00:23:32,040 It that mean we've maybe hadn't put into some of these stats 434 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:35,000 before? Who's actually using these 435 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:36,920 disabilities and what are they doing? 436 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:40,840 How are they doing it and where do they go after driving range 437 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:43,320 visit? Yeah. 438 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:47,040 And if you think about sun chest and like, I mean, I played a 439 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:49,560 course near the range, so I played the Corville Park. 440 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,880 And remember years ago I was told to a guy that I'd known 441 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:55,240 since I was a junior. So we'd known each other for 442 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:58,800 that time, about 20 years. And I made the comment, oh, you 443 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:00,800 know, we've got a really friendly club and everybody 444 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:04,360 talks to each other and. And he said, yeah, that's really 445 00:24:04,360 --> 00:24:05,680 true. But remember, we've been there 446 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,720 since we were juniors. And he said, imagine you've just 447 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,120 walked in off the street and you didn't know anybody. 448 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:16,960 He said the noise and the, you know, the power between people 449 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:19,360 that kids actually feel quite intimidated. 450 00:24:19,360 --> 00:24:21,680 Not I actually hadn't really thought about it until he said 451 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:22,880 it. So well. 452 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:24,640 I knew everybody really in the Golf Club. 453 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,520 And he would have known everybody in the Golf Club. 454 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,760 If you're just coming in off the street, it can actually feel 455 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,080 quite intimidating. And then I've moved clubs quite 456 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:36,040 a few Times Now and there's definitely that element of, you 457 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:39,960 know, you're trying to work out well, who can you play with, Who 458 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,680 are the fault that you want to play with, who wants to play 459 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:45,840 with you was the procedure, How do you get into competitions? 460 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:49,800 So I think the driving ranges really do give a really nice way 461 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:52,960 for people to get into it, where you go out driving and you see 462 00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:55,000 every level of golfer these days. 463 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:59,040 It's not like it used to be where you typically get somebody 464 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:02,120 who's, you know, really under the golf going to a driving 465 00:25:02,120 --> 00:25:04,840 range, smashing balls. Then there you've got all sorts. 466 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,520 You get folk, they're hitting the ball maybe 10 yards, you get 467 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:09,640 folk, they're hitting the ball 300 speed yards. 468 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,520 I think it's incredible and it's great to see the folk are 469 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:16,400 getting that chance to get into golf without a bit of an 470 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:18,680 intimidation fight. So you need to be part of a club 471 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,280 and all that. Absolutely, absolutely. 472 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,760 We've seen people coming down there, get some kids, families. 473 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:26,600 We've seen people coming down on dates. 474 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:32,360 I mean, I've never have thought of that back in the day, you 475 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:35,760 know, going on a date and taking taking my wife to to my new life 476 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:39,560 to the driving range. But that's good. 477 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:43,320 It's just it's a different angle and if they can lead people in 478 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:45,800 the game. Here at Stublin this year alone, 479 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:50,000 we brought in somewhere around about 60 members for a variety 480 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,360 of different reasons. But we've been going through 481 00:25:52,360 --> 00:25:53,720 exactly what you're talking about. 482 00:25:53,720 --> 00:25:57,000 There's the the introduction and integration into the club. 483 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:00,680 Lots of people that have the questions and maybe unsure about 484 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:04,240 how you did it or what's the right sign, what's the wrong 485 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,120 thing to do it. And golf clubs generally have to 486 00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:12,240 get a bit more switched on to that because you're about older 487 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:14,400 than me. But demographic, when we get 488 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:19,000 into the game of golf, it's definitely changed, right? 489 00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:22,680 The exports have changed, people expect things are a bit more 490 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:25,560 relaxed than it is what the old was, where you can't scare 491 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:28,360 people away anymore. Even you only took maybe four 492 00:26:28,360 --> 00:26:34,200 1:00 on a Sunday if you're under. 18 Do you remember being 493 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:34,920 under 18? Yeah. 494 00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:39,000 That's a long time ago. Only 32 years. 495 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:40,800 Well, coming up in 32 years, Kenny. 496 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:43,400 There you go. Yeah, exciting year for you then 497 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,160 because I've been watching all of your Scott bottom and 498 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:48,080 training that's been going on there in your own golf 499 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,480 improvement. So fingers crossed we'll see you 500 00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:53,440 here at Stirling for the Seniors Open qualify. 501 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,520 Yeah, that would be really nice. I just need to navigate, get 502 00:26:56,520 --> 00:27:00,320 myself down another .8 to scratch, and then we'll be 503 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,160 having a go there. You go easy pizza. 504 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,960 Yeah, easy pizza and. Then Kenny, what else is going 505 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:12,440 so beyond you're the, the clubs itself, the range you obviously 506 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:14,520 teach people as well. So how's that going these days? 507 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:17,120 Yeah. So I'm still doing about that. 508 00:27:17,120 --> 00:27:20,480 I kind of restrict myself to coaching here at Stalin Online. 509 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,120 Just that's too much because I don't the driving range for me 510 00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:27,760 that I'm too involved and nice and peaceful up here. 511 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,400 And yeah, I'm in sub coaching three or four days a week. 512 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:38,560 Touched on this before with you there, but a full wide range of 513 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:41,280 players still to this day, which is great. 514 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:46,520 Complete beginners that came in. I had a brilliant experience 515 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,720 there just maybe 2 weeks ago with Stephen Gallagher again, 516 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:52,800 Stephen, someone that I still work with on and off the last 517 00:27:53,320 --> 00:27:57,240 until years, maybe more. Stephen came back to a partner 518 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:01,480 lesson there Long story short, he he finished second on his 519 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:03,600 senior study met saw that a couple of weeks ago That was a 520 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:07,160 few years later. It came under some lovely lines 521 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:10,760 very generous just the week after that to say thank you for 522 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:12,120 that. I've still got a buzz out of 523 00:28:12,120 --> 00:28:17,360 that and trying to help people and I still enjoy meeting 524 00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:21,520 different people and and whether they've played before or one of 525 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:25,080 the best golfers at Scotland's ever just it's good fun. 526 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:30,120 Kind of funny one actually because I Steven during that 527 00:28:30,120 --> 00:28:32,760 chat. It's a big year for him being a 528 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:34,720 new kid on the block and the seniors too. 529 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:38,080 But what's the seniors open to stop the road the Eagles there. 530 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:41,720 You're asking me there about what's new in my play and 531 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:45,040 stupidly accepted an invitation to the Glen Eagles foursomes in 532 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:46,760 a month's time. Nice. 533 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:48,800 And I thought I've not I've not been on a golf course in 534 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:52,160 Scotland since about August or September last year roughly. 535 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:57,360 So I chose a great partner and dated Steven to come and we 536 00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,880 tucked a couple of boxes there. It's great opportunity for him 537 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:02,440 to spend some time learning about the King's Course and 538 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:06,480 preparation for that event and I'm hoping that some of my 539 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:10,640 straight drives he can rectify it in the rebate and maybe get 540 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:14,680 us to our end of two. He's really good friend, Kings. 541 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:20,080 Or is it round the centenary? The King's Course right foursome 542 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:23,480 starts on the King's Course. Brilliant event that they've 543 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:25,320 started. I think we started it last year. 544 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:29,480 I'm good friends with Matthew Reeds and Andrew Jarrett up 545 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:32,640 there. Brilliant event bringing golf 546 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:36,200 pros and club golfers all together there. 547 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:41,760 Hopefully we can get through around to not embarrass herself. 548 00:29:41,760 --> 00:29:46,000 But yeah, listen, I've not had much time to do and I watched 549 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,160 seven days a week for the last year and a half really. 550 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:51,000 So I don't get some things in the diary. 551 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:53,840 Good warm up for the pro. I'm actually that will be my 552 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:56,080 next visit after that maxed out and after that. 553 00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:00,080 So I keep saying to myself, we've got to get some time back. 554 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:01,720 We're working this amazing industry. 555 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:05,120 It's got to get on the golf course and play, which we 556 00:30:05,120 --> 00:30:08,040 sometimes forget. So fingers crossed. 557 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:11,880 I think that sometimes the the joke is well worth a lot of 558 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:15,520 professionals like yourself who spend a lot of time coaching to 559 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:17,240 have got other elements to our business. 560 00:30:17,960 --> 00:30:21,280 You actually become a golf produce, you have less balls in 561 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:24,520 your playlist potentially than you ever did before. 562 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:28,600 So it's really interesting how your career can change away from 563 00:30:28,600 --> 00:30:31,680 the focus on the play and, and to all the other aspects of 564 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:32,920 golf. And there's so many, right? 565 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:34,440 There's so many avenues for people. 566 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:37,440 Yeah. I mean, listen, we've got no 567 00:30:38,080 --> 00:30:44,080 assistant professionals that work across both sites and it's 568 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,240 really interesting having some of the chats with them. 569 00:30:46,320 --> 00:30:50,600 You know, golf for a period was a priority of mine. 570 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:55,160 I can't hear fairly early on I wasn't going to be doing it. 571 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:59,080 So, so time maybe mid 20s and I started looking at different 572 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:04,200 avenues, but the PGA have made that even easier now that it's 573 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:06,320 easier to get into. For example, there's different 574 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:09,040 pathways that you can go. Not everyone has to be a PGA 575 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:12,880 professional, but there's coaches or those club managers 576 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:16,440 or there's different qualifications that can be 577 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:20,840 gained through the PGA. We all are linked by golf. 578 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:23,440 It's cleverly named your podcast. 579 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:28,680 We all love the game deep down, and we don't all have to be the 580 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:32,240 traditional PJ pro. We don't all have to be this. 581 00:31:32,240 --> 00:31:34,280 Even the club pro that's out there playing all the time. 582 00:31:34,640 --> 00:31:37,120 I still love it. I do, and I enjoy actually 583 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:40,160 playing the members more than playing competitive golf. 584 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:43,840 It's just something really difficult to get out of work 585 00:31:45,560 --> 00:31:48,840 when your brains kind of go in. And someone said we'll get tea 586 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:51,840 time this afternoon. So yeah, it's not always that 587 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,920 easy. But yeah, this year, fingers 588 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:56,080 crossed. This is our year, isn't it? 589 00:31:56,800 --> 00:31:57,760 Well, hopefully. That. 590 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:00,120 Hopefully can get the the range dried out. 591 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:02,880 We bet as well when the weather changes, we'll get a robot 592 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:06,720 packing up those balls. You've got the the washer coming 593 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:07,800 in. There's going to be proper 594 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:10,280 industrial. I saw the the spec for that and 595 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:12,480 you showed me around that was changed, Kenny. 596 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:14,240 And then it'll be fine. You'll be able to play as much 597 00:32:14,240 --> 00:32:16,840 golf as you want, right? That's the dream. 598 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:20,040 That's the dream. And let's see what happens 599 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:21,800 there. No, listen, it was brilliant to 600 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:24,840 have you down there at the driving range and show you 601 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:26,240 roundabout and show you the plans. 602 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:30,880 And you got to see that full demographic of people, right? 603 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:34,560 And how busy can be at times. And yeah, you've bumped into 604 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:38,160 John Meadows that day, and that's right. 605 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:42,200 So yeah, listen, lots of different people. 606 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:44,960 Hopefully it just becomes a little bit easier to manage. 607 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:47,560 Yeah. And I think just to finish off 608 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:50,600 Ken, I think more people are excited about the areas that the 609 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:54,800 Rangers getting that investment and you're the love that I think 610 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:57,720 for we're looking for for years and it's shown in the number of 611 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:00,400 people are coming here. So it's really great to see that 612 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:03,640 facility is here and it makes it easier for folk to get the game. 613 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:07,480 That's brilliant for the area. I think we can have done it 614 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:10,000 without the people that's come in there and there's a lot of 615 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:13,520 amazes me some of the guys that come in every every single day 616 00:33:13,520 --> 00:33:16,960 to hit balls. Incredible, you know. 617 00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:20,240 And without that we weren't unable to do what we're trying 618 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:25,240 to about the starting next week. And yeah, we're proud of that. 619 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:28,200 But they also don't want that experience to drop the whole, 620 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:31,360 every range operator that I speak to, there has been a real 621 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:33,080 buzz of that in the last few years. 622 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:35,000 Everyone's seen a bit of an uptake in it. 623 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:38,560 I think the technology, I think the investment, I think the 624 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:42,080 facilities improvements, we're not the only one that's doing 625 00:33:42,080 --> 00:33:43,720 that in the country, I believe right now. 626 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:48,840 So, yeah, listen, we need to thank all our supporters that 627 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:51,000 came in all the time there. And we just need to try and now 628 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:54,800 create a facility that's kind of meditates the area and what 629 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:59,240 people expect. Absolutely awesome. 630 00:33:59,240 --> 00:34:00,440 Kenny, thanks so much for joining. 631 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:01,640 It's been great to see you again. 632 00:34:01,640 --> 00:34:04,360 All the best for this year with the range and the club and all 633 00:34:04,360 --> 00:34:07,480 the events you've got going on at Sterling and hopefully I'll 634 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:09,520 see you through a week practice round for the Seniors Open. 635 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:11,360 Know that you'll be playing, but you'll be taking me around the 636 00:34:11,360 --> 00:34:13,239 course. To tell anybody to her. 637 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:15,480 All right, Yeah. Well, listen. 638 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:17,440 Thank you so much. I love listening all your 639 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:20,840 podcasts. Some of the new characters and 640 00:34:20,840 --> 00:34:24,120 legends of the game may may have been a Beaver, one of the more 641 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:26,400 boring ones, but I do get a chuckle. 642 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:29,480 I've been even then there's some of the guys like Lofty one there 643 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:30,920 the other week I thought was brilliant. 644 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:33,400 And yeah, last what you're doing, it's great. 645 00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:35,520 It's good to see you and it's great like getting everyone 646 00:34:35,520 --> 00:34:36,960 together. So good luck with all of that as 647 00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:38,280 well. Thank you. 648 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:43,679 Thank you. I'd like to thank Kenny and Amy 649 00:34:43,679 --> 00:34:46,480 Monaghan for the hospitality at Strathcly Park from the Golf 650 00:34:46,480 --> 00:34:48,679 Centre. It's great to see this facility 651 00:34:48,679 --> 00:34:51,239 being transformed and the fantastic experience of making 652 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:52,040 it for visitors. Now. 653 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:55,360 If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Linked by Golf on 654 00:34:55,360 --> 00:34:58,520 your favorite podcast platform, Leave a review and share with 655 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:00,360 someone who loves golf in people's journeys. 656 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:04,080 You can also find the show on Instagram at Linked by G2024. 657 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:07,560 For future episodes, clips and insights, I'm Ross McGuire, 658 00:35:07,680 --> 00:35:10,360 thanks for listening. Loman Golf Tours have helped 659 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:13,320 thousands of guests build bespoke golf trips to create a 660 00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,760 magical experience, travel and style with their executive 661 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:19,160 chauffeur travel. Whether it's golf on a major 662 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:22,760 championship venue or one of our hidden gems, five star 663 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:26,360 accommodation or a boutique bed and breakfast, or is it whiskey 664 00:35:26,360 --> 00:35:30,000 tasting on a private boat, Loman Golf Tours are here to help 665 00:35:30,080 --> 00:35:32,920 build the tour of a lifetime. Whether you're celebrating a 666 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:36,600 special occasion or ticking it off your bucket list, embark on 667 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:38,240 a trip that you'll remember forever. 668 00:35:38,720 --> 00:35:42,080 Visit www.lomangolftours.com.