Bagful of memories

goodbye . . . Rob Johnson, pro at Saddleworth Golf Club leaving after 20 years.

ROB Johnson waves goodbye to his role as Saddleworth Golf Club professional at the end of March with a bagful of memories of his time at the Mountain Ash course.

The 47-year-old will concentrate on promoting his already successful North-West amateur seniors tour and developing an online golf shop.

It will also allow Johnson, who is married with two children, to get the most out of family life and play more golf.

He said: "The children are 11 and seven now and I work every weekend. My wife works full-time, so we are like ships in the night.

"We don't get any time together. The children are at an age where they are doing stuff and I'm missing out ­- I'm here working while they are doing fun things.

"I'm off when everyone else is at school and at work. It's all right for getting jobs done at home, but it's not good for spending time with the family.

"It will be a wrench when I leave, but we're up for a change in lifestyle."

Johnson, who lives in Greenfield, joined Saddleworth as a junior member at the age of 13.

He went on to win the Oldham and District Championship in 1988 and represented Lancashire 'B'.

With a good amateur background and after being made redundant at Slumberland, he took the plunge in 1996 and started under Tom Shard as a trainee PGA professional at Saddleworth.

After qualifying fourth-best in the country on his PGA course in February, 2000 - he picked up £1,000 from Titleist for his efforts - he officially took over the reins.

He has become a popular and well-respected member of the team, and while admitting it will tough when he drives away from the course for the final time as the club professional, he says it's a lot harder to make a decent living, with golfers more inclined to buy gear on the internet or from high-street stores.

Johnson said: "Business has dropped off over the years, with the internet and this, that and the other. I've tried numerous things to try to get things going, but nothing has seemed to work.

"Turnover has dropped and you get to a point where you think 'am I earning enough to warrant spending all this time here?'. In the summer, I'm open 72 hours a week.

"The role of the golf pro has changed a lot since when I first started.

"Clubs want pros to be more involved with the running of the golf side of things, with more pros becoming golf directors. But not having an assistant really prevents me from doing more than I'm currently.

"Technology has progressed with high-spec launch monitors, which many pros use for teaching and club fitting, a service the internet can't provide.

"Buying the clubs is not a problem, it's getting the chance to sell them. I get all the deals that everyone else gets.

"I can compete quite easily with everyone else, but you don't get the chance half of the time, because people perceive that you are a club pro so you are more expensive, but you are not."



ROB'S PRIDE IN SENIORS TOUR

ROB Johnson is proud of the North-West amateur seniors tour.

Established three years ago, he has seen it go from strength to strength.

Johnson said: "It is doing well.

"In the first year we had 16 events and it's increased year after year and now it's up to 25.

"That will be my main source of income, and the stock that is left after the members have spent the credit, I'll start an internet shop and work more from home."

So how will Johnson feel when he finally passes on the keys to the shop to the new man?

Johnson added: "I will be quite difficult, because I'll miss being with all the lads.

"I think I've done a good service for the members. I've always had a decent-stocked shop, organised lots of competitions and trips, which they've all enjoyed.

"They're a good bunch up here, The banter that you get is something that I will miss.

"But I won't miss being stuck inside, because that means I haven't been out with them (pointing to his clubs).

"If I get out once a month, I'm lucky. I turned pro and I stopped playing golf - that's mad.

"I will be able to play a lot more, lose some weight and get more active."

The search for Johnson's successor is well under way, with officials hoping to make an announcement soon.

• For more pictures of Rob Johnson, see our picture sales page.