Ryan aiming to drive the club forward

Photo: Darren Robinson

Oldham Golf Club pro Ryan Grumbridge.

RYAN Grumbridge is eager to push Oldham Golf Club to fresh heights.

The head PGA professional at the Lees New Road course­ - he took over from Saddleworth-bound Andy Earlam in the spring ­- hasn't taken long to make his mark.

Plans are already in place to upgrade practice facilities, boost membership and attract the next generation of golfers.

It's a chunky 'to do' list ­- but Grumbridge isn't prepared to sit around and wait for it to happen.

He said: "I stressed at my interview that I want go above and beyond being a chocolate seller.

tough

"I want to drive the club forward, whether that's attracting societies and corporate membership, building the junior academy ­- all different stuff, rather than just concentrating on selling a bit of golf kit.

"The club has had its tough times, but it has flipped that side now.

"The big reason for that is the members have helped enormously. The ladies section has volunteers in the kitchen, the greens chairman goes out and cuts all week ­- they've all mucked in to help save the place, now I want to take it to the next level.

"I've been here eight weeks and we've already made some good steps. The committee is behind everything I'm doing, which is refreshing to hear from a golf club."

Grumbridge has already introduced a 'second club' membership scheme.

For £50, members of an existing club can join Oldham up until the end of October. It provides an option to play if their own course is full, but they can't win a major or represent a team.

"If we can get five from one club and four from another, it boosts our membership," said Grumbridge.

"It's just for this season, but I would like it to be a continual thing.

"Breightmet did it where I came from and it was successful. They were in a similar situation to Oldham, where there was a saturated market of clubs.

"I'll give anything a go if it's to the betterment of the club."

Grumbridge is certainly true to his word.

He has got new 12 members signed up for the 'academy growth scheme' which, for £139, provides six lessons and membership until the end of October.

While the focus is on attracting women, men are more than welcome to join in.

"They are keen and working well - they've even got together on Whatsapp," he said.

"Some are returning to golf, but most of them are new to the game.

"There is even talk of a golf trip at the end of the year."

To make it easier to nail down a tee-time, he is bringing in an on-line booking system as well as looking to developing the practice ground.

"When I turned up, I gave my first lesson on an old, scruffy mat on the side of the 18th and hit down the valley where you lose golf balls," added Grumbridge.

"We now have a field at the side that we lease, which from being 100 yards long with long grass is now 250 yards in length and all cut down.

"The idea is to get a grant to redevelop the practice ground and site a driving range with a covered bay.

stunning

"Things are moving quickly which is how I operate. Get in there and get on with it."

Grumbridge (36) is in it for the long haul at Oldham.

He is half-way though his director of golf qualification with the PGA which covers all aspect of the sport, from green-keeping, running an office, bar work and how to stage events.

"Oldham is sometimes used a stepping stone for bigger and better," he added.

"The course is in fabulous nick. The greens are stunning, they are as good as anywhere.

"We held the Chronicle Cup here this year and had really good feedback.

"I live in Chadderton, so why not make a good go of it.

The core membership is in place. It's a really friendly club. It's now a case of getting visitors through the door.

"It's the club's 125th anniversary this year, so I'm excited that I'm the pro and want to celebrate it."

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