Peter is no stranger to Lurgan's fairways

THE professional at Lurgan Golf Club is Peter Hanna, for whom coming to Lurgan is very much like coming home.

There are currently three generations of the Hanna family treading the Lurgan fairways and the Hanna name is very much woven into the fabric of the club.

Peter had been the long time pro at Fortwilliam Golf Club and has been settling into his new position since his arrival in the summer. Having overseen renovations in the professional’s shop, he is now offering a full range of professional services to golfers in mid-Ulster.

Peter traces his golfing development back to the early 70s when Jim Stevenson, Lurgan member and former teacher at Lurgan College, helped develop the school team and led it to overall success in the Ulster Schools’ Cup. Peter identifies Jim as having had a great influence on his golfing development. In 1974 Peter won the Lurgan Club’s Junior and Senior Championships within a few weeks of each other, and so rapid was his improvement that it was no surprise he joined the professional ranks in 1976.

He has had a very wide and successful career which has included playing on the European Tour after winning his card in 1980. After working alongside noted Ulster coach Don Patterson, Peter has earned a high reputation as a teacher, and has also developed a highly successful retail business which he is continuing at Lurgan.

Peter is involved in the administration of professional golf and has risen through the ranks to the extent that he is now the Irish Board Representative on the Board of Directors of the Professional Golf Association. Roughly translated, that means he is now at the top of the administration of professional golf throughout Great Britain and Ireland, and now Europe. He has also been involved with the last four Ryder Cups of which he and his wife, Lynne, have been fortunate enough to attend.

"I really enjoyed my time at Fortwilliam. Working in a city club was a great challenge as I built up my business and provided a professional service to both members and visitors.

"Coming to Lurgan at this stage of my career is very much like coming home and I am looking forward to the challenge and to re-igniting the many friendships I enjoyed in my youth. I have many happy memories of playing summer golf at Lurgan from ‘dawn till dusk’ with my brothers Roy and Kenny and friends like Michael Horan, Shane Magee and Ian McMurray," said Peter.

The appointment of such a highly rated golfing coach will ensure the continuation of the current drive by Lurgan to develop junior golf and Peter has already been heavily involved in coaching the large and growing numbers of boys and girls in the club’s Junior Section.

This year’s Captain is the enthusiastic Billy Bateman and he has placed the development of junior golf at the top of the Club’s agenda.

"We are committed to encouraging youngsters from every type of background to take up the game, and are endeavouring to constantly improve our coaching programmes and facilities to give them the best chance of success. We are delighted to have been able to appoint someone of Peter’s calibre as our club professional and are confident he will play a pivotal role in achieving our goals."

This year after winning for the first time, the Ulster section of the Senior Cup, Lurgan came within a whisker of winning the blue ribbon of Irish golf when they were narrowly beaten by Bandon GC in the All Ireland Final.

The team’s outstanding performances were the result of meticulous preparation and practice, and Peter’s coaching and advice were to prove invaluable, which team captain Ian McMurray was quick to acknowledge: "The Senior Cup is competed for by the best amateur golfers in Ireland and reaching the All-Ireland final ranks as the club’s greatest ever team achievement.

"To have Peter as a key member of our back up team helped develop the skills and confidence of our very best players and was a very important element in their achievement."

Peter is delighted to be ‘home’ and he and his wife Lynne have been made very welcome since their arrival at the club.

"Lynne and I would like to thank everyone for making us so welcome since our arrival at the club. We are looking forward to providing a first class service for all golfers in the Lurgan area and would love to hear of any suggestions people may have.

"I enjoy working to develop the skills of golfers of all ages and abilities and look forward to doing so. We hope to be extending the shop in the near future but would like to invite all local golfers to come and browse through our current stock and examine the many deals on offer."

Golfers can spend ‘fortunes’ in trying to reduce their scores and a local professional who can advise on purchasing the appropriate equipment can save both pounds and shots. It has been a noticeable feature of Peter since his arrival that he has constantly made himself available to players for free advice.

Lurgan Golf Club continues to go from strength to strength, exemplified by the appointment of someone of Peter’s calibre, and the club shop will be extended in the near future to reflect that development. All are welcome to the shop for advice on purchase and to browse the extensive stock.