PGA Professional Roy Baker joined Worlebury in 2018 and has been very involved in modernising and restructuring the club management team.

The club is now managed day-to-day by general manager Tom Widley, a PGA Professional himself, and the Pro Shop has come under the stewardship of the club, with the professional team expanded to now include PGA Professional Andrew Milton working alongside popular long-serving club member Marcel “Henry” Josling.

The club now a Foresight GC2 “State-of-the-Art” Launch Monitor for teaching, club fittings and Indoor Winter Golf league along with a short game practice area, which is very popular with the members.

Roy and his team are very keen to build upon the friendly, inclusive culture that the club prides itself on and is very active with group coaching sessions, playing in the members Roll-Ups and organizing and participating in golf holidays in the UK and overseas.

He reveals a few tips in a special Q&A for Mercury Sport.

Q: How long have you been playing golf?

A: I started playing when I was 11 years old, (so that makes it 18 years so far!)

Q: Who got you into the game, and where did you start playing?

A: During the summer when the rugby and football season was over, I didn’t have a summer sport, so my parents thought it would be a good time to do something different, so they booked me a lesson at Burnham & Berrow, where Andrew March was the assistant professional (now Director of Golf at Brean Golf Club).

We mostly played the channel course, which a lot of golfers would know is a tough, narrow track, especially when the breeze is blowing off the coast. But it taught me how to play in certain conditions and control the ball when it was required.

Playing in team matches and England Junior Golf I made many great friends there, many have become good golfers and some even becoming PGA Professionals like myself.

Q: What inspired you to become a PGA professional?

A: I love the game and the fact I could make a career out of it was a big attraction to me, being able to work outside is a big plus as working in an office is not for me.

Q: Have you ever had a hole-in-one?

A: I’ve been fortunate to have three: one in competitive golf and two others while playing with friends. When you add it up, it’s a very expensive bar bill!

Q: What do you find is the best thing about being a PGA Professional?

A: For me it’s that you get to meet a whole range of people, from different backgrounds and they all want to achieve the same thing, improving their golf.

I find it really satisfying to help players develop their game and then watch them achieve their personal goals. It’s also great to be invited to play in charity events, go with members on golf breaks to play some of the top courses worldwide.

Q: You have been named as Gloucester and Somerset PGA’s captain, it must be a great honour, what does it entail?

A: I am on the Gloucester and Somerset PGA committee, and during the winter period (October-March), we run the Gloucester and Somerset PGA Order of Merit.

We play over 30 courses in this period and around 20-30 pros play in each event as it’s a great way to stay connected with other professionals and golf clubs in the area. And it allows PGA members to play some competitive golf for a prize fund, sponsored by Total Triumph in Taunton.

We also allow some of the top amateurs in the area to play as it gives them a chance of playing with some experienced Pro golfers, some who have played on the European Tour, Seniors Tour and The Open.

We also have an annual Gloucester & Somerset versus Devon PGA Match, which I organise with Devon’s PGA captain. Last year I was part of the team who won the trophy off Devon and I hope next time we make sure that trophy stays in Somerset.

Q: Finally, if you could play a round of golf anywhere in the world what course would you chose and who would be you dream four-ball to play alongside you?

A: The one course I’ve always wanted to play is Augusta National (where the Masters is played) and the three other people I’d love to play with are Tiger Woods and Muhammed Ali, as these two people have inspired me so much in what they achieved. The third person would be my son Hugo, he’s six and has just started to pick up a golf club. It’s such a joy to see the excitement on his face when he plays, it makes me remember the enjoyment the game gave me I when I was a child.