Budding Pro Golfer explains how the course will benefit his career

We went to go visit Oliver Neal, one of our Level 2 Multisport Learners at South Chesterfield Golf Club. The learners come here every week as part of their course. They learn practical golf skills as well as coaching, working in the shop and looking after the golf course. Oliver speaks to us about his love for golf and how the course is complementing his progression in and outside of college.

oliver neal - golf

I chose this course because I want to be a pro golfer.

“I chose this course because I want to be a pro golfer. I need this qualification and Level 3, which I’m doing next year, to go to university. I’ve always watched it on TV and loved playing but I want to coach too.

I have been playing golf for 8 years.

I just asked my Dad one day if I could play and now I have been playing golf for 8 years. I have been playing golf for Derbyshire for 6 years now and I have also played for Nottingham and Yorkshire in the past. I started playing for Derbyshire under 18’s when I was in the under 14’s and I was also under 14’s captain for a year. I am now in my first year of the 18’s team.

We have been coaching our own lessons.

As part of the Multisport Course, we have been coaching our own lessons. We pull the sports out of a hat so it changes each time we coach. I’ve done rugby and basketball so far. I’m interested in all sports anyway, I love it. I play football as well as golf and have done bike racing too.

Oliver neal - golf

oliver neal working in the shop

The course and the experience here really helped when applying for the job.

I play golf most days, it’s what I am best at. I was playing last night and I have just started a job at a local golf course too. I will be doing similar things to what we do here other than the coaching. The course and the experience here really helped when applying for the job as I had the experience to back up what I was talking about. This will count towards my work experience on the course and then after that, it will lead to a part-time waged job.

I am wanting to do a coaching degree.

I am wanting to do a coaching degree after Level 3 at university. It will be like an apprenticeship at a golf course so I have already got my foot in the door of the place I would like to do my studies.

The part of the course I have enjoyed the most is the practical side and all the different sports. The theory is not my strong point. My tutor Ryan has been great at advising what I need to study to get to where I want to be in my career.

I would like to coach kids and adults or get on tour if the opportunity comes. I have had a coach for years and it’s good money too!”

Find out more about our Level 2 Multisports Course here.

Find out more about the range of courses and apprenticeships available at Chesterfield College.