He’s recently stepped away from tertiary education and moved into the golfing world, and brings a wide range of skills and experience to elevate, lead and manage the PGA Trainee Education programme. This week, we caught up with New Zealand PGA Trainee Educational Manager, Daryl Parkin.
Where do you work, what’s your role, and how long have you been there?
I am in my 2nd week as the PGA Trainee Educational Manager for the PGA of New Zealand.
What prompted you to move into golf?
I have worked in tertiary education for the past 22 years, most of that within the School of Sport at the Manukau Institute of Technology. After my previous role as a Head of School for a Military preparation programme was disestablished, I came across the job description for the PGA Education Manager role. It ticked most of the boxes.
While I haven’t had the chance to play as much golf as I would like, I’ve always loved the game and the opportunity to return to the sport industry in a meaningful way really appealed to me, so I applied.
What do you see as the biggest challenges you face in the role?
There’s still a lot of content and assessment development needed to elevate the programme, so I think one of the biggest challenges over the next six months will be managing that workload alongside the day-to-day running of the programme. That said, the PGA and the wider Golf NZ team have been incredible. Hugely supportive and collaborative. I’m genuinely excited about what’s ahead.
What does a win look like for you in the role?
Ultimately, a win for me would be to develop a programme that produces industry ready graduates who elevate golf in New Zealand and beyond, whether through coaching, club management, or growing participation in the game.
Golf is a sport of passion like many sports but how have you found your team?
Yeah, passionate is definitely the right word. I’ve never been around so many people before who just live and breathe golf… But more than that, they’re genuinely good people, friendly, supportive, and always striving to improve. I feel lucky that my team and I share similar values.
If you weren’t working for the PGA of New Zealand, what would you be doing?
Ooooh, I guess I’d go back into tertiary education again and maybe eventually look out for another Head of School or Programme Leader role. Demanding roles but I enjoyed that experience.
If you could play a round with three people dead or alive, who would they be and why?
My dad was a keen golfer back in his day at the Aviation, so would love to spend that time with him again. Alice Cooper because he’s big on golf, I like my Rock, and he’d have some cool stories to tell, and Joe Rogan, because I think he’d be a good yarn, and hilarious.
What’s your handicap?
Honestly, my entire golf game, haha.. I haven’t played consistently enough to have an official one, but if lost balls, slices, and creative putting counted, I’d probably be in single digits.
Ever had a hole in one?
No, but I was just 2cm away from an ace once.
