He’s a high-performance PGA coach, a professional golfer, college and professional golf pathway developer, a motorsport enthusiast, and dedicated family man – this week we caught up with Jordan Pruden. Jordan tells us about changes he is making in New Zealand to improve coaching good to elite players, and why golf clubs need to get with the times.
What golf course do you work at, what’s your role, and how long have you been there?
Waimairi Beach Golf Club – I’m a contracted coach there and high-performance coach, previously the assistant pro, been working there for five years.
What inspired you to pursue a career in golf, and how did you get started?
High performance sports through cricket and basketball made me want to play an individual sport instead, so the blame couldn’t be placed on anyone else. Then I fell in love with the game through watching Tiger through my teenage years. My late Nana had an old set of clubs lying around up in Wellington and said I should take them back to Christchurch and put them to good use. I still have a few of those clubs in my garage.
What are the biggest challenges you face working in the industry?
It’s still dinosaur aged with a lot of systems. Boards and managers of golf clubs. Having a college pathway for our juniors to get into the States – which I have fixed and will be launching soon. Funding for decent coaching necessities to make the client enjoy the session more.
What trends or changes do you see shaping the future of the golf industry?
I’m bringing the junior Golf Hub and PDI (player development index) into New Zealand. This will bridge the gap between New Zealand and America for our juniors. This will also change the way we coach our good to elite players using the PDI system. I think AI will start to have decent applications for coaches to use. I hope golf clubs will catch up with the times and utilise technology more, rather than boards and committees to make decisions.
If you weren’t working in golf, what would you be doing?
Working in the motorsport industry, hopefully. I love my racing and follow a lot of different categories around the world. I used to race saloon cars for 5 years around NZ.
If you could play a round of golf with three people dead or alive, who would they be and why?
Tiger woods, because he’s why I played this game to this level. And my two sons, Brooks and Jett who are currently four years old and four months old. I hope to one day be out on the course with them.
What’s your handicap?
+2 I think? As pros we don’t really see it that often.
Ever had a hole in one?
Had 2 of them, both on the old course of Waimairi Beach before the earthquakes destroyed the place. I was a teenager around 16 for them both. Never had one since.
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