Golf pro brings skills to our city

Golfing professional Jay Simpson

FRESH from a tour of Canada, golf professional Jay Simpson is the newest golf coach to join the ranks at the Gladstone Golf Club.

After turning pro at the start of last year and touring overseas Simpson said he was looking to build on the solid foundation he had laid.

"Now I'm just trying to concentrate on completing my Australian PGA Traineeship and teaching the junior program here in Gladstone," Simpson said.

At just 25, he has competed at tournaments all around Australia and in the U.S.

Born and raised in Brisbane, Simpson grew up near Beenleigh and where he completed his schooling.

Simpson first picked up a golf club at age 12, and it wasn't long before his father Kerry's clubs went missing altogether.

"I used to knick off with his clubs so I could go down to Mt Warren Park, he was forced into early retirement," Simpson laughs.

His first competition Simpson entered was the Greg Norman Junior Masters in Coolangatta, and since then he has gone from strength to strength while developing a real thirst for the game.

The thing Simpson enjoys most about golf is the people and social interaction involved in the sport.

"I'm learning to teach at the moment which is cool because I've always liked helping people improve their game and develop their skills," Simpson explained.

Although Simpson has a good all around game he is most comfortable attempting short distance shots.

"I enjoy the close range stuff, getting myself out of trouble and rescuing myself from a bad position on the course," Simpson revealed.