He turned professional in
1980 and embarked on the five year PGA training course whilst working at a sports center
in Brentwood, Essex, UK. On becoming PGA qualified, Mark moved to Germany where he taught
for a season at Golf Club Oberfranken. He came to Tenerife in the winter of 1986 and was
present at the beginning stages of the island’s emergent golf industry. "I saw
there were exciting possibilities and challenges here and was fortunate to be offered the
position of resident professional at Golf del Sur where I ran a golf school and driving
range".
During that time he worked with the highly respected John Jacobs,
former Ryder Cup player and captain, who currently teaches Jose Maria Olazabal. Jacobs is
well known in the golfing world as an influential teacher who pioneered teaching videos
and instructional books.
Mark enjoys teaching, whether it is a fellow professional, a low
handicapper or a complete beginner although he gains most satisfaction from teaching
complete beginners and developing them into accomplished players. Mark says, "the
nice thing with a beginner is that they are like a blank page without faults so I am able
to guide them and instill the correct thought processes and develop the muscle memory
needed for a good swing".
An indication of Mark’s effective teaching methods is that most
low handicappers in the south of the island have sought his advice at some point.
"I feel very fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to
live and work in such a warm and friendly environment and look forward to seeing the
continuing development of golf in the south of Tenerife with more and more people enjoying
playing this wonderful, sometimes frustrating, game called golf. I am delighted to be
working with Golfing Weekly which will also give me the opportunity to share my
knowledge and enthusiasm with golfers all over the world".
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Golfing Weekly is pleased to have Mark Pursey as a pivotal member of the team.
Apart from leading the review team Mark has also promised to contribute to our Golf Tips
section from time to time.
