Lee Farrar, Wilson Golf

The Senior Sales Manager talks to us about his love of Martin Scorsese films, why golf needs more funding and support and coming inches away from an Albatross.

What’s your favourite golf course?
That is a tough question. I have been fortunate to play some great courses, but I think my all-time favourite has to be Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale, Ireland. The weather was bad, I played atrociously and lost many balls, but it’s a course that truly takes your breath away on every single tee.

What’s the best shot you’ve ever played?
I’ve never been blessed with a hole-in-one, but the question takes me back many years to what was then my home club. It was my 2nd shot, with my 3 wood into the par 5, 16th at Sherwood Forest Golf Course, where it lipped out for an Albatross. Fortunately, it finished only an inch behind the hole, so it ended up being a very easy Eagle.

What’s the biggest issue facing golf today?
The time it takes to play a round. Pace of life has sped up so much over the past few years with technology, that a lot of people do not have five hours plus to go and play a round of golf. We now live in a world of instant gratification and golf is something that you have to work at, so there is a lot that needs to be done to change this perception of the game.

What one thing would you like to change about the golf industry?
A solution to engage with more people in the sport is definitely required. I love the rules, etiquette and discipline that golf gives and I would never wish for any of that to change. We have all seen the uptake that adventure golf has had over the past few years, where the rules are simple and whilst fun for the whole family, it harnesses the basic fundamentals of golf by hitting a ball with a stick into a hole. An inbetween game would be the next stage up from adventure golf, but it would require getting the ball airborne with ease; so oversized heads, balls and bigger holes would be required on a small piece of land with six short holes. Pros could sell the equipment in their stores and also give lessons, thus creating more footfall and revenue. There have been many ideas that have come out to get more people into golf, actually too many to mention, but in my opinion the reason why they struggle is lack of funding and support. If a ‘recreational golf tax’ for Tour pros was introduced and given to one governing body to solely grow the game, the elite would be giving back and funding should never run dry.

What’s your favourite film?
Goodfellas: it’s a great cast, well scripted and, let’s face it, you can’t beat a Martin Scorsese film! I’ve watched it many times and I never get tired of it.

What is your favourite holiday destination?
Riviera Maya in Mexico. My wife and I got married there ten years ago and we have been back many times. The food, hotels, location, weather and people are second to none and whilst having gone to many other places, we always seem to compare it back to Mexico.

Who would be your five dream dinner party guests?
My father as he had a great sense of humour, Robert DeNiro who evidently would have some great stories to tell, Samuel Jackson because he loves his golf and he is pretty cool, Emily Blunt to keep the tone right and add some glamour and finally my mate Richard, otherwise he would never believe that I had dinner with these four other people!

Most played song on iPod?
I am currently listening to a lot of music from days past and one that I keep playing over and over is The Stone Roses – ‘I Am The Resurrection’. It has a great beat to it and I do enjoy playing it loud in my car.

Where would you like to be in 10 years’ time?
Still with Wilson Golf, but managing to do twice as much, in half the time!