Peter Ball heads latest APAL awards from PGA

Peter Ball (pictured) has attained PGA Advanced Fellow status in the latest round of APAL (Accreditation for Professional Achievement and Learning) awards from The PGA. Ball, who coaches at Barlborough Golf Club and Loxley Driving Range and discovered European Tour star Danny Willett as a youngster, admitted the accolade had made him ‘very proud’ and has given him the incentive to strive for the highest APAL honour of PGA Master Professional. Ball estimates that he coaches 2-3,000 kids a year, many from all sections of the community or with physical and learning disabilities.

Ball commented, “I think it shows that if you only coach kids at grass roots level you can still be recognised as an expert by The PGA. That makes me very proud. It is a career high and also a spur to do more education and learning to try and attain PGA Master Professional level.”

Other recipients include new PGA chairman David Murchie from Crieff Golf Club who is one of five to be accorded PGA Fellow Professional status along with Martin Heys (Wexham Park), Nick Solski (Skolkovo), Paul Thompson (Powerscourt) and Jonathan Wright (PGA National Training Academy).

Also honoured in the latest APAL awards are the following pros who have all attained PGA Advanced Professional status: Graeme Bell (Eaglescliffe), Howard Carson (ICAP), Russell Evans (Cranfield Golf Academy), Rupert Hunter (Tonbridge Golf Centre), Galvin Luznyj (Sigmaringen), Mark Moore (Flaxby), Ryan Scott (Loretto GA), David Shepherd (Monte Rei), James Tuck (Tracy Park) and Richard Valentine (Loretto School).