Parnell Reilly Q&A Interview
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Read the exclusive interview below with Captain of the PGA and Bradley Park Professional Parnell Reilly.
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How long have you been a Professional golfer?
I turned Professional in 1966 but did not get registered with the PGA until 1967, so exactly 40years.
Do you feel that the role of a Head Professional has changed much over the years?
Absolutely massively, I don’t think that there was such a thing as a Head Pro back in the 60’s, a Club Pro had four main duties then, Teaching, club repairs, shop sales and playing. Now I feel most Head Professional’s are Directors of Golf and are involved in the day to day running of their clubs.
Do you get much opportunity to play competitive golf nowadays?
No, with all the involvement in the business side of the position I am in, I feel I have less time to play than ever before.
How many lessons do you normally give each week?
I try to teach at least two hours every day as again the teaching side is only a part of every day life here at Bradley, but I have four qualified PGA Professionals who teach and between us we teach on average about one hundred clients a week.
What is your greatest golfing achievement?
I lead the PGA Senior Championship two years ago at Kings Lynn and when I looked at the leader board it gave me great satisfaction to see some of my heroes from the past, including former Ryder Cup players quite a few shots behind me. Also giving Colin Montgomerie a lesson when he was a junior, never realising what a superstar he was going to turn out to be.
What was your reaction when asked to be Captain of the PGA? Was it a surprise or were you expecting it?
I’m afraid the old saying “Gob smacked” comes to mind, I actually thought when Sandy Jones the Chief Executive of the PGA, phoned me, that I was in some sort of trouble, so when he asked me the question it took something like twenty four hours to sink in, so no, I was not expecting it.
How have you found the past 2 years as Captain Elect of the PGA?
The past two years have been a real eye opener for me as like all golf pro’s you are in your own little world at your club and you are too busy looking after your members and job to sometimes see what else is going on around you, just attending the Board Meeting at the Belfry has been very beneficial in my business.
Describe your experience's at last years Ryder Cup at the K Club, Ireland?
The Ryder Cup Experience was for me, the best week that I have spent in golf, (until the Masters!) the whole week was special, flying out with the players and attending the Gala Dinner were very special, but the best part was being asked to be an Official Observer for the final days Single match, for Harrington and Verplank, to walk inside the ropes for the final match was just fantastic, even though it was an extremely important job I still enjoyed every minute of it, as it also allowed me to stand on the first tee with all the players, which is something I’ll never forget.
Of all the top players that you have met in your role who has impressed you the most off the golf course?
Colin Montgomerie and Mark James, both have been extremely good to me over the years and are great company to go out for dinner with.
One of your first duties as PGA Captain was to attend the
US
Masters. How did you feel about that? Were you excited and/or nervous?
My first duty, within thirty seconds of taking office was to present John Jacobs with an Honorary Master Professional Diploma, I couldn’t think of a better way to start and to give a living legend a life time award, then straight on to the “Masters”, I believe it’s the one place or course every Professional would like to play before they end their careers, so yes I was both nervous and excited.
Did you take your family to the States?
Yes on this occasion my wife Joan went with me, but next year, only for Augusta, I will take a Board Member from the PGA.
Did you get chance to play at
Augusta?
I did get invited by Colin Montgomerie when I spoke to him at the Ryder Cup to play a practice round at Augusta, but due to the AGM of the PGA being altered, I did not arrive at Augusta until the day before the start and Colin was already playing the 10th when I got there, I have been invited back, so hopefully next time.
What are some of the other duties/tasks that will be required of you over the next couple of years?
The position is purely Honorary, so I don’t have any decisions to make, only to turn up at all the PGA events that the Board of Directors ask me to. This includes all the tournaments with the PGA name to them and also includes days such as the Graduation Days at the Belfry, when all the assistants who have qualified from each year come to the Belfry to receive their Diploma’s. Also I attend all the Board meetings which I have found fascinating.
What do you feel you will bring to the role of PGA Captain and how has working with Beverley Lewis been?
I hope to show the membership how much work goes on behind the scenes, the PGA has changed so much over the past few years and until I attended the Board meetings, I really had no idea the involvement the PGA had in so many projects around the world as well as projects throughout the UK, the work that is done on behalf of the members has changed beyond all recognition. Beverley Lewis has to be the nicest and most professional person I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with.
Who was your golfing hero as a youngster?
My hero’s were Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Ben Hogan, along with the Beatles!
Name your ideal golfing 4-Ball, past or present?
Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tiger Woods and Billy Connolly.
Do you prefer Matchplay or Strokeplay format?
I prefer for my style of play, Match-play, then if I have a bad hole I can just get on with the rest of the match, but I feel for Professional golf, both have there own attraction.
What is the best course you have ever played?
Pinehurst Number 2, the lay out and mix of holes are just fantastic and the greens are probably the hardest I’ve ever played for landing a ball on, plus the whole of the Pinehurst Complex is perfect for any golfing fanatic.
What did being made an honorary member at Fixby mean to you?
Being made an Honorary Member of Fixby means far more to me than most people will know, as Fixby is where it all started for me, without being asked to caddy one weekend over forty years ago, I might never had started this wonderful game of golf. It was because of the people I met and the places I saw that made me want to spend the rest of my life in golf.
How do you spend your spare time when you are away from golf?
I have four grand-sons, all who keep me and my wife Joan very busy, more Joan than me though. I also like long walks and eating with friends, either at home or out. I think my hobby when I retire will be playing “Golf”.
What major changes have you witnessed at Bradley Park GC since joining them? Describe the membership at Bradley Park and their reaction to their very own Head Professional being Captain of the PGA.
Bradley Park has changed beyond all recognition, when I was appointed here in 1981, there was no clubhouse only a porter cabin, so anyone who has not been here since then, would not recognise the place. We have built a stone clubhouse, added a driving range and built a par three course, membership has risen from the mid 30’s to the maximum of 300 and the course has improved dramatically, in the 80’s, we did not even have a tree on the course, now, all the fairways are tree lined and other features have been added throughout the years. I feel that the whole complex now caters for anyone and everyone who, would like to start in golf. The Club have been fantastic about my appointment and very supportive; I think they are as proud as I am.
Thanks for your time Parnell in answering our questions, good luck for your time as Captain of the PGA.
Thank-you.
