CLEOBURY Mortimer director of golf Dave Pain has become the club’s new professional.

The ambitious 30-year-old has taken over from younger brother Sam, who has moved to Dubai, but not before overcoming some last-minute adversity.

Pain explained: “In August the PGA asked if I would be interested in turning professional and taking a revolutionary two-year fast-track programme. I have already completed both a fast-track degree in Business Management and a NVQS in Sports Turf Management so I was very interested.

“It is difficult to play in club competitions because of the conflict of interests so I went lesson and practice mad to get my handicap down to four and meet the criteria. There was just one stumbling block - the playing test, which was when things started to go a little pear-shaped.

“I got shingles in early September and couldn’t play as it was too painful to swing a club. So I went into the 36-hole strokeplay test in Kent with little golf under my belt, a stone lighter than I was and nowhere near fit enough. I just missed out and I thought that was it but two weeks later I got a lifeline with one last chance at Stonebridge GC. That gave me ten days to prepare and fully fit I made it through.

“It is a big decision to take on a foundation degree at the age of 30 with the amount of hours I work at the club, my family life outside of the club and the £12,000 it costs to take the course.”

Since Pain took an active role at the go-ahead Worcestershire course five years ago, the customer service, sales and overall experience have improved immeasurably.

He added: “I see this as a five-year project with the emphasis on junior golf, beginner golf, membership growth, an indoor studio, providing the best lessons and services and adopting a modern approach to what is an often dated industry.”