Bushby looks to take island out of 'time warp'

GUERNSEY golf has been in a 'time warp', according to the man given the job of steering it out of increasing mediocrity. Roy Bushby says he 'can't wait' to get stuck into what some might consider the toughest job in Guernsey sport: keeping up with Jersey across the age groups.

With Sarnian fortunes fading by the season, Bushby has been appointed as the island's first head coach by the Guernsey Golf Union.

Initially it will be on a one-year trial basis and his role in a GGU development programme will be primarily to work closely with all the top players by utilising the island's golf professionals, collating data, monitoring training programmes and distributing training plans.

He will also act as liaison officer for all the island teams and advise on careers in golf (tour, club professional, architect and management), further education (golf scholarships) and golf-related injuries.

As Alan Mahy, the GGU's new president, revealed, Bushby set the ball rolling for his own appointment after another series of defeats at Jersey's hands in the summer.

'Roy came to us with the initial idea in October.

'It was a passing comment he made about the state of Guernsey golf.

Bushby, who is a PGA-qualified coach and holds a diploma in sports psychology, is already well known in local golf circles.

He was an assistant professional at the Royal Guernsey from 1985 to 1990 before developing his golf career in Austria.

In 1993 he founded the Roy Bushby Academy of Golf at Liebenau which was a forerunner in technology and structured teaching.

Within three years he had opened three more academies and employed 14 teaching professionals and by 2002 eight of his students had turned professional and enjoyed success around Europe and one represented Austria in golf's World Cup.

Upon returning to Guernsey a few years ago, he was appointed as club manager at the Royal Guernsey, a job he will combine with this new project.

The GGU have ignored calls for a development officer, preferring to go down the route of head coach.

'We can't develop golf because we haven't got the facilities and route to do it,' said Bushby.

'The Junior Golf Club has done well but hasn't had the direction Roy will be able to give it,' said Mahy.

'We can't suddenly let three or four hundred extra golfers in. Where could they play?' added the GGU boss.

One of Bushby's first jobs will be to set up island squads at various age levels starting at under 12, working up to perhaps even under 21.

It all kicks off with an induction of all squad members, including seniors, early in February.

'In the short term the training is going to be split up into two categories: technical and performance related,' said Bushby, who is confident he can produce a steady supply of good players to displace an ageing island senior team.

'We will get some scratch golfers out of this, I'm sure.

'I will be very disappointed if in a few years we haven't got 18-year-olds who are scratch handicaps.'

But he is under no illusion as to the size of the task ahead and agrees the sport has under-achieved for a long time.