The PGA has announced the latest PGA Excel awardees of 2025, including two TGI Golf Partners cementing their place among 66 Members with Master status.
Andrew Collison, Head Professional at Royal West Norfolk achieved Fellow Professional status while Darren Lewis, Head Professional and Manager at Lea Marston Hotel & Leisure Complex attained Fellow Manager.
Awarded quarterly, PGA Excel recognises PGA Members who have made a significant and sustained impact in the golf industry, whether as a PGA Professional, Coach, or Manager. The framework enables Members to benchmark their expertise, gain a recognised status and elevate their careers across the golf industry.
This quarter, 12 PGA Members have achieved new designations through PGA Excel:
Master Coach
Denise Hastings – Head Coach, Denise Hastings Golf Schools
Fellow Professional
Andrew Collison (TGI Partner) – Head Professional, Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
Matthew Allanson – Partnership Manager, Acushnet Europe
Daniel Whitby-Smith – Head Professional, Drayton Park Golf Club
Fellow Manager
Darren Lewis (TGI Partner) – Head Professional & Manager, Lea Marston Hotel & Leisure Complex
Fellow Coach
Stuart Reynolds – Teaching Professional, Staverton Park Hotel & Golf
Advanced Professional
Ross Hudson – Assistant Professional, Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
Alyson McKechin – Head of Golf & General Manager, Golf It!
Richard Mackenzie – Smith – Head Professional, Queenwood Golf Club
Harriet Matthews – Head of Golf, Malvern College
Advanced Coach
Anthony Johnston – Head Coach, EnglischMan Golf Trips
Alex Clapp – Golf Coach, Alex Clapp Golf
Through the PGA Excel framework, each Member has demonstrated professional excellence, career development and a commitment to continuous improvement, earning a new status that reflects their achievements and standing in the industry.
Tristan Crew, PGA Executive Director - Membership, praised each of the awardees for their dedication and success:
“Congratulations to all 12 Members awarded new PGA Excel designations. This is a testament to their continued impact in the golf industry.
“Special congratulations to Denise on achieving Master status - a rare and prestigious recognition that reflects decades of dedication and innovation in coaching. She truly exemplifies what PGA Excel represents.
“As more Members engage with the framework, its value as a benchmark of excellence becomes increasingly clear, not just for individuals, but for the wider industry as well. In an ever-changing industry, it is vital that our Members are looking for opportunities to showcase excellence and reap the rewards through PGA Excel.”
Darren Lewis, the sole Fellow Manager among this quarter’s awardees, emphasised the value of supporting PGA Professionals in their development.
“I am amazed and honoured to be awarded PGA Fellow Manager status,” he said.
“I took a completely different path in my career 27 years ago when I became a manager, taking on the role of Head PGA Professional and Golf Shop Manager at Lea Marston.
“With the support of PGA Membership categories, PGA Learn, and PGA Excel, both individuals and teams can achieve meaningful success. I continue to learn every day from other PGA Managers and Professionals.
“I’ve come to truly appreciate the role of both PGA Professionals and Trainees within my team. We actively encourage them to take advantage of every opportunity for development. Looking ahead, if I were to recruit new professionals, their engagement with CPD, PGA Learn, and commitment to advancing through PGA Excel would be a significant factor in my decision.”
Click here to start your PGA Excel self-assessment.
Click here to read more from Tristan Crew about the importance of PGA Excel to golf industry.
