Former Senior PGA Professional Championship winner, Wraith Grant, is set to take over the reins as PGA South’s new Regional Captain. Having been a professional for 38 years, the PGA stalwart, now based at Horne Park in Surrey, is looking forward to bringing his wealth of experience to the well-regarded role.
Leaving school at 16, Grant headed to Canons Brook Golf Club in Harlow, reducing his handicap from 19 to just 3 in around 18 months. Following the severe handicap drop, he would go through The PGA system and earn his professional status in 1984.
A successful run of results followed, with Grant picking up South Region Championship honours, as well as a handful of Order of Merits before earning his European Tour card in 1990. “Those victories allowed me to play in the PGA Championship at Wentworth,” says Grant.
“After I earned my Tour card in 1990, I went and played at Wentworth and finished 18th. This was at the time of Faldo, Woosnam, Lyle and the great Seve, all the legends of the game. That year, Mark Harwood won it, I recall.”
After his stint on the Tour, Grant continued to ply his trade over a number of local courses such as Royal Wimbledon, Cuddington, West Berks, Shirley Park and, eventually, Woodcote Park, where the 60-year-old remained for 20 years before leaving in 2022.
Now, he will take on a new role, with the experienced individual being appointed the new Regional Captain for PGA South. Previously captaining both the Guildford Alliance and The PGA in Surrey, Grant says he is “truly honoured” to take on this new role.
“I got a call from Sam Smith (The PGA in England (South)’s Regional Manager) and he simply asked: ‘How would I feel being the South Region Captain?’ We spoke about it, and I also spoke to some of the other guys, and they suggested that it would be a good time to do so. I ended up saying yes and it’s been just fantastic and a great honour. It was definitely unexpected, and it’s made me so, so happy.”
Following his appointment at the AGM on Thursday 17th February, the accomplished PGA professional is hoping to use all his experience for the forthcoming year: “If anyone has any questions, any up-and-coming PGA Professionals who just want to ask somebody who has got experience, then don’t hesitate to contact me.
“You know, I have taught at the highest level, I’ve played at the highest level, I’ve been at some of the best clubs around the Southern Region and it has been fantastic. It’s allowed me to do a job that I’ve loved for so long. The PGA put on so many amazing events at some of the best courses, not only down here, but across the whole country! I can’t wait to attend and even play some of these in 2022.”
