Paul Barham.
Paul started playing golf in 1980 where only after 2 years he went straight to a handicap of 7. At that time he was a member at Basildon golf club playing alongside Kevin Merry and ex touring professional Jon Robson.
In 1984 he became assistant professional at the newly opened Pipps Hill golf range in Basildon and then turned pro just 2 years later. He started his PGA training under the wings of Mark Sharman and also Pat O’Connor.
At the age of 19 Paul won his first tournament when he shot a 66 at Boyce Hill, Benfleet and this was to be the start of his numerous victories in and around Essex.
In 1989 Paul became Head Assistant at Warley Park Golf Club in Brentwood before joining the Jimmy Burns Golf School where he was part of a four man team which grew to become one of the biggest teaching academies in the region.
In 1991 he became the Head Professional at Weald Park Golf Club in South Weald where he concentrated on his coaching skills and the running of the pro shop, this is where Paul started to teach some county players and Essex professionals.
In 1996 he teamed up with Freddie Sunderland and they built a 15 acre,14 bay floodlit golf range at Crondon Park, Stock, Essex and during his 6 years there his clientel went from strength to strength with one of his biggest success’s being Jack Clarke who has won 9 PGA events during 2000 culminating with the major win being the Essex Open.
Paul joined the Essex PGA committee in 1998 and became Essex PGA Captain in 2000. He sold the golf range in 2001 and became director of golf at Woolston Manor where he also became part of the Scott Cranfield Academy.
During his time there, Paul worked on his golf swing with the likes of Denis Pegh, Scott Cranfield and Luther Blacklock and has also attended many seminars with some of Europe’s great coaches.
In 2003, he wrote a two page spread in Golf World about the methods and techniques of coaching golf.
Paul has spent his last fifteen years teaching at Stockbrook Manor and now also at the Rayleigh Golf Academy.