End of an era as Des retires

That’s the day Des Paul will retire after 38 years as the resident professional with the club.

Members paid tribute to him last weekend with a special competition in his honour and prize distribution in a packed clubhouse.

There will be lots of memories to take with him of characters in the club and young players who have blossomed during his tenure.

Des began his playing career at Warrenpoint and as a two handicapper decided he would like to turn professional.

“I always wanted to be professional golfer, it was the only thing I wanted to do,” said Des.

But before he could do that he had to learn the trade with former Ryder Cup star John Jacobs at Leopardstown.

“When I started with John Jacobs for the first six months I never got paid a penny,” explained Des. “For the next six months I got 5 a week and after that 5 and half the lesson money.”

To set himself up for those first six months Des worked in factories in England doing 12 hour shifts for a year before he was ready.

He worked for two years under Jacobs before being asked to take on the job at Knockbracken after the resident pro there, Hugh Jackson, decided to go on the tour.

For six months of the year he worked at Knockbracken and for six months at Royal Malta.

Then came the chance to move to Lurgan in 1972, taking over from Ian Clarke.

“My wife came home early from Malta with her mother who was on holiday and saw the job advertised in the Telegraph,” said Des. “The club said they would hold an interview for me. I arrived home, got the job and have been here ever since.”

Never playing tournament golf but just sticking to local events Des has seen great improvements at the club.

“It’s been very good. I have enjoyed it and have no complaints at all,” he added.

He has watched as young players like Roy Hanna, Tom Douglas, Michael Horan, Shane Magee and Timmy Cummins, have developed and become stalwarts of the club.

And the future looks even brighter with an ever increasing juvenile section of around 160 youngsters.

Of course there were many characters over the years and he recalled the likes of Fred McKinley, Johnny Malone and Dr Deeny.

“There were stories you could tell but some of them you couldn’t print,” said Des.

The 64-year-old has been given honourary membership of the club. “It’s very much appreciated,” said Des.

Wife Carol joined him for the celebrations on Saturday night and he has a son Nicholas - who plays at Tandragee - and two daughters, Julie and Caroline.

And while he may have stepped down at Lurgan Des won’t be giving up teaching altogether, showing higher handicappers the ropes at the driving range in Banbridge.