Pearson feels right at home

Photo: Snainton Golf Operations Manager James Blenkinsopp (left) with new Moor Allerton professional Jonathan Pearson

New Moor Allerton professional Jonathan Pearson is looking forward to the challenge of reawakening a golf club he describes as a sleeping giant.

Born and bred in Leeds, Pearson joins from Cookridge Hall where he was head of youth development for 8 years and during which time he was named Golf Foundation PGA Coach of The Year 2015 and Cookridge was voted England Golf Club Of The Year in the previous year.

As well as big plans to promote grass roots golf, he also has a brand-new golf shop offering top brands at online prices through a new association with Snainton Golf, plus a state of the art indoor fitting and performance centre featuring the latest Flightscope technology.

Golfers can be fitted for clubs from Callaway, Taylor Made, Mizuno, Cobra and Ping and ensure they look good on the course with a choice of fashionable apparel including offerings from J. Lindeberg, Galvin Green, Under Armour, Foot joy and Ping. Ladies and juniors are equally catered for which reflects how important they are to the future of Moor Allerton.

As his qualification as TPI Level 3 Junior Coach would suggest, Pearson, 35, wants to focus on building from the ground up. “My career so far has been about developing kids right from grass roots level and I want to take that to the next level here as we have such a great facility that will also be hugely attractive for parents and families.”

His plans include the introduction of the Yorkshire Golf Academy which will be open to anybody who is looking to get started in the game.

“I couldn’t have joined at a better time and I believe there is enormous potential here. We have a great driving range, two practice grounds, the new indoor performance centre, a new shop and we even have a physiotherapist starting.

“Some of the members I have spoken to have described Moor Allerton as a sleeping giant and I have to agree with them. Perhaps in the past some of the facilities have been under-utilised as they are some of the best around and should have been attracting all types of players.

“The golf course is fabulous, and the final piece of the puzzle is to bring the shop, practice facilities and development pathways in line so the club can thrive for years to come. “

The club will celebrate its centenary in 2023 having moved to its current site in 1970 after being established in Nursery Lane in 1923, and Pearson believes his youth policy will nurture the next generation of members at the north Leeds club which has 27 holes designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr.

Members also have the comfort of a familiar face in Lewis Clarke, 22, who has returned to the club to join Pearson’s team. Clarke, a former Leeds amateur champion, worked at Moor Allerton from 2015 until last September when he joined Ryan Rastall at Howley Hall.

Former professional Peter Alliss described Moor Allerton as ‘a golfing experience larger than life’ and Pearson and his team look set to ensure that his words will always ring true.