Williams appointed head pro at Hawkstone Park

Golf Monthly top 25 coach Keith Williams has been appointed as head golf professional at Hawkstone Park Golf Club

Former European Tour golfer and Golf Monthly top 25 coach Keith Williams has been appointed head golf professional at Hawkstone Park Golf Club in Weston-under-Redcastle, Shropshire.

Williams, a former Wales international, previously held the role between 1986 and 1995 after four years playing golf professionally on the European Tour.

He went on to coach at elite level for the English Golf Union and lead Ian Woosnam's academy at Celtic Manor, before taking up a position he still holds as head golf coach of the Czech national golf programme.

Williams will use his significant experience to facilitate golfer development whilst encouraging more people into the game through the club's growing academy.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be back at Hawkstone," he said.

"There is a fantastic opportunity here for this club to fulfil its potential. It is a sleeping giant that has so much to offer. It is one of the top clubs in the West Midlands.

"I remember playing here when Alex Lyle, Sandy's father, was the professional, and looking at what Sandy went on to achieve I think demonstrates how good this club is.

"I've played and coached all over the world, at countless clubs under a range of structures, and this experience should help us develop what we already have here."

David Sims, general manager of Hawkstone Park, added: "It's fantastic that we have been able to bring Keith back to Hawkstone.

"He is an internationally-renowned coach who brings a host of qualities to our golf programme, and I am excited about the developments we can make to our already thriving golf club."

Nick Bonfield
Content Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, commissioning and feature writing. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x