Coast dad named nation's best golf club professional

Being named the nation's best club professional was a "pleasant surprise” for Headland Golf Club's Adam Norlander.

WINNER: Adam Norlander from the Headland Golf Club has been awarded the Australian PGA Club Pro of the year. Adam is with his daughter Ellie, 17 months, on the practice green. Picture: Warren Lynam

BEING named the nation's best club professional was a "pleasant surprise” for Headland Golf Club's Adam Norlander.

He scooped up the prestigious Australian PGA Professional of the Year for 2018 award at the Greg Norman Medal dinner at Royal Pines on Tuesday night.

The father-of-two, who started out as a golf retailer before doing his traineeship a little later than most, beat out other state winners to claim the prize.

In January, 2015, he shifted from Oxley to Headland, where he's slotted in seamlessly.

"There's not much downside to be honest,” the humble 44-year-old said.

"I can see the ocean from the office.”

WINNER: Adam Norlander from the Headland Golf Club has been awarded the Australian PGA Club Pro of the year. Picture: Warren Lynam

His contract was coming up for negotiation and Mr Norlander hoped he could lock in a long-term deal.

His golf operations area was the highest-ranked in a poll of member satisfaction of the golf club carried out last year.

His 9.1 out of 10 was the highest ever recorded by the company in 12 years of surveys carried out.

Mr Norlander said his days weren't "very glamorous” but his team worked to make sure people focused on the positives in the game, not the negatives.

He thanked his team, including Matt Douglas, Nate Smyth and Dominique Paice, who he said deserved the award as much as he did.

Mr Norlander said the rise in popularity of Top Golf had attracted younger players to the club and they were preparing to open their own virtual golf simulator, while female golf was also booming.

"I think it's an untapped market,” he said.

He wasn't phased by the potential for a redevelopment of the golf course either and said his team would remain committed to facilitating fun for players.

"If it was just about the game of golf the game would die,” Mr Norlander said.

"You've got to combine the exercise with the camaraderie.”