User:Donald Stirling

Donald Stirling was born in Bolton in May 1954. He was educated at Turton School in Bromley Cross and represented Bolton Schools Town team football in 1968-69. He is a Qualified PGA Golf Professional and former tour Player and Coach having starting his career at Bolton Golf Club in November 1970.He is a member of the PGA GB based at the Belfry, Sutton Coldfield. His main interest is in music and is currently learning Acoustic Guitar. Donald,s good friend the singer songwriter Howard Broadbent is a talented well known pianist as well as being a keen golfer reaching a scratch handicap. Howard is famous for writing the folk song "The Blackpool Bell" with co partner Jimmy Smith who also played the Guitar.

Donald,s career took him to Halifax West End Golf Club, Moortown Golf Club, Leeds and then to Harrogate Golf Club North Yorkshire where he became full professional in 1979. In 1985 Donald joined the Golf Equipment firm Taylor Made. He was already on the European Tour at this time and enhanced his playing career with the New Metal Woods and Tour preferred irons. Donald made big inroads into the market place with his work encouraging young amateur and professional players to play this new innovative brand. Taylor Made have continued to grow and have many Top professional players inc. Sergio Garcia playing the brand. In 1995/6 After more flirtations with the tour Donald moved to Austria where he now resides in Vienna with his wife Silvia. Donald played on the European Senior Tour from 2005 for 4 years during which time he won the Senior PGA Professional Championship at Northants County by 5 shots.(69,69,73,) to go with his many successes in the North Region PGA where he won the North Region Professional Championships the Leeds Cup three times being the highlights along with Lancashire PGA and Yorkshire PGA Championships. During his time in Austria Donald also won the Austrian PGA Seniors Championship and Austrian Senior Open Championships on more than one occasion. Donald,s teaching and coaching reputation continued to grow during this time and he was Austria Ladies Senior trainer in 2008/9 taking them to Ireland when they played an Irish Senior Ladies team of good players Captained by former Curtis Cup player Mary McKeena. It was a great experience for the Austrian Ladies Team who lost the match narrowly at the end. Ireland were ranked 3rd in Europe and Austria 14th at that time. Donald also worked with former tour Players Johnathan Lomas former rookie of the year and Phil Golding a former winner of the French Open. Donald still works with players from the North of England on a coaching and playing basis and has earned the PGA Golf Mind Diploma 2014.

For more info visit homepage: www.d-siga.com