The Golfing Union of Ireland has appointed Geoff Dixon as their new full-time coach. He will succeed Howard Bennett, who held the position with much success for 14 years before retiring in March.
Dixon will leave his post as PGA Training Manager at the National Training Academy at the Belfry complex in Birmingham. The 41-year-old is a qualified PGA professional with 21-years experience as a coach.
Alongside his time at the Belfry he was also an advisor to the Argentine Golf Federation, assisting the South American country to develop its national squad and coaching team.
In a well-travelled career, Dixon has spent 10 years as a golf coach in Scandinavia and since then has also spent time delivering coaching seminars in Germany, Belgium and Columbia.
The former Badminton international has a degree in Sports Management, which provides the new national coach with added expertise in areas such as; fitness, diet, nutrition and pedagogy.
Dixon's first duty will be to accompany the six-man Irish team to the European Team Championship at Koninklijke Haagsche Golf & Country Club in Wassenaar, Holland, from July 1st-5th.
Key roles for the new GUI national coach :
- Coach players and work with them on their individual programmes
- Co-ordinate coaching programmes in the four Provinces
- Co-ordinate work of provincial Coaches
- Attend appropriate provincial, national and international events
- Attend regular coaching sessions with panels resident in Ireland
- Prepare coaching programmes in consultation with the Coaching Management Committee
- Lead co-ordination of pre-tournament preparation including site
- visits/pre-season training and other support services
- Build a close working relationship with National team captains, players and individual coaches.