SPORTING PASSIONS NEIL MANCHIP: PAUL GALLAGHERtalks to the national coach to the Golfing Union of Ireland who has adopted a flexible approach to his varied sporting allegiances
CONFUSED SPORTS fan or eclectic sporting connoisseur? It’s hard to tell with Neil Manchip, national coach to the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI). Either way, the yoga he practices should go some way to maintaining the karma amidst his varied sporting allegiances.
Manchip is a 36-year-old Edinburgh native who has played a fundamental role within Irish golf since he arrived on these shores in the early 1990s. The first port of call was Newcastle to complete his PGA exams under the expert tutelage of fellow Scot Kevan Whitson, head professional at Royal County Down (RCD). There the canny Scot was able to mix it just as easily with the club blazers as he was coaching a melee of juniors on a Saturday morning.
Although he claims not to have been the most technically gifted player, he got the most out of his game. After gaining his PGA exams in 1996, he went on to dominate the Irish PGA circuit, and the highlight came with his 1999 PGA Championship win at The Island, where he beat notables such Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley.
Throughout his playing days the draw to the coaching side of the game was always there. As a student of the game he was a proverbial sponge, soaking up advice wherever he went. Valuable time (six years) was spent as the teaching professional at Royal Dublin, before he landed his role as national coach at the GUI Academy in Carton House five years ago.
He has overseen the most successful period in Irish amateur golf – the high points include back-to-back wins at the European Team Championship in 2007 and 2008. Irish Open champion Shane Lowry and Walker Cup player Niall Kearney, who played on those teams, are still private clients of his.
Manchip was first drawn to the rugby field during school days in the Scottish capital, and though it was a pastime that wouldn’t last, he enjoys the sport now more than ever – as a spectator rather than participant.
“I got too bashed up when I was young and playing rugby,” reflects Manchip. “I was that scrawny little child standing out on the wing shivering and waiting to get battered by the big fat guys. I learnt good and early that skin and bone isn’t conducive to rugby, you need a bit more flesh too.
“I was better at soccer and that was more appealing to me back then,” adds Manchip, who keeps his hand in with a weekly five-a-side game in Celbridge.
Rugby, though, is one area where his allegiance confusion emerges: Scotland or Ireland, Leinster or Munster? “I missed the autumn internationals due to training sessions at Carton House but the last game I went to was Leinster’s win over Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final. I’ve always enjoyed following Munster but now I like to follow Leinster too – I’ve no allegiances and no problem changing,” he says of an effortless loyalty switch.
Manchip, who lives in Dunboyne with his wife, Aideen, and family, enjoys going to Croke Park when he gets the chance. He attended Ireland’s narrow 14-13 win over England en route to the historic Grand Slam.
“That said, I like to get home at least once a year too and watch a bit of Scotland at Murrayfield,” he adds. “I have to get back to supporting Scotland more because I’m becoming a bit too Irish. I need my dose of Scottish rugby, if only to appreciate the quality of Irish rugby.”
His lasting memory of Murrayfield is the first Six Nations in 2000 when Scotland, who hadn’t won a match the whole championship, defeated England in “horrendous conditions” to deny them the Grand Slam. “There was a poster on the wall for years after that one,” he quips.
The oval ball isn’t what always grabs his attention at GAA headquarters for he is a keen follower of Gaelic Games too.
“This won’t win me any friends in Dublin, but the best game I’ve been to was Mayo defeating Dublin (1-16 to 2-12) in the 2006 All-Ireland semi-final,” he says. “My wife is from Mayo, so too is my good friend David Kearney, and we always watch Mayo when the chance comes. I admire the fitness levels of Gaelic players and their dedication, it’s unbelievable. I also love hurling. From a skill point of view it’s phenomenal.”
The Republic of Ireland soccer team struggle to capture his imagination, at least up until the infamous World Cup play-off leg against France in Paris. “I would never be in a hurry to watch the Irish soccer team, but the way they took the game to the French, I believe that’s the way they should play more often.
“It’s a bit like what we try to teach in golf, we always try to get players to express themselves, play with freedom and not worry about the consequences, and Ireland played that way in Paris.”
Manchip’s mantra includes a certain level of fitness when coaching and has introduced yoga to the GUI training sessions. “I first got into yoga in the mid 1990s when training at RCD, where I took classes by Kevan Whitson’s wife, Eileen. I’ve found it a great grounding and often we run sessions for the elite panels on a Sunday morning before the coaching starts.
“It definitely helps longevity and complements players’ individual gym programmes. It gives you greater flexibility.”
It certainly appears that way when it comes to Manchip’s varied sporting allegiances.
