Cornwall Golf Union has a new County Captain in Ian Veale (Tehidy Park) and yesterday he got preparations underway for the 2018 season with a squad get together at Trevose G&CC.

Veale, who was elected into office in late November 2017 together with Vice Captain Charlie Phillips (Newquay), takes over from David Kneebone. Both Veale and Phillips were present at Trevose to oversee a day for a squad of players who benefitted from sessions provided by three of the county’s most respected PGA Coaching Professionals in Chris Gill, Tony Nash and Richard Sadler.

Veale has a long and very successful association with the Cornwall Golf Union. Playing his first match for the county aged 16, Ian now has more than 30 years and 500 games under his belt representing the County in the golfing arena. With a handicap broadly remaining at scratch throughout that entire period, he has consistently performed to an exceptional level as an amateur, competing in national events, training with the England Squad, representing the South West and taking home the Cornwall County Championship six times.

Aside from his personal golfing credentials, Ian has also worked in the golfing industry for 15 years and currently is the Manager at Tehidy Park Golf Club. Ian’s golfing wisdom has been developed through playing for Clubs as well as County and representing at team level Newquay, West Cornwall and latterly Tehidy Park. Ian has played under numerous Club and County Captains and has gathered experiences which he hopes to implement (or as he puts it - avoid!) in his new role.

Veale’s ambitions for the county team are of course designed around success, however his hopes are to create a platform which allows the selected players to perform at their best. Although success is not a given, he plans to put all the right elements into place to ensure the players have the physical and mental tools to put them on the tee with the belief in their own ability to achieve. Training schedules - like yesterdays - already include sessions with some of the County’s best golf professionals and sports psychology experts. With a lifetime of experience to draw on with the County team, he only asks that the players give it their all every time they play, take pride in representing their County and do everything they can on the day to get a result.

Veale says: “It’s an honour to take over as County Captain and it’s always been something I have wanted to do. I’m very thankful to David Kneebone for asking me to be his Vice and of course grateful to the executive committee for their approval.

“For me a successful two years will mean that the players have enjoyed playing as part of the team and hopefully then by default they’re performing well. It means a great deal to me that not only have I been able to take on this role, but I also get to work alongside my Vice-Captain Charlie Phillips, a lifelong friend and someone I took huge inspiration from as a young golfer as one of the best players to ever come out of the County.”

Veale continues “Throughout my many years being involved with Cornwall Golf I have experienced great support from family and friends for which I am very grateful and I feel sure that support will extend to the players who will now be representing Cornwall during my captaincy”.

Yesterday was the first step for the season as fifteen of the County's best players were gathered at Trevose to be welcomed by Veale before he presented the days itinerary.

 On hand to help Veale were Cornwall based golf professionals Nash, Gill & Sadler, who during the day put the squad through their paces. The squad was split into three groups and spent 90 minutes with each professional during the morning session.  Nash  attended to the discipline and psychology of putting; Gill the short game in respect of chipping and bunker play, with Sadler overseeing technique and course management.

Tony Nash assists Joe Reynard in the putting session.

Following lunch the squad were afforded the option to further hone the new skills and knowledge derived from the professionals by having a one to one lesson or to go out onto the golf course and play a few holes. 

Chris Gill imparts advice on bunker play

Veale said "I can't speak highly enough of the input and support from Tony, Chris and Richard. These guys are so passionate about what they do that the squad can't help but benefit from the knowledge imparted. To give freely of their time and support Charlie, myself and the squad of players in that way is priceless; their enthusiasm was infectious and I am hugely grateful to them, as are the players. The interaction between the squad and the professionals was really encouraging to witness, and the mere fact that darkness was closing in as we left, having arrived at 8 a.m. was proof enough that the day was time well spent."     

Richard Sadler watches ontently on the range at Trevose

Veale continued "I must also thank Nick Gammon and Trevose Golf Club for the use of their wonderful facilities, and we are looking forward to our subsequent get together, which will be at St. Enodoc in March, where we might just ramp up the pressure on the squad with some skills tests.”

The first real outing for Veale’s team will be the annual encounter with the Royal Navy at Tehidy Park in April before the Channel League gets underway with an away match to Gloucestershire at Minchinhampton later the same month.