They say life’s a game…golf is serious. Adam Kelleher isn’t sure about that, but he admits to being an absolute “Golf Nut”. The beaming 33-year-old has just joined us at Campbelltown Golf Club as our new Head Professional!
Busy settling in since August 1, Adam has been getting to know our local faces as well as the personality of our course itself. He loves the 14th hole most – “The feel of it, the beautiful setting it has, with a lot of water”, but he is still trying to love the 18th hole – “very demanding, particularly the downslope.”
Adam has spent his life in golf, starting work as a 15-year-old cleaning carts and doing bag drops for big-name guests at Riverside Oaks at Cattai. As a professional, he has since rubbed shoulders with names as big as Jason Day at the Victorian Open, as well as celebrities such as Peter Sterling and the Waugh brothers. “I also met Shane Warne at a tournament and he made me laugh because I said “Nice to see you” and he replied, “It’s good to be seen”.
“My favourite was Michael Bevan, I looked up to him a lot. I was playing a bit of junior cricket and he was so good with the One Day side, so it was great to play with Bevo and have a good relaxed chat for five hours or so.”
“I’m an absolute golf nut and have spent my life working in the golf industry – it has been extremely good to me.”
There is an old joke that says…How many golfers does it take to change a light bulb? FORE! Well, Adam says he is only one of a team of four professionals at Campbelltown Golf Course to help local players. There’s Justin Roach, an Australian representative from Camden who is already well-known to locals, and young Cameron Banks, who is hoping to undertake a PGA Professional Traineeship soon.
The icing on the cake for Adam will be the assistance of his wife, Corinne Kelleher, a respected Australian Ladies Professional Golf Player, who works with the PGA as a Member Services Coordinator, nurturing trainee professionals. She is a Certified PGA Member as well as an ALPG Member.
“She has travelled the world with golf, and has been the Head Pro at Lynwood Country Club in Sydney,” Adam said.
He and Corinne are planning to settle in the local area as soon as possible. Adam thanked local golf enthusiasts for the warm welcome, and has plans. “A lot of members haven't been getting their repairs done here, so I want to create this area (the downstairs section of the Pro Shop) into a sort of studio, for repairs and services, a sort of ‘Golfers Man Cave’ open to everyone.
“The Campbelltown Catholic Club have been amazing to deal with, an extremely professional outfit, and I only hope to match that, setting really high standards with our team here.
