Busy Matt applies final gloss

Dec 1 2009 Liverpool Daily Post

TO SAY Matthew Parsley leads a busy life is something of an understatement. Professional and secretary at Holywell Golf Club, the 33- year-old is also a Flintshire county coach, was recently appointed regional academy coach for the Golf Union of Wales, plays a bit in North Region Pro-Ams and is father of two young daughters, the latest only a few weeks old.

“I’m very busy, but I really enjoy it,” said Parsley. “I’m enjoying the coaching and the playing side of it especially.

“But I like to do a bit of everything, the shop side of it, the administration, everything.

“I just enjoy sport. We’re a very sporting family, really.”

Parsley’s dad, Joe, was once on Liverpool’s books, but Matt and his older brother, Neil, who were brought up in West Kirby, on the Wirral, didn’t follow in his footsteps.

As Matt explains: “We went to a rugby school, St Anselm’s in Birkenhead, so Neil and I played rugby for the school and for Wirral schoolboys. I first played golf at the pitch and putt course at Arrowe Park when I was 11. Then Neil and I joined Caldy, and by 15 I was down to four handicap and in the Cheshire boys coaching scheme, so I packed in rugby to concentrate on golf.

“My brother stuck with rugby and eventually played professional rugby league with Warrington.

He was Alfie Langer’s room mate during the Aussie star’s time at Warrington. In fact, he’s just called his little boy Alfie.

“He eventually returned to rugby union but he doesn’t play any more.

“He’s still involved in sport, though. He works for the Institute of Sport in Manchester now as a strength and conditioning coach and is a qualified personal trainer.”

Parsley’s wife Claire, mother of his two daughters – 17-month-old Lucy and baby Rosie – also has a sporting pedigree, as does his younger sister, Katie, who played junior hockey for Cheshire.

Matt adds: “Claire was captain at her age group of the Great Britain triathlon team and she’s a PE teacher in Chester, although she’s never taken up golf.”

Parsley won the Cheshire Under- 16 title twice, as a 14-year-old at Bramhall in 1990 and then a year later at Upton-by-Chester.

“At 16, I joined Royal Liverpool as a junior member and by 18 I was down to plus one and playing for Cheshire,” he says.

“I got into regional coaching with England, but I never made it on to a team.

“At 18, after I’d left school, I spent a year playing on the amateur circuit, then when I was 20 I turned pro when John Heggarty took me on as an assistant at Royal Liverpool.

“I didn’t do much playing-wise at that stage.

“I had a few Achilles problems and although I played a bit in North Region events I never featured, really.”

Parsley spent the next three years learning his trade, about running a professional’s shop and coaching during his three-year PGA qualification course.

He continued: “I qualified in February, 2000, and came here to Holywell in the May to take over as club professional.”

In March last year, Parsley, who now lives in Mold, also took on the role of secretary at Holywell.

“The previous secretary, Bob Fiddaman, had decided to retire, so I applied to take over and was accepted,” said Parsley.

“And it’s due to fantastic staff and committee members at the club, especially my assistant, Carol, that I am able to combine all my roles.

“My goals now are to encourage more people to join and play golf at Holywell.”

His latest role as regional academy coach for North West Wales is based as Llangefni, on Anglesey.

“It’s about an hour’s drive, but I only do ten days a year, eight over the winter,” he says.

“The squad is under 16 and I have nine in my squad, eight boys and one girl.”

Despite his busy schedule, Parsley has managed to play quite a few North Region Pro-Ams this year, and also likes to play in the North Wales Alliance meetings.

“I play quite a lot now, funnily enough, and I’ve probably had my best year ever as a professional with a couple of runners-up finishes.”

Being busy obviously suits him!

Flintshire county stalwart John Snead, who runs the North Wales Alliance and was for many years a member at Holywell and is himself a past secretary, knows Parsley well.

“Matt’s a very, very good professional, well respected at Holywell by all the members and on top of that he’s a very, very nice guy,” said Snead.