Far right pictured Head PGA Fellow Professional Stuart Runcie, far left Assistant PGA Professional Adam Runcie, in the middle Shop Assistant Lauren Howorth
Stuart Runcie – Head PGA Fellow Professional
Stuart is a PGA (Professional Golfer’s Association) Fellow Golf Professional at Abergele Golf Club who dedicates his time to coaching golfers of all abilities. As well as being PGA qualified, Stuart is also the founder of SRG Junior School of Golf, a Certified TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) Level 3 Golf Instructor, TPI Certified Level 2 Junior coach, a Trackman certified level 2 professional and Level 1 Certified K-Coach.
Having a Professional Golfer for a father and a mum who’s played with a handicap as low as 2, it seems it was in Stuart’s blood to become a golfer. As a junior golfer Stuart dedicated his time to reaching a standard which enabled him to turn professional, and to achieve his primary goal of representing Wales. He accomplished this in 2003 in under 18’s Home Internationals and European championships, in 2006 as a youth in the European Championships as an amateur, and then again as a professional in 2013 in the PGA International Championships. In 2006, aged 20, he won the Welsh National tournament ‘The Clwyd’.
During his formative years, the most influential individual and coach in Stuart’s development was his dad Iain. Iain was ‘County Coach’, ‘North Wales Junior Coach’, and ‘Under 12s, 14s and 16s National coach’; he was also coach to Becky Brewerton – the Ladies European tour player and two time winner in 2007 Ladies English Open and 2009 in Open De Espana Femenino, as well as representing Europe in the Solheim Cup. Stuart considers himself fortunate and is grateful to have been coached by well-respected coaches such as David Llewyllyn, Luther Blacklock, chiropractor Ian Lea and fitness trainer Andrea Smith; their knowledge and experience helped shape the philosophies Stuart lives and plays by today.
Stuart turned professional in 2008, completed his TPI qualifications in America in 2010, and the PGA foundation degree in 2011. Stuart is also a Certified level 2 Junior Instructor; this requires him to consider the development of Juniors’ potential in all sports, not just golf.
Having dedicated all of his time to playing golf competitively for a number of years, Stuart can significantly help all golfers to develop excellent course management and decision making skills. He is now devoted to sharing this with others. Stuart began coaching in 2008 and now he’s pursuing his passion for coaching golf to juniors and adults full time, guided by a philosophy that has been shaped by over 15 years of hard work, success and love for the game. He will continue to play in professional tournaments in his spare time, however Stuart has come to realise the great pleasure and satisfaction he takes from teaching others the wonderful game of golf.
In 2017 Stuart transformed a basic swing room into a Deluxe Training Studio equipped with the latest technology and golf equipment, from Trackman 4, Boditrack Pressure Mats, Huxley Putting Green and K-Motion 3D Biomechanical System. Stuart has gained many qualifications to use these in-depth pieces of equipment to aid your golf game and explain to you in confidence the science behind it.
Adam Runcie – Assistant PGA Professional
Adam Runcie is the Assistant PGA Professional at Abergele Golf Club and has been a teaching Professional since 2019.
Adam has been playing golf ever since he could first walk. At the age of 7, he became a junior member at Abergele Golf Club and has been with us ever since!
Throughout his time playing golf, he has represented Wales at both junior and men’s levels, as well as representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
He has had an exceptional career in playing golf to a very high standard. His greatest achievement is winning EuroPro in 2016! He has also won an impressive 8 professional competitions throughout his playing years.
Adam dedicates his time and energy to help all golfers of different abilities to improve their game. Since working as a teaching professional here at Abergele Golf Club, he leads our New to-golf programme and has a keen interest in the development of Newbie golfers. He can give detailed one-to-one coaching on specifics from driving and long game, to irons, short game and putting. Adam also enjoys holding group coaching sessions on a weekly basis which have proved to be popular with our members. They are open to men, ladies & seniors and cover a different aspect of the game each week.
He is a fully qualified Trackman Certified Level 2 Professional. Like Stuart, Adam can use Trackman 4 to coach his philosophy with fact-based confidence and you can book a one-to-one lesson with him in the Teaching Studio.
Both Stuart and Adam thoroughly enjoy playing golf as much as they like teaching it. In 2022 they decided to go back to the old days and become a partnership in the PGA 4ball Pairs Competition. They shot an incredible -23 under par and finished 6th out of a very large field.
Lauren Howorth – Shop Assistant
Lauren works within the Pro Shop several times a week as a Shop Assistant and helps to coach the Junior Lessons every Saturday morning.
Lauren has been a member of Abergele golf club since 2010 when she was 9 years old. Lauren is a category 1 golfer and has represented her Golf Club, County and North Wales for both Juniors and Ladies Teams.
Alongside working within the Pro Shop Lauren has been completing a full-time degree in Mental Health Nursing and has gained a Bachelor’s of Science Degree Award.
Stuart, Adam and Lauren work collaboratively on a daily basis and will always have a smile on their faces when you walk into the Pro Shop!
