Coughlan’s happy homecoming
RICHIE Coughlan has no plans to return to his native Birr just yet, but if he ever does he will come with a wealth of knowledge about coaching the game’s future stars.
The Offaly man (44) last played on the PGA Tour 15 years ago after a freak rib injury put paid to a promising career.
But he’s now at the real cutting edge of the future of the game as an assistant coach with the University of Texas, which has given the game such major winning stars as Jordan Spieth, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Mark Brooks and Justin Leonard, not to mention a plethora of PGA Tour stars.
The college’s latest recruit is Cole Hammer, who is teeing it up for the USA in the World Amateur Team Championships at Carton House this week with Coughlan making the trip to offer him support.
It’s been a happy homecoming so far for the man who made history by winning his card on both sides of the pond back in 1997.
He made a quick visit to his family home on Monday before heading to Maynooth, where he bumped into fellow Offaly tour star Shane Lowry on Tuesday.
Now based at the University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, where Spieth has designed a six-hole short course known as the Lower 40, Coughlan believes the game’s young players are going to get even better over the next few years.
But he was also massively impressed by the GUI set-up and the level of play shown by Irish trio Robin Dawson, Conor Purcell and John Murphy.
“I have seen the cutting edge and to come back here and see the Irish guys as fit as they are and Neil [Manchip] there watching them it’s wonderful,” he said. “Back in the day, we had Howard Bennett as national coach and he was fantastic.
“But what Howard did for us was through his eyes. Now it’s Trackman, bio-mechanic feedback, 3D systems, video and fitness.
“The standard of play now is just incredible and the University of Texas coach John Fields thinks the standard is going to get higher again.
“There was a time when the 50 percent make percentage on the PGA Tour was six feet, now it’s up to nine feet. So there is something happening.
“They are using technology, they are fitting putters better, the stroke mechanics are improving. Players have better golf swings and better fitness on top of a better mental capacity.
“Even the clothing now, it frees you up. You could make a list of the comparisons of how much has improved over the last 15 years.”
He’s proud to see Ireland hosting the Eisenhower Trophy at such a great facility and while he’s in Ireland to give Cole support, he knows who he’d like to see lift the Eisenhower Trophy.
“I will get to know the US guys this week but I am pulling hard for the Irish team this week,” he said with a grin.”