Hexham-based PGA professional Andy Paisley on continuing to build his international reputation, supporting players close to home, and how he has found balance in his career
The role of the PGA professional is unique and incredibly varied, and those who rise to the top of their chosen field have opened doors to incredible opportunities – few more so than Hexham’s Andy Paisley.
Since he turned professional some 23 years ago, joining Hexham Golf Club in 2008, Andy has progressed from coaching club golfers and running the pro shop every week of the year to travelling the world and working with players including LIV Golf’s Dean Burmester and Tom McKibbin – and DP World Tour players Calum Hill, Connor Syme, Fabrizio Zanotti, Andrew Wilson and Jason Scrivener among others.
“It’s really interesting when you reflect on how much the job of a PGA pro can vary,” says Andy on the eve of flying to Singapore for back-to-back LIV and DP World Tour events. “I didn’t set out to be a coach on tour, I’ve just always tried to work hard to improve as a coach and see improvements in the players I work with.”
Andy also believes there’s a degree of luck involved, though given his focus on putting and performance on tour – while he works with several players right across their game – it’s hard to argue it’s not all down to the numbers.
With lots to cover, working with more than a dozen players across two tours, Andy still places a big focus on his coaching at Hexham – where he works with players including Jess Baker, Morgan Blythe and Sam Westwood – while sharing the role as head professional with Jonathon Richardson.
“Having my base at Hexham, close to where I grew up and not far from where I live with my family, is so important. While I love what I do, I don’t want to be on the road all the time.
“Sharing the role at Hexham with Jonny has been brilliant, and it has opened up opportunities for both of us while maintaining a great service for the club’s members. We’ve also got a great team around us. Ultimately, I think it’s a good thing to have somewhere that keeps your feet on the ground.”
Having spread himself across so many roles in the past, Andy stepped away from coaching the England regional boys’ squad in 2024 and now focuses almost exclusively on coaching.
“I think I’d done so much, and so many different things, for so long that I had to commit to focusing in the last few years,” he adds. “I’m definitely better at saying no now and I’m far less stressed. It can be hard to walk away from things, but it frees you up. That time to think and look after yourself is so important, and I do lots more now to develop myself as a person and reflect on what I’m doing.”
While he’ll work with many of his international players on the road, it’s not uncommon to find students at Hexham either. For Andy, the connection with his players – in whatever form that takes – is vital.
“I love the relationships I have with players – from guys I’ve taught for 20 years to new players on tour,” he says. “I think that’s a strength in my coaching – that level of caring about what they’re doing – and it leads to a lot of job satisfaction for me when they achieve their goals.
“I also know what players go through, especially on tour. Having seen what [my brother] Chris has gone through in the last few years, losing his card and fighting to get back to his best golf, I know how much emotional support players can need. Some players don’t have that anywhere outside of golf, so it’s important to offer that to a player that needs it.
“For example, Tom rang me about LIV Golf before he joined the tour, and our relationship is so strong we could be very open with each other about it. That’s pretty cool to have that level of trust with someone you work with.”
Working with top players comes with opportunities to travel to see them at some incredible tournaments and venues – and it allows Andy to continue to develop his coaching.
“I’ve definitely got better at travelling and being on tour these last few years,” he adds. “It’s a big part of the job and it’s definitely allowed me to develop as a coach. Just being out there with so many people at the top of the game, both players and coaches, has a positive effect. Whenever you get to speak to these guys, the different ways they think about the game are inspiring. Building those relationships with players, caddies and coaches makes the time away enjoyable too.
“While I travel a lot, it’s also amazing how much technology has allowed us to work remotely in the last few years. I have all sorts of stuff from SAM PuttLab to the PuttView glasses and Vertex motion sensor, and I have players recording so much of what they do – from videos to data points – that we can very quickly diagnose changes and do it far more accurately than we used to with just our eyes.
“That said, as a player you have to be able to deliver without all of that on the golf course. As a coach, you have got to be disciplined and be able to step away from it too. To do that, I tend to work on any remote stuff and feed back to players nice and early in the morning, and keep evenings free for family time.
“Ultimately, my work-life balance is dictated by how I shape the relationships with players. I think it’s vital to empower them and for them to see me as a guide much more than a crutch. That ownership is the only way they’ll be able to go out onto the golf course and perform. In most cases, I’ll try and see players once a month – that structure is so important to making it work for both of us.”
Finding balance is tough, particularly when you’re travelling the globe. When you visit Andy at Hexham, no matter where he’s been or how full his diary is, it’s clear he’s found it.
