Brian McCormack is ready to come full circle and enjoy his return home after being appointed as the new Head Professional in Tullamore Golf Club.
McCormack, who already combines running his own business at McCormack Golf while playing on the Irish PGA region, grew up playing junior golf in Tullamore and having welcomed a new baby into his life, he is ready to put family first.
“I would have grown up as a junior in Tullamore. I was in Royal Dublin, started my own company and I’ve been around so it’s come full circle and now that I have a couple of young sons you look towards the future,” said McCormack who hopes to combine his new role in Tullamore with his own business.
“McCormack Golf is going very well and as the two entities merge over the coming years it will be mutually beneficial for me, my staff and the members in Tullamore Golf Club.”
It’s a period of transition in his life but one he will get through with ease.
“Having a golf course to be able to practice on and teach on. The facilities are great so for me as a professional golf player it’s great to have access to do that. Having the craic with the members and people I would have grown up with or played against at inter club as an amateur.
“I’m in a very good place with my life and just not in the golf world. So when you hear guys say that it’s not unusual to see the golf game follow that.”
‘Happy off the course and happy on the course’ certainly rang true for McCormack as he breezed through to the PGA Professional Championship in Conwy Golf Club this June after topping the Irish qualifier in Co. Louth Golf Club on Thursday morning.
He skipped around Baltray in 68 shots to lead the way in four-under.
A quick start saw him birdie the 2nd, 4th and 5th holes and he bounced back from a bogey on 10 with closing birdies on 13 and 15 to book his place alongside fellow qualifiers Keith Shannon (Cloverhill), Donal Gleeson (Old Gonna), Padraig McGrath, Michael McGeady, Robert Giles (Greenore), Richard Kilpatrick (Banbridge) and Joe Dillon.
“Very happy with today. The course was in immaculate condition given all the weather we have endured over the last few months. Happy with the performance,” said McCormack.
“I was really out there to enjoy it and the weather was so good that we did enjoy it! I played with Robert Giles and David Mortimer, two top guys so we really enjoyed ourselves. I had my caddie on the bag and hadn’t seen him since the matchplay so it was the most relaxed I had been in a long time and it was good too shoot a 68.”
Golf is a funny game, when you are comfortable and playing well you will get good breaks and he did so on 5 and 13 for birdies.
“I hit a bad shot into 5 pushed it right and it kicked off a bunker and went into three feet. The same happened on 13 I pulled it left and I was giving out and it followed the swails into six feet and I holed that for birdie. Golf isn’t that difficult when mother luck is helping you out!
“I had entered most of the tournaments prior to the appointment in Tullamore Golf Club but I withdrew from some to get my feet in at Tullamore. I will play in Royal County Down and Mount Juliet where I will defend.
“It’s funny I didn’t have a huge amount of practice but it’s comforting to know I can still win.”