The Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA) has confirmed the appointment of Gary Gilchrist as its new national coach.
In this role, Gilchrist, one of the game’s most high-profile coaches, is tasked with strengthening the HKGA’s training and development programmes.
The appointment represents the HKGA’s on-going efforts to maximise the full potential of talented young local golfers, and to support them in their goal of representing Hong Kong at international tournaments such as the Asian Games and Olympics Games.
Gilchrist assumes duties as Hong Kong Team Coach for the HKGA with immediate effect.
Consistently ranked among the top-50 golf teachers in the United States, Gilchrist has been acclaimed for his teaching methods.
Among his claims to fame, he is the first golf coach to have had three professional golfers in his stable – Ariya Jutanugarn, Lydia Ko and Feng Shanshan – ascend to number one in the world rankings in the same year.
Gilchrist has a long, successful record in helping talented junior golfers lift their games. He developed and managed IMG’s David Leadbetter Junior Golf Academy, the first full-time junior golf academy in the world.
He is known for developing holistic training programmes that improve not only players’ technique and strategy, but also their mental and physical resilience.
Nishi Yoshihiro, President of the Hong Kong Golf Association, said: “Gary Gilchrist brings years of experience coaching top PGA Tour players such as Nick Price, David Frost, Mark O’Meara and Ernie Els. He has also been a pioneer and driving force in the training of junior golfers.
“We are very happy that he has decided to join us at the HKGA, where his insights, well-tested methodologies and international perspective will help us train and develop our young local golfers into regional and international champions.”
Danny Lai, the HKGA’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “The appointment of Gary Gilchrist comes at an opportune time, when there has been exponential growth in the number of talented young golfers in Hong Kong.
“To further promote and develop golf in Hong Kong, it is important that we offer our young players the opportunity to tap into world-class training and development resources without having to leave home. The earlier players receive best-in-class training, the better the chance they will have of making it to top-level international competition.
“Another task for Gary is to train up the HKGA coaches to form a successful coaching team. He is a firm believer in team work.”
In addition to training accomplished individual PGA and LPGA players, Gilchrist also has experience leading successful national teams. He recently served as Head Coach for the Guangdong Province Team, which won the silver medal in the 2017 China National Games.
“The HKGA would also like to take this opportunity to thank its Golf Development Director, Jonathan Wallett, for his contributions in the last three years,” said Lai.
