Golf WA is pleased to announce the appointment of the two State Coaches for WA for the next two years.

Golf WA is pleased to announce the appointment of Ritchie Smith and Craig Bishop as the two State Coaches for Western Australia for the next two years.

Ritchie, the Head PGA Professional at the Melville Glades Golf Club will continue in the role of State Girls’ and Women’s Coach, a position he has held since 2003. Ritchie, currently the Golf Australia appointed WA National Coach, was recently selected by Golf Australia as the Australian Team Coach for the Queen Sirikit Cup in Delhi, India and is considered one the top coaches of elite amateurs in Australia.

Craig, a former Australasian Tour Player and WA State Team Representative, is currently a teaching PGA Professional at the WA Golf Club and will take up the role of State Boys’ and Men’s Coach. Craig has recently moved back to Perth from Melbourne where he coached alongside arguably some of the best coaches Australia has to offer.

Golf WA is extremely excited with the attributes that both coaches bring to the High Performance Program and to the development of talented players in Western Australia.

Golf WA is revising its High Performance Program and is determined to establish a nationally recognised Program that produces successful state teams and elite individuals and the appointment of Ritchie and Craig is a major step in the direction of that being achieved.

With the dawning of a new era in through Golf WA it is also important that the contribution of Ross Metherell is acknowledged. Ross recently stepped down as the State Men’s Coach, a position he held for 21 of the past 28 years and his services to the game in this capacity are unparalleled in Western Australia.

Ritchie and Craig’s first assignment will be to prepare the Women’s and Men’s State Teams, due to be announced in July, for the Australian Interstate Teams Matches being played at the WA Golf Club and Royal Perth Golf Club respectively in September.