Peter Laugher, the golf operations manager at Woodbury Park in Devon, has been invited to serve as captain of the PGA for 2024.
The 65-year-old has enjoyed a long career working in golf clubs throughout England, featuring decades of voluntary service representing PGA members.
Laugher grew up in Lancashire and started his career at Rochdale Golf Club and then Duxbury Park, before moving down to the West Country, where he worked as director of golf at Dartmouth Golf & Country Club and then head professional at Thurlestone Golf Club. He moved to his current role at Woodbury Park in 2013, although he is planning to move down to go part-time early next year before taking on the captaincy of the PGA the following year.
Laugher will serve as the PGA’s 84th captain and follows in the footsteps of some of the game’s greatest names, including James Braid, Harry Vardon, JH Taylor, Henry Cotton, Peter Alliss and Bernard Gallacher.
“When you think of the PGA captains before me, including all those Open champions and Ryder Cup players, I was gobsmacked when I received the call from PGA chairman Alan White inviting me to become Captain,” said Peter. “I went quiet for a while, as I suddenly realised the enormity of it. I was honoured to have even been considered, but couldn’t believe I was being offered the role.”
He added: “I always thought the proudest thing I could ever do would be to play for my country, but I’ve never achieved that. It never occurred to me this might be possible, and I suppose captaining my association eclipses playing for my country. I’m planning to semi-retire next March, so this will be an amazing way to end my career. I’m still having to pinch myself that this has happened, but I can’t wait to get started.”