John Cockayne has over 30 years of experience in golf coaching and event management. He has held roles as the Managing Director of an event management company, the director of a corporate golf academy program, and as the Tournament Director for numerous PGA sanctioned golf events. Cockayne has also worked as the golf editor for a magazine and contributed articles to several golf and business publications.

1. Golf and Coaching Profile: John Cockayne.
Page1
Personal statement:
I have spent a significant part of my career involved in coaching and running golf events.
This has enabled me to work in a wide variety of management disciplines from general management, marketing and event
management, to roles as a Director of Golf, Tournament Director and as a tournament official on the PGA Sunshine Circuit
in South Africa.
The scope of the various golf events and the needs of the clients have been very varied, but a consistent requirement
throughout has been the need to evaluate the requirements of a specific venue, project or event and to design,
implement and manage an original solution, which is geared to generate new business.
This skill-set has been essential in the coordination and control of the multi disciplined environments such as the South
African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) National Golf Academy and tailor made market positioning strategies and
programmes such as those created for various golf estates including Pecanwood (Northwest province – South Africa),
Muscat Hills (Sultanate of Oman) and Eagle Canyon (Gauteng province – South Africa).
Positions held to August 2016.
1988 to 2016:
MD of Gold Palm Promotions, Event and Project Management Company, Johannesburg - South Africa:
 The business currently provides marketing, event and project management services to several golf estates, an
international conference and events’ company, a media company, an international vacation company, Africa’s
largest mobile phone operator, two car brands and a national charity.
 Responsible for the day to day management of the company of which I am the managing partner.
1990 to 2016:
Coaching Programme Director for Corporate Golf Academy Programme and Tournament Director– South Africa:
 Since its inception over 500 golf academies have been run by the Academy throughout southern Africa for a
variety of local blue chip, JSE listed companies and several multinationals.
 Each Academy programme is tailor made to suit the specific sales and marketing goals of the host client.
 The development for the Academies content and programme structure has been organic and during this process
the Academy pioneered several new approaches to coaching and the creation of innovative post event marketing
tools which have now become industry standards and coaching content which has been serialised by three
national newspapers, a golf magazine and a TV channel to date.
 Tournament official, on the PGA Sunshine Circuit and as the Tournament Director for various PGA sanctioned
events and Pro-Ams: these include the Avis Lease Black Rhino Challenge, SABC Radio Pro-Ams, the Adcorp Series
and the Charity Pro-Am Series.
 The Black Rhino Challenge remains, on a pro rata basis in terms of the funds raised, the most successful single
term project in South Africa’s fundraising history.
 In total the various pro-ams have raised over ZAR 6 million for the projects involved.
 Tournament official, on the PGA Sunshine Circuit and as the Tournament Director for various PGA sanctioned
events and Pro-Ams: these include the Avis Lease Black Rhino Challenge, SABC Radio Pro-Ams, the Adcorp Series
and the Charity Pro-Am Series.
 The Black Rhino Challenge remains, on a pro rata basis in terms of the funds raised, the most successful single
term project in South Africa’s fundraising history.
 In total the various pro-ams have raised over ZAR 6 million for the projects involved.

2. Golf and Coaching Profile: John Cockayne.
Page2
1978 to 1988:
Various roles as a PGA Club Professional including:
 Director of Golf at Southbroom Golf Club, KwaZulu-Natal - South Africa
 Head Professional at State Mines Country Club, Benoni - South Africa
 Head Professional at Royal Oak Golf Club, Brakpan - South Africa
 Professional at Benoni Country Club, Benoni - South Africa.
Media:
 Golf editor for Estate Living magazine.
 Former contributor to Tee & Sandwedges and the South Africa Golf Journal.
 Provided written articles, golf instruction and comment for a wide range of publications including The Compleat
Golfer, Rapport, Business Day, ThisDay, Tee to Green, SA Golf Trader, The Muscat Daily, Golf Digest and
Supersport TV.
 Developed five national promotions for the largest national newspapers in South Africa and two of the projects
generated the largest written returns received for both the Sunday Times and Business Day.
 Developed and wrote the copy for ‘What’s Golf Got To Do With It?’ The text was serialised in the National
newspaper Thisday in South Africa.
 The ‘What’s Golf’ text was also used as the base content for five inserts on MNet Supersport’s TV Breaking Series
in South Africa in 2009.
 Completed a second text, ‘How To Practise Less More Often’: this was based on the guest swing notes from the
Corporate Golf Academy and the text was printed in serial form in 2011 and 2012 in the Muscat Daily – Oman’s
largest and most ‘influential’ English language daily newspaper and a re-edited version was reprinted in Tee &
Sandwedges during 2013 and 2014.
Golf:
 Fully qualified golf professional with extensive experience in event management, membership sales and in the
management of the complete golf operation.
 Founder member of the PGA of South Africa, made a Fellow in 2008 and Life Member in 2015.
 Tournament official with the PGA Sunshine Circuit (1988 to 1993) and the Tournament Director (1984 to 2015) for
various PGA sanctioned events and Pro-Ams including; Avis Lease Black Rhino Challenge, Gold Palm, SABC Radio,
Zambia Airways, Adcorp Holdings, RCP Media Pro-Ams, Tshwane City Charity Pro-Am and The PGA Cup.
 Former member of the Sunshine Circuit Tournament Players Division - top 10 finishes in PGA events on five
occasions.
Personal information and contact details:
• Computer: MS Outlook, MS Word and Powerpoint.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including Master of ceremonies at numerous golf events and Pro-
Ams and radio and TV golf coaching, interviews and commentary.
• Educated in Kenya, South Africa and the UK. Completed O Levels, A levels and Oxbridge examinations.
• Languages: Good conversational French.
• Currently studying a BA Hons Golf Management degree by ‘distance learning’, current level attained is Dip HE/BA.
• UK passport holder.
• Full UK, French and Oman driving licences.
• Mobile: +27 (0) 73 8967931 – South Africa
• Mobile : +33 (0) 615035092 – France
• Email / cathco@mweb.co.za