Golf has always been my second sport, because “Football is Life!!!”. However, having played golf since I was 8, it was only a matter of time before it made more of an impact on my life than just a hobby. Who would have thought that 31 years after taking up golf, I would finally take on a professional title and become a PGA Professional. Now, I not only coach golfers of all ages and experiences. I work for the PGA with regards to the Business module of the joint degree course with University of Birmingham, bringing through the next generation of PGA professionals on the trainee programme.

In my life I have had a career in business that takes in a substantial period working for a FTSE100 retailer in a head office role. This period opened me up to some amazing opportunities and personal development. It was within this time spent with some of the best in the sector that I learnt “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little bit extra”, and that “proper prior planning prevents poor performance’. These are two phrases that have stuck with me throughout.

Following on from that role, I have worked for some of the largest public transport operators and contractors with regards to performance management and strategic revenue operations. Yet, throughout all of this, and the football….. I still managed to play a lot of golf. From Hillsborough, to Lindrick, to Beeston Fields and finally at Morley Hayes.

Now as Head Professional and Director of Golf at Drive In Golf, I can assure you that every customer experience is targeted to receive extraordinary service from a very highly prepared team, because nobody wants ordinary and chaotic.

I’m Daniel Delaney, a dedicated PGA Golf Professional from Derbyshire with over 20 years of experience and a real passion for coaching.

I first picked up a club in my early teens at Markeaton Park Pitch & Putt, where I quickly caught the golf bug and never looked back. Before long, I was playing full 18-hole rounds at my local municipal course, Sinfin Golf Course—a place that would later shape my career. In my late teens, I began working there and eventually became both the Golf Professional and Manager.

After 10 fantastic years at Sinfin, I moved on to Morley Hayes, where I took on the role of Golf Operations Manager & PGA Professional. This position gave me invaluable experience and the opportunity to develop my skills even further.

A decade later, I was ready for a new challenge and joined Derby Golf Centre as Head Coach. My role was to set up a brand-new Coaching Academy, and with my experience, enthusiasm, and love for the game, we grew it quickly and successfully—introducing many new people to golf along the way.

Five years later, I was offered an exciting coaching role at the prestigious Kedleston Park Golf Club. With some of the finest facilities in Derbyshire and a fantastic team of PGA Professionals, it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. Almost two years on, this is now where I proudly base my coaching.

As a PGA Professional Coach, my commitment to helping golfers improve is unwavering. I work with players of all levels in a supportive and enjoyable environment, ensuring that each lesson leaves them with a clearer understanding of their game and a path to improvement.

Even after more than 20 years in the industry, I still love getting out on the course—whether it’s competing in professional tournaments or simply enjoying a round with friends. At the heart of everything I do is the same passion that first inspired me as a teenager: a genuine love for this great game.