The Tattooed Golf Coach is Trader of the Week

Harry Shaw, better known for his business name ‘The Tattooed Golf Coach’, offers lessons and expertise to golfers of all ages and abilities.

The 30-year-old teaches from Parley Golf Centre, running his very own junior academy, as well as one-to-one coaching sessions.

The idea for The Tattooed Golf Coach was formed during lockdown, at a time when Harry was in a different career altogether.

• Read more: Harry Shaw launches The Tattooed Golf Coach

He said: “I was a barber, but the barbering industry went into turmoil during lockdown. I had been a golfer many years back, so I thought I’d get back into it.

“It’s been great, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Harry explained how he once felt he didn’t fit the ‘golf image’ because of his tattoos and dress sense and was keen to make the sport more inclusive.

He added: “Golf has that stereotype of being quite an old man’s game. I’m obviously covered in tattoos, so I’m a bit different to the normal golfing professional you’d see out there.

Harry Shaw (Image: Harry Shaw)

“I wanted to launch my business as something different. I wanted to try and push golf in more of an accessible way and make it more appealing to everyone.”

Since starting up, The Tattooed Golf Coach has continued to welcome more and more golfers, particularly new starters, with some as young as five years old.

Harry said: “It has been picked up by a lot more youngsters and women which is nice to see.

“Covid was a terrible time for everybody. Golf and tennis were some of the first sports to open up, that you could do, so people gave it a go, and they realised it isn’t as bad as they thought.

• Read more: Timebomb Tattoo and Piercing is Trader of the Week

“Anybody can take part in golf. That’s the best bit about it.”

Last year, Harry decided to get back out and play professionally, while continuing to run his coaching business.

He decided that a percentage of his winnings from golf competitions would go to Macmillan Caring Locally who support the Macmillan Unit Hospice in Christchurch.

He said: “The last year was the biggest year for me. I decided to get back out and play professionally as well as teach.

“I partnered up with Macmillan Caring Locally so what I won went directly to them.

“It was a really busy year, but it meant a lot that I could raise funds for them.”

Harry is still fundraising for the charity using a Just Giving page. Visit it here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thetattooedgolfcoach