When it comes to Naunton Downs Golf Club, Nick Ellis has been there, done it… and is still doing it.

The club’s current head professional – he took on the role in 2000 – was an assistant pro when the first ball was struck in anger at the club on July 1st 1993.

“There aren’t many people around the country in my line of work who have stayed at one club for so long,” he said proudly.

“It’s been great for me. It’s a good golf club, the members are great and it’s a nice place to work.

“I came here when I was 17 or 18. I’d been working at Stratford-on-Avon Golf Club under Nigel Powell who was the professional there. When he moved to Naunton Downs I came with him.”

That was nearly 25 years ago and Ellis can remember the day the club opened almost as if it were yesterday.

“Peter Scudamore did the honours,” he said. “He laid the foundation stone outside the clubhouse. It was a big thing.”

The golf club has been a big thing for Ellis’ family too because his 17-year-old son Dylan is a member and plays off nine, his daughters Jordan, 18, and Megan, 14, both have part-time work at the club and even his wife Clarissa works at the club.

“It’s a big part of our lives,” said Ellis, who lives in Stow-on-the-Wold and learned his golf at nearby Broadway Golf Club. “I still a play a bit but I don’t play as much as I’d like because I’m pretty busy at the shop.”

He can still swing to good effect when he does play, however, and over the years has enjoyed some notable successes.

“I’ve done okay on the South West PGA although I’ve not made a fortune,” he said, “and I was captain of the Gloucestershire & Somerset PGA in 2015.

“I also remember competing in the national PGA Captain and Professional tournament with Roger Downes in 2006.

“We qualified for the final out in Bahrain. We were leading with nine holes to play but then dropped a few shots and finished fourth.”

Not that Ellis has anything but good memories of his trip to the Persian Gulf.

“It was an all-expenses paid trip,” he chuckled. “We flew first class and stayed in a five-star hotel. And we got to play on the King of Bahrain’s own private course at his palace!”

At the age of 43, Ellis’ own reign as Naunton Downs pro looks set to have many years to run.

“I’m expecting a gold watch next year,” he laughed.

It will indeed be a big year for Ellis, but 2018 promises to be even bigger for the golf club as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.