Garrick Porteous has made Dubai his home after recently retiring from life on the DP World Tour. The 2013 British Amateur Champion and Walker Cup player proved from an early age the talent he possessed and it was no surprise to see him go on to earn all-conference and all-region honours while at The University of Tenessee.
Strong Start
Tall, strong and powerful off the tee, Garrick had the attributes to make it on Tour. After playing the 2014 Masters Tournament as an amateur, thanks to his British Amateur victory at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, he decided to turn professional. In June that year he secured his first pro win at the FSC Invitational on the Euro ProTour. Three years later he won the Prague Golf Challenge on the Challenge Tour, but life on Tour is hard going, and even though Garrick managed to defeat Alex Levy this year to win his second title on Tour at the Abu Dhabi Challenge, the grind was having a negative effect. We caught up with him as he openly talked about the challenges and pressures of Tour life and how he’s getting fired up to be working in the game without having to use his clubs to pay the bills.
Worldwide Golf: You’ve had the fortune of traveling the world playing professional golf, but why have you decided to settle down in Dubai?
Garrick Porteous: The reason I moved to Dubai was to improve my golf, but after a year of doing that, I’ve retired from playing. My partner is also a teacher, so she has her career in Dubai. All in all, I think it’s a great place for the golf industry as a whole. It’s evolving and is a fantastic place to meet people, grow, and change my path in golf to see where my career takes me. It’s a great hub for both Asia and Europe, with people coming through all the time. The climate is also a lot better!
WWG: Talk to us about your new role at Prosports International and how did that come about?
Garrick Porteous: I’m only a few weeks into the job at Prosports International. I had a great chat with Stuart Taylor, who offered me a managerial role with a few accounts at different golf clubs to help me understand the business a bit better. It’s a great opportunity to learn the business side, which I don’t know much about at the moment, but I’m learning every day. There’s a great opportunity with Prosports to grow my network and help them progress. I feel very fortunate to be in the position I’m in and to be able to stay in Dubai, as my wife and I want to.
WWG: How has the professional game changed since you first became a professional?
Garrick Porteous: Since I turned professional about ten years ago, the standard seems to get stronger every year. When I first turned pro, there was a big difference between the Challenge Tour and the DP World Tour, but now that gap has certainly shrunk. A lot of the guys winning on the Challenge Tour are also winning on the main tour. There is such a high standard on the Challenge Tour, but you just don’t reap the rewards. You really have to be playing on the DP World Tour to earn a living. It’s a development tour, but some guys just get lost in the system and never really make it on the main tour. It shows how strong the DP World Tour is, with some amazing players. I gave it a great go for tem years, achieved a lot, and I’m happy with what I did, but I’m ready to explore the next chapter in my life.
WWG: We all see the money and glory on offer for the leading players, but can you give us insight into the pressures that regular Tour pros face during the year?
Garrick Porteous: It’s like watching the Netflix documentary; everyone gets a picture of what professional golf is like, but in reality, that’s only true for one percent of professionals. They don’t see the weeks away from family and friends, the countless hours on the road traveling from week to week. Everyone just sees the final putt going in on 18; they don’t see what happens to get to the following Thursday to tee it up again. It is a grind that eats away at you; it certainly ate away at me over the last 10 years. You’re making a little bit of money, but overall it’s a slog. You’re jumping on a plane down to Australia or South Africa, coming back to Europe; it can be a lonely existence. I feel like on the DP World Tour there’s a great network of guys, but people go their own way on a Sunday night. It’s just about finding a balance out on tou
WWG: What did it mean for the local pros and your friends to see Paul Waring win in Abu Dhabi?
Garrick Porteous: It’s great to see Paul and his caddie, Alex, win. I’ve known them for a number of years. To see how he’s grown into an amazing player and been a bit unlucky some weeks not to win more is fantastic, but it’s great to see him reaping his rewards now. He’s such a nice guy, and to be able to appreciate what he’s done is amazing. I think he’s going to do really well on the PGA Tour; he has great energy around him. I wish him all the best.
WWG: How did your game benefit from playing college golf in America, and what advice would you give talented youngsters looking to follow in your footsteps?
Garrick Porteous: I think college golf in America makes you grow up really fast. I went there when I was 18, and it was the first time I was away from home full-time, so you really have to step up to the plate. You have to do all the little things that your parents used to do. You really have to suck it up. I really enjoyed my time at the University of Tennessee with a great college coach and great teammates. The facilities were second to none. I know Josh Hill is over there now, and the facility is a million times better than what I had, so I think for someone going over there, it’s crucial to find a great place to go. A lot of people don’t realize how demanding the academic side is because you really have to maintain a certain GPA, and it can lead to very long days. However, it’s definitely rewarding at the end of it.
WWG: One local player making waves is Rayhan Thomas, who also sharpened his skills at Oklahoma State University. What pieces of advice would you give him as he’s so close to making it on the various Q-Schools around the world?
Garrick Porteous: I don’t know Rayhan personally, but he’s gone to Oklahoma State University, which is a highly regarded university in America. You’ve got to be someone special to be going there. We played against them quite a lot at NCAA, and they have some great alumni coming out of there. I wish him all the best at Q School. When you’re starting out in golf, you’ve got to be so patient. It’s a long road ahead. That’s the only advice I could really give him: stick with what he knows, trust his coaches, and not get dragged into what can feel like a circus at times with everyone wanting to know you. Stick to the basics, and I’m sure he’ll go far.
WWG: Since turning pro, are there any standout golf clubs (manufacturers) that improved your game, and is the Pro V1 ball that good, or is it overhyped?
Garrick Porteous: The manufacturer that stood out to me is definitely Acushnet with Titleist and FootJoy. On the European side, they are hands down the best—not only for their people but also for their expertise in golf clubs, equipment, knowing your stats, and clothing; it all comes in one package. The guys out on tour with Acushnet are just second to none. I really can’t speak highly enough of them. As for the Pro V1, I think it’s hands down the best ball. I played with TaylorMade for 10 years, which is a good ball, but the Pro V1 and the options they have just show why it’s the number one ball. It’s really hard not to pick that every time.
WWG: Are your playing days really behind you, or will you play every now and then when you can?
Garrick Porteous: I’m not going to be fully retired as a professional golfer. I’d love to play in some of the PGA events here, especially to meet some of the guys around the UAE and Middle East. I know the PGA Cup is a very highly regarded competition, so to represent the pros on that side would be a big achievement. I have no idea what the schedule is, so I’m pretty new to everything, but I’m still having a few chats with the guys. Representing Prosports International is a nice touch as well. n
