Hanson is off on new adventure in ‘best job in world’

Just a week ago he landed what is, by his own assessment, “the best job in the world”.

The Woodsome Hall player was one of three Yorkshiremen who won playing privileges on the European Tour via the six-round final qualifying school at PGA Catalunya Resort in northern Spain

Leeds’ Daniel Gavins and Hull’s Richard Finch were the others who came through alongside Hanson.

While they are drawing breath at home this week, 30-year-old Hanson is in South Africa where on Thursday he will tee it up in the first event of the wraparound 2015-16 season, the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek CC, in Malelane, Mpumalanga.

He had three days to enjoy being at home with wife Laura and daughters Jessica, three, and Olivia, one, before swapping the 37°F temperature of Huddersfield for the 37°C in South Africa.

After what he describes as the most arduous year of his career, encompassing 22 events on the Challenge Tour plus final qualifying school, the temptation was there to recharge his batteries – and avoid further drain on a bank balance that is hit by average costs of £2,000 every tournament week.

But after an evening at Woodsome Hall, where more than 100 members turned up to celebrate his success at Catalunya, and a weekend of sorting out flights and accommodation, he was on the plane to South Africa.

“I decided to play in South Africa and Australia (the PGA Championship in Queensland next week) because I don’t know how many events I’ll be guaranteed entry to this year,” he explained. “When you’ve got a guarantee, you’ve got to do it.

“It’s obviously an expensive trip, but it’s a chance to strike while the iron’s hot. I’ve been playing well so I’ll keep playing.

“I’ll be away for two weeks, then at home for Christmas, and then back to South Africa two weeks after Christmas.”

As well as sorting out the logistics of playing this week and next, Hanson spoke to his three main sponsors about their continued support – Dave Pitts, who runs DP Publicity, a marketing company; Andy Jarman, from AZ Intec; and Rodney Taylor, of Stromberg Clothing.

Hanson commented: “They have all been fantastic over the years, and Rodney (a member of Huddersfield GC), has been sorting me out for clothing for the last 10 years; he’s been great.

“There are other people who’ve helped me out, too, and I’m so grateful to them all.”

He and wife Laura, a “rugby girl through and through” who is employed by rugby league club Bradford Bulls and has previously worked for Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants, considered the possibility of travelling as a family on the first step of his new golfing adventure, but the expense mitigated against the idea.

“Hopefully, later in the season she and the girls can come to some events and we’ll do it properly rather than do it on the cheap,” he said. “That way I think we’ll enjoy it more.

“I have got a few friends on Tour who Laura knows and she knows their wives, too. Some of them have got kids and we’ll probably try to go out on the same events as them.”

His best season on the Challenge Tour, in which he finished 42nd with winnings of €41,726, qualified him to play in Catalunya where he finished among the top 25 players who were given their Tour cards.

He is well aware, though, that – as notable achievement as this was – while he has earned a passport to a land of riches, a lot of work will be necessary if he is to mine its seams.

“What I’ve done is open another door and now it’s time to start the climb from the bottom of another ladder,” he acknowledged.

“The standard and depth on the Challenge Tour is incredible. Now I’ve gone up another massive level.

“There are more and more players coming through every year.

“You can play good golf comfortably until you are 50 or older, so guys aren’t going away each year and more are joining the party.

“I’ve won this opportunity on the Tour and to potentially make a lot of money, but obviously it brings the problem of us having to pay to play in the events.”

Sheffield’s Matt Fitzpatrick is an example of ‘living the dream’ with earnings exceeding €2m in his maiden year on Tour.

But Hanson would be more than content to emulate his friend Matt Ford, who retained his Tour card in 105th place on the Order of Merit – the top 110 are exempt for 2016 – with prize money of just over €250,000.