“PEOPLE love to chat about their game and ask for advice when they have finished their rounds - normally going through each hole and how unlucky they have been.”

David McKidd could not have a job more suited to his passion. A golf professional, he runs Lightcliffe Professional Golf Shop based at Lightcliffe Golf Club in Knowle Top Road, Lightcliffe.

He has run the shop - which is open to both club members and the public - for the past 12 years, helping players of all abilities and ages, from beginners to experts.

“For anyone starting out, you would only need a couple of clubs,” says David, who also teaches golf at Lightcliffe. “And we can always loan clubs to those without equipment of their own.”

For new equipment, David recommends players get custom-fit. “We use state of the art TrackMan technology for that.

The shop - our T&A Trader of the Week - stocks all major manufactures of golfing equipment and clothing. “We are leading stockists of TaylorMade, Ping, PowaKaddy, Galvin Green, Ralph Lauren’s RLX, Bushnell, plus others on request,” says David.

“TaylorMade has just launched the latest carbon wood, made up of 60 layers of thin carbon in the face of the club. They have been working on the release of this product for 20 years - it is a marked change in how golf clubs are made.”

David began playing golf seriously aged 16. “I lowered my handicap pretty quickly, turning professional at the age of 21. I then completed the three-year PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) training degree course to qualify as a full member.

He now teaches people aged from around five to those in their nineties.

The shop sells accessories ranging from gloves, socks and shoes to tees, spikes, caps and golf umbrellas. “We sell a varying range of clothing from Gore-Tex waterproof jackets to shorts. Most clothing now comes with four-way stretch to allow free movement within the golf swing.

“Many items now have either warming or cooling properties to keep the body temperature regulated whilst playing.”

David buys stock direct from the manufacturers and is a member of the buying group TGI Golf, which ensures he gets the best price, to match online prices.

Golf can be an expensive pastime, but there are ways of saving costs. “If you wanted to start on a budget it is definitely possible, accessing mainly second hand equipment that could still perform to a good level,” says David. “And we can hire out equipment to those that do not have any.”

As a professional, his own “go to club” is the new Stealth carbon wood driver. “I am currently a TaylorMade partner, so my golf bag is made up of their products.”

David loves his job. “It is so varied - no two days are the same.”

Sadly, he doesn’t find much time to play the game himself. “I really enjoy playing golf, but unfortunately that is a distant third on the list as I am so busy teaching and running the shop.”

*Lightcliffe Professional Golf Shop, Knowle Top Rd, Lightcliffe, Hipperholme, Halifax HX3 8SW