At Novellus, we have been lucky to share some great moments with several athletes across tennis and golf, but one story that stands out is still very much ongoing.
We have been supporting Euan Walker for several years now. He’s an impressive young man who has come incredibly close to earning his DP World Tour card, with two fantastic wins on the Challenge Tour (now the HotelPlanner tour), but narrowly missing out overall.
The way he carries himself, continues to represent Novellus and gives everything to the game is something that we are incredibly proud of.
We have a feeling this could be the year he finally breaks through and we’re excited to see what he can achieve at the higher levels of the game.
His journey is a powerful reminder of how tough the game is and how much it means to those who dedicate themselves to it.
How do you measure the success of your golf sponsorships beyond simple brand exposure?
We measure success by aligning with individuals who give their all, which not only brings satisfaction to us as a company but also serves as a powerful reminder to our employees.
The perseverance and commitment that these athletes show, despite such frequent setbacks (which of course are common practice in professional sport), sets a wonderful example for everyone at Novellus.
Many of your partnerships are with up-and- coming players, what qualities do you look for in an athlete?
We are spending more time with players and look for key qualities such as resilience, desire and competitiveness. Golf is an incredibly tough game, and you have to love what you do.
The most successful athletes not only relish competing but also embrace the process and progression.
We also value curiosity and willingness to learn. Asking the right questions and seeking the right advice is crucial and the smartest players figure that out early.
Finally, self-belief is essential. It sounds a bit cliched but backing yourself, when it matters most, is what separates the very best!
What do you think are the biggest challenges for young golfers trying to break into the professional ranks today?
The standard today is extremely high. The costs associated with playing professional golf are significant.
These costs exist regardless of the tour you are playing for and prize funds you can compete for. Coach (often coaches for different components of the game), Caddie, Travel, Entry fees, Physio, Physical trainer and psychology.
There’s also an overload of information in the world now with an expectation for instant results, but true success takes time.
Lottie Woad is a great example of this – what looks like an “overnight success” is really the result of 15 years of hard work by her and her support team.
A key challenge is learning to trust the process, to take the advice given and then committing to it for long enough, rather than constantly making changes.
We are strong advocates of trusting the process.
The KPMG Women’s Irish Open, Rose Ladies Series, and Women’s Irish Challenge are all significant events, how does Novellus see its role in helping these grow?
Novellus plays a small supporting role. These events are all driven by passionate, dedicated people and we aim to raise awareness and encourage other businesses to follow our lead by highlighting the positive impact of partnering with high quality tournaments.
We also encourage our Novellus sponsored athletes to compete in the events and, as they achieve greater success, we hope this will help elevate the profile of these fantastic tournaments and tours.
We have seen first hand, how inspiring for the next generation, spending a short amount of time with the players can be.
We try to ensure we are on hand with hats, autograph opportunities with our athletes and some words of encouragement.
We are lucky that the people we support buy into that and have had that from the generations that went before, no more so than in Irish golf where there is a great support network from current and former players advising the next generation as they navigate the professional game.
Are there plans to get involved at a junior or grassroots level, perhaps through coaching programs or youth events?
Absolutely. Lottie’s success offers a powerful foundation to inspire and attract more young golfers into the game.
Novellus is committed to creating a legacy by supporting grassroot efforts and actively engaging with clubs, coaches, and governing bodies to explore the best ways to make the most of this truly unique window of opportunity.
Can you reveal any upcoming golf partnerships or initiatives we should watch for?
We are excited about the next phase of growth at the Novellus academy. We also have several other projects in development, which we look forward to updating you on soon!
Does anyone in the Novellus leadership team play golf themselves? If so, any memorable rounds or personal highlights?
Our CEO, Billy McManus, plays regularly, as do many of our senior team. A memorable highlight is when Billy made two “hole in ones”, within two days, although he is quick to remind us that he hasn’t had any before or since!
If you could sponsor any golfer in history, past or present, who would it be and why?
It’s an obvious choice, but it must be Tiger Woods. While many great players have come before and after him, it’s unlikely we’ll ever see anyone who electrifies the sport or has the same level of impact on the game quite in the way Tiger has.
ABOUT NOVELLUS
Novellus is a privately funded alternative lender providing loans secured against real estate in the UK and Ireland.
The Novellus group have a range of business interests, including co-investments in private debt alongside tier 1 private equity businesses, direct investment in real estate and the pending launch of their fund business, focusing on supporting early- stage funds with cornerstone investments into the strategy as well as investment into the underlying GP.
For more information visit novellusfinance.com
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