At Novellus, we’ve been lucky enough to share some great moments with several athletes in tennis and golf, but there’s one compelling story that continues.
We have supported Euan Walker for many years. He’s an impressive young guy who came very close to qualifying for the DP World Tour with two great wins on the Challenge Tour (now the HotelPlanner Tour), but just missed out overall.
We couldn’t be more proud of the way he carries himself, continues to represent Novellus and gives his all to the sport.
We have a feeling this could be his final breakout year, and we’re excited to see what he can accomplish at the next level.
His journey is a powerful reminder of how tough the sport is and what it means to those who are dedicated to it.
How do you measure golf sponsorship success beyond simple brand exposure?
We measure success by aligning ourselves with individuals who give their best, which not only brings satisfaction to our company but also serves as a powerful reminder to our employees.
The perseverance and dedication displayed by these athletes, despite frequent setbacks (which is of course a common practice in professional sports), sets an excellent example for everyone at Novellus.
Many of your partners are up-and-coming athletes, what qualities do you look for in athletes?
We spend more time with our players, looking for key qualities such as toughness, desire and competitiveness. Golf is a very tough game and you have to love what you do.
The most successful athletes not only enjoy competition, but also embrace process and progress.
We also value curiosity and a willingness to learn. Asking the right questions and seeking the right advice is crucial, and the smartest players realize this early on.
Finally, confidence is crucial. It may sound cliche, but supporting yourself when it matters most is the best difference!
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing young golfers today as they try to break into the professional ranks?
The standards are very high today. The costs associated with playing professional golf are substantial.
These fees exist regardless of the tour you play and the prize money you can compete for. Coaches (usually coaches for different parts of the game), caddies, travel, entry fees, team doctors, strength and conditioning coaches, and psychology.
There is also too much information in the world today, and people expect immediate results, but real success takes time.
Lottie Woad is a great example of this – what seemed like an “overnight” success was actually the result of 15 years of hard work for her and her support team.
A key challenge is learning to trust the process, accept the advice given, and stick with it over the long term rather than constantly making changes.
We are strong believers in trusting the process.
The KPMG Women’s Irish Open, Rose Women’s Series and Women’s Irish Challenge are all important events, how does Novellus see its role in helping these events grow?
Novellus plays a small supporting role. These events are driven by passionate, dedicated people and our aim is to raise awareness and encourage other businesses to follow our lead by highlighting the positive impact of working with high-quality tournaments.
We also encourage Novellus-sponsored athletes to participate in these events, and as they achieve greater success we hope this will help raise the profile of these fantastic championships and tours.
We have seen firsthand how much spending a short time with the players inspires the next generation.
We try to make sure we have hats, autograph opportunities with athletes and some words of encouragement.
We are lucky that the people we support believe in this and have had this from previous generations, just like Irish golf where there is a strong support network from current and former players to advise the next generation in the professional game.
Are there plans to get involved at a primary or grassroots level, perhaps through a mentoring program or youth activities?
Absolutely. Lottie’s success has laid a solid foundation for inspiring and attracting more young golfers to the game.
Novellus is committed to creating a legacy by supporting grassroots efforts and actively working 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 keep an eye on?
We are excited about the next phase of Novellus Academy’s growth. We have several other projects in development and we look forward to updating you soon!
Does anyone on the Novellus leadership team play golf themselves? Any memorable bouts or personal highlights, if any?
Our CEO, Billy McManus, regularly attends competitions, as do many of our senior team members. A memorable highlight was when Billy hit two ‘holes in one’ in two days, although he was quick to remind us that he had never hit any before or since!
Image: (Golf Archives | Phil Inglis)
If you could sponsor any golfer in history, past or present, who would you choose? Why?
It’s an obvious choice, but it has to be Tiger Woods. While there have been many great players before and after him, it’s unlikely we’ll see anyone enliven the sport like Tiger did, or have the same degree of impact on the game.
About Novelles
Novellus is a privately funded alternative lender providing loans secured by real estate in the UK and Ireland.
The Novellus Group has a range of commercial interests, including co-investments in private debt with a Tier 1 private equity business, direct investments in real estate and a soon-to-launch funds business focused on supporting strategic cornerstone investments in early-stage funds as well as investments in foundational general partners.
For more information, visit Novellusfinance.com
