Tegan Purcell (nee Smith) and her husband James have replaced Kurt Stegbauer, who has moved on after almost three years.

The Country Club opted for a 'two for one' with the husband and wife team to share the duties of club professional and the Pro Shop.

Tegan is no stranger to the Country Club, or Wagga, having grown up here and learnt the game at the course.

A talented golfer, she left 12 years ago to pursue a career in the sport and returns to take the reins in the Pro Shop with a wealth of experience.

"It's good. It's nice to be back. I've still got a lot of family here so it's nice," Tegan said.

"It's a good opportunity. It's a big club, busy place. The club and the management is thriving so it was a good opportunity for us to get back home and work in a nice job like this."

As a teenage star, Tegan won the ladies championship at the Country Club twice before moving to Sydney to embark on her traineeship.

She spent 18 months at North Ryde Golf Club and finished her traineeship at Avondale Golf Club, a private course on the north shore, where she went on to become golf operations manager for the next seven years.

She and James then left Sydney to be joint head professionals at Highlands Golf Club in Mittagong.

The pair will focus on growing golf.

"We've always focused on getting people into the game," Tegan said.

"So improving junior golf. I know a big focus of the club is getting the ladies involved, which I'm keen to help out with obviously. Just grow the game itself as well as golf here in Wagga.

"It's going pretty well here at the Country Club but there's always an opportunity to get more people into it."

James hails from the mid-north coast but calls Wagga home now after many visits to the city in recent times.

He played on the tour for about six years and is looking forward to his new venture in Wagga, where he will also run Southern Sports Academy's golf program.

"It's a big club and a club's that's thriving. The membership's thriving, the place is growing and it's a big opportunity for us. Having family here as well was a big part of it," James said.

The pair are encouraging all golfers to visit the shop.

"We obviously want people to come and see the shop," Tegan said.

"We stock a few more brands than Kurt did and we try and price match wherever we can. If there's something they want that we don't have, we'll try to get it in for them."

Wagga Country Club secretary manager John Turner is delighted to have the husband and wife team at the club.

"We're very excited, and having two, not just one, golf is getting busy so having two pros here to service the members and the Wagga public is great," Turner said.

"With lessons, it's great for our ladies to have a lady pro, that's to our advantage and having two smiling friendly faces to greet everyone in the pro shop is fantastic."

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