Meet the Break 30 Team

Nicholas Middleton

Break 30 Founder & CEO

Nick comes from a family of engineers. He specialises in product development and innovation having worked in several industries including sports and construction engineering where one of his designs gained Department of Industry (DTI) status as Millennium Product Award to mark the best 1000 innovative products in the 20th Century.

In 1998 he founded the Zen Corporation to create a channel for his specialisation in putting and as a vehicle to introduce new innovation into the Golf industry.

Amongst other golf applications he is the inventor of the Zen Oracle putting training system which is widely used by Tour Players and trainers since it was introduced in 2003. After adopting the system, Australian golfer Stuart Appleby has risen on the USPGA tour putting ranks from 156 to 10th in just one season; going on to retain the Mercedes Championship for the 3rd year in succession and winning the Honda Classic by his largest ever tournament margin.

In 2005, Nick launched Zenjin; a collaborative project with Sheffield Hallam University School of Sport and Exercise Science “CSES” and the Sports Engineering Research Centre which together boasts the World Class Performance Programmes (WCPP) and services to sport performers at Olympic standard.  Termed “Zenjineering”, the mission sets out a holistic approach to Mind, Body & Motion; the programme comprises an elite golf science support services that links specialisations and research complementing: biomechanics, motional analysis, movement dynamics, physiology, psychology, nutrition, sport therapy, rehabilitation and recovery.

Dr. Christian Marquardt

Break 30 Director of Education

Christian is a neuroscientist, specialising in the fields of medicine, sports and motor behaviour research. His work, dedicated to the development of new concepts for movement analysis, motor learning and treatment of movement disorders, is now widely appreciated throughout the world of Golf. Christian Marquardt earned a doctorate at the faculty of medical psychology at the Munich University on kinematic movement analysis.

Since 2001 Christian Marquardt has been involved in the golf sport. He developed a unique measuring system, the SAM PuttLab, which makes it possible for the first time to measure and analyse with great precision all aspects of putting. His lectures and seminars at the SAM Academy reflect his scientific approach and know-how so appreciated in the golfing community. A number of national and international golf federations and PGAs are now working with him.

In 2003 Christian Marquardt founded the Science & Motion GmbH to market both the SAM PuttLab and the SAM Academy. Top players and putters on the European Tour have trained on the SAM PuttLab with great success, making him one of the leading putting experts. He has also made himself a name in golf with his unique and revolutionary approach to the treatment of the much-feared “yips”.

Shaun Womersley,

Break 30 Technical Director

Shaun has been a master craftsman club maker and custom fitting specialist for 25 years. His heritage and experience spans an era that witnessed a revolution in golfing technique and technology. Having received his first putting lesson from Mr Bobby Locke at the tender age of 6, Shaun became acquainted with all the great golfing legends of the 20th Century as they crossed the threshold at Dunlop Slazenger Maxfli. It was here that Shaun served his apprenticeship under the guidance of two of the best golf industry craftsmen, his Father Brian and Tom Gamble, who led the manufacturing operations during its reign as the worlds leading golf business.

In 1991 Shaun established Midas Golf to extend his unique skills and ability in servicing the UK Golf industry. During this period his company became the largest golf assembly operation in Europe and developed patented technologies that encompass drivers, irons, wedges, putters, golf balls and training systems. World Long Drive & Trick Shot artists, Tour Players, as well as the myriad Golf Pro’s and Amateur champions who all pay testament to his extensive knowledge on the art and science of club design, assembly and custom fitting.

Since 1998 Shaun has focussed on the design and innovation of golf equipment and training systems where his forum “Tools for the Improvement of Golf” continues to provide exclusive and essential know-how to the aspiring golf professional. During this period Shaun won a prestigious DTI Smart Award that brought to life “Eclipse”, a new paragon in golf technology which incorporates a highly effective hand-to-eye tracking and alignment system that integrates swing mechanics with club fitting. 

G. Scott Minton

CEO Break 30 LLC

Scott Minton is CEO and managing partner of Break30.  Mr. Minton began his professional career in 1995 by purchasing and managing a commercial insurance brokerage in North Carolina. In 2001, he founded Troon Partners, a commercial property development firm specializing in medical office construction. Additionally, Scott co-owned and managed high end residential real estate companies within the Southeast US. He has served and chaired numerous boards across the US and directed many charitable golf tournaments. Scott has consulted for a select few sporting companies including ScottyBob Ski Corp. and various NASCAR organizations.

Aside from being an avid golfer, his interests include snow skiing, mountain biking and flying. Mr. Minton resides in Asheville, NC with his wife Amy and their son Colby.

Michael Chamberlain, PGA

UK Sales & Operations Manager

Michael is a PGA Professional who has specialized in putting for four years. He has worked closely on the development of Break 30 since its inception and is now heading the development of UK sales and training network.

His knowledge of the putting mechanics and new methods of motor-pattern learning has put him at the forefront of putting excellence for an instructor.

Michael's previous experience as a Golf Professional means that he completely understands not only the role and requirements of other golf professionals, but also the consumer. His mission now is committed to ensure the Golf Professional who wants to specialise in putting instruction is equipped with the principals of putting and ability to make a complete success of their academy. Michael's down to earth approach and extensive knowledge are a valuable contribution to the success of Break 30 throughout 2009 and beyond.

Tony Bennett

P.G.A Master Professional – Break 30 Advisory Panel Chairman.

Tony is the Director of Training for the Professional Golfers Association’s of Europe where he consults on the development of training and education programmes of over 15,000 golf professionals in 36 member countries worldwide. In his role as an international golf development consultant for the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Tony has travelled extensively to undertake his work with leading golfing organisations, governments and investors to develop a range of innovative and far reaching projects.

Although Tony started his career as a playing professional, during his mid twenties Tony’s business acumen came to the fore when he developed an innovative on course retail outlet which later was recognised as being one of the leading golf retail establishments in the UK. Tony became a lecturer at the P.G.A Training School, for business and commerce. Tony moved to Portugal in 1996 to take up the role of National Coach a position which he fulfilled until the start of 2003. He has had successful experience in developing coaching frameworks, retail centers, academy structures and player pathways.

David Whalley OBE

Break 30 Chairman

David has a long career in business, mostly in manufacturing, and working in such diverse industries as steel making, automotive, refectory, railway and over 25 years in the packaging industry. For five years he was a Sector Financial Director working for Rexam plc, running their £500m turnover Glass business. His working career has taken him all over Europe, making business acquisitions in several EC countries and into the Eastern Bloc. Since leaving the big corporate life, David has worked with smaller businesses, helping to set up a football retailing business and a specialist computer software business before joining Break30.

In 1992, David became deputy chair of Barnsley’s successful City Challenge bid, representing the business community. The bid was aimed directly at regeneration in a town whose economy had been devastated by the closure of all its mines in the 1980’s. He went on to lead the building of Priory Campus, a multi discipline community development organisation, now seen by many in the field to be a blueprint for regeneration and change in communities needing help to get up to national norms. The work of the professional team he created was recognised in 2001 when he was awarded the OBE for Services to Regeneration in Barnsley.