Legendary golf coach David Leadbetter has opened his new European academy headquarters at Stoke Park Country Club & Spa in Buckinghamshire.
Leadbetter, who has coached players to 22 Major championships and more than 100 individual worldwide tournament victories, has more than 30 academies across the world – with Stoke Park the 13th to open in Europe.
Many of the world’s top golf coaches have gone through the Leadbetter Golf Academy certification, and Stoke Park’s team of PGA professionals has been undergoing the training programme in recent months.
West Sussex-born Leadbetter said: “We’re really excited to open our new academy at Stoke Park. Stoke Park is one of the world’s premier golf facilities, with an amazing hotel, a 27-hole golf course and a great practice facility.”
He added: “I want to thank Chester King, Stoke Park’s chief executive, for his vision, and everybody involved for making this happen, as this is going to be our European headquarters. We’ve had academies in the UK for some time, but to have a facility such as Stoke Park really is a dream come true.
“It’s going to be a tremendous facility, and we can’t wait to get started, to help the members out and really promote the game of golf in general. I know how much involvement Stoke Park has in developing young players and we look forward to being part of that as well.”
Chris Murtagh, Stoke Park’s head of instruction, leads the facility and his team of teaching professionals have been trained in the Leadbetter philosophy by coaches who have flown in from the USA.
Stoke Park’s director of golf, Stuart Collier, added: “This is wonderful news for all connected with Stoke Park, for David Leadbetter is a legend in golf coaching. Few, if any, in the world game can match his track record in golf coaching – or the success his students have achieved. The opening of his academy’s European headquarters here at Stoke Park is a further exciting development and will be of great benefit for golf in the south.”