Top golf coach Leadbetter opens new academy in Leeds
THE world’s most famous golf teacher, David Leadbetter, has announced the opening of a new Leadbetter Golf Academy at Leeds Golf Centre.
Leadbetter, who has coached virtually all of the world’s top players over the last 25 years and has a host of world renowned books and DVDs, currently runs 20 of his teaching academies all over the world in locations as diverse as Florida, China and across Europe.
The newest addition will be his flagship UK base at Leeds Golf Centre in Shadwell, north of the city which has seen a major investment programme since it was bought by Parklane Properties in February 2011.
Leadbetter is very enthusiastic about the Leeds academy and declared: “We are known for teaching all abilities of golfers but especially elite players and in finding a perfect location for my new UK headquarters I knew it had to be a golfing area with a real pedigree. The area around north Leeds has definitely got that and Wike Ridge offers a dynamic, modern environment in which to practice and excel”
Paul Dyer who is now international director for the Leadbetter Academies was a young instructor at Wike Ridge in 1993.
“When we first started at Leeds Golf Centre in late 1993 we were new to the business of setting up academies and the facility at Leeds had hardly got started. I was intrigued when the new management came to us with news of their developments,” he said.
New academy director and certified Leadbetter instructor Chris Parker has been a stalwart of Leadbetter’s for more than 10 years and heads up the team in Leeds having moved to Leeds from Munich, Germany.
Parker a native of Birmingham is delighted to take on the challenge. “Setting up and running a Leadbetter academy in a truly great golfing area known for elite golf is a real challenge and I am looking forward to making an impression,” he said.
Leeds Golf Centre offers an 18-hole ‘pay and play’ course and a 12-hole par three course as sell as a 15-bay floodlit driving range and grass practice areas.
