Our Philosophy

Being part of the Golf Academy offers a wonderful, supportive, and competitive environment, to talented young golfers. The perfect blend of continual guidance and mentoring from highly experienced PGA coaches, alongside numerous elite level competitions, across the UK and beyond, equips the golfers with the skills and knowledge they need to reach the highest levels in the game.

Our philosophy puts the student in control of their learning. We aim to build resilience, commitment, and acceptance in our students, giving them the life skills that will help them to maximise their golf performance and enhance their abilities to succeed in the modern world.

They will not only be a better golfer when they leave us, but a better person.

The Golf Programme

The extensive programme has been refined over the past 20 years to encompass every detail of the game, and together with the continual professional development of the coaches, continues to be at the forefront of UK College golf.

• Academy training sessions 3 days per week, every week, at either of our golf clubs (approx. 120 days contact time each year).
• Weekly Academy Order of Merit Competitions.
• Golf specific Strength and Conditioning sessions and Physio support.
• Unlimited use of the onsite facilities (putting green and driving nets) and coach-led indoor range sessions.
• Liaison with the players coaching team for enhanced mentoring and guidance.
• Highly recommended Trips to Portugal and Wentworth, to see European Tour stars in action, compete abroad and gain excellent work experience.
• Academy Winter Tour across the Southwest.
• Intercollegiate Tour events, including WAGR rated national finals.
• Schools golf tournaments.
• Friendly matches with local college teams.

Every aspect of the game is covered during the training sessions, from technical coaching of the golf swing through to putting (where applicable), to mental skills on and off the course, the physical and even lifestyle, so academy golfers can make the most of every day.

Each student is encouraged to utilise technology to assist in the planning and reviewing of training sessions, along with test results to monitor practice effectiveness and guide areas for improvement.

By regularly profiling each player with testing and on-course assessments, goals are discussed and set, producing a personalised plan for maximum progression.

Facilities

Golf Clubs

Our first years are based at Thornbury Golf centre, a short drive from the College, which has a wealth of facilities, including large floodlit driving range, 18-hole main course, and an excellent 18-hole Par 3 course.

Our second years use the wonderful Players GC, also a short drive from the College. They have two 18-hole courses. The Codrington main course has held many professional events, including the West Region Championships and the European Tour School. This course is a real challenge for any golfer. The second course, Stranahan, is a shorter course, but it requires excellent short-game skills and has fantastic putting surfaces. Other facilities include a grass driving range and the exceptional Watergarden par-3 course, a short-game area and three putting greens.

These two facilities are among the best in the area, and we are delighted to have developed mutually beneficial long-term relationships with both clubs.

On-site Facilities at the WISE Campus

The newly refurbished indoor driving range is a unique practice facility, where 12 plus golfers can practice their long game independently of the British weather, utilising the academies own Flightscope for swing analysis and feedback, under the guidance of the PGA staff.

Next to the Sports Academy building is the state-of-the-art, all-weather putting green and two outdoor nets - a great place to sit and eat lunch while practicing your putting or full swing skills.

Success Stories

With numerous PGA-qualified professionals among our alumni, university graduates and more than a dozen scholarships to American colleges, our students have a proven track record of success. There are many exit route options, including greenkeeping, club and resort management and retail, the PGA and, of course, playing professionally.

Academy Achievements

• Intercollegiate Tour (ICT) National team champions (2009, 2014, 2020, 2022) and multiple runners-up
• Jordan Smith, Milan Reed & Craig Passmore (ICT National Individual Champions)
• Jake Bolton (England Schools National champion)
• Numerous England Schools and England junior internationals

Individual Successes

• Jordan Smith (European Tour winner)
• Mitch Waite (England Men's Order of Merit winner)
• Jake Bolton (Walker Cup)
• Ben Amor (PGA West region multiple winner)
• Olly Huggins (England Men's team)
• Ai Balcombe (The Open qualifier)
• Ashley Mansell (PGA West region OOM winner)
• Leon Fricker (PGA EuroPro Tour)
• And many more PGA Professionals, collegiate scholars, and county golfers.

The Coaching Team