Westwood launches academies

Lee Westwood today launched a series of three-day golf academies around England for boys and girls aged seven to 16-years-old.

The Ryder Cup star has helped put together a coaching programme with a competitive element, where winners at each of the nine centres will be able to spend a day with him at Lindrick, close to his Worksop home, on August 31.

In addition to receiving tuition there will be sessions covering nutrition, fitness, psychology, rules and etiquette.

“The game has given me so much and I want to pass on my passion for the game to as many youngsters as I can,” said Westwood.

“The beauty of these academies is they will be able to cope with a full range of abilities to make sure everyone improves their golf.”

Participating clubs are Addington Court in Surrey (July 21-23), Blue Mountain in Berkshire (July 22-24), Brampton Heath in Northamptonshire (July 20-22), Chesfield Downs in Hertfordshire (July 21-23), Elton Furze in Cambridgeshire (July 20-22), High Legh Park in Cheshire (July 22-24), Morley Hayes in Derbyshire (July 27-29), Rudding Park in Yorkshire (July 20-22) and The Bristol Club (July 27-29).

All the coaches involved will be qualified professionals and will have been on training days to prepare them for the academies.

There will be also be opportunities to gain scholarships to Mill Hill School in north London, which offers structured golf tuition as part of its sports curriculum.

Westwood himself did not take up golf until he was 13 and two years later he was Nottinghamshire junior champion.

Nick Faldo is the only English golfer to have won more European Tour events and Westwood is the country’s leading earner on the circuit with more than £12million.

The 35-year-old picked up his sixth Ryder Cup cap last September and equalled Arnold Palmer’s record of 12 unbeaten games.

More details about the Academy scheme can be found on the website www.leewestwoodgolfacademy.co.uk.