Ian Lee Golf - PGA Professional Coaching, Pro Shop and 18 Hole Golf Course

Haigh Hall Golf Academy: Breaking News
14 year old Rachel Dobson has had a fantastic year. Rachel, a regular pupil of Alan Crompton here at Haigh has reduced her handicap from 34 to 15 and this summer won the Liverpool Junior Open as well as the Windermere Girls Open. Great playing Rachel!

David Johnson pipped his father Phil Johnson to win the Wigan Golf Club Championships. Both David and Phil have worked with Alan Crompton at the Academy over recent years and both play of an excellent 2 handicap.

Andrew Palmer another regular pupil of Alan Crompton has just won the prestigious Bolton Championships and now plays of scratch. However the highlight of 19 year old Andrew’s year, is qualifying as one of only two British under 21 players, to play in the Faldo World Grand Final Series in Brazil! Past winners include new Ryder Cup player Oliver Fisher, Nick Doherty and Rory McIlroy.

Reece Cranfield the former Golf Foundation UK Champion has won the Haigh Hall Golf Club Championships by an impressive 11 shots. Reece, 16, then followed this up by winning the Junior Club Championship with two fine rounds of 76 and a level par 70. Great playing Reece!

In the Tigers Cubs 7 year old Oliver Alexander has won two 9 hole comps with a net 23 and net 27. Also 7 year old James Caldwell won his first 9 hole comp this year. Both Oliver and James became the youngest ever winners on the nine and have regular tuition of Martin Longshaw. Well done Oliver and James!

Tigers member Victoria Bithell another Martin Longshaw protégé, won a Junior British Tour Event at Douglas Valley GC by a staggering 8 shots! She also won her age group in a recent Lancashire Girls Meeting.

Tigers members Sam Halliwell, Thomas Lucas and Victoria Bithell won and qualified for the second stage of the national Wee Wonders Tournament at Leeds Golf Centre.

A record number of the Play Haigh Tigers take part in the 9 hole junior competitions under the watchful eye of Haigh Teaching Professional Martin Longshaw. The majority of the children only started playing golf in March, and now they are able to complete nine holes to a good standard.

Steve O’Neill has recorded his first competition win at Gathurst Golf Club. Steve has regular lessons with Senior Instructor John Merry and is very happy the hard work is paying off – keep it going Steve!

The Tigers Junior Club had a great day out at the British Open watching the World’s best players including the eventual winner Padraig Harrington. The Tigers dressed in bright orange tee shirts even appeared live on BBC TV!

Craig Corrigan one of the Senior PGA Instructors as well as one of the regions top Professional players is looking forward to some time out playing in Winter Pro Ams including trips to Portugal and Florida where he will be competing on the world famous TPC Course at Sawgrass home of the USPGA Tour Players’ Championships. Good luck Craig!

Lancashire Elite Squad which featured the leading 7 players in the County won the English County Championships at Hollinwell in Nottinghamshire. This is the first time the County has reached the finals in 13 years and caps a remarkable season in which the County side have been unbeaten in all their inter county matches. Lancashire County Coach Ian Lee accompanied the team (most of whom play off a +3 handicap!)to both the qualifying rounds in the Isle of Man and the finals. Several of the players have trained here at Haigh in recent winters and included Jonathan Hurst who started his golf here at Haigh.

Finally our best wishes to Ryan O’Neill who becomes the latest golfer from Haigh to turn professional. Ryan started his golf here in our Junior Class programme and should have a great future ahead of him in the professional game.

Here at Haigh Golf Academy we are hoping for our best year ever with the widest possible range of golf instruction covering all aspects of the game including full swing analysis, short game, putting, on course instruction, golf conditioning and fitness, mental training and equipment assessments. We will also be offering more group tuition than ever for children.

John Merry has been busy through the winter delivering golf taster sessions to several seniors groups in conjunction with the Trust’s Active Living Team. In recent years many of those who have attended these sessions have gone on to being regular golfers here at Haigh – great work John!

Ryan O’Neill will become the latest product of the Haigh Hall Golf Academy when he joins the professional ranks this summer. Since the Golf Academy started here at Haigh, some 11 players have graduated to the professional ranks – a record for any Academy in the North of England!

The best junior golfers in Lancashire have again been using Haigh as their winter training base under the guidance of Lancashire Coaches Ian Lee and Gareth Benson. Part of their training and preparation has included playing on the 9 hole Crawford course which proves to be not only ideal for learner golfers but also provides a challenging test for the areas best young talent.

The Teaching Professional Staff at Haigh have been playing in winter professional events both in England and in Portugal. Between them they have notched up several top 3 finishes with some excellent scores. Recently both Craig Corrigan and Alan Crompton both posted 2 excellent sub par rounds of 70 at Hoylake the venue of the 2006 British Open.

Ian Lee recently met up with Dr Greg Rose and Dave Phillips, the co founders of the famous Titleist Players Institute, the world’s leader in elite player development (Dr Rose personally trains over 70 current US Tour Professionals with their physical conditioning and nutritional programs). Ian picked up invaluable information to further enhance the teaching programs on offer at Haigh.

Bob Bamber has retired as Haigh’s Golf Development Officer. Bob had great success in his role including delivering golf and related activities to over 5,000 primary children. Many children have since taken up golf playing regularly here and at surrounding local clubs. We all wish him well in his retirement!

Dr Karl Morris – Europe’s leading Golf Physiologist, visited Haigh to deliver a talk to several golf professionals including the Professional Team at Haigh. Karl covered many topics including the mental techniques he uses regularly with tour stars such as Darren Clarke, Phil Archer and Paul McGinley. For those who struggle with any area of the mental side to golf - why not take a mental game lesson from one of our Haigh’s Professionals?

Martin Longshaw – Haigh’s youngest fully qualified PGA Professional, will be combining his busy teaching schedule with playing on the PGA Euro Pro Tournaments this summer – good luck Martin!