When it comes to golf instruction the name David Leadbetter stands at the top of the heap and so it is that Bermudian professional golfer Quinton Sherlock has high hopes of instituting a Golfzon Leadbetter Academy in Bermuda.
Sherlock revealed his intentions during a recent presentation at Ocean View Golf Course, which was streamed live on TNN.
The 44-year-old believes that not only golf, but Bermuda’s tourism product would be enhanced by having a world renowned academy stationed here.
“The Golfzon David Lead better brand is a world recognized brand”, explained Sherlock “David Ledbetter, himself, is literally one of the leading golf instructors worldwide.
“Twenty of his students have won 20 major championships and the idea of being able to bring this level of instruction and this type of brand to the Island will not only allow us to be able to train our young people to the highest of levels, but also enhance the ability to attract people from the eastern seaboard and even across Europe, who want to come to the Island, not only to play on our lovely golf courses, but to also get first class instruction.
“The thing is that people who already attend Leadbetter Academies are the crème de la crème. They travel from far and wide and are not afraid of the cost in order to play golf and to get high level instruction and I think that, as an island, we have a lot to offer in that regard and it can really help to bolster our tourism product, along with everything else that we have on the island.”
Bermuda already has a current history of hosting a premier level PGA event in the form of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, which debuted in 2019 at the Trent Jones designed Port Royal Golf Course, to build on according to Sherlock.
“Right now we have the PGA tour event here and I think that we can build upon that with a high level, internationally recognized golf academy to really help to promote the Island, not only in the sport of golf, but also in the tourism market,” explained Sherlock. “Whereas the PGA tournament brings in the upper echelon of players, the David (Golfzon) Leadbetter Academy can bring in not only the top players and college teams, who would not want to come here and spend time at our Academy?
“Also, those who are just now starting to play the game and who are willing to go to a top brand Academy, would also be attracted to come to the Island.
“So this should definitely allow us to dig deeper into that market, not just to have people come and watch a golf event, but to actually get themselves here to improve their games and take in our lovely and beautiful island all at the same time.”
Thus far Sherlock’s initial proposal to Government has been well received by Minster of Youth, Sport and Culture the Honourable Owen Darrell, while excitement is already building at the grass-roots level, but much more needs to be accomplished, particularly in the areas of funding and structural development.
“At the grassroots level everyone is excited and can’t wait for something like this to happen,” said Sherlock. “I’ve definitely gotten some support from the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport and I’m just now, literally, sitting at the door, waiting for it to be just kind of ajar a little bit, so that I can stick my foot in and move forward.
“I’m definitely appreciative of the support from the minister and, as I mentioned, I’m just waiting for some of the other powers that be to open the door for me, because I’m willing to put the work in and make it happen.”
What may help to further open any such door into areas that might venture capital is a position at the head of golf’s governing body and Sherlock has commenced his mounting of a bid to take over leadership of the Bermuda Golf Association (BGA).
“To be able to be at the house of the governing body of golf would allow me to be able to use my resources, knowledge and skills to further propel golf on the island,” said Sherlock, who discarded a promising cricket career to take up.
“Every year or every other year teams go away to the Island Games or Eisenhower Cup, events of this nature, and the whole idea of having a golf school or Leadbetter Academy on the Island will allow us to create a larger pool of locals that can potentially go overseas and compete at these events.
“So, to be at the helm, we could use those resources to, again, train up our people and get them ready to also compete and perform on the international stage at a world-class level.”
Any content which is considered unsuitable, unlawful, or offensive, includes personal details, advertises or promotes products, services or websites, or repeats previous comments will be removed.
User comments posted on this website are solely the views and opinions of the comment writer and are not a representation of or reflection of the opinions of TNN or its staff.
TNN reserves the right to remove, edit or censor any comments.
TNN accepts no liability and will not be held accountable for the comments made by users.