'Guernsey could get more out of golf'

GUERNSEY'S first golf academy will swing into action shortly. Phil Sykes is due to open the new Sykes Golf Academy in association with St Pierre Park on 2 January in the hotel's grounds.

'I think the island could get more out of golf than presently - it has a lot of good golfers and there are a lot of juniors playing,' he said.

He plans to offer his vast experience gained locally, in the UK and abroad to the island's golf scene and to point players of all ages in the right direction and help improve their game.

'The aim is to bring modern teaching methods to the table,' said Sykes.

But he stressed that with only a few clubs in the island and just three courses, one can do only so much.

The proportion of players compared to the population is far greater than in the UK.

The ratio of single figure handicap golfers is also probably higher here, he believes.

'There are a lot of good sportsmen in the island who have progressed from going off the island.

'I'm hoping I can add my knowledge from living abroad and in the UK and bring it back to the island.

'With my contacts in Europe and the UK, it would be nice to interact with them and organise reciprocal things.

'If we do come across some talented people, we can point them in the right direction,' he said.

Sykes believes with the right guidance many local golfers in their late 20s or 30s could have gone on to bigger and better things in the game.

He wants to introduce more islanders to golf and the academy will be based at St Pierre Park.

With many people in modern life not being able to spend four or five hours on the golf course, he will be aiming to try and promote people enjoying themselves without having to spend that amount of time on a course.

He is looking forward to meeting again some of his older pupils and new ones.

Sykes, 40, has a strong golfing pedigree.

After starting a club in the north of England in the mid 80s, he came to Guernsey in the late 80s as Royal Guernsey assistant pro.

Following a spell in Scandinavia, he returned to the island and as head pro set up La Grande Mare course when it opened.

After another stint in Scandinavia he became involved in the Knowle Park Golf Club in Bristol where he has been head pro for the last eight years.

Seemingly not able to stay away from the place, Sykes came back to Guernsey again with his family about six weeks ago.

He is now an advanced member of the Professional Golf Association and an NLP practitioner, involved in the psychology of sports.

'I have had an affinity to the island for years. My family comes back regularly and I have a lot of close friends in the golfing fraternity,' he said.

He plans to launch a new website soon called sykesgolfacademies.com and people can register for group or individual classes.

As well as a service for locals, he will provide one for the hotel's guests and visitors.

0ne of the facets of the academy will be fitness, which is a big issue currently in golf across Europe.

Hotel manager Gary Roberts has been instrumental in putting together many of the finer details and is keen to get involved.

'Fitness is an option people can take,' said Sykes.

He is fully financing the academy project himself - a venture like this does not come cheap.

'A lot of years' hard work has gone into it,' he stressed.

It will be based on the driving range initially and will utilise the hotel's facilities.

Anybody interested in finding out more can contact him on 07781 101444, email sykesgolf@cwgsy.net or go to the new academy website listed above.