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Instructor Spotlight: Gavin Grenville-Wood

BACKGROUND

Gavin is a PGA Professional who joined the Leadbetter family in October 2018 and has been involved in Junior Golf for over 25 years. During his apprenticeship at Ramsey Golf Club, Isle of Man, Gavin began coaching children from the local secondary school, and it is from there that his passion for coaching kids really evolved. Even during his time at University, he helped at local courses and during the summer months found himself stateside developing his skills at Julian Krinsky School of Golf and Tennis in Philadelphia.

Upon returning back to the UK, Gavin established the Central London Junior Golf Academy where the birth of the Junior After School Club happened as well as innovative in-school programs.  This led to interest from further afield and in 2002, he and his family moved to Hilton Head, SC to work for the IJGA and later the University of South Carolina Beaufort as Director of Golf.  

After relocating back to the UK in 2009, Gavin was hired by Crown Golf at Oak Park Golf Club, where he set up arguably one of the most successful Junior Academies in the UK, welcoming over 400 children per week for coaching.  Since then he has specialized in developing participation in the sport on both sides of the Atlantic, working with companies such as Sequoia Golf, Kemper Sports, ClubCorp and together now, we’re excited about the development of Leadbetter Kids and the LBK Education platform.

GAVIN TODAY

Today Gavin is the Head of Education for the Leadbetter Kids program and has spent countless hours putting together a series of courses for coaches – The Champion Athlete, The Champion Coach, The Champion Business, along with a FREE course for parents of young golfers called The Parent Coach to help with the development of their children both on and off the course.

INTERVIEW WITH GAVIN

When was the first time you picked up a club?

Age 14, went straight to the golf course, bought a half set of clubs, paid my £1 per year membership and proceeded to play from the wrong tees to the wrong holes! 

Who is your golf idol?

Seve Ballesteros

The person you’d most like to give a lesson to?

Either one of my kids. I love spending time with them.

Favorite training aid or drill?

The Railroad.  Put two alignments sticks close together any distance from the hole.  Place the ball on top of the new “Railroad” and then begin putting, rolling the ball down the tracks to the hole.  Great drill for kids, promotes, aim, swing path, and speed control.

What’s one rule change you would make to golf?

Multiple stroke penalties for slow play.

Tips for parents/Any other tidbits

Plan for failure.  Failure is part of the journey and an absolute certainty.  Failure is a necessary part of the learning process.  So, plan for it.  Educate yourself, and your kids so that you know how to deal with it.