Junior Development with The David Leadbetter Golf Academy
After a year and a half of discussion we are delighted to confirm that the David Leadbetter Golf Academy are coming to Cayman to help develop our Junior program and our future golfers of the Cayman Islands.
LGA have already come down to Cayman to work with our Juniors which was held the weekend of 14th and 15th of October 2017. This was the first weekend of many weekends to following in the coming months. The 2nd and 3rd sessions are scheduled for the 18th and 19th of November and the 9th and 10th of December.
CIGA are delighted to see so many juniors involved in the coaching. 46 juniors were involved in the very first session and we are expecting the same numbers for the 2nd session as well.
With the coaches arriving Friday afternoon, Emma and Paul Woodhouse met the coaches at the airport and showed them North Sound Golf Club and the area where they would be coaching our Juniors, they also met with the Junior Coordinators Robin & Lana Jarvis, James Walton and Joel Dodson.
The coaches were in for a long weekend but exciting one, they were excited to meet the juniors and start the coaching. Over the 2 days the coaches has certain group of juniors from 9am - 5:30pm. This weekend was largely about assessments and creating a workable program structure going forward for that the juniors will have the most successful coaching for their weakness and strengths as well.
The 46 juniors were split into 7 groups based on mainly age but ability as well. Group A is our 'Elite', National team squad. Group B are the 'Intermediates', mainly juniors who play regularly in our 9 and 18 hole CIGA junior competitions which are typically held on Sunday mornings. Group C comprises the younger and less experienced juniors, many of whom have been very able and enthusiastically coached by Brad de Schiffert over the last few years or so.
The coaches for the first session were: Jose Maria "Txema" Sanchez and Brett Meyer.
Jose Maria "Chema" Sanchez, originally from Barcelona, Spain, played golf professionally for the PGA of Spain from 2001-2003, and is still currently a member of the PGA of Spain. He reached the level of Master Teaching Professional by the Royal Spanish Golf Federation in 2002 and completed the LGA Instructor Certification in 2003.
Brett Meyer was born and raised in Mendota, Illinois, and a graduate of Mendota Township High school, Brett found a career in there golf industry soon after his time at Central College in Pella, Iowa. After college, Brett's desire to travel and create new relationships within the golf world led him to several opportunities, including 10 months with Callaway Golf were he worked in equipment sales and club fitting. He first met David Leadbetter in 2008 and spent a year at the Junior Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
First Session
Second Session
The second session was held on the 18th and 19th of November, 2017. 50 juniors took part in the second session with ages ranging from 18 to 7. The groups were mainly the same as the very first weekend, but the times were different with some of the younger groups having sessions Friday afternoon and not many on Sunday, due to timing of the coach as well.
The coach for the weekend was Mike Sanabria, born in Onalaska, Wisconsin, he then moved to Tampa, Florida at the beginning of High School. After a very successful junior and senior year in High School, Michael accepted an academic scholarship to Florida State University. After College Michael was hired to work for The First Tee Tampa Bay as a Lead Golf Instructor. Michael joined the Leadbetter Team in 2014 at the World Headquarters in Championsgate, Florida.
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Juniors Attend Leadbetter Golf Academy
Six Junior golfers attended the Leadbetter Golf Academy (LGA) World Headquarters Facilities in Champions Gate, Orlando for game improvement, performance training and a tournament during the School mid-term break from 12 – 15 February.
The Leadbetter Golf Academy and Cayman Islands Golf Association (CIGA) have an alliance, started in October 2017 and made possible by the support of RSM, TRAC and CNB. Leadbetter coaches work with the golf professionals and clubs on island to help supplement and develop the already popular and successful coaching programmes which are offered to Cayman juniors of all skill levels.
Andrew & Aaron Jarvis, Holly & Sam Mclean, Lauren Needham & Todd Purton all experienced first class coaching from Leadbetter Golf Academy with fitness, technical and mental training.
The 3-day training session included Comprehensive V1 golf video analysis and online summary. Trackman launch monitor full swing analysis. Sam Putt Lab stroke analysis and on-course evaluation training. They were able to use the LGA Par 3 Course, to work on short game decision and shot making, as well as playing evaluated rounds on the two 18-hole Champions Gate golf courses.
