The specialist sports PR agency S2 has been appointed by the David Leadbetter Golf Academy (DLGA) to raise the profile of their European academies. S2 will undertake summer consumer and trade campaigns to support DLGA’s current European marketing activity.
The IMG owned David Leadbetter Golf Academy is a worldwide network of premium golf instructional facilities, with current sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. David Leadbetter’s teaching theories and philosophies, as well as state of the art technology, have revolutionised the game of golf for all ages and abilities. DLGA are employing S2 to build the profile of the European academies amongst club golfers and the business world. S2 have been awarded the account due to their pan-European golfing expertise and contacts.
Angus Macdonald, S2 account director, is delighted with the new contract: “S2 is excited to be working with the market leading brand that is DLGA,” he said. “DLGA will be promoted as world class golf instructional facilities which are accessible to everyone – from tour players to complete beginners.”
DLGA now comprises twenty-six golf academies at locations in Europe, Asia and the USA. They are staffed by over 60 highly trained instructors and support staff, with regional head offices in London and Bradenton, Florida.
David Leadbetter and his colleagues continue to instruct some of the world’s top players and best new prospects. Well-established tuition programmes are taken by thousands of amateur golfers each year, both through the permanent academy sites and, increasingly, through a range of clinics that are organised for various clubs and resorts. Corporations are also increasingly using golf instruction as a vehicle for hospitality and entertainment.
There are said to be four principal components which are fundamental to ensuring that DLGA delivers a winning formula of golf instruction:
David Leadbetter’s teaching theory and philosophy
The DLGA training and certification programme
Organisation and management by IMG
Quality locations and facilities
Every David Leadbetter Golf Academy is an independent business unit, organised to promote the full range of instructional programmes within its own domestic and international markets. This provides the flexibility needed for each individual establishment to concentrate on the areas of business most important for its own success.
There are currently 17 European academies:
DLGA Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria
The Thermal & Golf Resort Bad Tatzmannsdorf provided the location for the first European DLGA in 1993. The resort benefits from the natural beauty of the surrounding hills, offers two luxury Steigenberger hotels with health spa facilities, as well as 27 holes of challenging golf between March-November.
DLGA La Cala, Spain
The first DLGA in Spain can be found at the spectacular La Cala Resort between Mijas Costa and Marbella. La Cala offers two challenging 18 hole courses, some of the finest practice facilities on the Mediterranean coast and a luxurious hotel and sporting complex. The brand new academy facilities provide a full range of multi-lingual instruction to suit the needs of all golfers.
DLGA Barcelona, Spain
The excellent facilities of DLGA Barcelona ensure that this recent addition to the DLGA network provides the ideal learning environment for every occasion. Situated just 20 minutes from the Catalan capital, DLGA Barcelona offers a 33 bay driving range with a grass tee for tuition programmes, and state of the art technology right on the driving range. Four pitch and putt holes with a large putting green and practice bunker are also offered.
DLGA, France
France boasts an unparalleled nine DLGAs situated throughout French territory. All year long you can improve your swing on two beautiful courses in the south of France, Montpellier in the Camargue and Cannes-Mandelieu on the Riviera. Forges les Bains and the Paris Golf and County Club, on the outskirts of Paris, Kempferhof near Strasbourg and the DLGAs on the islands of La Martinique and Mauritius also provide golf in the most exotic of locations.
During the summer two family-orientated mountain resorts are available for DLGA tuition: Les Arcs and Correncon en Vercors in the Alps.
DLGA, Germany
Schloss Miel, a recent addition to the network of David Leadbetter Golf Academies, lies between the cities of Cologne and Bonn. An 18th century castle, completely restored to its original splendour, now forms the centrepiece to one of Germany’s premier new golf developments.
The course opened in 1996 and has already hosted several large amateur and professional events. The extensive practice area has been completely redesigned by DLGA to provide the very latest technology and a brand new short game area.
DLGA Lugano, Switzerland
The only David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Switzerland can be found at the prestigious Golf Club Lugano. It has a testing and attractive 18-hole golf course and is only 8 kilometres from the city of Lugano.
The academy boasts a newly built teaching and video room that is equipped to suit the needs of all golfers, and houses the state-of-the-art A-Star computer analysis system. The extensive short game area contains putting and chipping areas as well as a pitching green and bunkers.
DLGA Pestana, Portugal
The DLGA at the Pestana Golf and Resort, Carvoeiro enjoys a superb position, great facilities and more than 300 days of sunshine a year. A range of DLGA instructional schools cover all aspects of the golf game.
DLGA Wynyard, United Kingdom
The Wynyard Club’s’Wellington’ Course is one of the finest to be developed in the UK in recent years. Well-located in the north east of England, Wynyard is easily reached by road, rail, or air.
The teaching and practice facilities provide undercover teaching bays, grass and mats, academy holes, short game practice area and the latest in computer video’A-Star’ technology.
Watford, United Kingdon
The World’s first TopGolf Game Centre opened in Watford in November 2000. Aimed at golfers from beginner to professional, as well as non-golfers looking for a new leisure activity, this is the first of a new generation of leisure centres.
The development of a concept that is making golf accessible to a wider audience across the world is a sentiment shared by DLGA. Principally a state-of-the art driving range facility, TopGolf provides the perfect backdrop for DLGA to deliver its first class, professional product to more of the public.
David Leadbetter Golf Academies www.leadbetter.com