PGA of Great Britain & Ireland Professional, Lee Scarbrow, has been awarded the John Jacobs Teaching and Coaching Award for his excellence in coaching the game at the PGAs of Europe Annual Congress in Portugal’s Algarve Region.
Based at John O’Gaunt Golf Club since 2001, Scarbrow has amassed a long list of pupils that have been successful throughout the amateur and professional games in his indoor teaching facility, including LET player and Solheim cup rookie, Charlie Hull, and formerly to Ryder Cup and European Tour star, Ian Poulter.
His successes with elite players as well as with junior programmes has cemented a reputation that makes him a worthy recipient of the highest coaching accolade that is given by the Association in the name of one of the greatest coaches to have ever worked in the game.
“Obviously a massive thank you for this award, it’s just unbelievable to be recognised as a coach for just something I love doing. I love to get people to play better golf and I just feel so proud to win this,” said Scarbrow during his acceptance speech at the Annual Gala Awards Dinner that caps off the Annual Congress at Hotel Vila Galé Lagos and supported by Rolex, Glenmuir and the Associação Turismo do Algarve. “I’d like to thank the PGA for all the training and further education they’ve given us, they make us strive to achieve more and I’m never more proud than when I say I’m a PGA member.
“My father actually gave me the ‘John Jacobs Practical Golf Book’ and said to me ‘this is like a bible, read this and you won’t go far wrong’ – to think that my name is mentioned in the same breath as the great man is something I know my father would be truly proud of.”
Scarbrow qualified as a PGA Professional in 1984 and after a successful playing career decided to become a club professional in 1990 and quickly became Head Professional at Aylesbury Vale Golf Club, UK. He then moved to Leighton Buzzard Golf Club in 1995, which coincided with his appointment as Captain of the PGA’s East Region having served on the Education Committee since 1991.
From 1998 to 2001 he developed a coaching programme for local schools in Leighton Buzzard and was then the recipient of a service to sport award from Leighton Buzzard Council, and since 2008 has run “Get Back Into Golf” for Team Bedfordshire and Luton.
Spells as a commentator for Sky Sports and numerous appearances in golf publications further exemplify his wide-ranging knowledge and experience that has seen him voted into top listings of coaches in Great Britain & Ireland multiple times across his career.
For more news from the 2013 Annual Congress and Gala Awards, visit the Annual Congress Hub Page (http://eur.pe/11EGYgM), follow @PGAsofEurope on Twitter and search the Hashtag #AnnualCongress, or like the PGAs of Europe Facebook Page.
The 2013 Annual Congress Gala Awards are supported by Rolex, and the Congress & ITC are supported by Glenmuir, the Associação Turismo do Algarve, Hotel Vila Galé Lagos, OnyriaPalmaresBeach and Golf Resort, and the Ryder Cup European Development Trust. For more information on the event partners, visit http://eur.pe/1aaFFgx