European Tour stars Paul Casey, Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Poulter will be on hand to deliver a series of intimate golfing master-classes at the first Golf LIVE, which will be held at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire from May 14-16.
The quartet will be joined by reigning Women’s British Open champion Catriona Matthew and world-renowned swing experts David Leadbetter and Denis Pugh, who will dispense advice normally reserved for the professionals.
The interactive clinics, which will be compered by Sky Sports presenters Di Stewart and Richard Boxall plus Iain Carter, Shane O’Donoghue and Andrew Cotter from the BBC, will focus predominantly on short game and bunker shots, mid-irons and recovery shots, and the all-important tee shots.
The clinics will be followed by “Monty’s Master-class”, in which Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain and eight-time Harry Vardon Trophy winner will share the highlights of his glittering career with the audience, and also reveal the secrets of his success.
Montgomerie said: “The thousands of visitors we’re expecting to come along to Golf LIVE will be able to interact with the professionals in a way they’ve never been able to do before now. I think the key words are interaction, education and entertainment. We can educate people by showing them how to improve their games, we can interact with them through question and answer sessions, and lastly – but perhaps most importantly of all – hopefully we can entertain them a little along the way.
“We must remember that to a certain extent these people pay our wages, so if we can educate and entertain them in a relaxed and informal environment, then so much the better for everyone. All 15 handicappers want to get down to 14, just like all ten handicappers want to get down to the magical single figures. So if we can just help to shave one or two shots off players’ rounds, then we’ve done our jobs.”
After the master-classes, which will last approximately half an hour each, Pugh and Leadbetter will take centre stage to demonstrate the techniques needed to lower your scores and handicap.
Players can then put the tips they’ve learned into practice at the Cleveland / Srixon Short Game Range, where they can use custom fitted wedges, and the Driving Range, where a wide range of drivers from various leading club manufacturers are available to use.
For more light entertainment, there is also a 3-Hole Pro / Celebrity Challenge, a Nearest the Pin Competition and an End of Day Show, whilst over at the Hub there is the Retail Village, Locker Room Live and the Food Village.
Tickets, which are limited in number, cost £45 per person, and can be purchased through the website by clicking
, or via the telephone on 08712 307130.
Premium tickets, which include a glass of champagne on arrival, preferential seating for all the master-classes, access to a private bar and private player Q&A sessions, are also available priced £75.
