The golf teaching journeys behind the EGTF Diploma.
A retained archive of historic accounts from golfers, established professionals and course participants who describe what they learned and where their teaching path led.
Signature stories
From qualification to confidence, careers and coaching.
These longer historic accounts are preserved from the original EGTF testimonials page. They show the range of people who have developed their teaching through the Federation.
EGTF professional story
“I just wanted to express my thanks to all the staff for making the EGTF Diploma Course such a fun and informative week. I learnt a lot about teaching and the golf swing which will be most beneficial for me personally and in my coaching. Your enthusiasm to help those to become better teachers and to pass the Course was fantastic and it has given me a lot of confidence to want to develop my skills further. It is great to be part of an organization that is willing to encourage their members at every opportunity. I was thrilled to get my Diploma and punched the air when I got back to my hotel room, as if I had won a tournament.”
Alison Nicholas MBE
US Open Champion · Six-time Solheim Cup player · EGTF Professional
EGTF professional story
“Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to all the staff, for making my week on the Diploma Course one of the most enjoyable weeks I have ever experienced in all the years I have played golf. I would like to tell everyone who is a true golfing nut like myself, who wants to improve their knowledge of the game, their own standards and give something back to golf, to go and do the EGTF Diploma Course. It has certainly opened up my eyes to another side of golf and renewed my enthusiasm for playing and now teaching. I have no hesitation in recommending the EGTF training course to any person who would like to get involved in coaching.”
Corinne Dibnah
Ladies European Tour player · Winner of 19 titles including the Ladies British Open · EGTF Professional
EGTF professional story
“Thanks to the plunge I took with your Course and subsequent qualification in November 2012, I ended up with my dream job running the golf and tennis club at Tuckers Point in Bermuda. Please tell your students their dreams can come true!”
Robert Holland
United Kingdom · Golf and tennis club manager, Tuckers Point, Bermuda
EGTF professional story
“I started my golf teaching career. I took my EGTF Diploma course and, as all the teachers will know, that week was very hard but very educational, learning all aspects of golf teaching. I was lucky and passed my course which then set me on my way, starting with setting up golf lessons all over the Kent area teaching in sport centres, people’s houses, local driving ranges and at local schools. This was done using pop-up nets and tri-golf equipment, so my week was very busy with teaching. I found that the more lessons I gave, the better I got, so I started teaching at golf clubs, when eventually I was asked to set up a teaching academy in 2007. Within six months I was teaching full time with about six lessons a day, seven days a week, teaching all levels of golfer. By then, being qualified for almost eight years, I felt that I needed more skills and information to better my teaching and myself. In December 2010 in Hua Hin, Thailand, I took my Masters teaching diploma. The skills and information I gained were perfect. I have the confidence to teach at a very high level and the EGTF Diploma and Masters Diploma have made my teaching career very enjoyable and successful.”
Pete Stopford
EGTF Master Professional · Teaching academy founder
The full historic archive
More than a quote. A record of teaching journeys.
The original testimonials page collected accounts from UK and international golfers, instructors, club professionals and EGTF members. Each account below remains available at this established route.
01
“I had a great time attending the Course. Excellent – very informative. Good mix of theory and practice, easy to understand and grasp concepts. A very professional, first class educational experience that delivers plenty of value for the money.”
Sreekanth Nagaraj
HC0 · United Kingdom
02
“I decided after long deliberation to sign up for this course after hearing so much positive information and thought it could only improve my own ideas as long as I attended with an open mind. I have to say I was blown away by the knowledge transferred by the EGTF staff and their professionalism. Their work ethic and delivery were first class and I would recommend anyone who chooses to follow a career in golf tuition to consider the European Golf Teaching Federation.”
Steve Shingleton
HC8 · United Kingdom
03
“I enjoyed the Course even more than I thought possible. The Manual is a great book to keep up the correct practices. I learned excellent basic coaching skills and structures for giving lessons. I would recommend this Course to anyone interested in learning to teach golf.”
Belinda Weinmann
HC6 · Spain
04
“The EGTF Course I completed recently was well above my expectations. I have achieved a better understanding of the game and how to teach it, along with increased knowledge of technology. There was so much good information on it, and the EGTF staff delivered everything in a highly professional manner. Worth every penny!”
Sergeant Major Karl Chappelle
HC7 · United Kingdom
05
“I just wanted to say a massive thanks for last week; it was one of the best weeks I’ve ever spent, so informative and structured and well delivered. I’ve learnt more in one week than I’ve done in 30 years. It has opened so many doors for me. I love coaching but now I’m armed with an understanding and method of teaching, I love it even more.”
Sean Skinner
United Kingdom
06
“I achieved a great understanding of the standards needed to become a teaching professional. Learning the drills and techniques, and giving lessons to the public were definitely the highlights of the week. I would highly recommend this course to others.”
James Ashfield
HC1 · United Kingdom
07
“Thank you so much for a great week. I have come away full of new ideas and an even bigger drive to get out into the golf world and start teaching. The course was delivered so well from start to finish. I was so pleased to have passed and become a member of the EGTF. It makes me proud to be a member of a very forward-thinking group.”
Mark Eadle
HC6 · United Kingdom · EGTF Professional
08
“It has been a great week for me in developing my knowledge but already I am seeing the benefits in the lessons I am giving, with many positive comments, and I thought I was a good coach before.”
Colin Howe
Golf Performance Coach & Author · Czechoslovakia
09
“The course reached and exceeded my expectations, and I have achieved a much greater knowledge of the swing and how to teach it. I would highly recommend this course to others and it was great value for money.”
Richard Flues
Teaching Professional · Poland
10
“The course met all the appropriate standards to become a teaching professional. I would recommend this course to others as I believe the EGTF is a step above other teaching organisations.”
Nigel Brennan
HC6 · Germany
11
“In 1975 I was a founder member of the Portuguese APGP; nowadays I am their President. I have been a golf professional for nearly 30 years, the last 20 in Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal. I have worked with Peter Alliss, Dai Rees, Henry Cotton and Bob Toski. When I had the pleasure of taking the EGTF course, I was impressed with the high standard of teaching and with the atmosphere during the week. I strongly recommend anyone who wants to be a teacher to take a course with the EGTF.”
Joaquim Catorino
President, Associacao dos Profissionais de Golfe de Portugal
12
“This course was amazing! They say you only get out what you put in, and it’s certainly the case here. I thought I knew the game of golf: how wrong could I be? Long days and hard work – I was exhausted by the end of the week, but the rewards far outweighed everything else, and I would gladly do it all over again. It was the beginning of fulfilling my dream.”
James Burton
EGTF Professional
13
“A big thank you to you and your excellent team for such an interesting, challenging and stimulating week. I would recommend the EGTF course to anybody with a serious interest in improving their own and others’ games. As well as having a fantastic week with a great group of people, I learned an enormous amount. I am already experiencing a big improvement in both pupils’ lessons and my own game.”
Bob Barnes
EGTF Professional
14
“Thank you so much for one of the best weeks of my life. I have learnt so much! Many of the members at my golf club have already asked me to give them lessons rather than the Head Pro that teaches there.”
Paul Butterworth
EGTF Professional
15
“This course was the best in terms of knowledge, professionalism and camaraderie. I could sell this course to the world! I learned more than I ever expected and I know that my own game will improve. The best thing was learning how to teach correctly. The worst was that it had to end.”
Dudley Knox
EGTF Professional
16
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support and assistance during the Diploma course. The guidelines offered by the staff have been an invaluable golfing experience, both in terms of an immediate enhancement of my own golfing game and my teaching competence. The practical sessions and techniques demonstrated a simple but extremely effective process of instruction that appears both repeatable and easily assimilated. Getting my EGTF Diploma has given me as much, if not more satisfaction, than when I received my PhD.”
Dr Paul James
EGTF Professional
17
“Since obtaining my teaching qualification with the EGTF I have moved to Spain, where I have worked for the last three years. I currently work at Oliva Nova Golf and Beach Hotel, Valencia, a five-star resort designed by Seve Ballesteros which hosts many Spanish events. At Oliva we have a Golf Academy, Junior Schools and teach golfers of all standards from all over Europe. I currently write instructional articles for two newspapers on the Costa Blanca and I am also a Staff Instructor on Diploma Courses for the EGTF. Without my teaching qualification I would not have been able to teach and pass on my experience and knowledge to other golfers.”
Paul Tolley
EGTF Master Teaching Professional · Oliva Nova Golf and Beach Hotel, Valencia
18
“After getting to +3 handicap and captaining Wales as an amateur I decided to turn Professional. I wanted to add some teaching skills to my playing schedule and was recommended to the EGTF Diploma Course by a friend. Since taking the course my lesson book has been full. I was asked to become a Staff Instructor 12 months later. On 1 October 2002 I was appointed Head Professional at Prestatyn Golf Club in Wales. I would not have had the chance of such a prestigious position if it had not been for the skills taught to me by the EGTF.”
David Ames
EGTF Professional · Head Professional, Prestatyn Golf Club, Wales
