Our golf director
Our Golf Director is the former European tour Professional Andy Beal. You are welcome to call him to discuss any information regarding local Golf Clubs, one-to-one tuition or in groups or to arrange a private or corporate tournament. Andy has an easygoing, friendly manner and is easily approachable and we include her a brief background on his career to date. Andy has also added some personal notes on a small variety of Golf Clubs within easy reach from Le Château.
Andy Beal
Early success for Andy came in 1989 when he managed the rare double of becoming the West of England Professional and Assistant Professional Champion in the same year.
In 1990 he graduated as a fully qualified PGA Professional. 1993 to 1995 saw Andy play full time on the Canadian Tour, keeping his playing privileges each year and enjoying the Canadian experience to the full.
In 1996 Andy won his playing rights on the European Tour for the first time, and stayed on tour until 2002. 1998 was his most successful season, finishing one spot ahead of a certain Nick Faldo in the Order of Merit. That year Andy enjoyed the first of his two third place finishes on Tour, and also battled head-to-head with Seve Ballesteros through the season in the Tour’s putting statistics (Andy eventually finished tied third with Padraig Harrington)
Since 2003, coaching has become the main point of focus and his pupil roster includes some of the best Juniors, Colts and Professionals in the South West. He brings together his experiences from the Tour, of the highest level of performance and the specialist coaching available to the very best, and combines this with the approaches to develop a golf swing given to Andy by “Golf Channel” expert and top PGA Tour coach Dennis Sheehy.
Two of Andy’s young prospects enjoyed big wins on the Amateur scene during 2005 – Miles Mackman (West of England Amateur Championship) and Mark Searle (South West Strokeplay Champion) – both players regularly work on their game with Andy at his Hamptworth base on the edge of the New Forest. This is also where Andy helps club golfers to improve and enjoy their golf to the full, and he takes great pleasure and pride in doing so.
Family life is Andy’s number one priority and mixing the touring pro lifestyle with being a father and husband proved to be a mix that Andy was not prepared to cope with. Andy lives in Winterslow with his wife Claire, and children Charlotte (7), William (5) and Madeleine (3).
As Head Coach for the Wiltshire Golf Union, Andy is certainly kept busy throughout the year.
