Academy drives junior golf success

A Darlington golf academy is celebrating a new milestone after seeing 25 young players selected to compete in regional leagues this summer.

The ACED Academy, based at Blackwell Grange Golf Club, has produced a team of junior golfers who will represent the club in the GolfSixes League across North Yorkshire and County Durham.

Led by PGA professional Aaron Cox, the academy has grown from just two participants to around 150 young golfers and is now regarded as one of the UK's leading junior golf programmes.

Combining structured coaching with a strong focus on fun, the academy helps young golfers develop technical skills alongside the confidence, teamwork and resilience needed both on and off the course.

A dedicated six-hole junior course developed by Aaron at Blackwell Grange has helped underpin the academy’s success, offering young players the chance to learn and compete in a supportive setting.

Aaron, who played in the 2010 and 2011 Australia Opens alongside Tiger Woods and Bubba Watson, said: “I’m a results-driven coach so I want to see the kids getting better.

“I’m not just taking the money from parents to do these classes for them just to be a creche.

“I obviously keep it relaxed and make it fun for them – and I think the fun part comes from them actually achieving their goals of hitting a nice shot and getting the ball up off the ground or in the hole.”

The selected players will take part in GolfSixes fixtures throughout the summer, competing in teams using the Texas scramble format, which encourages teamwork and strategic play.

Aaron added: “The great thing about golf sixes is golf becoming a team game for a small amount of time.

“Golf is normally an individual and selfish sport, but the golf sixes bring children together to work as a team, which is such a big thing in life away from golf.

“It instils values like teamwork, respect and hard work.”

Support for the academy’s competitive squad has come from Darlington-based financial services firm 16 Finance, run by Gareth Billington, whose children George, 14, and Erin, 11, are both members of the academy.

Gareth added: “My two children love their golf sessions and the benefits of a golfing academy like this one go far beyond the game itself, as I can see them both growing in confidence.

“That is why I’m really pleased 16 Finance is able to support the 25 youngsters who will be playing in tournaments this summer.

“Each young player is not only improving technically, but they are also learning how to handle setbacks, how to concentrate, how to make good decisions and how to conduct themselves with honesty and respect.

“Even if they never play at a professional level, those are transferable skills that will stand them in good stead in the world outside of sport.”

Gareth added: “The academy is helping them build confidence, self-discipline and resilience, while also teaching important values like integrity and responsibility.

“They can take those lessons into adult life, whether that’s in education, the workplace or the wider community.”

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