A NEW golf academy has been created on Teesside in the hope of helping Fred and Wilma get into golf!

But the forward thinking coaching of professional coaches Rob Lilley and Craig Donaldson are certainly not stuck in the Stone Age as they look to nurture young talent.

Lilley and Donaldson have formed the Middlesbrough Golf Academy at the town’s Municipal course – and they hope their move will set them aside from other academies in the area.

“We are committed to help promote the game within our region and help more golfers enjoy there golf out on the course,” said Lilley. “If that means helping Fred hit the ball out of a bunker or Wilma beating her career low score then that’s our aims.

“We have plans to reach as many school children as possible setting up local community groups within schools, with the aim to hopefully have them beating down path’s to the golf centre.”

Teesside has produced plenty of top golfers over the years, none better than the main man at this stage on the European Tour, Hartlepool’s Graeme Storm.

But there have also been a long line of other top golfers who have not quite hit those dizzy heights, including Middlesbrough’s Jon Lupton and Marske’s Michael Skelton. The town also annually plays host to the North of England Youth Championship at nearby Brass Castle.

Lilley and Donaldson are looking to build on that proud reputation and love for golf in the area, having taken on the new venture in April.

“This is important for ourselves as it allows both myself and Craig more freedom to coach and help golfers progress their game,” said Lilley.

“We are looking to develop some serious pathways into the game, creating new golfers through our Start, Learn, Play, Compete programmes, getting golfers out on the course and enjoying the game that has given us both so much over the years.

“We both joined the centre earlier this year having previously worked elsewhere within the industry. By setting up the Middlesbrough Golf Academy this allows us to do what we both love doing - teaching and helping golfers.

“This is a new golf academy which has been formed to help grow and promote golf within Middlesbrough and beyond. Our aims are to encourage more new golfers taking up the game as well as to help current players to play their best golf and enjoy playing more.”

The Middlesbrough Golf Academy is open seven days a week and group sessions are being added all of the time. The best place to find out more details is on its Facebook page, while a new website will be launched soon.