Testimonials
Gary (Peterlee - Co Durham)
I had been playing golf for about three months when I decided I needed/wanted to get some golf lessons. I browsed the web looking for local teaching pro's and came across Michael's website. I was very impressed with the site and the feedback that he had received. I contacted Michael and arranged a lesson. I was very keen to learn but really had no idea what a good golf swing looked and felt like.
I booked an eight- lesson package and we got to work. Michael has the patience of a saint and never gets frustrated. He won't teach you shortcuts and quick fixes but will give you all the information you need to go away and really improve your game. I started my lessons with a handicap of 27 and I was struggling to consistently break 100. Eight lessons later and I have cut 7 shots off my official handicap and I am consistently shooting in the 80s, but most of all I have the knowledge I need to keep on improving. I would have no hesitation recommending Michael to anybody and I would certainly use him again.
Tom (Sedgefield - Co Durham)
I have been playing golf for six years and having reduced my handicap to twelve, thought that to further reduce my handicap, I would need the help of a coach. I contacted Michael and booked a six-lesson package with him for an extremely reasonable price!
In the six lessons we covered all aspects of the game including the mental side of the game, something I had not conquered. However, Michael being an NLP sports practitioner, helped my understand and focus on my aspects of my game that I had not previously given much thought to yet critical in order to stay strong mentally when playing.
Now, thanks to Michaels tuition, I have a more rounded game. My weaknesses have been readjusted and improved upon. His feedback, through emails, is exceptional as it recaps in great detail the key points from the lesson. This is extremely helpful as I can refer back to them periodically to ensure progress is maintained.
Overall, I enjoyed every minute of my lessons with Michael and would strongly recommend him to golfers of any level who wish to improve their game.
* Huge congratulations to Tom on his recent victory in his local Club Championship. He deserves it for all the hard work he has put in. Michael.
James (Thornley, Co Durham)
Hi Michael, thought I would drop you an email. Played at Brancepeth today for the first time since our lessons. I have to say it was a totally different experience for me to how I played before, as I came away from the course thinking about all the good shots I had hit and not dwelling on my poor shots.
On the course, I was able to 'let go' of any negative emotion when I did hit a poor shot which enabled me to totally focus on the next shot. This allowed me to approach the shot with more confidence in my own ability than ever before. Also, I now feel that I know what to do to correct things if I hit a bad shot so I don't worry about it and just get on with it!
As a result, my game has improved a lot. My mentality has changed towards the game which allows me to really enjoy playing again and not get frustrated. I feel sure that my bad shots were more down to the course conditions after the recent heavy snow, so when the conditions improve my game will only get better. You always maintained that I had a decent swing and my problem was that I was 'getting in my own way' and not letting my natural ability/talent to come through.
If I know of anyone who needs help with their game I will pass on your details, and will be in touch if I feel that there is anything I need to improve on.
David (Consett - Co Durham)
As I have just had another good round and hit some cracking shots which included a chip in from 40 yards, I reckon Michael deserves this testimonial.
After starting to play golf on a regular basis, I soon learned, after many disastrous rounds of golf, that I needed to take some lessons. I booked an eight lesson package with Michael and have never looked back. I never knew that after only a couple of lessons how much my game could be transformed.
Michael 'coaches' you in a way that means that after a lesson you can coach yourself round the course and learn easily what you need to do. Also what is great are the lesson recaps Michael puts together after every lesson as a progressing document that I can keep and refer back to.
I now find myself on the course playing shots I never thought I could ever do. I would recommend to anyone that wants to enjoy golf that bit more or reduce their handicap to book some lessons with Michael.
Mark (Billingham - Cleveland)
I have been playing golf for three years now and have a handicap of 24. I had no consistency in my game and would shoot anywhere between 93 and 113. I had some lessons about two years ago but felt that I needed some fresh advice, so I picked up one of Michaels' cards and arranged to meet him.
After some detailed questioning we decided that a four-lesson package suited me best so we went from there. In those four lessons (one per month) we covered my posture, alignment (something which I had struggled with previously), mid irons, chipping pitching and a check over my putting.
My game has improved 100% as I am now a more relaxed and confident player, shooting on average of 97 in recent games. In a couple of months time I will be having a few more lessons to look at my driver and fairway woods.
In my view Michael is an excellent, patient and clever coach and I would recommend him to anyone.
Allan (Willington. Co. Durham)
I 'd been trying to play the game for about 7 years and being an old duffer (over 65) and after a particularly humiliating experience thought I ought to do something about it or give up! Having no coach at my club at the time, I trawled the web and found Michael's web site, which intrigued me. We met and I arranged a 4-lesson package. I had only had the odd lesson in the past, which left no lasting impression.
After these lessons, and in a nutshell:
I am much happier trying to play this game. (Ask my wife!)
He has given me some tools, some fundamentals to focus on.
His lessons are longer than most and excellent value for money.
He is not your stereotypical golf pro/coach.
He is attentive, thorough, approachable and focused on your improvement.
His resultant feedback, written through email, is particularly useful and I find myself referring to these instructions frequently if I ever go off the boil! I find this feedback method a really positive 'extra', and know of no one else who gives it.
I am not playing off 'scratch', yet, but I do now hit some shots that I would not have thought possible at one time.
Overall, my experience under Michael's tutelage has been most positive and I would be happy to recommend him and his methods to anyone.