Four celebs embark on golf challenge with help from PGA coaches

Another four female celebrities are taking part in a unique golf challenge to learn how to play the game, with support from PGA coaches, to compete for a place at the highly sought-after BMW PGA Celebrity Pro-Am.

The Slingsby Golf Academy returns for a second series in 2022 and once again aims to inspire more women to get into golf and to champion the social side of the sport.

This year’s Slingsby Golf Academy cadets are Olympic equestrian Zara Tindall, well known tennis coach Judy Murray, Doctor and TV personality Zoe Williams and Sky Sports Boxing presenter Anna Woolhouse.

These four celebrities start their journey together as beginners and will work alongside PGA professional partners to get to grips with the game in just six months.

Robert Maxfield, Chief Executive of The PGA said: “We are delighted that PGA Members will once again be involved in the Slingsby Golf Academy. As demonstrated last year, helping and supporting those who want to take up the game but don’t know where to start is what PGA Professionals do every day.

“This brilliant initiative will highlight the key role PGA Members play in introducing more people to golf and the processes they go through to improve their game. We look forward to following Zara, Judy, Dr Zoe and Anna on every step of their golfing journey and hope they develop the same love for the game as we all have. Their stories will undoubtedly inspire plenty more women to give golf a try.”

In an exciting new addition to the series, the 2022 Slingsby Golf Academy will also feature golf enthusiast, dancer and TV star, Anton Du Beke, as series host and Inci Mehmet, golf broadcaster and former Ladies European Tour player, will return as a mentor to the cadets.

As well as encouraging more women to tee-off this summer, the cadets will also be competing for a spot in the star-studded BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am at Wentworth Club, Surrey on Wednesday 7th September.

The cadets’ journeys will be captured in a six-part series which will showcase Zara, Judy, Dr Zoe and Anna’s progress and be shared on social media (@slingsbysocial) as well as clips being broadcast on Sky Sports. Each episode will capture the challenges and triumphs that come with taking up the game of golf.

Supported by The PGA and England Golf, Slingsby’s Golf Academy was watched by over one million people in 2021. The initiative has also been nominated for an Original Content Award after successfully inspiring more women to take to the course and celebrating the social side and camaraderie of the sport.

Speaking about her involvement, Zara Tindall said: “I am really excited to learn to play golf as part of this group, but also to hopefully show that wherever you start from, you can have a go and enjoy getting out and trying something new.”

Judy Murray commented: “I live pretty close to Gleneagles, so I literally have 3 magnificent golf courses on my doorstep. Through the pandemic I watched people playing golf all day long in stunning scenery and that’s really what got me thinking that I should give it a go.”

Dr Zoe Williams said: “I think one of the big things is having that time out for myself, being a new mum and a busy working mum. Often right now it feels like I am juggling balls and spinning plates at the same time. For me, time out on the golf course represents a calm amongst the chaos… having said that, I know it is going to frustrate the hell out of me!”

Anna Woolhouse added: “Women’s sport is going from strength to strength, and we’ve seen a huge rise in recent years, but it still has a long way to go. It is initiatives like the Slingsby Golf Academy, that have presence on TV and social media, that can give women’s sport a boost and a chance to grow at the grassroots level.”

We will be following the four PGA Professionals and their celebrities throughout their journey. Keep an eye on The PGA’s social media channels in April to watch the first episode and see how the celebs are fairing.

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