Coaches

Craig Lea – Director of Coaching (Lancashire u18 & Men’s Elite Squad)

Craig is a PGA Advanced professional, based at Myerscough College & UCLAN. 

Craig has a vast amount of experience creating and delivering performance based coaching programmes with a great deal of success. Myerscough & UCLAN have been crowned National Team Champions on seven occasions with multiple individual successes throughout his time at Myerscough College. Craig has worked with a number of amateurs from across Europe, who have achieved County/International honours, leading to numerous professional tours. 

Craig is the author of ‘Effective Practice Better Scores’ which has reached in excess of 30 countries worldwide, as well as writing coaching articles for Today’s Golfer & Golf World.  

Craig’s attention to the finer details in developing player/team pathways both technically and tactically creates a clear development platform to improve performance. This process offers players an opportunity to improve each area of their game reaching their intended targets. 

Ian Lee – Lancashire u18 & Men’s Elite Squad Coach

Ian Lee is a Fellow PGA Professional and has taught and developed many juniors and amateurs who have gone on to play on many levels including the international amateur and professional stage. Over 100 PGA golf Professionals, including winners on the PGA European Tour, have visited Ian at his Academy at Haigh Hall for golf instruction over the years.  

Ian has been a Lancashire Elite Player Coach to the boys and men’s 1st Team squads since 2006.

Jim Payne - Lancashire u18 & Men’s Elite Squad Coach

Jim played amateur golf turning professional in 1991. Played on European Tour 1992 to end of 2000, retiring partly due to back surgery.

Became PGA Professional at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club Sept 2001, involved in the usual club activities and coaching. Lancashire Ladies County coach 2001 to 2006 and involved in men’s and u18 elite teams 2003 to date.

Coach to several individuals over the past 20 years who have reached national standard. Coach to Tommy Fleetwood 2002 to end of 2014, reaching number 51 in world rankings at the time.

Amateur Career:

Played for England Boys, Youths, Men and Walker Cup Team

Won: British Youth Champs; European Amateur Champs; Leading Amateur in 1991 Open Championship.

Professional Career:

Rookie of the Year 1992;  Won Majorcan Open 1993; Won Italian Open 1996;  Played for England in World Cup of Golf 1996;  20+ top 10 finishes on European Tour;  Played in 5 Open Championships.

Gareth Benson- Lancashire u18 & Men’s Elite Squad Coach

Gareth is a PGA Professional who has worked with County, national & international players.  

Gareth has been a long standing Elite Lancashire County coach for over 16 years. Generally responsible or u/16’s boys  & Lead coach of u/18 ’s, his journey has utilised both the technical, tactical as well as the wealth of experience helping all age groups with personal player pathways, game development and Tournament planning.

Dave Corsby – Lancashire u16 Squad Coach

Dave turned Professional in 2010 and is employed by Myerscough College to coach the College and Uclan students. His home club is Fleetwood Golf Club where he also offers coaching services. 

Since turning Professional, Dave has competed on the Europro Tour, The Alps Tour and PGA Circuits. His highlights to date are; Lancashire Open Champion, Lancashire County Champion and Multiple event wins within the region. 

Dave’s amateur career saw him get down to a plus 3 handicap at Royal Lytham and had many successes. The highlight of his amateur career was winning the West of Ireland Amateur Championship, beating Shane Lowry in the final. Dave has won Lancashire Boys Championships, Lancashire Schools Championships and represented England and Britain in Schools and University matches. 

John Barclay – Lead Lancashire County Academy Programme Coach

Ryan Done -Lancashire County Academy Programme Coach

Ryan is a PGA Professional ASQ Level 3 Coach and has been Head Professional at Heysham Golf Club over 20 years. In that time steadily building a strong reputation in the area as a top golf coach. His simplistic approach has led to working with hundreds of golfers over the years, from beginners to scratch golfers and Tour Professionals. Some of his proudest work has been with Tour players including current Challenge Tour and multiple Tour winner Jack Senior. Ryan supported Jack when he was part of the 2011 GB&I Team at Royal Aberdeen in the Walker Cup.

Ryan also was one of the first to open a specialist Teaching Studio in 2009 producing a whole new dimension to coaching. This studio, based on the driving range at Heysham is also a golfer’s paradise with full up-to-date fitting equipment from Golf’s biggest suppliers. In 2019, Ryan has also teamed up with Odyssey Golf to offer a full fitting service on their extensive Putting range.

Ryan uses GASP Video Analysis and Flightscope Data Analysis during his sessions. Putting sessions will include use of SAM Putt Lab and Psychology work using FocusBand (as used by Justin Rose).

Richie Marsden -Lancashire County Academy Programme Coach

Richie’s enthusiasm for golf and coaching stems from a true love for the game, the satisfaction of helping players develop on a journey of continuous improvement.  

Richie is a PGA Professional who works between the PGA Academy at Formby Hall and has been a County Academy coach for the last 5 years. Richie is a Putting & Performance Coach with JFG Academy in Northern Ireland, Richie shapes fact based coaching & philosophy to guide players to success.  Richie sees coaching and playing with a growth mind set, a journey of continuous improvement for the players he works with, and himself as a coach, player and as a person.

Philip Newnes -Lancashire County Academy Programme Coach

Philip is the Head Teaching Professional at Chilli Dip Golf Academy with over 20 years coaching experience. Since joining The Professional Golfers' Association in 1996, Philip has built a career working with players of all ages and abilities, from beginners to Tour Professionals. He has been a Lancashire County coach for the CAP program since 2015 delivering scoring based coaching mainly on putting, short game & course strategy. 

His coaching philosophy focuses on the needs of each golfer as an individual and helping them to reach their potential. Delivering effective methods for skill development utilizing the preferred learning methods of each golfer.

Philip's holistic approach to coaching covers all aspects of the game accompanied by the latest technology. The use of clear slow-motion video and FlightScope radar technology are some of the key tools used to help golfers of all levels obtain visual and factual results.