The Fota Island Golf Academy is situated amidst many of our tall oak trees which provide a very tranquil and peaceful setting in which to learn new skills from our experienced PGA Professionals. Whilst the primary objective is to improve each student’s game, emphasis is placed on making the process fun and memorable
The Academy boasts over 4000 square meters of first class turf to practice clean crisp iron shots with a separate chipping green surrounded with bunkers. There is also a new gently undulating outdoor putting green. And because the short game is so important, there is also a new pitching area with various targets up to 100 yards away.
The Academy building itself hosts ten covered bays and an indoor putting green for practice during inclement weather. It also houses two large teaching rooms with the latest hi-tech video and computer systems and a full array of teaching aids. You may also relax and unwind in the Coffee Dock before or, even more importantly, after.
The GASP computer system allows us to email and store your and other students’ swings as well as comparing them against the top players in the world.
The SAM Puttlab analysis and training system will give you accurate ultrasound measurement of your putting stroke (path, rotation, alignment etc.) and a full breakdown of results can then be printed out for you. Our custom fit centre has been equipped with all the new revolutionary technology in an effort to precisely match the latest equipment to your swing.
Our Teaching Professionals
Our Golf Professionals are committed to help developing golfers improve their games and provide structured training programs to help you achieve your goals.
Kevin Morris
Director of Golf
Originally from Douglas in Cork, Kevin Morris turned PGA Professional in 1979, at the age of 16. In 1982 he moved abroad, where he worked for a year as Teaching Pro in Golfresort Sonnenalp-Oberallgäu in Oberstdorf. After returning and spending a year playing the Irish Circuit, Kevin went back to Germany and had several posts as Teaching Pro there – in Hamburg, Dusseldorf and in Munich, at Eichuride, home of the BMW International.
Kevin joined Fota Island Golf Club in 1993 and during his time at Fota Island Golf Club he has overseen all the significant changes that have happened on the island including the course redesign and rebuild by Jeff Howes Design in 1998/9, the development of the new Fota Island Golf Academy in 2006 plus the addition of the new nine holes, again designed by Jeff Howes.
Kevin has also overseen the two Irish Opens held at Fota Island Golf Club, one in 2001 won by Colin Montgomerie and in 2002, won by Soren Hansen, which saw the revival of crowd attendance numbers, as well as the AIB Seniors in 2006, which was won by Sam Torrance.
Brian Kelleher
PGA Professional
Brian is a PGA Professional now in his ninth year. During the two Irish Opens he developed a fascination for the golf swing and the intricacies of the golf game.Over the years he has worked with all the teams at Fota and has built up a good reputation throughout Cork for his simple but effective style of Coaching. Brian’s patience and wealth of experience in Custom Fitting can only be an asset to our new Academy.
For further information on Fota Island Golf Academy please click here to view our web page.
