Golf: Tongue to set up academy

4.00pm

Mal Tongue is close to launching his own golf academy in the wake of the Peter Dale affair.

The academy is to be linked to several high-profile education institutions and will offer scholarships to its most promising recruits.

Targeted at beginners as young as eight through to university students as well as elite players, the concept has attracted significant offshore interest and corporate support.

Tongue has established Nine Lines Golf Ltd with the five assistants who went out in support of the Wellingtonian when he resigned as national director of coaching in March.

Murray Macklin, of Wellington, Shane Scott, of Christchurch, Bob McDonald, of Auckland, Brian Boys, of Hamilton, and Simon Thomas, of Dunedin, resigned en masse when Tongue went public over the deterioration of his working relationship with New Zealand Golf (NZG) chief executive Dale.

Tongue said at the time he no longer felt he had the support of Dale, who himself resigned over the incident.

The six coaches continue to coach amateurs involved in NZG's international squads.

The academy will be based out of Wellington initially, but Tongue hinted he could be on the move.

"Within the next 18 months we're aiming to have 300 kids on golf and education programmes," Tongue said.

"The likelihood of us having our own facility is high so we may have to move."

Nine Lines Golf Ltd is a reference to the golf swing Tongue and his assistant coach.

The coaches have developed a computer programme in conjunction with a Dunedin company that will enable them to instruct via the internet.

"The technology side we're developing is really unique. It's like a virtual coaching system where you download a computer model and overlay your swing on to it.

"It can be used from beginners to elite players and means anyone, anywhere in the world can get hold of us."

- NZPA