Meet Our Pros

Stephen Deane

Head Academy PGA Professional

Stephen's professional career started in 2004 at the prestigious Royal County Down Golf Club under the supervision of the 2006 Irish PGA Captain Kevan Whitson.

An honours graduate in Golf Management from Central Lancashire, Stephen is an accomplished teacher and player. Having travelled to Hong Kong, Spain and now Dubai to teach the game, Stephen brings with him a wealth of knowledge to pass on to his pupils. Being an experienced teacher of children using the YMG syllabus, development of young golfers is one of Stephen's areas of expertise. An attendee of several teaching conferences, he has the latest techniques and methods on hand to improve your game.

As a player, Stephen has competed in some of the major events in Ireland such as the British Assistants Championship and other Irish Order of merit events.

As a key staff member during preparations for the Seniors British Open Championships, Ladies' British Amateur Championship and Walker Cup which were held at Royal County Down, Stephen is used to working at a venue that hosts major events.

Dave Adams

Senior PGA Professional

Dave started playing golf later than most budding professionals at the age of 15 at Hallowes Golf Club in Sheffield. It did not prevent him from moving on to the honourable standard required to represent his county. While being coached by Peter Cowen Dave turned professional. He took his PGA training under the watchful eye of Philip Dunn and also shadowed Peter Cowen to learn more about the art of coaching others in his spare time.

With the successful completion of his PGA diploma exams he started his posting in late 2003 at The Peter Cowen Golf Academy in Dubai. Due to the teaching environment and standard of golfers visiting, Dave has steadily been able to develop his teaching skills.

He has taken the opportunity to shadow Peter Cowen working with Soren Hanson, Thomas Björn, Henrik Stenson, Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood.

By frequently attending PGA seminars Dave has increased his knowledge and skills to communicate with golfers of all ability levels in a simple, effective way. Now as part of the new Golf Academy at Emirates Golf Club he is looking forward to a new opportunity to pass on the knowledge he has gained over the last four years.

Dave has worked to maintain his own golfing standard by frequently playing with members and visitors. He also holds the UAE Matchplay Championship for 2005 and played in the 2007 Dubai Desert Classic, part of the European Tour Schedule, having won the regional qualifying event.

 

Alastair Brown

PGA Professional

Alastair started to play golf at the age of 12. He grew up on the world famous links of Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland, which is the only Irish course to host the Open Championship.

After finishing grammar school, Alastair attended college in Belfast where he studied in Business and Management. During this period he also worked for sports group I.M.G. and had responsibility in the set up and running of the Senior British Open for five years.

At the age of 23 Alastair returned to Royal Portrush where he turned Professional in 2002. Under the supervision of Head Profesional Gary McNeill, one of Ireland's leading instructors and the former Irish MacGregor Teaching Academy Director, Alastair learned the art of delivering lessons in a relevant and simplistic approach. Alastair has worked with players of all abilities from Irish University and High School teams to introducing the game to a large base of beginners.

Alastair had a long competitive Amateur career playing in National Junior and Senior tournaments from the age of 15. Since turning Pro he has competed in many Irish Order of Merit events including the Irish P.G.A. Championship.

At 29, Alastair looks forward to furthering his teaching career on the Golf Academy at Emirates Golf Club and competing in UAE Tour Events.

 

Andrew Matthews

PGA Advanced Professional

NLP Master Practitioner

Sports Hypnosis Practitioner

Having achieved the honour of representing his county Andrew turned professional in 1992 under the supervision of ex European tour player and county coach Peter Barber at Didsbury golf club, Manchester. It was during this time he developed his passion for coaching and high levels of customer service.

Having worked both in the UK and in Europe, his career progression has led him to different golf industry roles including a successful period as the Head golf professional at a busy members club

Andrew is qualified in various areas of coaching and specialises in the mind/body link using NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and Sports Hypnosis. These specialised skills compliment his ability to coach the physical aspects of golf in a simplistic results orientated manner. Combining mind and body coaching in a standard lesson format is a unique feature of his skill base. Andrew has conducted various clinics and workshops on the subject of the mental game, gaining a reputation as an agent of rapid change. Mind and body are linked - Train them both.

In 2006, he was awarded the PGA Advanced Level status in recognition of his achievements and continued growth within the golf industry.

Andrew is now looking forward to becoming an integral part of the Emirates Golf Academy by incorporating his NLP and Sports Hypnosis skills into the existing Academy lesson packages.

Mark Bruce

PGA Professional

Mark has had a club in his hand since he can remember, practicing as a little boy with his grandfather.  Raised on one of the world's toughest and best courses, the prestigious Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland, Mark has learnt every shot in the book and how to manufacture all ball flights against the elements.

After a successful amateur career, Mark, a former scratch player and boy international, turned his eye in 2006 to Alasdair Good, Head PGA Professional at Gullane Golf Club in Scotland and founder of Wee Wonders Golf Ltd to enroll on the PGA Foundation Degree.

During his 5 years at Gullane, Mark gained full membership with the PGA as a Qualified PGA Golf Professional and established himself as Head Teaching and Custom Fitting Professional at the Club. With his own knowledge and experience, Mark teaches players of all abilities and simplifies the technical game of golf.

At the Academy, Mark offers lessons with video analysis, Trackman and Sam Puttlab to gain maximum information about every part of your game. With his expertise and this state-of-the-art technology, your game will be carefully analysed, explained and together you can take your golf to a new level.

Jonathan Craddock

PGA Professional

Availability: 6.30pm - 10.30pm on weekdays

Jonathan has always been a keen sportsmen and it was at the age of sixteen that he turned his attention to golf. Taking to the sport at a fast pace achieving a first handicap of nine and then reducing this to five within the same year. It was at this time he was offered a position working at a local golf course under the supervision of Head Professional David Dunk.

During Jonathan's PGA degree, under the wing of the professional, he became the senior instructor at the local driving range teaching golfers of all levels. Developing his popularity meant that Jonathan was recruited by local Government Authorities and given the opportunity to teach golf, not only in schools but at summer camps and various leisure centres where he used various TRi Golf techniques.

Jonathan aims to provide a welcome atmosphere for all levels of golfers. Using a structured programme for beginners and assessment profiling for the more advanced golfer. Having competed on the PGA Europro tour and Regional PGA tournaments Jonathan still maintains his competitive edge, whilst looking forward to enhancing his coaching career at the Emirates Golf Club within the Golf Academy.

Martyn Hamer

PGA Professional

Availability: 6.30pm - 10.30pm except Friday

Martyn started the game at the age of six at North Manchester Golf Club. He was introduced to the game by his father who had previously competed in two British Open Championships. Martyn went on to represent England at various youth levels competing in the European Boys Team Championships in 2003 and the winning Home International Team also in 2003. After winning his County Championship at the tender age of 17 Martyn turned professional. He competed in the European Tour School twice and reached the final stages both times having had the course record of 64 at The Oxfordshire Golf Club along the way. In 2004 Martyn enrolled with the PGA to complete their Advanced Diploma Programme which concentrates on all aspects of the game, which he passed with honours.

One area of coaching Martyn is particularly enthusiastic about is Junior coaching and in 2006 he started a Junior Academy at Ellesmere Golf Club where he was employed as the Assistant Professional he was extremely proud to see youngsters coached from raw beginners win the North West Junior League Championship in 2009 & 2010.
 
Having competed and received coaching at the highest level throughout his career Martyn now aims to pass this knowledge on to students at The Academy at Emirates Golf Club.