World of Golf Master Pro teaches 50,000th lesson

A World of Golf Masters Professional and Advanced Fellow of the PGA has completed his 50,000 golf lesson

World of Golf
John Woodroffe (r) with Callum Elliott ahead of his 50,000th golf lesson

A World of Golf Masters Professional and Advanced Fellow of the PGA has completed his 50,000 golf lesson

A World of Golf Masters Professional and Advanced Fellow of the PGA has completed his 50,000 golf lesson.

Jon Woodroffe, who started coaching 33 years ago, hit the milestone after teaching 16-year-old Callum Elliott at World of Golf's new Performance Centre in New Malden, south-west London.

He was also greeted by 61-year-old Bob Dove - his first student in 1981 - to mark the occasion.

Woodroffe, who specialises in coaching beginners, has introduced 20,000 newcomers to the sport in his 33-year instructing career and won a Golf Foundation award for teaching disabled children.

"My aim from day one has always been to introduce more people like Callum and Bob to the game of golf and make the sport enjoyable for players of all ages," he said.

"To make it to 50,000 lessons means a lot to me and I'd like to thank every golfer who's helped develop my coaching style since I first started back in 1981."

Woodroffe - a recent winner of the PGA Coach of the Year for the South of England award - heads up the Golf Development program for juniors at World of Golf.

"World of Golf is privileged to have someone of Jon's expertise within its ranks, particularly when it comes to teaching young beginners and attracting more people to the sport," said CEO Grant Wright.

Indeed, only 1% of British PGA Professionals reach Advanced Fellow of the PGA status.

"We'd like to congratulate him on his 50,000th lesson - a fantastic achievement," he added.

Woodroffe forms part of a nine-strong team of PGA Professionals at World of Golf, which features the most advanced golf teaching facility in the UK.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x