James Andrews School of Golf

A residential golf school in East Sussex which employs eight PGA professionals is to receive worldwide exposure on an American television network.

CNN's renowned Living Golf show has been filming at the James Andrews School of Golf at the Sedlescombe club near Hastings and in May will broadcast a programme across its network.

James Andrews, who set up the school seven years ago, is pleased to have received recognition from abroad but revealed there is already great international interest in his project with students attending from as far away as Australia.

And he is dedicated to providing the best coaching possible.

"We thought there was a huge gap to start a proper residential coaching school," explained Andrews, a professional for 16 years and formerly of Highwoods Golf Club, Bexhill.

"We have put a hotel on site and we have developed the actual golf facilities. We have two indoor golf analysis centres and are putting in a par-three course for tuition and for beginners to make that first step on the golf course.

"There is a four to one ratio of students to professional and attendees are put into four standardised categories which means we can have a very good group of similar golfers. It does get very intense though."

All the coaches at the school are PGA qualified but, far from taking business away from club professionals, Andrews insisted they were keen to engender an ethos of utilising local expertise.

"We have eight professionals on site and all are PGA qualified. We also do our own on-site training to make sure there is continuity of coaching. However, we encourage people to go back and have lessons with their club professionals and support them," said the 35-year-old, who also revealed how far the school's reputation had extended.

"We have people of all abilities - from a lady golfer from France with a two handicap who was trying to get on the European Tour through to complete beginners.

"We have an international coaching base - we have even had people from Australia. The internet does a lot of marketing for us but the exposure by CNN will enhance the audience we already have."

The school has between 4,000 and 5,000 people through its doors every year and their busiest period is just beginning.

"We have got a 20-bedroom hotel and in the summer we are full," added Andrews.

"I think the thing that makes us stand out is we do golf schools properly. You don't get lost in a crowd. We don't have 15 to one ratios in our classes. It is the whole experience. What makes us stand out? Everything."