FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Junior Golfers Can Train Like Champions At The New Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy
Expert golfer Gary Gilchrist launches academy in January 2008

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, FL., January 30, 2008 — Junior golfers with a true passion for the sport can now train full-time like champions at the all new Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy. Renowned for his expertise in the junior-golf arena, golfer Gary Gilchrist (http://www.garygilchristgolf.com/) debuts his signature program at the award-winning Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort, located 30 minutes west of Orlando, Fla. Personally developed by Gary Gilchrist, the academy will accelerate each participant’s development and produce results in the shortest amount of time. In addition to golf training, the program will include high level academics, fitness, sports psychology and tournament competition experience.

“Each student will undergo a comprehensive training program that will challenge and educate him or her on the process of achieving individual goals,” Gilchrist says. “Our mission is to prepare students technically, mentally and physically to succeed in tournament competition, and at the collegiate and professional level.”

Located in the rolling countryside of Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., Mission Inn provides the perfect backdrop and recreational facilities for champion-level training. By participating in the program at this top-notch resort, juniors will regularly experience two world-class golf courses and an extensive practice area. The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, which is expected to attract full time students worldwide, will also offer short-term and summer camp programs.

“My goal is to provide the highest level of training and a learning environment for all inspired junior golfers, and I believe Mission Inn is a great fit for the academy,” Gilchrist says. “My passion for teaching and love for golf has given me the desire to share expertise with juniors from around the world, and I am very excited to open my own training facility.”

While running The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, Gilchrist will continue developing champions at every level of golf. Gilchrist, recently called the “MVP of coaches” by Golfweek’s Ron Sirak, is currently working with Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, a star golfer who finished second on the LPGA in 2007; Peter Hedblom, who won a European Tour tournament last year; LPGA newcomer Shanshan Feng; and Kiran Matharu, and 18-year old rising star from Leeds, England.

About Gary Gilchrist

With over a decade developing some of today’s most well-known and respected golfers, Gary Gilchrist has a proven track record for training champions. He served as Director of Golf at IMG Academies in Bradenton Florida for 11 years and recently left the IJGA in South Carolina where he served as the Director of Golf for 3 years. Gilchrist has directed the development of 75 AJGA All-Americans, six AJGA Players of the Year, two AJGA Sportsmanship award winners, two U.S. Amateur champions, two U.S. Junior champions, an NCAA Women’s champion, and one Public Links champion.

For more information, e-mail inquiries to leeanneg@ggga.com or visit http://www.garygilchristgolfacademy.com

Media Contact:

Lee-Anne Gilchrist
Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy
leeanneg@ggga.com

Phone: 352 484 0787
Toll Free: 866 639 9099

Big-name golf, tennis instructors to run academies at Mission Inn in Howey
Joe Williams | Sentinel Staff Writer
March 21, 2008

Gary Gilchrist is recognized as one of the world's best golf instructors. Among those who have refined their game under Gilchrist's tutelage are teen golfing sensation Michelle Wie and 2005 LPGA rookie of the year Paula Creamer.

Carlos Rodriguez is considered among the top tennis teachers and is the longtime coach of Justine Henin, the No. 1-ranked women's player in the world.

Now, Gilchrist and Rodriguez have been brought together by Cesar Villarroel, director of tennis and fitness at Mission Inn Resort & Club, to run golf and tennis academies there.

Click here to read the complete article

Norwegian Suzann Pettersen wins the McDonalds LPGA Championship,
Havre de Grace, Maryland Suzann Pettersen shoots a solid 5-under 67 for a one shot victory over Karrie Webb and her first major championship title. The long hitting Norwegian proved that she has what it takes, despite her collapse at the Kraft Nabisco earlier in the season. Pettersen finished with a 14-under par 274 for the championship.

Swing coach Gary Gilchrist was with her all week at Bulle Rock and was jubilant at the finish. "I've been teaching now for 15 years, training young kids to win majors," said Gilchrist, director of the International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head, S.C., "and this is my first big one. So it's really exciting for me."

Suzann Pettersen makes history at the Michelob Ultra in Kingsmill, Virginia, as the first Norwegian to win on the LPGA tour. Pettersen has been on the LPGA since 2003 but in 2007 has shown a huge improvement in her game and has the results to prove it. Finishing runner-up at the Kraft Nabisco and the Safeway, Pettersen was poised for a win.

In a 3-hole playoff with Jee Young Lee, Pettersen kept her cool and made a 1-footer on the 3rd playoff hole to claim the victory. Pettersen collects $330,000 and earns a spot in the ADT Championship.

Gary Gilchrist returns from an 18-day trip to Asia to meet with Korean and Chinese golf federations and conduct junior golf clinics in multiple Asian cities.
The Director of Golf for the Hilton Head Island based International Junior Golf Academy had a short stay in South Korea and although duly impressed by the talent and dedication of the Korean players it was the Chinese that stirred him. “The love of the game is growing in China and I am excited about the role I can play in identifying and developing champions from that country,” says Gilchrist. One such junior is already enrolled in the International Junior Golf Academy, Feng Shan Shan or “Jenny” as she is known at the academy. Jenny is recognized as one of China’s most talented juniors and during her short time at the academy she has already demonstrated her ability by winning a number of tournaments and has qualified for the first stage of the US Open.

Sweden’s Peter Hedblom shot a 4-under par final round to win the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. 
This is Hedblom’s first victory since winning the Moroccan Open in 1996 and his 8-under 280 gave him a one stroke lead over Frenchman Jean-Francois.
"It was great to win this championship although I was seven strokes behind after Round 3. I just played my game and not even looked at the scoreboard, until some spectators told me that I was the leader today," Hedblom said.
"It's almost 11 years now ... I've worked so hard to get back and try to win a tournament and now I've won it. It's unbelievable," he said. "When you haven't won for that long, you question whether you can win again."
 Hedblom has worked hard with coach Gary Gilchrist to get his game in shape for this season on the European Tour and his efforts have paid off. 

In-Kyung Kim wins Duramed FUTURES tour qualifier
In-Kyung Kim of Seoul, Korea, won the Futures Tour qualifying tournament on November 10th, birdieing the final two holes for a 4-under 68 and a one-stroke victory. The 18-year-old 2005 U.S. Girls' Junior champion finished with a 7-under 281 total on the Cleveland Heights course. Kim has worked closely with Gary Gilchrist over the past year at the IJGA in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Song-Hee Kim won an exemption to the LPGA Tour
On September 10th, 2006, five players qualified as exempt for the 2007 LPGA season by finishing in the top 5 money list on the Duramed FUTURES Tour. Song-Hee Kim of Seoul, Korea, was top of the list, with five wins and 11 top 10 finishes. "I never dreamed this year would end this way," said Kim, who became the youngest woman touring pro to win a professional tournament in the United States at 17 years of age.

2nd World Conference on Junior Golf
September 29th – October 1st the Danish Golf Union hosted the 2nd World Conference on Junior Golf in Copenhagen, Denmark. The theme of the conference was “Understanding the Golfers of Tomorrow” and the conference attracted over 200 delegates from the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia.

The program featured topics such as attracting juniors to the game of golf; developing champions; course design and identifying and recruiting talent. Speakers included Joe Louis Barrow of First Tee, Gary Gilchrist, Director of Golf at the IJGA and Charlotta Sorenstam, sister of Annika Sorrenstam.

Peter Hedblom records a hole in one during the US Open 2006
Congratulations to Peter Hedblom! Peter recorded had the 40th hole-in-one in U.S. Open history when he aced the 238-yard 3rd hole at Winged Foot during the third round. Just to keep the momentum going, he followed it with an eagle only two holes later.

Sean O’Hair and Gary Gilchrist combine forces
Early this Spring, Sean O’Hair made the decision to bring aboard Gary Gilchrist as his new swing instructor. Sean had previously worked with Gary while at the David Leadbetter Academies when he was a junior. According to O’Hair, “he looks at it from a player's perspective. And he kind of clarifies things for me, and he keeps it simple for me. And he's worked with my swing instead of trying to rebuild a swing.”

Nicole Perrot wins the Longs Drug Challenge
Following a record round of 64 in the Longs Drug Challenge 2005, Nicole Perrot captured the tournament win. She also became the first Chilean born player to win on tour.