Slingsby Gin launches celebrity Golf Academy

Slingsby has announced the launch of a celebrity Golf Academy to coincide with the restarting of outdoor sport in England.

The Yorkshire gin brand is a sponsor of the BMW PGA Championship, one of the most high-profile golf tournaments on the European Tour.

Slingsby's Golf Academy class of 2021 includes singer-songwriter Fleur East, TV presenter Helen Skelton, Sky Sports Formula 1 presenter Natalie Pinkham and broadcaster Bela Shah.

Through the academy, with support from Callaway Europe, the new cadets will work with a PGA Professional partner to learn how to play golf before competing against each other in a qualifier for the BMW PGA Champtionship Celebrity Pro-Am, taking place in September.

Slingby says it wants to use the Golf Academy to champion female participation in the Celebrity Pro-Am, as well as promoting the sport to those of all genders and the 'non-traditional' golf audience.

Marcus Black, co-founder of Slingsby Gin, said: “We’re so pleased to have these four inspirational and influential women as part of our inaugural Academy. The enthusiasm and competitiveness Fleur, Helen, Natalie and Bela have shown already, despite the courses being closed has been incredible.

"With their involvement in this campaign, we can let women know that golf is a sport that can be built into busy life schedules allowing you to be active and enjoy socialising with friends at the same time."

England Golf CEO Jeremy Tomlinson said: "England Golf is delighted to be supporting Slingsby’s celebrity Golf Academy and I am very much looking forward to seeing Fleur, Helen, Natalie and Bela take to the course.

"We at England Golf are committed to supporting and encouraging female participation in golf and sharing this vision in practice with Slingsby forms a hugely positive part of this. We have a dedicated team who work tirelessly in their quest to increase the numbers of women playing the sport we love."

30 March 2021 - Bethany Whymark