Kelley Brooke to Help Inaugurate Golf Channel Academy

Kelley Brooke

Kelley Brooke, owner of The Golf Academy of Randall’s Island in New York City, has been named as one of the inaugural instructors of the newly formed Golf Channel Academy. Brooke is among the first thirty of the game’s most influential and recognizable teachers coming together to establish a dedicated network of instruction facilities with the active support of Golf Channel.

“I’m very excited to be among the first teachers associated with the new, dynamic Golf Channel Academy,” said Brooke, ranked a Top 50 Golf Instructor in the nation by Golf Range Magazine. “This is a chance for golf instructors to work together, learning from one another and adopting best practices in both teaching and the business of teaching. I think it’s going to propel the coaches and coaching forward in a big way.”

Golf Channel Academy is the first network of its kind devoted to efficiently growing the business of golf instruction. With thirty charter locations already committed, Golf Channel Academy will be inviting additional coaches to become part of the network as it officially launches in April 2015.

These coaches will receive a wide-spectrum of business consulting services and products addressing marketing, sales, technology and back-office solutions needs, as well as shared best practices across the network. Coaches also will have the opportunity to appear on instructional programming across Golf Channel’s television and digital platforms. Students at Golf Channel Academy locations will be able to track their progress using advanced software to measure specific goals under the direction of their personal coach.

“Golf Channel Academy will align the top coaches from across the country to run their business within a robust, collaborative operation,” said Todd Wilson, CEO of Golf Channel Academy. “Our members will have a unique opportunity to tap into best practices and proprietary data that will assist each member instructor and academy operation to grow their business while operating under one unified brand.”

During the past 23 years, Brooke has done much to change the face of youth and women’s golf in the New York City metropolitan area, forming the not-for-profit NYC Junior Golf Club, Inc., and Police Athletic League Golf Program, while conducting hundreds of Women’s Golf Clinics and Golf Schools.

She also developed a “Fit for Life” program for children with disabilities, providing thousands of children with disabilities throughout the five boroughs an opportunity to play the game.  In 2010, the NYC Mayor’s Office and Commission on Women’s Issues selected Brooke as a woman who has a made a difference during “Women in History Month.”

Golf Channel Academy in Manhattan will feature Brooke and her staff of five instructors: Leslie Andrews, the former Executive Director of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals; John Connelly, a TPI Certified instructor who specializes in identifying physical capabilities and limitations as relayed to the golf swing; Robert Craigmyle, who has 20 years of experience, as both a tournament player and instructor; James Field, an expert in equipment and clubfitting, as well as a member of the European Golf Teachers Federation; and Todd Bordonaro, a PGA certified instructor and sports nutritionist.

Brooke is a protégé of Butch Harmon as well as Craig Bunker at the John Jacobs’ Golf Schools. She has spent the last 37 years in the golf industry as a player, teaching professional and golf facility owner. Brooke has hosted several golf television shows on cable, most recently “Golfing NYC Style” and “The 19th Hole.” She’s also made guest appearances as a golf expert on The Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible” and written for many golf periodicals, including Golf Digest and Junior Golf Magazine.

An accomplished player before joining the teaching ranks, Brooke won an individual state championship in high school (Iowa) and earned All-Big 10 honors at the University of Iowa. Kelley also represented the United States as a member of the University World Cup Team. As a high school student she qualified twice for the LPGA Rail Charity Classic. She also competed professionally on the former Futures Tour and Players West Tour.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf