When did you start playing/learning golf?

I played on and off as a child, but didn’t really get into golf until the age of 17! In golfing terms this is very late, but I did get some lessons from the very start and received my first handicap of 13 after just six months. I was off single figures in the first year, then turned professional three years later.  

Proudest golfing achievement as a player?

I think anytime I beat my younger brother Jack (07O), Jack also turned professional and we have had some great battles in pro-am and ‘friendly’ games!! As he can’t answer… I normally beat him!  

What is your most memorable moment or round of golf as a player?

I remember shooting under par in my first every professional event after doubling the 1st hole. The nerves definitely kicked in on the first tee, but I soon settled into the round.

How did you come about founding the Ben Emerson Golf Academy?

I was luckily enough to start coaching superstar Robbie Williams a few years back and we became close friends, playing lots of golf together and I even helped him build a driving range in his garden, where we would spend hours working on his game. He kindly invited me on ‘tour/holiday’ with him and the family to Dubia and during the trip we met up with one of the best coaches in the world Claude Harmon III at his academy at the Els Club. Claude kindly showed Robbie and I around, gave us a lesson and joined us backstage at a show Robbie was performing that evening. I was in complete awe and inspiration of what Claude had built, and it was Robbie and Ayda who said ‘you could do that!’, so when I got home I did. Robbie helped me with my logo and gave me a nice testimonial - I haven’t really looked back.

What do you enjoy most about coaching?

It a very rewarding job seeing people from all walks of life and abilities get better. It never gets boring as every golfer is different from swing to personality. It becomes a puzzle-solving problem with not only swing, but also taking complicated swing mechanics and getting that message across to the student without baffling them.

With the help of technology I’m now able to help golfers all over the world with lessons online and in person at our studio at Sand Martins Golf Club in Wokingham, plus I have a new online coaching platform and app launching in a few weeks’ time.

What does it mean to you to be nominated as a Top 50 Elite Golf Coach?

It’s a real honour, especially considering there is over 8,000 great PGA professionals out there. It is a privilege to write and shoot coaching articles all over the world for both Today’s Golfer and Golf Monthly, two of the biggest golf magazines in the UK. It’s a bit like winning a Michelin star in the restaurant world, the hard work is only really started! The goal is to keep learning, keep growing and retain it. You don’t want to be the restaurant that lost their Michelin star!

Proudest golfing achievement as a coach?

Being made a Fellow of The PGA last year and UK top 50 coaches was definitely a highlight and honour. But regardless of titles or awards, nothing will be getting messages from students from all over the world, telling me they won an event or played their best ever round.

How does technology help amateur golfers improve their game?

It makes helping golfers so much faster, you can get to the problem quicker and really measure the results. If you’re seeing a coach that isn’t measuring they making an educated guess. With the likes of launch monitors, 3D motion capture analysis and pressure plates, we can get to the route cause of the problem so much quicker.

Which is your favourite golf course to play at?

It’s hard to have one favourite! My top five would be New South Wales (Australia), Kings Barns (Scotland), The Lakes (Australia), The Els Club (Dubia) and Yas Island (Abu Dhabi).

Who is your golf idol and why?

The legend that was Seve [Ballesteros]! I was lucky enough to meet him when he played at Henley Golf Club many years ago. He came into the shop and bought a pair of golf shoes! He left his Hugo Boss shoes in the shop while he went to play golf… it didn’t take long after he teed off for me to try them on! I can literally say ‘I’ve walked in Seve’s shoes!’… if anyone was watching the CCTV it was more like dancing in them!

What advice would you give to someone struggling with their game?

Never suffer alone, there are so many great coaches out there that can help. It’s too easy to sometime head to the YouTube Uni… and although there is some great advice on there, it will never beat a one-on-one lesson.

What was your time at Shiplake College like?

I loved my time at Shiplake, the sporty nature of the College has stayed with me all my life. That competitive nature and drive to keep growing is something I can thank Shiplake for.

Away from the golf course, how do you spend your time?

I’ve got two children, Violet who is five and Rubert who is just about to turn three - they keep me pretty busy on days off! My wife Juliet rowed for GB, so it’s a race to see which sport they get into! Hitting a white ball around a field or sitting on your bum going backwards!

For more information about Ben's Coaching Academy, go to https://benemersongolfperformance.com.