Lee swings in some changes

He will still be seen plying his trade at The Brisbane Golf Club’s practise facilities two and a half days a week, but the teaching career of popular PGA Professional Lee Eagleton has taken a significant diversion.

The former Australian PGA Trainee of the Year has started his own golf simulator business – using Trackman technology for his coaching and training – and in doing so has the total support of BGC management.

“Lee has been teaching at our club for almost a decade and has been an exemplary contractor,” said BGC CEO, Geoff Kuehner.

“But while he won’t be with us on a fulltime basis any longer, despite starting his new business he will still be offering his on-course coaching services – exclusively to BGC – and club fitting expertise to our members 2½ days a week.

“And we most certainly encourage our members to support his new business, which he will operate from excellent state-of-the-art indoor facilities he has established from his home. Lee will continue to be an integral part of our coaching team – both from the club, and at his home.”

Lee said he had been planning to undertake some renos at his home, so the decision was made to incorporate his own business in those plans.

“Making this move was designed to future-proof my career, and my business,” he revealed.

“The standalone building is seven metres by nine metres, and the TrackMan simulator screen is 5 ½ metres by 3 ½ metres. And not only is it big, and state-of-the-art but, significantly, it is weather proof.

“I have also established a club assessment area where a player’s current equipment can be tested and adjusted if required, which is something I have a passion for and a skill I can now offer at home, as well as at the club.”

Lee was the first Australian to win the US Southern Amateur and still remains one of only two Australians to win that event in its 107-year history. The other was Michael Sim.

He was also a former winner of the Queensland Men’s Amateur Championship, the Men’s Tasmanian Open and the Riversdale Cup, which is the second-oldest amateur golf tournament in Australia

After playing on the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour in the late 1990s, Lee started his traineeship at BGC under Head Professional Murray Lott in 2004, and two years later was named Queensland PGA Trainee of the Year. The same year he was awarded the prestigious Australian PGA Trainee of the Year Award.

The first two weeks of September Lee will spend in Europe, coaching Queensland Pro Maverick Antcliff as he prepares for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in England, and the Italian Open in Rome.

Lee’s contact details are mobile: 0419 646 909; email: lee@leeeagletongolf.com.au – TONY DURKIN