After obtaining his matriculation certificate from Ocean View High School as one of their top students, it is fitting Andrew is now teaching there after qualifying as a teacher. He is also part of the Academy team that gives academic coaching to our students after school hours.

Outside of the classroom, he is a busy father of two, an avid reader of non-fiction and a very keen cyclist. We hope one day he can share his love of cycling and lead an Academy team to accompany him on one of his many Cape Argus PnP Cycle Tour events.

Our student supervisor and day-to-day co-ordinator for the Academy, Carel is the first point of contact each day for our students when he collects them from school. He grew up in Zambia and enjoyed a long career in the mining industry. A love of golf and a passion for working with teenagers led to his role in the Academy team. When the Academy or his family allows, Carel enjoys working in his garden.

Darren oversees and manages our students' physical fitness and golfing physical development timetable. He joined the Academy team after studying and working in the UK, including a period with the British military. Using the international renowned Speed, Agility and Quickness (SAQ) programme, Darren has developed a functional exercise programme that is tailored specifically for our student golfers.

When not at the Academy, Darren runs the South African operations of SAQ International and splits his time between coaching elite athletes and rolling out the SAQ programme to numerous schools in South Africa, thus touching the lives of thousands of students.

To relax, Darren is a keen participant in many sports and particularly enjoys competing at a high level in adventure racing and trail running, including 24-hour multi-sport events such as the Eden Duo.

Born in Germany, but qualifying as a teacher in South Africa, Gabi's professional career has seen her in classrooms in both Cape Town and Johannesburg, as well as overseas in Botswana. Gabi now acts as the academic co-coordinator reviewing academic results and determining the academic coaching needs of our students.

However, Gabi's career has not always been focussed on the formal school environment. She also qualified in dress design and has taught pattern making for many years to lots of grateful students.

After obtaining her Bachelor of Science and Higher Education Diploma at the University of Stellenbosch, Hannelie taught at a variety of schools across the Western Cape. Currently she is employed at Fish Hoek High School as a hardworking teacher. She joined the Academy team to give academic coaching to students at the end of her working day.

When not teaching, Hannelie enjoys tennis and aerobics, and is now considered to be a notable coffee connoisseur after frequenting numerous coffee bars in the area.

Pete heads up the Academy. Born and bred in Johannesburg, he headed south to the Western Cape after his studies to undertake his National Service.

Subsequently, the early years of his career spanned taxation, accounting and global oil trading, but soon he realised his great love was golf. Qualifying as golf professional with the PGA, he worked at Clovelly Country Club.

It was during Pete's time at Clovelly that his interest in golf development really took off. He joined the team looking at development activities and decided to devote his career to reviewing, renewing and transforming the youth golf development programme. Pete championed the idea of a holistic approach to youth development, which led to the broad programme, encompassing education, life skills and golf that the Academy can offer today.

When not at the Academy, Pete is a busy father with his son, and together they enjoy many outdoor activities, especially precious time spent in the bush.

Val Emery joined the Academy team with over 40 years of teaching experience.  Her professional career has spanned South Africa, England and Zimbabwe. Her qualifications include a Bachelor of Science, and Diplomas in Education and also Theology. However it is her current role as a pastor and her previous experience as a schools inspector that has meant Val has brought a unique perspective to the Academy.

We recently welcomed Val back in to the Team after a much deserved sabbatical.  This saw her enjoy an awesome around-the-world trip and fulfil a life-long ambition.