Paul Cook
Paul Cook has been the Head Golf Instructor for the foundation
for the past 3 years.
Paul has a distinguished teaching CV including coaching the the
2004 and 2005 British Mid Amateur (over 25) champion, the
2001,03,04,05,06,07 and 2013 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and
Oxfordshire County Champions as well as the County Colts (under 21)
champion in 2007.
He is also a coach to many county players, club champions and
both the winning team of the 2013 London Amateur Foursomes.
Paul was a Head Coach for all B,B and O County Squads from
2001-2008 overseeing one of the most successful periods in the
combined counties history!
Paul has taught all over the world in countries such as the
U.S.A, Mauritius, Spain and Portugal and in the past 5 years has
appeared on Sky TV as well as writing instructional articles for
national publications such as Golf Pages, National Club golfer and
several golf magazines and papers in the South East.
His role as foundation Head Instructor entails Paul working
closely with Chris Clayton on the structure of the foundation,
sitting on the foundation panel which selects the suitable and
deserving applicants as well as doing what he does best, working on
a one to one basis with many of the selected scholars!
Paul knew Adam personally for several years and is delighted and
honoured to have been chosen as one of the figureheads for this
marvellous charity.
Paul said "I know just how much passion Chris has to continue
the Legacy of Adam and if we can find just one or two kids with the
work ethic and passion for the game that Adam had then I will do
everything I can to help them fulfil their goals and targets! I
like nothing better than working with young golfers who have a huge
desire to improve not just their golf, but also themselves as
people and the foundation is committed to helping those with these
attributes who maybe for many reasons cannot afford all the costs
associated with the game."
Melan Dhaubhadel
At the young age of 17, Melan has already been playing golf for
10 years and has a current handicap of plus 1. He has ambitious
plans for the year ahead, including reducing his world ranking to
under 1000 and getting into the top 100 in Europe. He already has a
very busy season lined up, with the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters
and the England under 18 Open (Carris Trophy) coming up in the next
few months and plenty more in the diary for later in the year. The
Foundation is delighted to be supporting Melan with his coaching
sessions and we are excited to watch him achieve his goals as the
year progresses.
Melan says: "I'm very grateful to be involved with the
Foundation. I think it is great that there is support out there for
young aspiring players who are not in the fortunate position of
having the means to fund themselves. It's brilliant that Chris is
giving something back to the game in memory of Adam".
Fraser Bown
18-year-old Fraser Bown first picked up a golf club six years
ago and has been hooked ever since. The Adam Clayton Foundation has
been supporting Fraser for the past two years by funding lessons
both at home and an intensive week of coaching in Portugal with
Head Instructor, Paul Cook. This support - along with his natural
talent and dedication - has seen Fraser reduce his handicap from 28
to plus 1, qualifying him to enter men's national competitions for
the first time this year. Fraser already has several dates in the
diary for 2018, including the St. Andrews Links Championship, the
Lagonda Trophy and the County Finals where he will represent
Berkshire.
Recently finishing 9th overall in the Junior European Open in
Spain, Fraser definitely has a bright future ahead of him. He says:
"I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the enthusiasm and
support of Chris Clayton and Paul Cook from the Foundation. They
are always there for me, offering advice and tips. I really feel
that they care about my development as a player. In fact, Chris is
usually the first person I speak to after a competition - even
before my parents!". We wish him well for an exciting year
ahead.
Max Dykes
In 2013 Max's club coach put him forward to attend the
Foundation's trial day and his potential and dedication to the
sport were spotted immediately. Initially, the Foundation funded
lessons at Max's local club and two trips to Portugal for intensive
coaching. Most recently, Max has been working with the Foundation's
Head Golf Instructor, Paul Cook. Max says: "I have been working
with Paul to deconstruct my swing and take it right back to basics.
My aim is to get my handicap down to single figures over the next
year or two and I feel confident I can do this with Paul's
guidance. I'm looking forward to playing as much competitive golf
as I can over the coming year by attending events and making new
contacts. The Foundation has made this all come together for me and
I'm so grateful for their support. I know it's a rare opportunity
and I want to make the most of it - I'm learning so much". We wish
Max luck and look forward to watching him develop as a player in
the coming year.
Alfie Foriski
With a current handicap of 4, eighteen-year-old Alfie has
ambitions to get down to scratch by the end of this year. Alfie was
introduced to the Foundation in 2016 and has benefited from regular
coaching sessions with Paul Cook and from a trip to Portugal in
October 2017 for a week of intensive practice. He says: "I'm so
happy to have the support of the Foundation. I know I'm very lucky
and I wouldn't be in the position I'm in today without it. The help
I've received has really brought out the best in me as a golfer and
given me the opportunity to play in a wide variety of
competitions". Having recently won his first Maidenhead scratch
team game of the season, Alfie's next aim is to win a Men's Open at
another course and to soak up as much experience as he can along
the way.
In between spending as much time as possible on the course and
his golf lessons, Alfie finds time to work at his local club to
help fund his blossoming career. With such a strong work ethic, we
know he'll go far and we wish him a successful year ahead.
Chip Butler
Chip Butler started working with the Adam Clayton Foundation in
October 2013 after attending a trial day at East Berkshire golf
club. He says: "A few weeks after the trial I got the good news
that I was being supported, which I was very surprised about as my
swing was horrific! I'm so glad the Foundation saw potential in
me". Chip feels that the intensive coaching both in Portugal and at
home has enabled him to take his golf to the next level: "I can
safely say that I wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for the
Foundation. The lessons have helped massively, plus I've also had
the huge privilege of going to Pine Cliffs in Portugal for an
intense week of golf".
"I first picked up a club in early 2012, really just to spend a
bit of time with my friends, but in my first summer I managed to
get my handicap down from 27 to 20 and along the way I managed to
win the Darvell Open at Newbury and Crookham and 4 competitions at
my home club!". Since then, Chip has gone from strength to strength
and we are excited to see what the coming year will bring for
him.
Taylor Paul
Taylor first started playing golf at the age of 5 and his
parents were told that he was a natural. He joined Harleyford Golf
Club in Marlow at the age of 7 and spent as much time as he could
there. His talent has been recognised early and, at the young age
of just 15, Taylor is part of the Under 18s County Elite Squad and
the Under 16s England Regional Squad.
Taylor's mum, Sheryl, tells us: "As he progressed, it was
difficult for us to keep up with the expense of new equipment to
help him develop further. Taylor had become much stronger and
needed to move up to adult clubs. We were fortunate enough to be
told about the work of the Foundation and it has made a huge
difference to us. We are so grateful that the Foundation recognised
both Taylor's talent and also the fact that not all families are
financially able to fund a child through an expensive sport. The
Foundation helped towards the cost of new irons which took the
financial pressure off of us, and gave Taylor the chance to develop
and he is forever truly grateful for that".
Taylor puts his recent success down to the support he has
received from the Foundation and of course a great deal of hard
work and practice. Currently studying for his GCSEs, Taylor has
still found time for great sporting success, the highlight of last
year being his win at the 2017 Junior Open at Harleyford with a
result of 7 under par - equalling the record of his hero Tyrell
Hatton. He also entered a county men's event finishing an extremely
impressive 3rd. With a current handicap of plus 2, we predict great
things for Taylor in the year to come.
Alex Buckner
Age 19
Handicap: Pro
I got my first handicap of 36 at the age of 13 at Datchet golf
club almost weeks after taking up the game. Since then I have been
over looked by Paul Cook at my time at Datchet from getting down to
12 handicap in my first year of playing. I then moved house and
club to which I then spent the rest of my career at Bearwood Lakes
getting down to 1.6 at the age of 17 and then turning pro when I
turned 18.
My career achievements:
- BB&O under 16's team member
- BB&O elite squad member for 2 years
- Berkshire Schools captain and winner of Berkshire schools for 2
years
- Captain of Bearwood Lakes and winner of Club Champs (-1) 71
gross and won by 10 shots
- South England Schools top 5 member and came 5th in South England
schools event- BB&O Elite top 6 and playing south and east top
6 boys and foursomes for 2 years.
- Played in the international schools finals
- Top 3 in mens East Berks Stag after leading through 18 holes at
age 17
- Runner up in UK crown golf under 18's at age 16
- Trick shot show with Trick Shot world champion
- Best score -5 and in comp
- 3 round Bearwood Lakes
- 2 Hole in ones and an Albatross while playing Berkshire
Schools
I have worked at Bearwood Lakes for 2 years where I have held
golf Days for Celebrities such as Samuel l. Jackson, Peter Jones
etc. and held golf days for Luke Donald, Chris Wood, Shane Lowey
and Graham Mcdowell. I am now currently a PGA professional becoming
a coach at Lavender Park Golf Centre whilst playing for money In
the South region of the PGA.
What the foundation has done for me
Chris was kind enough to take me to Portugal over the winter
season to help me prepare for a big season to which I shot my best
ever scores over the summer. The foundation help fund for lessons
as it was key to my success as a junior and as a long term
improvement to my game, it has benefited me massively especially
coming from a single parent on no money coming from the bank of mum
and dad. The foundation is the reason I have the swing I have
today.
Mitchell Green
Age: 17
Handicap: 3
I first started playing golf at the age of 13 through junior role
up sessions at Drayton Park. After a few months of playing on the
par 3 course and the driving range, I went onto the course for the
first time and completed 3 rounds with scores of 120, 115 and 118
to receive a handicap of 36 (albeit I was nearer a 50 handicap!) By
the end of my first full season I had reduced my handicap to
16.
The following season I reduced my handicap down to 9 and met Chris
Clayton for the first time. I was invited to the selection day at
East Berkshire Golf Club where I scored 72 (my lowest ever round at
that point of my life). During the selection day I received a few
tips from the foundation's coach- Paul Cook. These tips were very
small changes that helped me a great deal as over that winter I
reduced my handicap further down to 7.
The foundation supported me for the following couple of years with
golf lessons with my coach that allowed me to not only grow as a
golfer but also as a person. After realising just how far I felt my
game could go, I applied for a place at the Lee Westwood Golf
School. My application was successful and I have now completed my
first year at the school.
This year my handicap has reduced from 5 to 3 and I have had some
very good performances in competitions. I would like to thank the
Adam Clayton Golf Foundation for giving me the opportunity to work
towards my potential and for all the help I have received over the
last couple of years. I will always be grateful for this.
My career achievements:
- BB&O under 14's, 15's, 16's, 17's and Elite squad
member
- Frilford Heath Junior Club Champion 2016
- Lowest competition score of 69 (-2) - Leader of BB&O
Junior Championship after round 1 and overall 6th gross and 2nd
handicap 2016
- Goring and Streatley junior open tied 1st 2016
- Lee Westwood Golf tour multiple winner 2016
- BB&O Under 15 Order of Merit winner 2014
- Lee Westwood Golf School Order of Merit winner 2016
- Frilford Heath junior match play winner 2015
- Frilford Heath 1st team debut 2016
- PGA Level 1 Qualified coach
