Star golf coach fears Yorkshire academy will close if rubbish tip reopened

Peter Cowen fears he will have to close his golf academy in Rotherham. Picture: Scott Merrylees

One of the world's best golf coaches has warned he may have to shut his Yorkshire academy if plans to reopen a rubbish tip next to his facility go ahead.

Pete Cowen, who has coached the likes of Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett, says the future of his site in Rotherham is under question as a result of the proposals.

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Dozens of youngsters also make use of Mr Cowen’s academy.

He said: “If it goes ahead, it will virtually finish the driving range. The prevailing winds blow in from the tip and it is next door to my range.

“I think we would probably have to shut it down. If it is not viable, then obviously the whole thing shuts down.

“It is going to cost me a fortune. I have invested £1.7m in that range and if this goes ahead, it will be worth zero.

“This site supports golfers from grassroots to the very best.”

He said that he is unhappy the Environment Agency has not visited his site to assess what the potential impact will be on his business and players.

Mr Cowen is known as one of the world’s best golf coaches and spends much of his time travelling the globe coaching some of the sport’s biggest stars.

He has supported players to more than 200 main PGA Tour victories and three Majors and worked with the likes of Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Colin Montgomerie over the years.