Elaine McBride at work as a golf teacher/coach at the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort

Free swing analysis offer for Festival amateurs

ELAINE McBRIDE, the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Teaching Professional, is looking forward to meeting all Festival entrants. If she can help to make you a better golfer, she will.
Five-star

practice

facilities

at HDA

By ELAINE McBRIDE
(pictured right)
First, let me tell you what the Hacienda Golf Resort Academy has to offer in the way of five-star practice facilities.
First, there is a 38-bay two-tier driving range. This is supported by two practice putting greens, a large chipping and bunker practice area.
In addition, we have a state of the art swing analysis software system and the Vector Launch Monitor, both of which are available for using within any lesson programme.
At Hacienda del Alamo our aim is to create an environment that will help and encourage people from all walks of life to enjoy golf. By providing structured golf lesson programmes that suit the needs of everyone, we will give you the confidence, knowledge and technique required to enjoy your game.
We are able to offer a number of tailored lesson packages to suit your needs, using the latest training methods to maximise the learning experience.
All programmes will be designed to help you develop your talents to their fullest in such a way that you completely understand. Every avenue will be explored to help you achieve your goal.
We hope that you will find the enthusiasm of our teaching staff infectious because their aim is for you to enjoy the great game.
Freddy Borras, another qualified PGA professional, and I will be there to help you improve your golf game. In order to show our full support to the Ladies Winter Festival, both of our golf professionals will be available to provide free swing analysis using the C-swing software for all amateurs participants on Wednesday, February 11 and Monday, February 16.
Both professionals will be available throughout the day to discuss or help fix any issues that you have with your golf swing.
Colin Farquharson investigates Elaine McBride's "other life" and makes an interesting discovery;

Ssshhhh! Keep it a secret but Elaine McBride
worked for Army Intelligence ....

Stranraer-born Elaine McBride is a golf teaching pro with a difference. A big difference, writes Colin Farquharson .
There is a part of her life she cannot tell you about. By Order of Her Majesty’s Government.
It would be gilding the lily just a little bit to say that Elaine was a professional spy … but she did serve with the Intelligence Corps in the Regular Army for five years.
She does admit that she served in Northern Ireland during the “troubles” and Bosnia when there was a lot of conflict going on. Germany was her only “overseas” posting where the natives were not restless.
“In fact, despite all that, I did manage to get lots of time off during my Army career and also got the support of my superior officers to pursue my golf further,” says Elaine who is a staff coach at the five-star Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort in Murcia, south-east Spain.
“I used to played golf with a chopped down five-iron with my father when I was younger but I did not really get into competitive golf until I joined the Army.
“I represented the Army in many competitions and also played Tri-Service golf.”
Her background since leaving the Army had been within a Human Resources and training environment, both within the public and private sectors.
“During this time, I decided to do something I really wanted to do and change my career completely by going into golf professionally,” says Elaine who is now 33.
“I began a five-year training course with the PGA and I have loved every minute of it. I just love coaching players of all levels. It has to be one of the most rewarding jobs in the world.”
The only downside for Elaine, who lives in a little village called El Jimenadoo outwith the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort, is that she don’t get to play as much golf as she once did, even though she could hardly be closer to some of the best practice facilities in Spain.
“I have a recurring back injury – an old ‘war injury,’ well I did get it during my Army service – and it’s never going to get better, I’m afraid. I just have to live with it.”
For Elaine McBride, communication is the key to coaching, whether the pupil is a complete novice or a player with a single-figure handicap.
“I try to establish a rapporte with whoever I am giving a lesson rather than adopt a teacher-pupil relationship,” says Elaine.
“I believe that there is no one single method that fits everybody. Golf is an individual game and as a coach you have to be aware of that.”
In the pro golf world, Elaine admires Annika Sorenstam most for what she has done in taking the standing of the women’s game to a new level.
And, as far as the male pros are concerned, Elaine says she thinks that Adam Scott has the purest swing of all the world-class players.
Elaine is grateful to the Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort management – fellow Scot Billy Sim from Macduff is the director of golf – for giving her first job after she gained PGA qualifications
“I’m in my third year now and I’m thoroughly enjoying it. It took me a while to get to where I wanted to be in life but that doesn’t mean I am going to sit back and be content with my lot. I am looking forward to any future challenges, as I am sure there will be.”
You could speculate that Elaine is the spy who has come in from the cold. But her lips are sealed and you have no way of making her talk ...