by Director of Golf, Advanced PGA Professional, Ian Vibert

Golf at Millfield Prep School has reached new levels over the last few years. Lead by myself, the Director of Golf, an Advanced PGA Professional, the pupils range from new players to internationals representing their countries at their respective age groups. The Golf programme has been ranked first by the Independent Schools Golf Association for the past two years. It is designed to enable players to develop their skills and aspire to reach their goals in a challenging and fun environment.

The lessons

With so many facilities and timetable options available, there is no better place to help young golfers reach their short- and long-term sporting goals. Golf lessons take place throughout the school day, as well as before and after school and include a weekly trip to a local golf course. Pupils can also attend physical development sessions, helping to hone their sporting abilities.

The facilities

The incredible onsite facilities at Millfield Prep School include an indoor swing studio, Huxley indoor putting area, nine-hole golf course, outdoor putting green and short game area. The pupils also regularly make use of the recently-opened Millfield Golf Centre, which features an 81 square metre Huxley putting green and GC Quad Ball Monitor.

The all-round experience

Golfers at Millfield Prep experience a busy programme of sport, a vast range of co-curricular activities and rigorous academic study. There are also additional opportunities to train throughout the week for those that want it. Sports coaches work closely alongside the pastoral team, group tutors and houseparents to ensure that pupils’ timetables are well-balanced, with busy pupils receiving personalised timetables to help them thrive in all areas of their education.

Mrs Lockley, a parent of two golfers, says, “Both of my daughters attended Millfield Prep School, one is now at Millfield playing off a plus handicap and the other is still at Millfield Prep and loving every minute of school life and her golf training. Golf at Millfield Prep is fun, varied and a continuous learning experience - they get to play most days either at the school facilities or at local courses. Ian, the Pro, helps greatly and his patience and experience is legendary. But importantly they both play many other sports as well as drama, arts, poetry and get to try as many things new things as possible.”

The competitions

Pupils can compete in local, national and international events and we also hold our own yearly Millfield Open. The programme has grown, and recent Millfield Prep golfers’ performances have resulted in Millfield Prep being ranked number 1 by the Independent Schools Golf Association for the last two years.

The pathway 

The player pathway through to Millfield is seamless due to the close working relationship with Millfield Director of Golf Karen Nicholls. “It’s so important to make sure all pupils are comfortable in the transition from Millfield Prep to Millfield and we do this by introducing ourselves early on to the golfing community at the prep school” says Karen. “Working closely as a team, pupils are able to get to know us all, understand that we are coaching with the same ethos and that makes the transition easy and straight forward”.

Golfers from Millfield Prep have continued their progress whilst at Millfield and have been offered scholarships to American Universities. Former pupil Charlie Goss, who is currently studying in Los Angeles, reflects on his time at Millfield Prep. “My time in the Millfield Prep Golf Academy was very different from anything I was accustomed to”, he says. "I left my local state school to hopefully become better at sport and Ian Vibert grabbed me from the start and wanted golf to be my main passion at Millfield Prep. Ian is the best suited man for the job as Millfield Prep golf coach - he is kind, knowledgeable, relatable and even managed to laugh after getting beaten by me in Year 8! But to him, seeing us do better is what he has always set out to achieve, therefore I couldn’t recommend Millfield Prep School more to a budding golfer.”

If you want to find out any more about the Golf programme, please contact Director of Golf Ian Vibert on vibert.i@millfieldprep.com

Learn more about Golf in this video, in our Sports A-Z or by attending our next Open Event.