Press Release

30 August, 2010

Australian Golf Academy Swings to Campus Alpha

The Australasian Golf Academy, which placed Korean sisters Hee-Young Park and Ju-Young Park on the path to achievement, has set up shop in Campus Alpha. 

The academy is housed in a 94 square metre space in the three-level CBDRobina office building after relocating from premises at Lyra Court, near the Robina Woods golf course.

It is the second private education facility to take premises in Campus Alpha, joining Mackintosh College which teaches hospitality industry skills, including chef training, as well as hairdressing and business management. 

The academy's premises, held under a three-year lease with options, house a classroom and administration facilities, as well as offices for the principal, Dean Smoothy, and coaches Tony Wells and Greg Aston.

The Australian Golf Academy, established in 1994, is a registered training organisation that delivers national qualifications under the sports training package and courses range from Certificate 2 to Diploma level.

It arranges home-stays for its students and is owned and operated by Korean businessman Young-Bin Han.

Mr Han, who has a degree in physical education from Hanyang University and a raft of sports qualifications, studied at the academy, graduating with a Diploma of Sport (Development) in 2005.

He went on to teach at the institution before becoming its owner-director in 2009.

Courses range from a few weeks to a year and the academy also offers one-on-one hourly lessons and junior clinics.

Students are drawn from a host of countries, including Switzerland, South Africa, UK, US, Korea, Japan Taiwan, Malaysia and India, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

The principal, Mr Dean Smoothy, said the academy each year coached an average of 80 people who could target specific golf elements to improve their games.

"Courses are flexible and people unable to attend for long periods, are able to leave and return, undertaking tuition in a way that works for them,'' said Mr Smoothy.

"The Australian Golf Academy is about the sport itself; we are very golf-focussed.

"Five years ago, Korean golfer Hee-Young Park attended the academy.

She has gone on to win in tournaments in Korea, China and Thailand where she came second in the 2009-10 Honda Classic USLPGA tour tournament.

``Her sister, Ju-Young Park, who has played in the Gold Coast Ladies Masters Tournament, also attended the academy and went on to win the Oriental China Open."

Mr Smoothy said the academy had chosen Campus Alpha due to its central Robina location, airy ambience and corporate feel, and its proximity to train and bus services, major roads, and the Robina Woods and Colonial golf courses, where students undertake practical training.

"It has the right ambience and location and provides us with the corporate ethos we see as best serving our expansion plans," he said.

"These include linking in with Gold Coast education institutions and providing after-college lessons, so that students can also learn golf."

Hylton Slater, General Manager of Robina Projects Australia, developer of the $25 million Campus Alpha said that, with its central-city location and ease of access, it provided a perfect location for educational establishments.

"Campus Alpha has a four-star Green Star rating, the benchmark for superior environment-friendly design, and offers appealing work spaces in a range of sizes," he said.

"It offers ample parking, and ease of access from all Gold Coast suburbs via the Pacific Highway, Bermuda Street, as well as through bus and rail links.

"The Australasian Golf Academy was quick to recognise the attributes of the building, which provides an ambience that, among other needs, serves those of private educators.

"The presence of two educational institutions highlights the building's s appeal to educators and carries with it the possibility of the two establishments identifying fresh, shared opportunities."

Campus Alpha provides 4500 squares metres of floorspace and sits on a 3500 square metre site on Investigator Drive.

It has lift access to all floors, a single-level basement car park and additional on-grade parking.

As well as the educational establishments, it is home to Queensland Health, and the Department of Disabilities.

Campus Alpha is being marketed by Marcus Weld, of Robina Marketing Australia, and spaces for lease in range from 72 square metres to 672 square metres.