Golf Academy

Fintan Bonner is Director of Golf at St Leonards, and is a Senior Instructor at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy. He is a PGA Level 3 certified practitioner, a UKCC Level 3 qualified professional, a Class AA PGA Professional, and is K-Vest 3D and BodiTrak certified.

As a Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, Fintan delivers world-class instruction through a combination of strategic analysis, cutting-edge technology and effective communication.

His coaching career has seen him accompany players to tournaments all over the world, including European Tour events, Challenge Tour events, the US Kids World Championships and the Jack Bunny Tour Finals in Japan.

As well as being a highly-regarded instructor, Fintan is a Custom Fit specialist. He has led the leading Golf Academy at St Leonards since 2014.

St Andrews is known worldwide as the Home of Golf, the sport having first been played on the links in the town in the early 15th century. Since then, St Andrews has hosted many famous championships, from the Open (including the 150th in 2022) to the Dunhill, the Walker Cup and the Amateur Championship.

Old Tom Morris was born and raised in the town, becoming known as The Grand Old Man of Golf. St Leonards School was once home to its own golf course designed by Old Tom Morris himself.  We award a special Tom Morris Scholarship to one of our pupils each year in his memory.

Today, tourists and golfers travel to St Andrews to play the outstanding courses, see the iconic Swilcan Bridge, and watch some of the top talent the sport has to offer, playing here in the place it first took root.

We are proud to share that the St Leonards Performance Elite Golf team returned from the United States as World Schools Champions, following their victory at the 2025 Independent International Invitational at Crumpin-Fox Club, Massachusetts.

The tournament welcomed top international schools for a competitive week of golf, with St Leonards finishing nine strokes ahead in the final round. Martin S placed second overall with the lowest round of the event, while Finlay H and Johann M achieved impressive fifth and seventh place finishes.

The trip also included visits to leading US universities such as Princeton, Yale, Williams College and Boston University, giving pupils valuable insight into academic and athletic life abroad.

On their return, the team were met with a full school welcome, as pupils and staff gathered to celebrate their outstanding achievement.

Congratulations to Martin in Year 12, recipient of the 2024 Tom Morris Scholarship. Martin was also selected for the Swiss National Boys Team 2025, joining eight top U18 players competing in next year’s European Championships.

The Tom Morris Scholarship recognises outstanding talent, achievement and dedication to golf. Named after four-time Open Champion Tom Morris, the award places pupils among St Leonards’ top eight-tier golf programme, delivered in partnership with St Andrews Links Trust.

The scholarship was presented by Tom Morris’ great-great-granddaughter, Sheila Walker, alongside Director of Golf Fintan Bonner,  and Head of School Mr Brian.