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The 13th Beach Golf Academy
The 13th Beach Golf Academy is located at 13th Beach Golf Links, right next to the Clubhouse, and provides one of the most comprehensive golf coaching experiences on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Led by Certified PGA Professional Scott Smith, the Academy caters to golfers of all ages and abilities, offering a mix of private lessons, group clinics, and junior development programs. Whether you are a beginner looking to learn the basics, a seasoned golfer aiming to refine your swing, or a junior starting out, the Academy has a tailored program to suit your needs.
Featured Clinics
Learning Events
Our learning events bring golfers together to build confidence and experience the game in new ways. Each event is designed to offer practical insights in a supportive environment for players at every level. A great way to deepen your understanding of the game while becoming part of the 13th Beach community.
Club Fitting
The right equipment can transform the way you play. Our club fitting sessions pair the latest technology with the expertise of our Academy coaches to ensure every club in your bag is working for you.
Groups Classes
Group classes offer an enjoyable, social way to develop your skills with the guidance of our Academy professionals. Whether you’re new to the game or refining specific areas, these sessions provide structured learning in a relaxed environment.
Private Lessons
Private lessons at 13th Beach Academy provide one-on-one coaching tailored to your game. Our coaches take the time to understand your goals and on-course challenges. Whether you’re starting fresh or honing your skills, these sessions offer a direct path to measurable improvement.
Learning Events
Learning Events
Our learning events bring golfers together to build confidence and experience the game in new ways. Each event is designed to offer practical insights in a supportive environment for players at every level. A great way to deepen your understanding of the game while becoming part of the 13th Beach community.
Club Fitting
Club Fitting
The right equipment can transform the way you play. Our club fitting sessions pair the latest technology with the expertise of our Academy coaches to ensure every club in your bag is working for you.
Groups Classes
Groups Classes
Group classes offer an enjoyable, social way to develop your skills with the guidance of our Academy professionals. Whether you’re new to the game or refining specific areas, these sessions provide structured learning in a relaxed environment.
Private Lessons
Private Lessons
Private lessons at 13th Beach Academy provide one-on-one coaching tailored to your game. Our coaches take the time to understand your goals and on-course challenges. Whether you’re starting fresh or honing your skills, these sessions offer a direct path to measurable improvement.
Coaching Programs for All Ages
Junior Programs
Junior Programs
Fun, structured sessions designed to introduce kids to golf in a social and engaging environment. Programs focus on building confidence, coordination, and skills, creating a pathway into junior and youth competitions.
Women’s Golf 
Women’s Golf
Beginner-friendly clinics designed to encourage more women into the game in a welcoming, supportive atmosphere.
Adult Coaching
Adult Coaching
From complete beginners to low-handicap golfers, our adult lessons focus on technique, course management, and building consistency. Both individual and small group options are available.
Individual Lessons
Individual Lessons
One-on-one coaching with a PGA Professional, tailored specifically to your skill level, and goals.
Personalised Golf Club Fitting
Professional club fitting sessions are available, with equipment from leading brands including Callaway, Titleist, Cleveland, Scotty Cameron, Vokey, and Odyssey Putters. This ensures instruction and equipment are perfectly aligned to give you the best results.
Perfect your swing at the 13th Beach Golf Links driving range, located on the stunning Bellarine Peninsula. Whether you’re warming up before a round or spending focused time on practice, our range offers the ideal setting for golfers of all levels. With spacious bays, quality turf, and a relaxed coastal atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to improve your game.
Meet our Trainers
With more than 40 years in the game, Anthony Bergin brings extensive playing and coaching experience to his role at 13th Beach Golf Links, where he has coached for over seven years. A former Victoria State Squad member and PGA Professional since 2001, he blends competitive insight with a passion for helping golfers of all levels improve.
Anthony has achieved notable playing milestones, including course records at Portarlington (66), Queenscliff (66), and Northern Golf Club (64), along with multiple club championships at Portarlington and Queenscliff.
His coaching philosophy focuses on helping every golfer — from beginners to elite players — develop the feel that unlocks better performance. He uses a range of modern training tools and was one of the first coaches in Australia to adopt Capto putting technology, leading the way in data-driven coaching.
Away from coaching, his favourite course was the now-closed Nirwana Golf Club in Bali, remembered for its beauty and challenge.
James Godbold is a PGA Golf Professional at 13th Beach Golf Links, with over 20 years of international experience in playing, coaching, club fitting, and golf operations. His career has taken him across the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, and Thailand, where he has coached golfers of all levels and managed high-performance golf academies.
A TrackMan Master Professional and certified GSEB instructor of The Golfing Machine, James is also TPI certified (Level 1, Level 2, and Junior), allowing him to integrate body movement and biomechanics into his coaching. Having worked alongside world-renowned coaches Peter Cowen and Phil Kenyon, he blends proven tour-level knowledge with modern technology to help players unlock their best golf.
Friendly, approachable, and passionate about player development, James offers private coaching, club fitting, and club repair services at 13th Beach Academy, helping members improve their game and enjoy golf even more.
Scott Smith grew up playing golf right here on the Bellarine Peninsula, where his love for the game and its community first began. With over 26 years of coaching experience — including the past 24 years as Head Teaching Professional at 13th Beach Golf Links — Scott has helped golfers of all ages and abilities enjoy the game more and play their best.
His coaching career has also taken him overseas to Singapore, where he worked with a wide range of players and gained valuable international experience. Known for his easy-going approach and clear communication, Scott focuses on making improvement simple, enjoyable, and lasting. As a Titleist Fitting Ambassador, Scott combines his teaching expertise with the latest in club-fitting technology to make sure every player gets the most out of their swing and their equipment.
Whether you’re new to the game or looking to fine-tune your performance, Scott’s goal is to help you play better golf — and have fun doing it.
Robyn is a coach who focuses on making golf simple, enjoyable, and confidence-building for players of all levels. She loves seeing students improve and creating a supportive learning environment.
She began her coaching career at Riverside Golf Club before earning a coaching scholarship with the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS). Robyn went on to coach elite players, serve as the PGA’s Performance Program Coach, and spend ten years as Head Coach at the Maribyrnong Sports Academy.
Before coaching, Robyn competed in five Australian Opens, four Australian Masters, and several international professional events. She also spent five years on a VIS playing scholarship and is a qualified PGA and WPGA professional.