A new golf academy has opened at Witney Lakes, which its director hopes will become the best in the country.

The John Cook Golf School, which has taken over the club's driving range and practice area, is also targeting overseas business to tie in with a planned new hotel.

Director John Cook, a former tour player, who coached Luke Donald, Paul Casey and Nick Dougherty in their junior days, is confident of success.

He said: "Our aim is to become the No 1 golf school in the country.

"When people come in here, I want them to have the wow factor.

"This has been my aim for the last ten or 12 years. Now I have a chance to pursue it.

"To be the No 1 in the country, there's three things we need - location, facilities and great coaches.

"I feel Witney is excellent because it is right in the middle of the country.

"In terms of facilities, Witney is part of the way there and they are going to build us short-game facilities that will be the envy of most other clubs.

"On top of that, we already have great coaches."

Cook has a great reputation in the sport with Gary Player and Tiger Woods's former coach Butch Harmon among his admirers.

Player said: "In my opinion, John Cook is one of the best golf coaches in the world, especially for the short game."

Harmon said: "Some people are teachers, some people are coaches and some people are professors. John Cook is all of the above."

The school specialises in junior, beginners and ladies coaching and has begun revamping the Witney Lakes facilities.

Improvements will include real golf balls on the range, multiple target greens and a swing analysis suite where the pro shop used to be.

Cook said: "Anyone who has an hour lesson will get their swing vidoed and analysed.

"We'll then keep a library, so people can see how they have improved."

They are also introducing a range membership of £200 a year, which gives players unlimited balls.

Cook said: "We don't want to hold players back if they can't afford to hit balls every day."

The school has three other professionals - Mark Dulson, Shay Brennan, who is in charge of junior coaching and Andrew Etherington (ladies and beginners).

Cook won the Frilford Gold Medal in 1967 and the English amateur and British youths titles in 1969 before turning pro.

He was England junior coach for 12 years during which the team won world championship five times, and more recently coached in Thailand.

Cook is renowned as a leading short game expert and still assists Nick Dougherty in this area.

He said: "While I used to get a great deal out of winning, I can now honestly say I get more satisfaction when a student phones me up to say they have won a monthly medal or a challenge tour event."

Witney Lakes managing director Gavin Brown said they had opted for the academy after looking at trends in European golf.

Cook was one of 30 applicants to reply to an advert in a PGA magazine.

Brown said: "John Cook and his team really won through on the basis that he is one of Europe's top coaches.

"It was important that we had his profile around and it all looks really positive."