Introduction
Bart van der Wind and Simone van Stijn have been living in the Eastern Algarve since 2009. They manage a golf school in Moncarapacho, a 30-minute drive from Faro Airport. The Algarve offers a magnificent golf culture, a great climate, wonderful cuisine and, above all, a simple way of life.
About Bart
I was born in Haarlem on 22 April 1964, and have been a PGA C professional since 1986. From an early age I was a devoted sports enthusiast. I therefore decided to enrol at the Central Institute for Sports Teaching (CIOS) in Overveen to become a sports coach. I was one of the few students who chose golf as specialism.
In 1986 I graduated and subsequently took an internship at Spaarnwoude, a well-known Dutch golf club, in order to become a B class professional.
In 1990 I received my A status. I worked as a teaching professional at different Dutch golf courses: Het Rijk van Nijmegen and Het Rijk van Nunspeet. From 1999 to 2004 I was a co-owner of the De Golfhorst club in the North of Limburg.
To further specialise, I took an Accredited Instructor Course with the Harold Swash Putting School of Excellence, levels 1 and level 2, in Great Britain.
In 2008 I established the YES golf putting centre in Eindhoven, an indoor studio for golf clinics. Two famous Dutch professional golfers, Robert Jan Derksen and Joost Luiten, were among my first visitors. During this period I coached the playing professionals of the Ladies and Challenge Tour by working as a putting coach and a club fitting specialist. In 2009 the studio was acquired by another Dutch golf pro, Rob Mouwen, and relocated to Best in the province of North Brabant.