Bolton, MA -- (SBWire) -- 03/11/2011 -- The International Golf Club & Resort is pleased to announce the launch of the Rick Smith Golf Academy (“RSGA”) this spring. As one of the premier golf resorts in the country, The International Golf Club & Resort in Bolton, MA remains on the cutting edge of golf technology and advancement with the addition of the highly-respected Rick Smith Golf Academy. The International Golf Club & Resort joins the elite ranks of the Treetops Resort in Gaylord, MI and The Tiburon Ritz-Carlton Resort in Naples, FL, as one of only three Rick Smith Golf Academy locations in the United States.

“My team and I are very excited to have such a fantastic Academy location in New England at The International Resort. Dan Weadock and his team are top-notch and we look forward to offering a truly world-class golf experience to golfers in the region, as well as visitors from all over the globe” said renowned instructor, Rick Smith.

Rick Smith Golf Academies offer customized programs for all golfers from beginners to PGA Tour players. Rick and his elite staff of instructors achieve success by focusing on the fundamentals of the game, providing club-fitting analysis, keeping a minimal student/teacher ratio to allow for personalized instruction, and using clear communication and state-of-the-art swing analysis video technology.

“We’re truly thrilled to welcome Rick Smith to The International family,” said Daniel Weadock, Jr., President and CEO of The International. “We operate the best combination of golf, dining, lodging and special event facilities in the region, bar none. And now we can boast world class instructors alongside 36 holes of championship golf.”

About Rick Smith
In addition to achieving great success in golf as a teacher, designer and communicator, Rick Smith is regarded as one of the PGA Tour’s best sounding boards for swing advice. In 2009, Rick was ranked as the number two golf instructor in the world by PGA Tour players and since 2000, Rick has been consistently ranked as one of the top ten golf instructors in the world; both polls were done by Golf Digest Magazine, where Rick serves as a Teaching Editor.

Over Rick Smith’s twenty-five year career within the golf industry, he has been fortunate to work with a client list that includes major champions such as Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Lee Janzen, Vijay Singh, David Duval, Paul Azinger, John Daly and Greg Norman. Adding to that list, Rick has assisted PGA Tour winners Rocco Mediate, Jerry Kelly, Chris DiMarco, Billy Mayfair, Matt Kuchar, and Billy Andrade among others.

The Rick Smith Golf Academies offer customized programs for all golfers, from beginners to the PGA Tour’s elite. For more information, please visit http://www.ricksmith.com. For media inquiries, to learn more about the RSGA brand, or to contact Rick Smith, please reach out to Rick’s business management team at Fidelity Sports Group, LLC (407) 420-1500, or Drew@FidelitySportsGroup.com

About The International
Golfers worldwide appreciate the uniqueness of The International Golf Club & Resort’s two championship 18-hole golf courses.

Boasting almost 8,400 yards from the legendary Tiger Tees, The Pines course consistently ranks as one of the toughest courses in the US. Originally designed by Geoffrey Cornish, The Pines has been augmented by the accomplished and well known golf course designer, Robert Trent Jones, Sr.

Built in 2001, The Oaks golf course is a natural wonder that literally envelops the Pines course and offers an experience that celebrates the ebb and flow of the topography. Oaks architect Tom Fazio is the most highly regarded and sought after golf course architect in the history of the game.

With the addition of the Rick Smith Golf Academy, The International Golf Club & Resort is destined to become one of the most exciting, challenging and entertaining resort experiences in the country.

The International Golf Club & Resort is New England's premier golf, dining and lodging destination, located in Bolton, MA. Surrounded by the scenic nature of the Nashoba Valley Region, The International is comprised of two world-class championship golf courses, as well as a lodge, spa and highly acclaimed cuisine. For more information, please call (978) 779-6911 or visit http://www.theinternational.com.