LORETTO SCHOOL GOLF ACADEMY'S
NEW THREE-YEAR SPONSORSHIP
OF UNDER-14s' CHAMPIONSHIP
The Loretto School Golf Academy has agreed a new three-year sponsorship deal with the Scottish Golf Union to sponsor the Scottish boys' & girls' Under-14s championship from 2007 to 2009.
The agreement, worth more than £20,000 over the next three years, marks Loretto’s second spell as sponsor of the event, having come on board as one of the SGU’s junior partners in 2004.
The championship is Scotland’s youngest age group event and was launched seven years ago to provide a national show case championship for boys and girls aged 14 and under. The competition has already witnessed some notable winners in its short history, with the 2001 winner Peter McLachlan (pictured right) going on to win the Scottish youths championship and represent his country at youths level, whilst Frazer Ogston – winner three years ago – was a member of the Scotland Under-16 boys' team who defeated England for the first time last season.
MAJOR PLAYER IN GOLF EDUCATION
Rick Valentine, Director of Golf at Loretto School, said the sponsorship has helped establish the school as a major player in the golf education sector:
“Having already worked with the SGU for the past three years, we are confident the sponsorship can further build our reputation as one of the best independent golfing schools in the UK.”
“Our association with such a prestigious national championship has helped attract a large number of talented young golfers into our programme, and a number of our pupils have already excelled on the national and international stage.”
“We run a wide range of events for golfers throughout the year this includes our golf talent spotting days in the autumn for golfers who are interested in joining the Golf Academy and our golf camps which run during the spring and summer.”
The Loretto Golf Academy, established in 2002, offers pupils an opportunity to develop their golfing talents in parallel with an all-round Loretto education. Loretto Golf Scholarships are offered to outstanding or promising golfers who show exceptional potential from aged 12 and upwards. A recent golfing highlight included winning the HMC Foursomes Championships, the most prestigious independent schools' golfing event of the year.
HANDICAP BALLOT DOWN TO 18
The investment will assist the SGU in further enhancing the championship, which has seen the handicap ballot fall from 23 to 18 in the last five years, illustrating the increased level of talent among younger golfers in Scotland.
Hamish Grey, the SGU Chief Executive adds:
“The Scottish boys' and girls' Under-14s championship is the first step on the ladder for many of our talented youngsters in Scotland, and supports our goal of developing talent through the staging of national championships. It is also an event where we work in partnership with the SLGA, which puts out a positive message for our One Plan for Golf route plan.”
“We are delighted to extend our partnership with the Loretto School Golf Academy, who have already established themselves as an innovative provider of full-time sports education programmes which sits well alongside our own development systems.”
This year's Scottish boys' and girls' Under-14s' open amateur stroke-play championship will take place at Brunston Castle Golf Club, ayrshire on Friday, July 15.
(THE ABOVE IS REPRODUCED FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE, http://www.scottishgolfunion.org).