Scots Switch to Florida Camp to Prepare for New Season

SCOTTISH GOLF NEWS RELEASE
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16

A number of Scotland’s leading male and female amateur golfers are to benefit from a winter training camp in Florida starting later this week, with the national squads announced for the 2016-17 season.

Following a series of successful off-season trips to the UAE in recent years, the move State-side is aimed at helping Scottish Golf establish better links with its US-based players. Seven of the group are currently at college in the States, with a further 10 young golfers travelling out to join them at the superb Bishops Gate Golf Academy in Florida.

The intensive winter training camp – part funded through support from national team sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management, the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation and sportscotland – will see each player come in and work over different periods from 19 November to 10 December.

Helped by key members of the Scottish Golf coaching team – including National Coach Ian Rae and Girls’ and Boys’ Coaches David Patrick and Spencer Henderson – the group will work closely on their games across all areas, as well as being involved in physical screening and strength and conditioning work, taking advantage of the warm winter climate, with further input from sportscotland institute of sport staff.

“This is another great opportunity for the players to work on their golfing skills and fitness for an extended period,” said Rae, who was delighted to welcome European Tour winner Scott Jamieson to a squad session in St Andrews earlier this week before the US departure.

“It is a fantastic facility, an hour from Orlando, and the camp will allow us to improve links with the US-based players and their coaches. There will be 17 players involved in total across the three weeks. The US-based players are coming in first for a week during their Thanksgiving break.

“We are very grateful to the support of the venue and indebted to our supporters who ultimately help make these trips possible – Aberdeen Asset Management, the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation and sportscotland.”

European Amateur Team winners Robert MacIntyre and Craig Howie are heading for the US camp, along with South African Amateur champion Craig Ross and Calum Fyfe.

Women’s Order of Merit winner Hannah McCook and Chloe Goadby also travel, together with Under-18 quartet Jamie Stewart and Hazel MacGarvie – who are the respective Scottish Golf Boys’ and Girls’ Order of Merit winners – as well as Eric McIntosh and Shannon McWilliam.

Those joining the camp from US colleges are Connie Jaffrey, Heather Munro, Jessica Meek, Rachel Walker, Clara Young, Rory Franssen and Sandy Scott. Connor Syme is not going to the US as he this week completes a run of three invitational events in Australia, a result of winning the Australian Amateur Championship back in January.

The players involved in the camp are among the Scottish Golf supported players named for 2016-17 and Rae added: “We want to build on what’s been another successful season, with players performing well in a number of major individual events and our back-to-back European Men’s Team Championship victories. There has been good progress in the female game and having a mixed group over the winter period will help us continue that momentum.

“As well as supporting these players, we’re always looking at the progress of other Scots who are playing well and ensuring those out in the US are keeping in close contact.”

US-based Rachael Taylor is not included in the group as she is soon likely to turn professional, while the inclusion of Craigielaw’s Gabrielle Macdonald is subject to her performance at Ladies European Tour Qualifying School this week.

Scottish Golf Supported Players 2016-17
                      
Women
      
Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm)
Chloe Goadby (St Regulus)     
Connie Jaffrey (Troon Ladies) *US-based
Gabrielle Macdonald  (Craigielaw) *pending Q School outcome   
Shannon McWilliam (Aboyne)
Jessica Meek (Carnoustie Ladies) *US-based
Hannah McCook (Grantown-on-Spey)
Heather Munro (Monifieth) *US-based   
Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies)
Rachel Walker (Dumfries & County) *US-based
Clara Young (North Berwick) *US-based 

Men
                      
Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm)
Calum Fyfe (Cawder)                   
Craig Howie (Peebles) 
Barry Hume (Haggs Castle)
Liam Johnston (Dumfries & County)     
Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten)       
Euan McIntosh (Turnhouse)
Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie)
Craig Ross (Kirkhill) 
Sandy Scott (Nairn) *US-based                 
Connor Syme (Drumoig) 

Men’s Development

Rory Franssen (Inverness) *US-based   
Sam Locke (Banchory)

Under-18 Girls

Kirsty Brodie (Strathmore)    
Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) 
Jillian Farrell (Cardross)    
Hazel MacGarvie (Troon Ladies)
Jasmine MacKintosh (Hazlehead)
Jennifer Rankine (Haggs Castle)
Molly Richmond (Strathaven)

Under-18 Boys 

Jack Broun (Ayr Belleisle)    
Callum Bruce (Duff House Royal)               
Darren Howie (Peebles)                                
Lewis Irvine (Kirkhill)
Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield Links)                             
John Paterson (New GC, St Andrews)
Jamie Stewart (Old Ranfurly)
Marc Watt (Inverallochy)              
Connor Wilson (Dunbar)