Scottish Golf Academy

 

What is the Scottish Golf Academy?

The Scottish Golf Academy is the national development programme for Scotland’s talented young golfers. Nurturing boys and girls from the age of 12 up to 21, the Academy provides young players with a comprehensive coaching and support programme tailored to the needs of the individual to maximise their opportunity of succeeding at the highest level.

Launched in 2005, the Scottish Golf Academy is fully integrated for both boys and girls, managed by the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, with input and support from sportscotland, the Scottish institute of sport and The PGA. Around 100 players are supported every year by the programme.

Using some of the country’s best facilities and PGA-trained coaches, the Scottish Golf Academy supports players each year through three performance tiers of the programme with the objective of developing Scotland’s future generation of golfing winners through specialised, personal support.

• Tier 1 - This is the induction stage where players start their journey and understanding of the technical, tactical, physical, psychological and lifestyle requirements of performance golf. Players are typically aged between 12 and 15 in this Tier.

• Tier 2 - Players progressing to Tier 2 will have shown improvements in all areas mentioned above. Full compliance to the programme is essential during this stage of the player’s development and all players will be allocated a Scottish Golf Regional Performance Coach to support their individualised plans. Players can remain in Tier 2 until the age of 18.
• Tier 3 - Players progressing into Tier 3 will be competing in all National and International events as in Tier 2. All players will have the support of a Scottish Golf Regional Performance Coach who will have input into the player’s event schedule to ensure the players have the best possible opportunity to compete on the international stage. Players can remain in Tier 3 until the age of 21. 

All three Tiers are designed to continuously educate and develop the players to fully understand all aspects of performance golf.  Players will have to demonstrate continuous improvement across all areas while developing their playing skills to progress through the Tiers.

Did you know…? Connie Jaffrey of Troon Ladies is currently a member of the Scottish Golf Academy. Connie won the Scottish Girls Championship in 2013 and the SLGA Ladies and Girls Order of Merit in 2014. Connie is a key member of the National Squad programme. 

The Scotland team for the European Girls Team Championships this year consists of 5 players from the current Academy programme, these players are Lauren Whyte, Clara Young, Heather Munro, Hazel MacGarvie and Shannon McWilliam. 

Our Objectives

Our primary objectives are to develop players and deliver their potential to:

• Represent Scotland at Girls and Boys level
• Succeed at World and European level as individuals or part of a Scotland Team at amateur level
• Gain selection to Great Britain & Ireland teams at Walker Cup and Curtis Cup level
• Make the successful transition on to the leading professional tours

Our aim is to ensure Scottish golfers continue to perform at the highest levels on the international stage, both as amateurs then onto the professional ranks.

For more information on the Scottish Golf Academy click here