The Scottish Golf Union’s academy programme will receive another valuable cash investment thanks to an award to part match sponsorship from Aberdeen Asset Management under the sportscotland scheme SPORTSMATCH.
An award of £8,450 has been granted to the SGU on the back of Aberdeen Asset Management’s sponsorship of the Scotland team and the national academy programme, which supports more than 90 talented boys and girls from across the country, from the age of 14 upwards.
The award will ensure increased availability of coaching, support and other areas of development for players in years one and two of the programme and allow the SGU to further expand the numbers within the national and regional academies.
“Aberdeen Asset Management’s investment in Scottish amateur golf this year has been invaluable in enabling us to continue the good work in our national squads and development programmes,” said Hamish Grey, the SGU’s chief executive.
“The company are great supporters of Scottish golf through their sponsorship of some of our leading players, as well as the Senior Open Championship for the last three years. It is a real boost to have a brand with such stature at amateur level as well, and both parties have benefited greatly from our association over the last few months.”
Martin Gilbert, Aberdeen Asset Management’s Chief Executive added, “We are extremely delighted to be supporting the Scottish Golf Union and their Academy programme. With the emergence of young players such as Richie Ramsay and Lloyd Saltman, it’s been a very exciting period for Scottish amateur golf and hopefully our investment will help that success continue.
“As a company we are very proud of our Scottish heritage and it is important that we invest in the grass roots end of the game as well as supporting our top professionals like Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie.”
Julia Bracewell OBE, Chair of Sportscotland, said, “The Scottish Golf Union is one of more than 1,600 sports groups throughout Scotland to have benefited from over £4.5m of SPORTSMATCH investment in grass roots sport. Our thanks go to Aberdeen Asset Management for this sponsorship. This is a great example of how businesses working in partnership with sports organisations and SPORTSMATCH can make a significant contribution to community sport, enhancing the lives of many young people in Scotland.”
SPORTSMATCH is an award scheme set up in 1992 that aims to support commercial sponsorship of grass roots sports projects that encourage participation at community level, especially youth groups, girls and women, and those facing barriers to participation. In Scotland, SPORTSMATCH is funded by the Scottish Executive and managed by Sportscotland.
The SGU Academy programme has enjoyed continued success since its inception in 2005, with more than 70% of players attaining significant reductions in their handicaps during the programme, as well as a number of notable successes at national and international level. One of its key highlights was Scotland’s defeat of England in October 2006 at U16s level, the first time that result has been achieved within that age group.
Aberdeen Asset Management are sponsors of this week’s Senior Open Championship at Muirfield, taking place 26th – 29th July. For further information on Aberdeen Asset Management visit www.aberdeen-asset.com.
Scottish Golf Union www.scottishgolfunion.org