PGA Catalunya Resort, Barcelona, home to Spain’s number one golf course* and venue of two Spanish Opens, has announced the opening of the world’s first Sergio Garcia Junior Academy that gives children from all walks of life the opportunity to play golf.
Since 2002, Funación Sergio Garcia has given more that 1,100 young people the opportunity to try golf and has also donated more than €1.2 million to associations and clubs to help fund special ‘Golf Adapted’ programmes across Spain. These have been specifically designed for physically and mentally handicapped children, and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
In keeping with this important charitable work, PGA Catalunya Resort has also committed to making a donation to the Sergio Garcia Foundation from revenues generated from the newJuniorAcademy.
Commenting on the opening of this new facility, Sergio Garcia said: “Through my Foundation, it has always been the aim to allow as many children as possible to access, and enjoy, golf. I have witnessed the positive impact golf has had on so many youngsters across Spain and with the opening of this, my first Junior Golf Academy, we now have a base to continue, and develop, this vitally important work.”
During his own junior years, Sergio was a sensation. He began playing golf at the age of three and was taught by his father, Victor, a club professional in Castellón, Spain. He was a star player, winning his club championship aged 12 and, just four years later, setting a record as the youngest player to make the cut at a European Tour event, the 1995 Turespaña Open Mediterranea.
Julio Delgado, Chief Executive of PGA Catalunya Resort, said: “It is a privilege for PGA Catalunya Resort to be the base for the World’s first Sergio Garcia Junior Academy. His foundation plays a hugely important role in bringing the joys of playing golf to children of all ages and we look forward to welcoming youngsters from every walk of life, and with different physical and mental abilities, to this fantastic new teaching programme.
“We hope one day we will be able to look back and say the Sergio Garcia Junior Academy at PGA Catalunya was responsible for creating Spain’s next great player, following in the footsteps of legends like Seve, Olazabal and Sergio himself.”
The Sergio Garcia Junior Academy will use the globally recognised TPI teaching programme that allows youngsters to develop age-appropriate skills and drills that maximise their full athletic potential, not just the golf swing. The courses are available in three age categories: 6-9 years, 9-12 years and 12+ years.
SergioGarciaJuniorAcademyat PGA Catalunya Resor www.pgacatalunya.com
* As voted by top100golfcourses.co.uk