The Faldo Series, the global circuit of junior events created by six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo, has appointed the International Junior Golf Academy (IJGA) as its Official Golf Academy Partner.
Faldo, a former World No. 1, was closely involved in the new partnership after recently visiting IJGA, which is based in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and attached to the acclaimed Heritage Academy, a private school dedicated to scholar-athletes.
“I am personally excited to appoint IJGA as the Official Golf Academy Partner of the Faldo Series, as it feels like a proper addition to the guidance offered by the Series. It offers our junior players from around the advice or opportunity from a world a first-class academy to further their golf journey and education. It also provides expertise in the process or opportunity to play college golf in America,” Faldo said.
“We’ve been looking at the US-based academy model and when I visited the IJGA and Heritage Academy earlier this year, I knew it was a special partner. IJGA offers a safe, inspiring environment at Hilton Head, where students benefit from top-quality instruction and practice facilities, and a great variety of golf courses nearby. In addition, the staff has an expertise in the US college process and many of our players have questions on how to approach that system properly.
“It’s an amazing place, with aspiring athletes from all around the world. When I visited the academy, I was impressed by the variety of countries sending students to the Academy and the staff’s understanding of players from around the world. I would have enjoyed something like this when I was young!”
LPGA stars Feng Shanshan (China) and Kim In-kyung (South Korea), four-time European Tour winner Pablo Larrazabal (Spain) and PGA Tour star Morgan Hoffmann (USA) are among IJGA’s alumni over the past two decades.
Ryley Hendry, CEO of IJGA, said: “The International Junior Golf Academy is proud to become an Official Partner of the Faldo Series, the premier global circuit for young golfers. This new partnership underlines IJGA’s reputation as one of the world’s leading junior academies for aspiring golfers from across the globe. We look forward to counselling student-athletes on US golf academies and the college scholarship system in the US as we work with the Faldo Series.
“For over two decades, IJGA has been providing international students with top-class golf tuition and a fantastic, well-rounded education, which is evident in the young men and women who have graduated from the academy. Our students secure scholarships at the USA’s top golfing universities, arguably the best breeding ground for a career in professional golf, whether as a tour player or coach.”
Founded in 1995, IJGA offers high-school students the opportunity to hone their game year-round on courses at six nearby golf clubs on Hilton Head Island while also enjoying top-class academic education and a wide variety of extra-curricular activities.
The Heritage Academy, which caters to grades six to 12, is dedicated to students pursuing an extra-curricular passion and is also attached to tennis and horse riding academies.
As well as full-time students, IJGA hosts popular Spring and Summer Camps, and short-term programs.
IJGA www.ijga.com
Faldo Series http://nickfaldo.com/about-faldo-series