For the fourth year in succession, Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia returned to the award-winning PGA Catalunya Resort, the 2015 European Golf Resort of the Year*, to witness the positive impact golf continues to have on students from his Junior Golf Academy.
Since it was established in 2012 as a collaboration between the Fundación Sergio Garcia and PGA Catalunya Resort, Spain’s official candidate host venue for The 2022 Ryder Cup and European Tour Destination, the Sergio Garcia Junior Golf Academy has enabled juniors from various backgrounds to play golf, with a specific focus on having fun.
During his visit, Spain’s number one golfer gave masterclasses to local school children and a group from Consorci Sant Gregori, an organisation created to help children with special educational needs, utilising PGA Catalunya Resort’s acclaimed practice facilities, which include a 250 metre wide driving range and 2,000 square metre short game area, providing a fitting stage.
The golf clinics were followed by a three-hole exhibition match on the highly praised Stadium Course, ranked Spain’s Number One course**, with 27 youngsters experiencing what it is like to play golf with one of the world’s best players.
Speaking during his visit, Garcia said: “It is a real pleasure to return to PGA Catalunya Resort once again and see so many familiar faces among the junior golfers. It has been so rewarding to see them continue to enjoy the game of golf and develop their skills.
“When the academy was first established, we had two clear objectives: to find and coach some of Spain’s best young golfers and to help individuals with physical and learning disabilities enjoy golf – and I am very proud to see these are being met.
“The facilities at PGA Catalunya Resort lend themselves perfectly to giving children the opportunity to develop their golf games and I look forward to hopefully one day playing alongside a graduate of the academy on The European Tour.”
The Academy uses the globally recognised TPI teaching programme, which centres on long-term athletic development as its guiding principle. This focuses on juniors performing age-appropriate drills designed to maximise their full athletic potential, not just their golf swing.
David Plana, CEO of PGA Catalunya Resort, said: “Sergio is one of the most successful Spanish golfers of all time and he is an inspiration for all of the junior golfers at the academy and throughout the country.
“PGA Catalunya Resort remains committed to inspiring the next generation of golfers and the facilities we have available will hopefully provide the platform to develop one of the next golfing greats.”
*As voted by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators
**According to influential rankings website Top100GolfCourses.co.uk
For more information about the Sergio Garcia Junior Academy at PGA Catalunya Resort visit www.pgacatalunya.com