The Coca-Cola Junior Development Programme aims to introduce youngsters to the sport by inviting local schools – in Newport, Monmouthshire and as far afield as Cardiff and Bristol – to send pupils to Celtic Manor for coaching. For novice or scratch players alike, the Golf School offers comprehensive practice and coaching – a 24 bay, two tier, floodlit driving range, three coaching bays with A star video swing analysis, practice range, an award winning pro shop and extensive short play areas
While American golf fans are hailing a new Masters’ Champion next month , the Celtic Manor Resort is mirroring the great US event by staging the Coca-Cola Junior Masters Tournament on Easter Saturday as part of a programme designed to nurture Welsh stars of the future.
Later in the year there will be two further tournaments: the Junior Open and Junior Championships, running parallel with The Open and the US PGA Championships this summer. “These events are unique in that they offer something completely different from the usual tournament structure,” said Chris Baron, Celtic Manor golf operations manager. “The children can enjoy a morning of top level tuition from our teaching professionals before going out onto the course to put into practice all the good tips they’ve just been given.”
The Junior Masters, on Saturday, April 14, tees off with tuition at 10am followed by the competition on the Coldra Woods course in the afternoon. Activities will include ‘beat the pro’, long drive holes and nearest the pin.
Prizes will be awarded for both gross and nett scores but an order of merit will be established over the three championship events and overall prizes given to the most successful competitors.
Event sponsor Coca-Cola is presenting a cap and a ball to everyone taking part, setting up juice stations around the course and helping with prizes including the Coca-Cola Trophy for the order of merit winner at the conclusion of the series.
Entry costs £3 and the tournament will follow a handicap format. The second event in the series, the Junior Open tournament, will take place on Saturday, July 28, with the Junior Championship on Saturday, August 25.
“The aim of the Junior Development Programme is to bring golf to the local community, particularly into schools,” said Chris Baron. “The Masters tournament will be an exciting and enjoyable curtain-raiser for a project which will find the hidden talent of our future stars.”
Entry forms are available from Celtic Manor’s Golf School. For further information contact the Golf Administrator, Shane Wesson on 01633 413000 extension 2301.
Celtic Manor www.celtic-manor.com