Junior golfers from around the globe have the opportunity to improve their skills and play some world-renowned courses at the Home of Golf thanks to the Emerging World Youth Golf Tour.
The organisation is holding its inaugural youth golfing event in St Andrews for two weeks from 9 July, and a host of big names from the world of golf have come together to ensure 20 youngsters from as far afield as Argentina, China and the UAE have the golfing experience of a lifetime.
Former European Tour chief executive Ken Schofield and ex-PGA captain Alan Walker supervised plans for the programme of events, which aims to educate and inspire the international field, aged 12-18, while they will be joined in Scotland by one of golf’s biggest emerging talents, Ladies European Tour (LET) star Melissa Reid.
The two-week programme will focus on the history and traditions; rules and etiquette; and technical and mental aspects of the game; with attendees receiving tuition from Simon Holmes, former coach to Nick Faldo and a host of top golfers, the victorious 2010 European Ryder Cup team’s psychological performance coach Jamil Qureshi, and the St Andrews Links Trust’s expert team of professionals.
In addition, they will be tackling several of the Links Trust’s renowned courses as well as playing and staying at the five-star Fairmont St Andrews resort. Other highlights of the trip include a tour of the R&A clubhouse – for both boys and girls; visiting the British Golf Museum; a session at the R&A’s equipment test centre; playing on the Himalayas putting course; and a final-night dinner in the Swilcan restaurant, overlooking the Old Course and Eden Course.
The juniors’ unique opportunity, which will be filmed and broadcast on Golfing World TV, has been made possible by the backing of Emirates NBD, the UAE’s leading banking group.
The company’s chief executive officer, Rick Pudner, said: “Emirates NBD is delighted to partner with the Emerging World Youth Golf Tour as it provides a unique opportunity for 20 of the brightest young golfing talents to hone their skills at St Andrews – the Home of Golf.
“It gives us great pleasure to be part of this journey of discovery for young golfers – nine of whom are from our own country. As part of our commitment to supporting youth development in golf, we look forward to enabling these juniors to share their experience with friends and family at home by supporting the broadcast of the St Andrews Youth Golf Camp 2012 on Golfing World TV.
“With golf becoming an Olympic sport from 2016 and both the men’s and women’s tours currently showcasing such an abundance of talented players under the age of 25, this great game has never has been so popular among youth, nor has it enjoyed such a wide geographical reach.”
Three-time LET winner Reid, who is sponsored by Emirates NBD and an ambassador for the company’s Passion for Golf programme, said: “I am very grateful for the backing and support that Emirates NBD has offered me and hopefully these juniors can benefit just as much.
“I hope I can help grow the game in the UAE, as well as other parts of the world. The Emerging World Youth Golf Tour is a great opportunity to do this, and I look forward to attending the event at St Andrews.”
The Emerging World Youth Tour is a community interest company, meaning it is a not-for-profit organisation and works towards the good of the communities it operates in.
Schofield, a director of the Tour, said: “The opportunity for young people to travel is generally accepted as one of the very best ways to further their education. When that travel is further combined with the chance to engage in one of the world’s best-loved sports, then it clearly enhances the experience.
“In the case of Emerging World’s wonderful initiative of offering young golfers from around the globe the opportunity to convene in St Andrews, then the ingredients for a truly world-class experience are more-or-less guaranteed.”
Emerging World Youth Golf Tour www.emergingworld-media.org