Loretto Golf Academy unveils some exciting plans for an indoor
practice facility
SINCE it
opened 12 years ago, the Loretto Golf Academy, led by PGA Professional Rick
Valentine, has firmly established itself as one of Scotland’s leading centres
for golf development. Based at the Loretto School in Musselburgh – Scotland’s
oldest boarding school and one of the UK’s leading independent schools – the
academy has attracted many talented golfers from Scotland, England, Europe and
around the world since it was established in 2002.
However,
not content to rest on its laurels, the school - which was the first in the UK
to establish a specific school based golf academy – has announced plans to
further enhance the quality and availability of the golf services it provides
by opening a brand new indoor golf centre.
The new
facility is being built within the school’s former swimming complex and is
expected to open for use early next year.
Comprising
an indoor driving range, short game facility to include chipping, pitching and
putting, putting analysis, and indoor teaching studio complete with video
analysis and Trackman as well as much more besides the centre should reinforce
Loretto’s status as one of the top golf facilities of its kind in the UK,
whilst also providing an invaluable practice resource for its pupils.
The
centre will offer golf to all 600 pupils at Loretto through PE, games and
activities. The Golf Academy’s development pathways start at 5 years old and
allow pupils to develop their game as they progress through Loretto School. The
centre will also improve the coaching and practice facilities for the 50 strong
development and senior squad players, offering them the best possible support
to take their game to the next level.
The
school’s incoming Headmaster, Graham Hawley, explained: “Small schools need
unique selling points in order to give the reach for their recruitment in order
for them to thrive.
“The golf
academy at Loretto is a hugely significant project for us to cement our place
as the No.1 golf programme within the country. It’s going to be terrific for
all the pupils at the school: girls, boys, and particularly the younger ones.
“It’s
also going to cement our links with the Scottish Golf Union and, as well as
that, be a terrific resource and facility for the whole community.”
It is
expected the new centre, which will enable golf practice throughout the year,
will quickly become the very best indoor golf facility in Scotland and the best
schools’ facility of its kind in Europe. It has been developed in partnership
with the Scottish Golf Union and is fitted with all of the latest hi-tech golf
equipment – including Trackman and putting analysis system– to provide the most
accurate analysis and information for the players practising there.
Rick
Valentine, the director of the Loretto Golf Academy, added: “We need to
continue to develop year on year to make sure we stay at the top of schools’ golf
and leading the field. This is both in regard to the programmes we are
delivering but also the facilities we have on offer to our pupils.
“One of
our main focuses at the moment is to increase the availability of golf to all
the pupils at the school, to really deliver golf for all. This is really
important as we move forward, especially with our younger pupils, to introduce
them to a sport that they can be participating in for the rest of their lives.
“To work
with the Scottish Golf Union on an indoor training centre that is going to
benefit the pupils of Loretto but also Scottish golf in general is a very
exciting experience.”
One of
the many reasons for the development of the indoor centre is the lack of
adequate indoor facilities in Scotland and that is something that has
previously been identified by the Scottish Golf Performance Director Steve
Paulding.
Under the
terms of Loretto’s partnership with the SGU, Paulding’s squads will be able to
use the centre to practice, which he is delighted about.
“Indoor
facilities in Scotland are severely lacking, certainly compared to other
countries with similar climates, so the fact that Loretto is putting in a
facility like this, where we will be able to be in partnership and access it,
is fantastic for Scottish golf,” he said.
Former
Women’s British Open champion Catriona Matthew is impressed by the plans for
the new centre and commented: “To have more indoor facilities here would be
fantastic and is a great benefit to get people into the game, particularly in
the winter. It’s a great opportunity and I wish I’d had that when I was
younger.”
LINK TO
VISUALISATION PHOTOGRAPHS OF LORETTO GOLF ACADEMY INDOOR CENTRE CAN BE FOUND
HERE - https://www.dropbox.com/sh/60j58pcelg19poj/gqo6QWCvZS?n=79612354
For further details, please contact Mr Jonathan Hewat,
Director of External Affairs at Loretto School on 0131 653 4413 or email jhewat@loretto.com