LORETTO ACADEMY EUROPE’S LEADING GOLF ACADEMY Developing golfing excellence with a first-class Loretto education

A small School, big on heart, big on ambition. A SMALL SCHOOL, BIG ON HEART, BIG ON AMBITION LORETTO SCHOOL AND THE GOLF ACADEMY

Loretto School UKCC Level 4 coach also leading the Scottish Ladies in Loretto School has a long and distinguished history in his role of National Tournament Coach. Rick is supported education. Founded in 1827, Loretto is ’s oldest by a team of three full-time PGA professionals. boarding school. This coeducational boarding and day school occupies 85 acres of leafy campus to the east of The Academy also supports the game at the grass roots Edinburgh and is a gateway to some of the world’s finest level and in 2016, we celebrated 12 years of sponsorship courses. Loretto School is an independent school of the Scottish Boys and Girls Under-14s Championship. to just over 600 boarding and day pupils aged 0–18 and We also organise the Loretto Golf Academy Junior home to Europe’s leading Golf Academy. It is a small Championship and Simmers Cup which is the largest school, big on heart and big on ambition, renowned for schools’ golf event in the . its emphasis on the development of the whole person in mind, body and spirit. Nurturing Excellence Loretto’s historic links with golf are unparalleled. Over What Is the Loretto Golf Academy? the years, former pupils of Loretto have captained many The Loretto Golf Academy, established in 2002 on our of the best known clubs throughout Scotland and the campus in East Lothian, is at the forefront of schools’ United Kingdom. No fewer than seven former pupils have golf, offering pupils an exceptional opportunity to captained The Royal and Ancient , , develop their sporting talent in tandem with a first-class, whilst eleven have been captain of the Honourable all-round education. Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the world’s oldest golf club and at least ten have been Captains at Prestwick. It is widely recognised as the top independent boarding and day golf school in Europe, attracting young golfers The Loretto Golf Academy in unsurpassed on the circuit from around the world. and has won eight National Titles with six of these coming in the last four years, including: • HMC • Independent Schools’ Golf Association National Finals and Home Internationals

Recent individual players who have performed on the national and international stage include: • Lesley Atkins – Captain of Golf, represented Scotland in Girls’ Home Internationals, European Girls’ Championship 2013 • Michael Hirmer – Represented in European Boys’ Championships, runner-up in British Boys 2013 and German Youth Champion 2014 • Yasemin Sari – Represented in Queen Sirikit Cup (World Amateur Team Championships) in 2012 The Loretto Golf Academy boasts innovative practice • Lou Tan – Represented in the programmes for both beginners and advanced golfers. Junior Open 2016 Working closely with the performance management and coaching staff within Scottish Golf and in partnership with • Maximilian Walz – Captain of Golf 2010/11, Championship courses at Craigielaw and Archerfield, represented Louisville and qualified for the Omega the Loretto Golf Academy ensures that it remains at the European Masters in 2012. Turned professional in cutting edge of schools’ golf. It continues to develop an 2016 and won his first professional title in only his unrivalled programme for aspiring golfers including one- third event to-one coaching, squad training to include short game, • Julie Yang – Qualified for the LPGA Tour during long game and on course sessions. In addition to the the 2015–2016 season golf sessions we include strength and conditioning, nutrition, sport psychology and performance lifestyle We now deliver golf to 260 pupils a week, between the often supported by the Scottish Golf Team. ages of 5 to 18. Pupils compete in competitions both in the United Kingdom and overseas, with opportunities to The Academy has been developed by Director of Golf, take part in championships and exchanges to , the Rick Valentine. Rick is a PGA Fellow Professional and USA and China. “The Loretto Golf Academy has enabled me to work on every aspect of my game and allowed me to improve in all areas. The facilities and coaching are first-rate.” Loretto pupil “The Loretto Golf Academy is the perfect place for a motivated, aspiring golfer to play in regular competitive golf tournaments and receive high quality coaching.” Loretto pupil THE PATHWAY PROGRAMME

Loretto Junior School: From Year 1 (5 years) Junior and Development Squads The Loretto Golf Academy Pathway Programme starts Loretto Senior School pupils are able to opt for golf as in Year 1 at Loretto Junior School where pupils are their major sport. For the youngest pupils, our Junior able to sign up for golf coaching through the activities Squad covers 2nd Form (Year 8) and our Development programme. These golf coaching sessions are conducted Squad caters for our 3rd and 4th Forms (Years 9 and 10). by our PGA professionals and take place in the Loretto Golf Academy Indoor Centre. The Golf Programme takes place during games and activity time as pupils are also competing in the major When pupils move into Year 4, they start to use local sport of the term. Pupils receive one-to-one coaching as driving ranges to support the programme. Pupils are well as the opportunity to compete in our Junior Order introduced to the through Junior Medals and of Merit and to represent Loretto in tournaments and as they move up to the top of Loretto Junior School, matches against other schools. they are able to compete in National Junior Schools’ Championships. Senior Squad Once pupils reach 5th Form (Year 11), they are able Loretto Senior School: Golf for all and one-to-one to join our Senior Squad and choose golf as their only coaching sessions sport if they wish. There are four main training sessions Golf is available to all pupils at Loretto Senior School. a week using Loretto’s facilities and our partner golf There is access to group coaching through our activities clubs. Pupils compete in the Senior Order of Merit and programme run by our PGA professionals using the they are then eligible to represent Loretto in matches Loretto Golf Academy Indoor Centre as well as our and tournaments. outdoor practice area. Pupils are able to use the Musselburgh Old Links golf course which is walking The Performance Squad distance from Loretto. The Performance Squad is an extension of our Senior Programme and is for our top golfers. Pupils follow an We are able to offer one-to-one coaching to any of intensive programme of one-to-one coaching, practice, our pupils. tournament play and they are looking to represent Loretto in National Finals. Often these golfers have aspirations to go on to play international golf as well as College Golf in the USA.

“Loretto’s Golf Academy is stellar.” Tatler’s Schools Guide LORETTO GOLF ACADEMY INDOOR CENTRE

2016 heralded the opening of Loretto Golf Academy’s state-of- the-art Indoor Centre. The facility is an indoor golfing paradise and comprises of a main practice area with chipping, pitching, bunker play and putting, as well as two designated teaching studios – putting with SAM PuttLab and video analysis and a Full Swing Studio with Trackman and video analysis.

The centre reinforces Loretto’s status as one of the top golf facilities of its kind in Europe, whilst also providing an invaluable practice resource for our pupils.

The new Indoor Centre enables golf practice throughout the year and has quickly become the very best facility in Scotland.

The Indoor Centre offers 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 also improves the coaching and practice facilities for the 60 strong Development and Senior Squad players, offering them the best possible support to take their game to the next level. “The Loretto Golf Academy Indoor Centre is a unique facility. This is the type of place the next champions will come from.” Sam Torrance OBE STAFF PROFILES

Director of Golf – UKCC Level 4 coaching award. He has now started Rick Valentine his MSc in Sports Coaching through the University of Rick Valentine was born in Birmingham. Dubai and raised in where he pursued many In October 2014, Rick was appointed as National sports before completing a Competition Coach to the Scottish Women’s team. BSc (Hons) in Sports Sci- Within this role he works closely with the national players, ence and Business Studies preparing them for National and International Tournaments at Brunel University. After to include the Home Internationals, European and World completing University he Championships. moved to the USA to attend the San Diego Golf Acade- Rick shares the same passion and love for the game my to work on his own game, as well as achieving an as his Grandmother, Jessie Valentine, who notched Associate degree in Golf Complex Management and up a staggering three British Ladies’ Championships Golf Professional. between 1937 and 1958 in addition to six Scottish Ladies’ Championship titles. Rick moved to Hong Kong and pursued his amateur ca- reer for three years. He represented Hong Kong in the Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Team Champion- Head of Golf Coaching – ships), Namura Cup (Asia Pacific Team Championships) Ryan Scott and Putra Cup (South East Asia Team Championships), Having played at an elite as well as many other international events; he won the amateur level, Ryan joined China Amateur in 2000 as well as being the leading the Professional Golfers’ amateur in the Hong Kong Open in 2001 and 2002. Association in 2004 as an On returning to the UK in 2003, Rick competed in the Assistant Professional and Qualifying School for the Euro Pro Tour; he won a card successfully achieved his and turned professional. degree in Professional Golf in July 2007. Since this time, Since joining Loretto, Rick has become a member he has coached at several of the Professional Golfers’ Association, completing venues across Scotland, the Foundation degree through the University of and accumulated thousands of hours coaching golfers Birmingham. In 2016, he was made a PGA Fellow of many varying abilities, including professional golfers Professional. In September 2015, Rick was one of the competing on the Euro Pro and Challenge Tours. He was first PGA professionals to be awarded the highly coveted successfully awarded ‘PGA Advanced Professional’ status in July 2014 by the British Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) due primarily to his achievements and experiences in golf coaching and his commitment to continual professional learning.

As part of his coaching qualifications and professional development, Ryan completed the Golfing Machines Golf Stroke Engineering Masters (GSEB) qualification becoming one of only a handful of coaches in Scotland to have achieved this status. In addition, in September 2014, he completed a postgraduate diploma (PGDip) in sports coaching at the University of Birmingham, as well as completing the new UKCC Level 3 qualification with the Professional Golfers’ Association. Ryan is undertaking an MSc in sports coaching and as of February 2015, he started coach education work for the PGA in Scotland as a Tutor and Assessor, helping induct new coaches through the PGA Level 1 qualifications. Ryan is on track to become one of the first Level 4 UKCC golf coaches in the United Kingdom. PGA Professional – Since achieving his UKCC Level 2 coaching certificate, Graham Mackay Scott has gone on to coach all types of golfers from Graham turned professional complete beginner to elite. Scott has carried out in 2007 after a successful coaching clinics at numerous schools throughout amateur career competing while working at Scotscraig Golf Club. He coaches at across Scotland at National the ClubGolf summer camps which are held every year and Regional level. Since at local venues across Scotland. turning professional, Graham has played competitively in Scott is also focused on improving his own continual all parts of the UK and Ire- professional development by engaging in coach educa- land. He has participated tion opportunities which will enhance the learning expe- in a number of top events rience of the golfers he works with. Scott is a certified including the Scottish PGA, Irish PGA and British PGA US Kids Level 1 instructor. Assistants’ Championships and has recorded two sec- ond place finishes and a number of top ten places on the PGA of Scotland’s Tartan Tour. Golf Administrator – Lynsey Whitelaw Upon completion of the PGA Foundation degree at the Lynsey Whitelaw joined the University of Birmingham in 2010, Graham turned his Loretto Golf Academy team attention to coaching full time. In the following years in August 2015. Whilst he built a reputation for being a highly knowledgeable working at Stirling Univer- and skilled golf coach. His passion for coaching and sity she gained a wide and developing junior golfers provided the opportunity to varied range of administra- work in at the Darren Clarke Golf School for a tive skills. Lynsey has an period in 2012 and he then became part of the Scottish HND in Interior Design from Golf Academy’s National Development Centre coaching Forth Valley College. programme. Lynsey is also a qualified lifeguard, first aid trained Alongside his coaching commitments, Graham provides and TEFL certified. In her free time, Lynsey is a keen coaching support and mentoring to fellow coaches in golfer and was a member at Dunblane New Golf Club. the East of Scotland as part of the ClubGolf Scotland She currently plays off 11 with the aim of reducing this coach developer programme. to single figures. Her golfing achievements include competing in the club championship semi-finals and Graham has dedicated himself to continuing to develop quarter-finals, winning Dunblane’s mixed open trophy as a professional and currently undertakes a number twice, and making it to the SLGA quarter-finals. of further education courses with UKCC and the Professional Golfers’ Association.

PGA Professional – “Our partnership with Loretto Scott Smith Having studied golf for 3 Golf Academy has grown years at Elmwood College, Scott went on to gain from strength to strength... his BSc in Performance the championship continues Golf from The University of Abertay Dundee. After to grow in popularity, giving successfully playing golf at young players their first big county and collegiate level, Scott turned professional opportunity to compete on in 2012. This took him down the path of completing the Foundation degree in a national stage.” Professional Golf Studies which is run through the PGA Scottish Golf and Birmingham University. CLUBS, CAMPS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Craigielaw Golf Club The Club is the fifth oldest in the world and pride Inspired by the greatest links courses of place is the Old Club Cup which dates back to of Britain, particularly those on land 1774, the oldest trophy still competitively played for which are less dominated by dunes, in the world. Craigielaw is equal to many of the royalmusselburgh.co.uk finest examples of such courses; some of which are conveniently located in the nearby East Lothian area. Musselburgh Old Links Musselburgh Old Links is located Designed by Donald Steel & Co. the course opened in adjacent to Loretto School and 2001 and in this short period has been host to many is the world’s oldest playing golf national events, including the 2006 Scottish Amateur course. The historic course offers Strokeplay Championship and was a qualifying course an ideal facility for practice rounds for the 2007 British Seniors Open at Muirfield. and hold its own very special place in the long tradition of golf both in Scotland With challenging greens, cavernous bunkers and and Loretto. spectacular views over the Firth of Forth, Gullane Hill musselburgholdlinks.co.uk and out towards Edinburgh and Fife, Craigielaw Golf Club is an experience not to be missed.

This is a truly testing traditional links course of over GOLF CAMPS 7,000 yards, the outstanding teaching and practice We run a number of residential and non-residential facilities and a 6-hole short course will provide all players Golf Camps throughout the year. These are designed for with the best possible opportunities. golfers of all abilities. craigielawgolfclub.com • October, December, February and April: non- residential Golf Camp for boys and girls aged 5–11 Archerfield Links • July and August: residential and non-residential Archerfield is a magnificent estate Summer Golf Camps for boys and girls aged 11–16 situated between Gullane and North Berwick in East Lothian. • July and August: residential and non-residential With Grade 1 listed Archerfield Summer Golf and English Camps for boys and girls House lying at its heart, the land at all levels of English aged 11–16 affords magnificent views of Fidra Island and the Fife coastline beyond. For further information, please contact the Loretto Golf Academy – T: (00 44) 131 653 4507 Loretto Golf Academy has been using the facilities at E: [email protected] Archerfield Links since 2011. The two Championship courses are a challenging expression of traditional links courses with sweeping fairways, deep, menacing bunkers and undulating dunes bordering the fairways. GOLF SCHOLARSHIPS The courses have already been enjoyed by a quartet of Golf Scholarships carry a fee reduction of up to 10% Masters Champions, from Gary Player to Ian Woosnam. of the fees. However, Golf Scholarships can be supple- mented by a limited number of means-tested bursaries archerfieldgolfclub.com up to the value of 105%. In order to be considered for a Golf Scholarship, please complete the scholarship The Royal Musselburgh Golf Club application form along with a curriculum vitae of your Situated at the start of the famous child’s experience and a copy of their golf stretch of golf courses on the East certificate. The Director of Golf will invite those potential Lothian Coast, Royal Musselburgh scholars to visit Loretto to be assessed on the course. is a picturesque, 18 hole, 70, parkland course. The course was For further information, please contact the designed by the famous Open Admissions Office – T: (00 44) 131 653 4455 champion and golf architect, James Braid. E: [email protected] “The Loretto Golf Academy provides the kind of focussed sporting development that has only hitherto been available at schools in America.” The Sunday Times “Loretto is one of the most decorated golf schools in the UK.” Scottish Club Golfer Magazine

For further information, please contact: Admissions, Loretto School, Linkfield Road, Musselburgh East Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom EH21 7RE Tel: 00 44 131 653 4455/ 00 44 131 653 4443 Email: [email protected] www.loretto.com

Loretto is a coeducational boarding and day school for pupils aged 0–18

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