LORETTO GOLF 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 Scotland’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 links 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 United Kingdom. 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 Golf Club, St Andrews, 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 Foursomes • 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 Germany in European Boys’ Championships, runner-up in British Boys 2013 and German Youth Champion 2014 • Yasemin Sari – Represented Turkey in Queen Sirikit Cup (World Amateur Team Championships) in 2012 The Loretto Golf Academy boasts innovative practice • Lou Tan – Represented Hong Kong 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 Spain, 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 golf course 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 indoor golf 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 England 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.