This is a link to a clip from Sky Sports “Golf Night” and their coverage of the Nick Faldo Series 2009.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid271552671?bctid=52737204001
Bondhay’s Dan Wasteney is visible in the opening clips.
The Bondhay Junior Academy Golden Ticket will be awarded to the winner of a 72 hole competition played over 2 weekends on the Championship Course:
Handicap Limit: 6+
Saturdays: Full Handicap Stableford
Sundays: Medal
All scores added for a final total 72 hole score.
Entry Fee £6.00 – open to all juniors.
Entry sheet available on the junior notice board.
The England Golf Partnership has launched a new programme to help gifted young golfers improve their game while continuing with full-time education.
‘England Futures’ aims to provide targeted support to England’s most talented young golfers during perhaps the most critical phase of their development – when they need to manage their academic work with the progression of their sport skills.
This is a joint initiative launched by the English Golf Union (EGU) and English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) and utilises funding linked to the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) programme, a government funded scheme developed by ‘Skills Active’, the skills sector council for sport.
England Futures is fully endorsed and supported by The England Golf Partnership, a partnership made up of all of the major governing bodies in English Golf including The PGA, the English Golf Union, the English Women’s Golf Association and the Golf Foundation.
The AASE lasts for two years and is open to players aged 16-19 who are in full-time education studying A-levels (in any subject) or BTEC qualifications (in sports related subjects). The programme combines the existing academic study with a carefully structured golf development programme which is encompassed within an NVQ in Sports Performance and Excellence.
This qualification is specifically designed to foster the development of the aspiring elite golfer as well as providing progression routes into Higher Education (for example, The PGA’s Foundation Degree) and other careers within the sport.
For England Futures, The EGU and EWGA are looking for young people with the drive and commitment to do their best both academically and within their golf training. Each England Futures player will already have a track record of playing competitive amateur golf to a high level, nationally or within their region.
In return the England Futures player will receive top class coaching from specially selected England coaches, a complete package of sports science support including bio-mechanics, strength and conditioning and psychological training, as well as additional resources to meet competition and tournament expenses.
Peter Mattsson, Director of Coaching at the EGU, said: “The fact that a player can combine their studies with their golf into one package is fantastic. Players will be guided to ensure that their competitive and training schedules are organised so as not to impact on study for exams in the middle of the competitive season, the added advantage of course is that with this programme the experience gained during the competitive season contributes to their studies!”
The England Golf Partnership is specifically looking to encourage more girls to participate in the initiative. Linda Bayman, Performance Director at EWGA, said: “The scheme is ideal for girls looking to further their careers in the game at a time when they are put under pressure to follow an educational pathway. AASE is the best of both worlds, education, leading to a career or a place at university coupled with a golf training programme which could lead to a life as a professional.”
There are a limited number of places on the programme and so far candidates have been invited to apply through the EGU and EWGA network. Young players can still apply for a place on this initiative up until the end of the year and it starts in the spring of 2010. Application forms are available on www.englishgolfunion.org and www.englishwomensgolf.org. The closing date for applications is 31st December 2009.
Lee Westwood has added to his stellar year in world golf by agreeing to become a Golf Roots Ambassador for leading golf charity the Golf Foundation.
The Ryder Cup star recently won the 2009 Race to Dubai to make him Europe’s number one player for the year. As someone who clearly cares about junior grass roots golf, in his most successful season in golf he has chosen to support Golf Roots, the national project which aims to develop playing and personal skills amongst all young people.
Lee has for the last eight years endorsed the Golf Foundation’s ‘Charity Challenge’, a popular fundraising initiative for the charity that supports the national golf partnerships of England, Scotland and Wales.
The Golf Foundation honoured Lee during this year’s Open Championship at Turnberry, presenting him with its prestigious ‘Spirit of Golf’ Award. The award recognises a superb contribution to junior golf by a leading player. Previous winners are Gary Player and Tony Jacklin.
Mike Round, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “Lee Westwood has been a great inspiration to many young golfers and we are all delighted that he has agreed to become a Golf Roots Ambassador.
More information on the PGA European Tour website here.
Boy international Jonathan Bell will look to make it a happy New Year by becoming only the second English player to lift the title when he represents the English Golf Union in the annual Junior Orange Bowl in Florida at the end of the month.
Ben Parker, now a professional, won the event in 2005 while Stiggy Hodgson was runner-up a year ago. But no other English player has managed to win the prestigious American tournament which will be played at its regular venue of the Biltmore Golf Club in Florida on 27th – 30th December.
The Kent-based teenager from the Royal Blackheath club has also been successful in individual events for the past six years. He was the English Under 14 Champion in 2004 at the age of 12 and finished runner-up and third in the Douglas Johns Trophy in the following two years.
He enjoyed a highly successful 2008 winning the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters and the South East Junior Championship, was third in the Fairhaven Trophy as well as being a member of the four-strong winning England team in the Honda Junior Championship in Japan.
In 2009, Bell has finished runner-up in the Lee Westwood Trophy, fourth when defending the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters title, and fourth in the Lagonda Trophy while he was also a member of the victorious Boys Home Internationals team. Recently, he won the Under 18 title in the Faldo Series Grand Final in Brazil.
The Orange Bowl, one of the most prestigious Under 18 events in the world, has separate boys and girls tournaments played over 72 holes of stroke play
