Sunday, October 23, 2016

AYRSHIRE ELITE SQUAD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME - Applications sought for Trials Day for 2016 - 17 programme

The Ayrshire Golf Association will be continuing an Elite Squad Development Programme over the winter months, with the first stage being a trials day on Sunday 6th November to allow the coaches and officials to finalise the participants to be invited to take part in the programme this winter.


For the Trials Day, at Brunsston Castle GC, The Ayrshire Golf Association will invite around 20 players as well as extending an open invite to any golfer who feels they meet the criteria required.

Self nominations are invited, with the general qualifying criteria being :-
Age – Under 16 - handicap  around 11 or lower
Age – Under 18 – handicap around 6 or lower

To secure a place in the Trials day, or obtain further information, players must contact the AGA Coaching Convener, Scott Gilchrist by email at asgil8@aol.com prior to the Trials Day.

Each player will be evaluated and be in discussion with regards to their coaching process, mindset, handicap info, goals and achievements and commitment to representing county and country.

After the trials day each player in attendance will then receive communication as to whether they have been selected to take part in the Elite Squad Development programme.

Whilst participation in the Elite Squad Development Programme would be an advantage, non selection does not mean that these players will not be selected or represent Ayrshire over the coming years, but it simply means they have been unfortunate to miss the programme this winter.

The Elite Squad Development Programme this year will be altered slightly from previous years with the intent to identify and support Ayrshires top junior golfers and provide a service that will help progress each golfer’s individual needs and goals as well as assisting the county to assess and identify who are the best players to represent the county.

It is also hoped to set up a Futures Squad Development Programme that will involve some coaching, to identify and make both Ayrshire Golf Association aware of want talent the county has at a younger age and let these younger golfers put their abilities on show.

Once the participants have been selected, Elite squad development programme sessions will take place at Brunston Castle and Prestwick golf clubs, where the squad will be evaluated and will be helped to progress their overall golf game through the winter season ahead.

During the winter months, the Elite Squad Development Programme will include two golf specific fitness sessions which will focus on giving the golfers an education and understanding of flexibility, core work and strength conditioning, directly aimed at improving their golfing ability, and four golf assessments including one on the course at Prestwick GC, which will help identify where each individual player can be assisted the most. This will also be used to deliver a record of progress over time.

The golf programme will be delivered by two of Ayrshire’s top teaching professionals David Fleming and Richard Gordon and will be further supported with other inputs on related subjects such as the rules.

There will be a financial contribution of £50 requested from players who are successful in gaining a place in the squad following the Trials day, which will cover a small percentage of the overall costs of the programme, with the remainder being met by the AGA.


It is important to stress that players who are already being coached by a professional external to the AGA’s coaching team are also encouraged to attend. Players can be assured that the team of coaching professionals will not interfere in any technical area unless specifically requested to do so by the player, but the AGA are confident that the additional non technical coaching available will benefit all players. 

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