A small School, big on heart, big on ambition.

A SMALL SCHOOL, BIG ON HEART, BIG ON AMBITION

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

Loretto SchoolLoretto School has a long and distinguished history in education. Founded in 1827, Loretto is Scotland’s oldest boarding school. This coeducational boarding and day school occupies 85 acres of leafy campus to the east of Edinburgh and is a gateway to some of the world’s finest links courses. Loretto School is an independent school to just over 600 boarding and day pupils aged 0–18 and home to Europe’s leading Golf Academy. It is a small school, big on heart and big on ambition, renowned for its emphasis on the development of the whole person in mind, body and spirit.

What Is the Loretto Golf Academy?The Loretto Golf Academy, established in 2002 on our campus in East Lothian, is at the forefront of schools’ golf, offering pupils an exceptional opportunity to develop their sporting talent in tandem with a first-class, all-round education.

It is widely recognised as the top independent boarding and day golf school in Europe, attracting young golfers from around the world.

The Loretto Golf Academy boasts innovative practice programmes for both beginners and advanced golfers. Working closely with the performance management and coaching staff within Scottish Golf and in partnership with Championship courses at Craigielaw and Archerfield, the Loretto Golf Academy ensures that it remains at the cutting edge of schools’ golf. It continues to develop an unrivalled programme for aspiring golfers including one-to-one coaching, squad training to include short game, long game and on course sessions. In addition to the golf sessions we include strength and conditioning, nutrition, sport psychology and performance lifestyle often supported by the Scottish Golf Team.

The Academy has been developed by Director of Golf, Rick Valentine. Rick is a PGA Fellow Professional and

UKCC Level 4 coach also leading the Scottish Ladies in his role of National Tournament Coach. Rick is supported by a team of three full-time PGA professionals.

The Academy also supports the game at the grass roots level and in 2016, we celebrated 12 years of sponsorship of the Scottish Boys and Girls Under-14s Championship. We also organise the Loretto Golf Academy Junior Championship and Simmers Cup which is the largest schools’ golf event in the United Kingdom.

Nurturing ExcellenceLoretto’s historic links with golf are unparalleled. Over the years, former pupils of Loretto have captained many of the best known clubs throughout Scotland and the United Kingdom. No fewer than seven former pupils have captained The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St Andrews, whilst eleven have been captain of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the world’s oldest golf club and at least ten have been Captains at Prestwick.

The Loretto Golf Academy in unsurpassed on the circuit 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

• Lou Tan – Represented Hong Kong in the Junior Open 2016

• Maximilian Walz – Captain of Golf 2010/11, represented Louisville and qualified for the Omega European Masters in 2012. Turned professional in 2016 and won his first professional title in only his third event

• Julie Yang – Qualified for the LPGA Tour during the 2015–2016 season

We now deliver golf to 260 pupils a week, between the ages of 5 to 18. Pupils compete in competitions both in the United Kingdom and overseas, with opportunities to take part in championships and exchanges to Spain, the USA and China.

LORETTO SCHOOL AND THE GOLF ACADEMY

“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

Loretto Junior School: From Year 1 (5 years)The Loretto Golf Academy Pathway Programme starts in Year 1 at Loretto Junior School where pupils are able to sign up for golf coaching through the activities programme. These golf coaching sessions are conducted by our PGA professionals and take place in the Loretto Golf Academy Indoor Centre.

When pupils move into Year 4, they start to use local driving ranges to support the programme. Pupils are introduced to the golf course through Junior Medals and as they move up to the top of Loretto Junior School, they are able to compete in National Junior Schools’ Championships.

Loretto Senior School: Golf for all and one-to-one coaching sessionsGolf is available to all pupils at Loretto Senior School. There is access to group coaching through our activities programme run by our PGA professionals using the Loretto Golf Academy Indoor Centre as well as our outdoor practice area. Pupils are able to use the Musselburgh Old Links golf course which is walking distance from Loretto.

We are able to offer one-to-one coaching to any of our pupils.

Junior and Development SquadsLoretto Senior School pupils are able to opt for golf as their major sport. For the youngest pupils, our Junior Squad covers 2nd Form (Year 8) and our Development Squad caters for our 3rd and 4th Forms (Years 9 and 10).

The Golf Programme takes place during games and activity time as pupils are also competing in the major sport of the term. Pupils receive one-to-one coaching as well as the opportunity to compete in our Junior Order of Merit and to represent Loretto in tournaments and matches against other schools.

Senior SquadOnce pupils reach 5th Form (Year 11), they are able to join our Senior Squad and choose golf as their only sport if they wish. There are four main training sessions a week using Loretto’s facilities and our partner golf clubs. Pupils compete in the Senior Order of Merit and they are then eligible to represent Loretto in matches and tournaments.

The Performance SquadThe Performance Squad is an extension of our Senior Programme and is for our top golfers. Pupils follow an intensive programme of one-to-one coaching, practice, 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.

THE PATHWAY PROGRAMME

“Loretto’s Golf Academy is stellar.”Tatler’s Schools Guide

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.

LORETTO GOLF ACADEMYINDOOR CENTRE

“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

Director of Golf – Rick ValentineRick Valentine was born in Dubai and raised in England where he pursued many sports before completing a BSc (Hons) in Sports Sci-ence and Business Studies at Brunel University. After completing University he moved to the USA to attend the San Diego Golf Acade-

my to work on his own game, as well as achieving an Associate degree in Golf Complex Management and Golf Professional.

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-ships), Namura Cup (Asia Pacific Team Championships) and Putra Cup (South East Asia Team Championships), as well as many other international events; he won the China Amateur in 2000 as well as being the leading amateur in the Hong Kong Open in 2001 and 2002. On returning to the UK in 2003, Rick competed in the Qualifying School for the Euro Pro Tour; he won a card and turned professional.

Since joining Loretto, Rick has become a member of the Professional Golfers’ Association, completing the Foundation degree through the University of Birmingham. In 2016, he was made a PGA Fellow Professional. In September 2015, Rick was one of the first PGA professionals to be awarded the highly coveted

UKCC Level 4 coaching award. He has now started his MSc in Sports Coaching through the University of Birmingham.

In October 2014, Rick was appointed as National Competition Coach to the Scottish Women’s team. Within this role he works closely with the national players, preparing them for National and International Tournaments to include the Home Internationals, European and World Championships.

Rick shares the same passion and love for the game as his Grandmother, Jessie Valentine, who notched up a staggering three British Ladies’ Championships between 1937 and 1958 in addition to six Scottish Ladies’ Championship titles.

Head of Golf Coaching – Ryan ScottHaving played at an elite amateur level, Ryan joined the Professional Golfers’ Association in 2004 as an Assistant Professional and successfully achieved his degree in Professional Golf in July 2007. Since this time, he has coached at several venues across Scotland,

and accumulated thousands of hours coaching golfers of many varying abilities, including professional golfers competing on the Euro Pro and Challenge Tours. He was 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.

STAFF PROFILES

PGA Professional – Graham MackayGraham turned professional in 2007 after a successful amateur career competing across Scotland at National and Regional level. Since turning professional, Graham has played competitively in all parts of the UK and Ire-land. He has participated in a number of top events

including the Scottish PGA, Irish PGA and British PGA 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.

Upon completion of the PGA Foundation degree at the University of Birmingham in 2010, Graham turned his attention to coaching full time. In the following years he built a reputation for being a highly knowledgeable and skilled golf coach. His passion for coaching and developing junior golfers provided the opportunity to work in Ireland at the Darren Clarke Golf School for a period in 2012 and he then became part of the Scottish Golf Academy’s National Development Centre coaching programme.

Alongside his coaching commitments, Graham provides coaching support and mentoring to fellow coaches in the East of Scotland as part of the ClubGolf Scotland coach developer programme.

Graham has dedicated himself to continuing to develop as a professional and currently undertakes a number of further education courses with UKCC and the Professional Golfers’ Association.

PGA Professional – Scott SmithHaving studied golf for 3 years at Elmwood College, Scott went on to gain his BSc in Performance Golf from The University of Abertay Dundee. After successfully playing golf at county and collegiate level, Scott turned professional in 2012. This took him

down the path of completing the Foundation degree in Professional Golf Studies which is run through the PGA and Birmingham University.

Since achieving his UKCC Level 2 coaching certificate, Scott has gone on to coach all types of golfers from complete beginner to elite. Scott has carried out coaching clinics at numerous schools throughout Fife while working at Scotscraig Golf Club. He coaches at the ClubGolf summer camps which are held every year at local venues across Scotland.

Scott is also focused on improving his own continual professional development by engaging in coach educa-tion opportunities which will enhance the learning expe-rience of the golfers he works with. Scott is a certified US Kids Level 1 instructor.

Golf Administrator –Lynsey Whitelaw Lynsey Whitelaw joined the Loretto Golf Academy team in August 2015. Whilst working at Stirling Univer-sity she gained a wide and varied range of administra-tive skills. Lynsey has an HND in Interior Design from Forth Valley College.

Lynsey is also a qualified lifeguard, first aid trained and TEFL certified. In her free time, Lynsey is a keen golfer and was a member at Dunblane New Golf Club. She currently plays off 11 with the aim of reducing this to single figures. Her golfing achievements include competing in the club championship semi-finals and quarter-finals, winning Dunblane’s mixed open trophy twice, and making it to the SLGA quarter-finals.

“Our partnership with Loretto Golf Academy has grown from strength to strength... the championship continues to grow in popularity, giving young players their first big opportunity to compete on a national stage.”Scottish Golf

Craigielaw Golf ClubInspired by the greatest links courses of Britain, particularly those on land which are less dominated by dunes, Craigielaw is equal to many of the finest examples of such courses;

some of which are conveniently located in the nearby East Lothian area.

Designed by Donald Steel & Co. the course opened in 2001 and in this short period has been host to many national events, including the 2006 Scottish Amateur Strokeplay Championship and was a qualifying course for the 2007 British Seniors Open at Muirfield.

With challenging greens, cavernous bunkers and spectacular views over the Firth of Forth, Gullane Hill 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 7,000 yards, the outstanding teaching and practice facilities and a 6-hole short course will provide all players with the best possible opportunities.

craigielawgolfclub.com

Archerfield LinksArcherfield is a magnificent estate situated between Gullane and North Berwick in East Lothian. With Grade 1 listed Archerfield House lying at its heart, the land affords magnificent views of Fidra

Island and the Fife coastline beyond.

Loretto Golf Academy has been using the facilities at 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. The courses have already been enjoyed by a quartet of Masters Champions, from Gary Player to Ian Woosnam.

archerfieldgolfclub.com

The Royal Musselburgh Golf ClubSituated at the start of the famous stretch of golf courses on the East Lothian Coast, Royal Musselburgh is a picturesque, 18 hole, par 70, parkland course. The course was designed by the famous Open

champion and golf architect, James Braid.

The Club is the fifth oldest in the world and pride of place is the Old Club Cup which dates back to 1774, the oldest trophy still competitively played for in the world.

royalmusselburgh.co.uk

Musselburgh Old LinksMusselburgh Old Links is located adjacent to Loretto School and is the world’s oldest playing golf course. The historic course offers an ideal facility for practice rounds and hold its own very special

place in the long tradition of golf both in Scotland and Loretto.

musselburgholdlinks.co.uk

GOLF CAMPSWe run a number of residential and non-residential Golf Camps throughout the year. These are designed for golfers of all abilities.

• October, December, February and April: non-residential Golf Camp for boys and girls aged 5–11

• July and August: residential and non-residential Summer Golf Camps for boys and girls aged 11–16

• July and August: residential and non-residential Summer Golf and English Camps for boys and girls

at all levels of English aged 11–16

For further information, please contact the Loretto Golf Academy – T: (00 44) 131 653 4507 E: golfcamps@loretto.com

GOLF SCHOLARSHIPSGolf Scholarships carry a fee reduction of up to 10% of the fees. However, Golf Scholarships can be supple-mented by a limited number of means-tested bursaries up to the value of 105%. In order to be considered for a Golf Scholarship, please complete the scholarship application form along with a curriculum vitae of your child’s experience and a copy of their golf handicap certificate. The Director of Golf will invite those potential scholars to visit Loretto to be assessed on the course.

For further information, please contact the Admissions Office – T: (00 44) 131 653 4455 E: admissions@loretto.com

CLUBS, CAMPS & SCHOLARSHIPS

“The Loretto Golf Academy provides the kind of focussed sporting development that has only hitherto been available at schools in America.”The Sunday Times

Partners:

For further information, please contact:

Admissions, Loretto School, Linkfield Road, MusselburghEast Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom EH21 7RE

Tel: 00 44 131 653 4455/ 00 44 131 653 4443Email: admissions@loretto.com

www.loretto.com

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

MISSION HILLS

“Loretto is one of the most decorated golf schools in the UK.”Scottish Club Golfer Magazine