Sport360°’s 2014 guide to the UAE’s best junior academies – golf

Sport360 staff 18:02 24/09/2014
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  • Stunning course: AL Badia offers top-level junior coaching on a world-class course.

    As we wave goodbye to the UAE's fierce summer heat for another year, it's time to welcome the return of more comfortable tempatures that bring with it the start of a new sporting season in the emirates.

    To mark the return of the new season, we have put together a comprehensive guide to the best junior sports academies where the youth of our nation can enjoy their favourite sports under the guidance of top coaching within top-class facilities.

    In part three, we look at the best golf academies for kids in the UAE.

    DUBAI CREEK & EMIRATES GOLF CLUB

    The new season of Dubai Golf junior development programme, available at Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, is now open for registration.

    The Golf Professionals at both clubs have utilised their knowledge and expertise to create the Dubai Golf Junior Programme which allows golfers to move through different levels as their skills and experience develop.

    The Dubai Golf Junior Programme has been created for youngsters of all levels of golfing experience aged between seven and 17 years old and follows different levels as participants become more experienced golfers.

    The Little Champions programme has been designed specifically for children aged between four and six years old and it is an ideal way to introduce children to the game of golf.

    Eight-week packages at Dubai Creek are available from Dh875 inclusive of all equipment hire if required. Rate for members is Dh775.

    At Emirates Golf Club, it is a 15-week programme, and costs Dh1,500 for members and Dh1,700 for guests. Each child will receive a Dubai Golf Junior Passbook, which contains all levels of development with physical and technical challenges for each level, as well as exercises, rules, challenges and online tuition.

    The packages also include unlimited use of academy facilities for the duration of the programme, equipment use, and certificates of achievement. Rates and duration of terms differ at Dubai Creek and Emirates Golf Club.

    Contact details

    For Emirates Golf club
    Call: 04 417 9999
    E-mail: [email protected]

    For Dubai Creek
    Call: 04 205 4666
    E-mail: [email protected]

    JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES

    The Junior Master Class at Jumeirah Golf Estates state-of- the-art European Tour Performance Institute recommences in October.

    The programmes create the ideal learning environment to develop the golf stars of tomorrow with informative and relaxed training sessions creating a fun learning experience.

    The nine-week Junior Foundation programme, targeted at children aged four and seven years old and priced at Dh895, works with ‘short golf equipment’. These equipment are better matched to suit their physical strength and size.

    The Junior Development and Performance programmes are also for nine weeks and are targeted for juniors aged eight to 16. The weekly classes are of 90 minutes, including 30 minutes fitness for golf, followed by a one-hour golf lesson which is split between 30 minutes short game technique and 30 minutes long game.

    Cost of these programmes are Dh1,395. Term 1 starts October 9.

    Contact details
    Call: 04 433 7777
    E-mail: etpi@jumeirahgolf estates.com

    AL BADIA GOLF CLUB

    The Golf Academy at Al Badia Golf Club has a strong junior programme with over 150 young golfers attending their weekly sessions.

    The Al Badia Junior Athlete Golfer Programme has restarted from September 21. This year will see the programme run over 28 weeks and has been specifically designed to build foundations for your children to learn golf and develop their skills on the course.

    The programme is designed for children aged four to 18 and covers all areas of the game. Basic one term package starts at Dh800 for seven weeks, while the four-term, 28-week programme is for Dh2,600 as well as 13 specific session times per week.

    Al Badia pros promise they will find the appropriate time and your child will learn in a fun and informative environment.

    Contact details
    Call: 04 601 0101
    E-mail: [email protected]

    BUTCH HARMON SCHOOL OF GOLF

    The Junior Development Pro-gramme at the Butch Harmon School of Golf (BHSG) at The Els Club has had a fantastic response once again.

    The programme is based on a Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) philosophy which incorporates not only golf skills but also functional movements such as throwing, catching and striking.

    BHSG believe these skills will help the children advance their golf skills far more efficiently than specialising in solely golf skills at such an early age. All juniors enter the programme in either their ‘Active Start’ or ‘Fundamentals’ group. Active Start is aimed at ages three to 5 years.

    These are shorter classes and are designed to help basic movements. The kids then advance to the Fundamentals groups – which is divided in two age categories, 1 (five to eight) and 2 (nine to 15).

    While the focus remains on functional movement, BHSG begins to add in far more specific golf skills with special impetus on grip, posture and movement of the club.

    For the juniors to advance from Fundamentals to ‘course ready’, it is dependent on their development at the sport. As they become more advanced in their striking ability, they are given frequent tests which will allow them to advance to ‘course ready’ and ‘tournament ready’ groups.

    This season, the programme will run in three terms of nine weeks. Term rates for Active Start is Dh700; for Fundamentals, it is Dh1,375, while for more advanced courses, it is Dh1,675.

    Contact details
    Call: 04 425 1040
    E-mail: [email protected]

    ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB

    The Junior Academy Programme at Arabian Ranches Golf Club starts October 5, and offers three levels of coaching to boys and girls from the age of four upwards.

    Their Active Start class (for ages four to six) is built around movement skills and introducing golf in a fun and friendly form before progressing to FUNdamentals (ages seven and up). In this level, the Arabian Ranches professionals work through a greater understanding of the game and how the golf swing generates power and control. 

    Kids then progress to Learn to Play (ages nine and above, selection on basis of merit), which focuses more on golf course play and how to put all the learned skills into action. The terms are of 10-week duration. The programme is sponsored by Audi.

    Contact details
    Call: 04 366 4700
    E-mail: Scott Clelland at [email protected]

    GRASS ROOTS GOLF UAE

    Grass Roots Golf provides an accessible way for children to experience the game and develop into enthusiastic and capable golfers, motivating children to get outdoors and be active.

    Their programme is specifically tailored to improve key gross motor skills, including balance and coordination, which are essential for a healthy and physical development.

    Grass Roots Golf have their base at The Track Meydan, but also take their programme to various schools in Dubai, including Raffles and American School Dubai. Prices vary depending on the number of weeks.

    Contact details
    Call: 050 4579120
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: www.grassrootsgolfuae.com

    YAS LINKS ABU DHABI

    Following their successful hosting of the Junior Open Day, Yas Links have rolled out a host of development programmes for junior golfers this season.

    There is a Yas Lynxes Junior Development Passport for children aged five to 14 years, and then there is Teen Development Programme for ages 12-18. And to put their learning to good use, these golfers and others in UAE, can also take part in the Yas Links Junior Par 3 Series. 

    Both Junior and Teen Development Passport are eight-week programme comprising eight stages during which a novice will progress to becoming a course-ready.

    The juniors can choose one of four days – Mondays (4.30 to 5.30pm), Wednesdays (5-6pm), Thursdays (5-6pm) and Fridays (3-4pm). The teen classes are on Sundays and Thursdays (6-7pm both days).

    The whole programme is priced at Dh595 for both juniors and teens. The Yas Links Junior Par 3 Series will be played every month, starting the inaugural event on October 31. The last event is scheduled for May 29.

    Competition will be held in handicap and non-handicap divisions. Entry fee is Dh50, which includes F&B afterwards.

    Contact details
    Call: 02 810 7710
    E-mail: Anthony Buchanan abuchanan@yaslinks

    AL HAMRA GOLF CLUB

    For the young ones in Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Golf Club have lined up two excellent programmes starting October 19 and 21 – Tiger Cubs, an eight-week course designed specifically for kids aged between four and seven; and Young Masters Golf (YMG) Juniors, which is better suited for boys and girls between the ages of eight and 16 years.

    The Tiger Cubs (Dh450 for eight sessions) comprises 45-minute sessions each week where more attention is paid to making golf fun for the kids improve their agility, strength, flexibility and co-ordination.

    The YMG (eight 60-minute sessions for Dh600) scheme is also an eight-week program that covers every aspect of the game such as techniques, rules and etiquette of golf through different levels.

    Starting at cadet level, each YMG student will progress through each course until they achieve the Masters levels. To encourage the kids, Al Hamra is also offering two-month free unlimited use of the Par 3 Academy course, driving range, short game areas and putting green as well as equipment use.

    Contact details
    Call: 07 244 7474.
    E-mail: [email protected]

    ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB & SAADIYAT BEACH

    Troon Golf Abu Dhabi, the region’s leading golf course management specialists, is offering its Future Falcons junior coaching programme at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club and the Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.

    The programmes are designed specifically to encourage juniors to have fun while playing and learning the game. The eight-week programme will focus on fundamental golf skills and functional movement.

    The Future Falcon programme is delivered by Troon’s expert team of PGA qualified coaching professionals and is open to players aged between five and 15 years. There are also Advanced Classes for children who are selected by the instructors based on their performances.

    The first term started on September 21 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and a day later at Saadiyat Beach, but do get in touch with the clubs for possible free spaces in various groups. The rates are Dh595 per child (8 x 60 minute sessions), while the Advance Classes are Dh850 for eight sessions of 120 minutes.

    The Future Falcons is sponsored by the deVere Group.

    Contact details 

    For Abu Dhabi Golf Club
    Call: 02 558 8990
    E-mail: Nick Cork at [email protected]

    For Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
    Call: 02 557 8000
    E-mail: PJ Van March at [email protected]

    SHARJAH GOLF & SHOOTING CLUB

    The Junior Development Programme at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club will be held over three terms, with the first one beginning this month, followed by November and February.

    Each term comprise seven weekly golf lessons, one grading day and one tournament day. Equipment is provided and the participants can use the academy free for the eight-week duration.

    The Programme has been broken down into three division – Fundamentals (ages four to seven, Dh795), Smash (ages seven to 12, Dh850) and Wave (ages 12-18, Dh895).

    Contact details
    Call: 06 548 7777
    E-mail: [email protected]

    READ MORE

    – Sport360°'s 2014 guide to the UAE's best junior academies – football

    – Sport360°'s 2014 guide to the UAE's best junior academies – cricket

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