Wales Golf take winter training camp to US for first time
Wales Golf take winter training camp to US for first time
Some of the best Welsh amateur golfers have been part of a bespoke Performance Programme winter training camp in America.
Pre Covid, Wales players travelled Portugal to develop their skills over the winter, as well as working together as a national squad, but without those players based at colleges in the United States.
This November, Wales Golf Director of High Performance, Gillian O’Leary and National Team Coach, Neil Matthews made the trip to America, to meet up with Welsh players based in the states and work with them over the Thanksgiving break at the end of the month.
The group consisted of (ALPHA ORDER) Ffion Tynan, Gracie Mayo, Carys Worby, Harriet Lockley, Archie Davies and Alex James, who were hosted by Tony Clarke of PlaneSWING Golf at Orange County National, Florida
It was an opportunity for some US based Welsh players to reunite with each other and spend time with Neil and Gillian, to learn, practice and review their performance plans for the season ahead.
Players travelled from their US college bases Archie – East Tennessee State University , Alex – Lincoln Memorial, Carys – Auburn, Gracie – Oklahoma, Ffion – Arkansas. Harriet is due to join the University of Alabama in 2023.
“Looking to continuously enhance our high performance systems and programme in order to provide the right players with the right support at the right time, delivering a USA Camp over Thanksgiving to support for our US based players, is a really beneficial addition” explained Wales Golf Director of Performance Gillian O’Leary
“In the past those Welsh players at college in the States have effectively been outside the Wales Golf system for long periods until they are released from their colleges and return to Wales in the summer.”
“It used to be one or two players, but in recent years studying in the US has become an increasingly popular route for the best amateur players in Wales to take.
“It is not for everyone, but for those who do go out there we felt it was important to stay in touch over the winter and we had to change our approach.
“This group is likely to include members of the 2023 national teams , as well as competing individually over the Summer. We are keen to monitor and help their progress.
“The US college golf scholarships are very high quality, but there is still a benefit in working together as a Welsh group.
The team is hopeful for opportunities for more US camps in the future.
