Perfect autumn sunshine greeted competitors in the tenth YMG Junior Masters to the magnificent Hellidon Lakes Golf Resort on Sunday 21^st October. Young golfers aged 6 to 14 years travelled from throughout the UK to compete, in the hope of emulating former champions who include Walker Cup hero Rhys Pugh and Curtis Cup stars Lisa and Leona Maguire.

The course presented a tough challenge following recent heavy rain, but competition was fierce in all seven age groups. YMG were pleased to welcome many competitors to the event for the first time. However, when it came to the winners it proved once again that there is no substitute for experience.

The Overall Boys Champion, 11 year old Jake Craddock, from Belton Park Golf Club was playing in the event for the fifth year, and used all his experience in a magnificent display of golf, winning by some distance from Zain Saeed from Northcliffe GC.

Thirteen year old Megan Dennis from Woburn was competing for the eighth consecutive year and despite suffering a back injury just days before the event, deservedly became Overall Girls Champion, just edging out Jade Guest of Gog Magog GC.

The Overall 2011 Champions, Age Group Winners and Runners Up can be viewed in the Results Section

If you want to view/donload photos of the event, please  follow this link to the Photos section.

Keep checking the YMG Website for details of next years event - next year it could be YOUR turn to be crowned!

YMG would like to congratulate Jack Singh-Brar on his recent success in the Faldo Series, being crowned Series Champion 2012 at the Lough Earne Resort in Northern Ireland.

Jack started his golf as a YMG Cadet in 2003 and honed his tournament skills in the YMG Junior Masters, becoming Overall Champion in both 2008 and 2009.

YMG Director of Golf Chris Smith says "Jack is a huge talent and has already followed fellow YMG graduate Rhys Pugh to International honours, I am sure he has a great future in golf".

You can see the full story on Jack's winning Faldo Series performance by clicking here.

If you are a budding champion, remember to enter the 2012 YMG Junior Masters - but hurry as entries close on October 5th!

 

YMG will launch the latest A5 level of its internationally acclaimed junior golf development programme on 1 May 2012. This is the latest of the nine, 8-week levels to be launched in the new compact format and it will be followed by the final level, Masters 4 this summer. The new A5  format, which included a complete revison of the first 5 levels (Cadet to Gold) during 2010-11, has proved extremely popular with both Coaches and kids alike.

To date the 72-week programme has attracted over 60,000 youngsters between 6 and 14 yrs and this number continues to grow strongly, with significant interest and participation in 15 countries worldwide. Over 10,000 of these junior golfers have progressed through the Masters levels and YMG is delighted now to be releasing the latest update to the programme.

Potential YMG Professionals can get more information by registering interest @ "Pro2Pro" :

If you are a Junior or a Parent read more @  "YMG the Basics" or search for a YMG course near you @ "Find a Club"

The 2011 YMG Junior Masters Championship was played at the magnificent  Hellidon Lakes Golf Resort on Sunday 23^rd October, where a perfect day allowed all 78 competitors to enjoy the superbly presented golf course. Young golfers, from 6 to 14 years of age, travelled from all over the UK to compete in the ninth YMG Masters in their hope of emulating former champions who include Walker Cup hero Rhys Pugh, and Curtis Cup stars Lisa and Leona Maguire.

A change in rules this year allowed parents to caddy for their children, something frowned upon in many junior events. This proved a very popular move indeed with both parents and competitors, and it added significantly to the family-friendly atmosphere of the day.

Some great golf was played in all seven age group categories with the Overall Boys Champion emerging from the very competitive 10-11 years age group. Aadam Syed, from Foxhills, was crowned Champion helped by three birdies in his round, narrowly beating Sam Mayer from Ridgeway in south Wales. Eloise Healey, now playing her golf at West Lancs Golf Club, was the Overall Girls Champion, finishing a very creditable seven over par at the end of her round and edging out Megan Dennis from Woburn.

Mention must also be made of Emily Walker from The Peter Cowen Golf Academy who won the 8 years and under girls’ division after a dream start of a birdie 2 on the first, and Matthew Sime aged just 8 years, who after travelling from near Dundee in Scotland, finished third in his age group despite playing against boys up to 18 months older than himself.

Plans are now underway for 2012, with a number of YMG clubs looking to hold events throughout the year. So keep logging onto www.ymg-golf.com tournament section for all the latest news.

The Overall 2011 Champions, Age Group Winners and Runners Up can be viewed in the Results Section

If you want to view/purchase the fantastic photos of the event, taken by Godfrey Oboh, follow this link to the Photos section.

YMG is delighted to announce a formal partnership with ShortGolf, the fantasic new first-touch golf equipment range.

To learn more and to view the superb ShortGolf product videos click on this link to go to the ShortGolf section of this website.

Rhys Pugh, a former two time winner of the YMG Junior Masters, played a starring role in Great Britain & Ireland’s historic victory over the USA in the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen G.C.

The youngest player in the event, Rhys won all three of his matches, showing skill and maturity beyond his years in the very testing conditions.

Rhys, 17, started his golf with YMG at Vale of Glamorgan at the age of 9 completing the 32-week programme, and achieving Gold Level, before his two victories in the Junior Masters.

YMG wish Rhys success in the next stage of his golf career, which begins later this month when he starts university in the USA on a golf scholarship.

Young golfers hoping to follow in Rhys’ footsteps can do so by entering this years YMG Junior Masters at Hellidon Lakes, Northamptonshire, on 23^rd October.

 

Matthew Sime, at just 7 years old, is already a rising star in Scottish junior golf. Based at Kingennie Golf Club near Dundee, he has recently completed successfully the first advanced level of the renowned YMG junior golf development programme at the club. His coach, YMG Head Professional Craig Donaldson, who has coached over 150 juniors through more than 350 YMG levels since introducing the programme in 2008, said: “Matthew is one of the most talented Juniors I have seen for his age and achieving a Distinction at the Masters 1 Level is a fantastic achievement. The excellent YMG programme is perfect for Matthew as it is giving him such a solid and comprehensive base to build on. He is already progressing to Masters 2, the next of 3 further advanced levels.”

Matthew has previously qualified to play in the final of the HSBC Wee Wonders tournament in St Andrews and been picked to play at Pinehurst in America. YMG’s Chris Smith, founding Director of YMG added: “It is so rewarding for to see juniors of this age embarking successfully on their golfing journey, which can last a lifetime. All of us here at YMG wish Matthew great success and look forward to seeing him challenging for silverware at the YMG Junior Masters Championship in October!”

Life has gone full circle for a Knaresborough golf professional who is now teaching youngsters the same coaching programme which developed his passion for the sport.

Graeme Steven, 21, an assistant pro at Knaresborough GC (above), joined the Young Masters Golf (YMG) programme  at Knaresborough aged just 14. And last Saturday, almost seven years to the day that he joined, he relaunched YMG at the club in the hope of instilling the same passion for the game into today’s youngsters, that he discovered back in 2004.

Steven turned pro only in October last year, although he has worked in the club shop for some time and is already a familiar face to members and regular visitors.

He said: "I still have my original YMG folder. It was a good, enjoyable course and I did quite well in the national competitions. I really enjoyed my golf as a result of the programme and got into coaching through that.

"It’s a very good system for coaching youngsters, but what I also like about it is that it teaches you the rules, etiquette and golf knowledge – as well as the skills – which I believe is very important. And what’s more it’s fun – and that’s the main factor for the youngsters. It keeps them interested."

Developed by a team of highly experienced PGA professionals, the YMG programme is the ultimate solution for boys and girls from the ages of six to 14-years-old who want to start playing golf or, if they already play, to improve.

The programme has recently been overhauled and improved to offer a focused approach to golf development, but its ethos is as it always was: to encourage youngsters to participate in golf and to teach them the basics, rules and etiquette of the sport, through the auspices of PGA-trained professionals.

Chris Smith PGA, sales director for YMG in the UK, said: "The YMG programme has been utilised at Knaresborough previously but, sadly, when the pro moved on it stopped. Many of the youngsters followed him to his new club which is one of the benefits of the YMG system as it is transferable.

"But that did not help the youngsters who remained. So we are delighted that one of our own students has progressed to the stage where he wants to impart the same knowledge on to another generation. We wish him well and look forward to hearing about the exploits of Knaresborough’s newest generation of golfers."

Places are still available on Graeme Steven’s YMG courses at Knaresborough and anybody interested in learning more or signing up should contact him on 01423 864865 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The De Vere Oulton Hall hotel, course pictured above, has been named Young Masters Golf’s top performing club for a third successive year following a hugely successful 2010 in which more than 300 youngsters participated in the scheme at the Leeds venue.

Developed by a team of highly experienced PGA professionals, the Young Masters Golf (YMG) programme is the ultimate solution for boys and girls from the ages of six to 14-years-old who want to start playing golf or, if they already play, to improve.

The stunning 18^th century grade II listed mansion is renowned for its luxury hotel and award-winning cuisine. But clearly, it’s not just hotel rooms and food at which Oulton Hall excels. Its 27-hole golf complex also boasts the north of England's leading golf performance centre, and PGA pro Mark Davis is the golf club’s junior development manager.

He delivers the YMG programme at the venue and has been delighted to see the success it has brought to both club and pupils.

He said: “Over the last few years I have seen a huge surge in the amount of young people taking an interest in golf and I am thrilled that so many are taking up this great sport.

“The YMG programme is the best of its kind and allows for every young person to learn golf in a fun friendly way where they can make real improvements to their game and see results which are delivered in a child-friendly way.

“Had YMG been available when I started playing at age eight, I am confident I would have been an even better golfer than the one I am today. As a PGA golf professional I have a good knowledge of what works in coaching young people, and what doesn’t and I am confident in the brand of YMG and truly believe it is the best programme for young people on the market today.

“I am proud to say that under my instruction Oulton Hall has been the top academy for YMG in 2008, 2009, and 2010, which is huge achievement and means an enormous amount to me. With the help of YMG I have been able to develop the junior academy at Oulton Hall into a resounding success.”

Davis is full of praise for the many youngsters who have helped elevate Oulton Hall’s academy to such heights.

He added: “I would like to say a huge thank you to all young people who have participated in the YMG program at Oulton Hall. Their enthusiasm and commitment to the program has been absolutely brilliant.

“There are a number of young people who have stood out to me during my time as the junior development manager but the person who stands out to me the most is Jake Ward who has made phenomenal progress throughout this program, who now plays off a handicap of 10 at the tender age of 13.

“I remain keen to see even more youngsters progress through all levels of the programme as I believe it works and can greatly improve any ability.”
www.markdavisgolf.co.uk

Golfing prodigy Adam Carnell, above, has been made junior captain of Rochester & Cobham GC at the tender age of just 12.

It’s quite an achievement for somebody who, having now turned 13, is five years younger than some of his contemporaries.

However, it won’t come as too much of a surprise for those familiar with him, as he has shown a natural bent for fast-tracking his golfing career, having completed the Young Masters Golf (YMG) coaching programme in just three years.

YMG director Chris Smith said: “The structured nature and broad content of the YMG programme does seem to really help youngsters mature into the game. By including both rules and etiquette alongside learning to play, it provides a very rounded experience.

“Not everybody can go on to become a captain but naturally we’re hugely proud of anybody who achieves as a result of attending our courses.”

Adam, who lives in Cliffe Woods and attends Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School, currently plays off an impressive handicap of 6.3 – just six years after starting to learn the game with the Young Masters Golf (YMG) programme at his first club, Southern Valley.

He continued his YMG education at Rochester & Cobham and then Thamesview Golf Centre after his coach left Southern Valley. He returned to Rochester & Cobham as a member in 2007 after completing the course.

He made his debut for the Kent county side at under-13 level last year and has retained his place in the under-14 set-up. And only last weekend, in very difficult conditions, he came fourth in a field of 92 in the club’s adult monthly Stableford competition, a single point behind the winner.

Mum Paula said: “Naturally my husband and I are very proud of what he’s achieved. Not only to get to the position of junior captain and to represent his county but also that he could do it while studying and passing his 11-plus.

“YMG played a huge part in Adam’s golfing education and it’s all credit to the transferability of the system that he could move clubs with his YMG file and history and simply pick up where he left off with no lapse in his coaching.”

Smith added: “Adam’s success is admirable and we are very proud that YMG has been able to lay the foundations for what could be a long and successful golfing career.

“Adam is a beacon for YMG, a real ambassador for the programme and a great example to all youngsters whether they play golf or not.”

Developed by a team of highly experienced PGA professionals, the YMG programme is the ultimate solution for boys and girls from the ages of six to 14-years-old who want to start playing golf or, if they already play, to improve. And more than 60,000 youngsters have participated in the course over the last eight years.

Golf in Nigeria has received a boost with news that Young Masters Golf (YMG), the popular youth development course, will launch there soon.
The license to spread YMG across the West African country has been secured by 2AT (To A Tee Nigeria Ltd), which plans to deliver the programme in schools.
Seyi Badmos, a director of 2AT, explained: “We aim to introduce golf in a fun and accessible way to as many children as possible, while increasing the popularity of golf tuition among the Nigerian youth and growing and sustaining golf in the country.”
There are currently 43 golf clubs in Nigeria, but the sport is gaining in popularity, picture above.
Badmos added: “Golf in Nigeria is gradually developing with a surge in the development of new golfing facilities, but unfortunately not many youths are involved in the game owing to a lack of appreciable knowledge about the sport, which inadvertently makes most people term it as elitist. There is, therefore, a need to bring more youths to the sport.”
The YMG programme is already used in South Africa and the Sudan – just two of an expanding list of 13 countries using the training course.
Developed by a team of highly experienced PGA professionals, the YMG programme is the ultimate solution for boys and girls from the ages of six to 14-years-old who want to start playing golf or, if they already play, to improve.
The programme has recently been overhauled and improved to offer a focused approach to golf development, but its ethos is as it always was: to encourage youngsters to participate in golf and to teach them the basics, rules and etiquette of the sport, through the auspices of PGA-trained professionals.
Chris Smith PGA, sales director for YMG in the UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome Nigeria to our list of participating countries and feel sure it will help to develop the game in a country where youngsters are always so enthusiastic about sport.
“We will continue to work hard to take YMG to any part of the globe where golf pros believe it may help improve participation.”

Students on the Young Masters Golf (YMG) programme helped illustrate the possible legacy of hosting one of the world's biggest tournaments, at Forest Pines Hotel and Golf Resort, in North Lincolnshire.
The resort, near Broughton, is in the final stages of bidding for the right to stage the 2015 Solheim Cup.
A key part of the bid is the promise by resort bosses to make golf accessible to around 17,500 children across the region as a direct result of hosting the tournament, which is the female equivalent of the Ryder Cup.
To highlight the opportunities for children, 15 YMG students were at the resort this week, taking part in various golfing activities. The programme is run by Forest Pines to give kids a taste of the game and develop their skills.
Among those taking part in the day was Hannah Bowker, 13, who has been playing golf since she was four.
Hannah, pictured, said: "It would be amazing to get the Solheim Cup because for me it is just a hobby now, but getting the golf club to do something like this would be absolutely amazing. I am proud that our golf club has come this far.
"I would probably want to get into golf more seriously but for now, it is just a hobby. Hopefully, I will play in something like the Solheim Cup one day."
■ For full story see the Scunthorpe Telegraph  

Several former Young Masters Golf (YMG) students have taken the first step on the ladder of national recognition by being called up to the English Women’s Golf Association’s five Birdie training squads for 2010/11.
Lily Farr, from Gainsborough (pictured), Bethany Griffin, from Horsley Lodge, in Derbyshire, and Imogen Huxley, of Rutland County, Lincolnshire, have all been included in the 32-strong training squad for the country’s youngest and most promising players.
Farr achieved her gold YMG status in May 2005, while Griffin went on to attain Masters 2 level in November 2006. And Huxley, who spent four years in the scheme, reached the gold level in May 2007.
YMG’s founding director Chris Smith was delighted to learn of the girls’ success in being chosen for the Birdie squads.
He said: “We’re always pleased to hear of our former students’ progress in golf and we congratulate the girls on their achievement. I’m sure, with the benefit of the experience they will gain from these squads, we will see them continue to progress in golf.”
■ Have you been on a YMG course and continued to achieve at golf? If so, YMG would be delighted to hear from you. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A two-time Young Masters Golf (YMG) champion represented Wales in the recent men’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy in Buenos Aires.
Rhys Pugh, 17, pictured above, won the YMG boys’ title in 2003 and 2004 and completed the course at Vale of Glamorgan and Ridgeway, before continuing to progress as an amateur golfer, including appearances in the home internationals and the European boys’ team championships.
His inclusion in the Welsh team for the prestigious biennial event – played over two courses, the Buenos Aires and Olivos Golf Clubs, outside the capital city of Argentina – is just the latest feather in his cap and has helped him to earn the world amateur ranking of 171.
A total of 69 national teams participated in inclement weather that saw two stoppages because of lightning, and subsequently the event was reduced from 72 to 54 holes.
Partnered by Alistair Jones and Oliver Farr, Pugh’s team were tied 21st with Spain, Austria and Finland, 26 shots behind the winners France.
Scotland were fifth, Ireland sixth and England were tied eighth.
For full details visit http://tinyurl.com/2f2pmul

 

Young Masters Golf (YMG) officials watched with interest as England under-16s’ match with Scotland at Dinsdale Spa GC was abandoned owing to bad weather on Sunday – for one of the home team was a graduate of the scheme.
Hallamshire GC’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, left, who graduated from the scheme at Pete Cowan’s Golf Academy in August 2006 after having started at the cadet stage 17 months earlier, was involved in one of the few games played to a finish in the match – he secured a half playing with captain Toby Tree.
And team-mate Max Orrin, from North Foreland GC, in Kent, who is also a former member of the scheme and has won in the programme’s tournament series, also finished his match. But, playing with Jamie Clare, he lost 4&3.
Chris Smith PGA, founding director of YMG in the UK, said: “Congratulations to them both. It is very rewarding when we see former YMG students progressing to this level of competition – and very exciting for us. It’s just a shame the match fell victim to the weather.
“But while we are naturally delighted to see the progress made by people like Matthew and Max, it’s just as important for us to see hundreds of other youngsters achieve a standard of play which means they will continue to play and enjoy golf for the rest of their life.
“While producing international golfers is a great fillip for YMG it is not our raison d’etre, which is to enable youngsters between the ages of six and 14-years-old to start playing golf or, if they already play, to improve. And that will always be our function.”
YMG has developed a prolific reputation as the best junior golf training course around. To date, the training scheme has been responsible for the progression of more than 60,000 young golfers and it continues to grow in popularity.

Young Masters Golf (YMG) has teamed up with TopGolf centres across the country to bring even more comprehensive training and support for keen young golfers.
The popular training course, aimed at ambitious golfers aged between six and 14, will soon be available at TopGolf’s three UK centres in Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire.
YMG’s knowledge and application of youth development in golf is second to none while TopGolf provides superb, unrivalled facilities, making for a very successful partnership.
The YMG programme was launched at TopGolf on September 1, 2010, and uses qualified PGA coaches at the centres to deliver the scheme to a brand new set of pupils.
Like YMG, TopGolf has become synonymous with junior golf, gathering more junior members in the UK than all of the other centres combined.
The chain prides itself on making golf fun and accessible for young golfers without some of the formal restrictions that come with being a member at a normal club.
They believe that changing a few small things in golf, such as dress codes and the amount of noise allowed, can make a big difference to the appeal of golf to youngsters. This should combine well with the YMG course as it teaches trainees the etiquette of golf in a fun and friendly manner, developing a respect for this side of the game over time.
The arrangement will have a number of obvious benefits for the TopGolf brand.
Adam McKinley, head of the Golf Associate Programme at TopGolf, said: “TopGolf sees itself as delivering the golfers of the future. Until now we’ve always been able to attract young golfers but we want to be able to help them take the next step into golf.
“We’ve targeted Young Masters Golf as a great way of getting our juniors into the mainstream golf arena. The programme will help us take that next step in producing some of the finest golfers of tomorrow.
“We’re also looking to partner up with local schools to recruit more junior golfers with the YMG scheme to give them quality, enjoyable training with a positive end result.”
YMG has developed a prolific reputation as the best golf training course around and this exciting new partnership will only extend its already impressive capabilities. To date, the training scheme has already been responsible for the progression of over 60,000 young golfers and it continues to grow in popularity.
Meanwhile TopGolf has used its revolutionary golf technology to expand both sides of the Atlantic with three major bases in both England and USA. Using microchip technology the centres offer interactive activities and feedback for golfers of all abilities, making it ideally suited to the progression system of training employed by the YMG system.

Some of the youngsters who will benefit from the YMG programme in Hong Kong

Only days after launching a new website, the popular Young Masters Golf (YMG) programme has a new client in the Far East: the prestigious Hong Kong Golf Club.
One of the premier golfing venues in Asia, the Hong Kong GC has hosted the Hong Kong Open since its inception and has seen such golfing glitterati as Peter Thomson, Tom Watson, Bernhard Langer and Jose-Maria Olazabal walk off with the title.
The club’s senior teaching professional, Daniel O’Neill, said: “We have a buoyant juniors section here and we were very impressed with the Young Masters Golf programme when we were first introduced to it.
“Subsequently we have also been delighted with the service and support we have received from the YMG headquarters in the UK. All materials were delivered promptly to us and our management and members have been very impressed with the programme.
“We are scheduled to begin the first cadets’ course in September at the end of summer holidays and I’m sure it will prove a huge success. We’re looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship between YMG and the Hong Kong Golf Club.
“And I’m sure, once it proves successful here, the YMG programme will expand further across the continent.”
Developed by a team of highly experienced PGA professionals, the YMG programme is the ultimate solution for boys and girls from the ages of six to 14-years-old who want to start playing golf or, if they already play, to improve.
Jonathan Apps, the Operations Director for YMG in the UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Hong Kong GC to our list of clients and feel sure both it and its junior members will enjoy and benefit from the new YMG programme and materials.
“It is our avowed intention to take YMG to any part of the globe where golf pros believe it may help improve participation. Indeed, only recently, we were in Lithuania at the request of the R&A.”
Currently the YMG programme is available in 12 countries worldwide and in the UK there is constant interest from clubs wanting to learn more about how YMG can help in the drive for new members.

Leona, left, and Lisa, pictured in 2008

Former Young Masters Golf student Leona Maguire has been named on the Junior European Ryder Cup team to play the Americans this autumn — but there was no place for twin sister Lisa, also a graduate of the scheme.

The Irish twins played in the event two years ago in Kentucky when the USA won a one-sided encounter 12-2.

Leona, 15, was a wild card pick for this year’s team which is made up of both boys and girls.

Both girls, from Slieve Russell in Co Cavan, did feature, however, in the Curtis Cup team which lost 12½-7½ to the USA in Massachusetts, in June.

And both are scheduled to take part in next week’s AIB Ladies Irish Open, at Killeen Castle, from August 6-8.

A student of the Young Masters Golf programme took part in the final of the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship in San Diego in July … at the age of six!

Rory McDonald O’Brien, from Telford, progressed to the gold level of the Young Masters Golf programme at the 3 Hammers Golf Academy in Wolverhampton, under the tutelage of professional Andy Proudman.

Andy Proudman said: “We’re all really proud of Rory – he has a gift for golf and it’s great to watch him progress. He’s a true local talent and we hope that he goes all the way.”

A pupil at St Winifred’s School, Shrewsbury, young Rory hopes to follow in the footsteps of his golfing heroes Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, who all played in the Callaway Junior Championships as youngsters.