Leonardo Mobility Project Elmwood College - Moving towards the professional tour.: 2012

Monday, 2 April 2012

Team Tournament formats 21st, 22nd and 23rd March

Day 3: Wednesday 21st - The players play Stableford, a points based system with all 5 scores counting towards the total points accumulated.

Day 4: Thursday 22nd - Bad weather hits PGA Catalunya and the course is closed due to heavy rain, thunder and lightning. The improving afternoon weather allows the participants to practice at the range and the short game area.

Day 5: Friday 23rd - Format: Team Stroke play, all scores counting towards the total team score.

Some pictures over the last 3 days:

The new short game area, very dull day but brightens up as the clouds clear.

Tony Zhu embraces the opportunity with the return of the fine weather.

Sorry Callum, buggies for staff only! Good try though.

Blair Stephen plays out a fairway bunker on the 12th hole.

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Tuesday 20th - Stroke play and Barcelona experience

Format Day 2 at PGA - The players play stroke play with the four lowest scores counting towards the total team score.

After warm up and preparation the first 3 ball tee of at 10:30am on the Stadium Course.

A very happy Rory, Gavin and Patrick

4th hole on the stadium course, players look to score points on the difficult par 5.

Barcelona Vs Granada live at the Nou Camp!!

AMsportstours arrange for the participants and staff to go to the Barcelona game in the evening, along with 70,000 fans all travelling to the Nou Camp, this is a must have cultural experience.

The girls ready and kitted out for the game.

Dinner near the Nou Camp before the game.

Gavin, Callum and Patrick before kick off at the Nou Camp.

Accompanying members of staff Anne, Fraser and Gary.

Players and supporters take part in minute silence prior to kick off.

Excellent seats in the front few rows, almost within touching distance of Lionel Messi. The participants are lucky enough to see 8 goals in a 5 - 3 win for Barcelona but also witness history being made as Messi ends the clubs 60 year old goalscoring record with a fantastic hat trick.

Friday, 23 March 2012

Monday 19th - PGA Catalunya Golf Resort

Participants and staff travel by private coach to PGA Catalunya for the second week of the mobility project. After a very successful week staying in central Barcelona and travelling to train and play in tournaments, the players will have a somewhat different experience as they reside on the golf resorts very own hotel. the players will train morning and afternoon and play both the Tour and Stadium course, both of which are championship golf courses.

http://www.pgacatalunya.com/

The Stadium course is now the No 1. Golf course in Spain.

Players at the range, warming up for their first round on the Tour course.

The players are put into teams of 5 for this week and will play in a different format each day. Participants will each take the role of team captain for one full day and are responsible for leading and motivating the team along with any other role they consider important for a team captain. A great opportunity for the players to embrace the role, learn and discover what personal leadership qualities they may have within themselves.

Day 1 - Players have a practice round on the Tour course.

Fraser gives the thumbs up on the first tee!

Euan Glen plays a great second shot to the green on the 5th hole

Sunday 18th - Tournament at Club de Barcelona

Club de Barcelona 5 Vs. 8 Elmwood College

The Tournament at Club de Barcelona took the form of 10 four ball better ball and 3 single matches. Competing against high performance golf club members, a very appropriate and challenging environment was created. Having 2 practice rounds on the course and then competing against players with course experience was another valuable test and experience for the participants on their placement and is exactly what they may face as a professional golfer.

Well done to all the players, a great team effort!

Saturday 17th - Sightseeing and cultural day

An important part of the mobiltiy trip for these aspiring young golfers is to experience different cultural aspects of Spain as a country. The participants are given responsibilty and independance in the city to visit sights, problem solve and interact with the natives.

They begin their day using the most effective way of public transport in Barcelona, the Metro and travel to the very famous La Rambla in central Barcelona where the spend the day.

The group enjoy some of the many entertainers on the most famous street in Barcelona.

Friday 16th Day 2 - Club de Barcelona

The participants compete in a putting medal before their second round on another glorious day.

The 1st hole at Club de Barcelona, Par 5 OB right of cart path and hazard left of bunker. Participants have settled in well with low score of the day a 73 shot by Greig Marchbank.

The last group coming up the 18th

Katie finds the bunker front right of the green but makes a great save to get up and down for par.

Friday, 16 March 2012

Thursday 15th - Day 1 Club de Barcelona

Designed by Jose Maria Olazabal and founded in 1990 club de Barcelona has hosted numerous professional tournaments including the 2007 Catolonia Ladies Masters, part of the ladies European Tour.

Another excellent test for the participants with the demands and tight fairways on the golf course. In their first practice round the players are asked to focus on their golf course management as they get to know the course.

Andrew, Iona and Ross enjoy their first round in the Spanish sun.

Federacio Catalana de Golf 10 pts - 8pts Elmwood College

A very competitive tournament ends with the Spanish snatching a narrow victory. Some very solid performances from the participants under extremely challenging circumstances, and a good test of what it will take to play on the Pro Tour.

Handshakes all round as Fraser and Jason win 2 & 1, but the team just come up short against a very impressive group of young Spanish golfers.