Jamie set for Texas greens
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AN aspiring Ross-shire golfer has been selected for a "trip of a lifetime" to the other side of the Atlantic.
A 12-strong group, from across the Highlands, will include Muir of Ord youngster Jamie Whittett, who has been chosen to take part in this year’s Grampian Houston Junior Golf tour to Texas in October.
This year’s crop of youngsters will receive coaching from some of the world’s top players, including Steve Elkington and Mark O’Meara, and visit a number of university campuses that provide golf scholarships during the 10-day tour.
It is planned at least one tournament will be played against an American team as part of a major tournament hosted by Bruce Davidson, director of golf at River Oaks Country Club.
The programme, which has seen almost 100 of the north of Scotland’s most talented golfers make a similar trip and more than 30 of them receiving scholarships, is a non-profit making organisation that raises money through an annual Pro-Am tournament.
The trip is organised by the Grampian Houston Junior Golf Committee and is aimed at giving young golfers an opportunity to play in the United States and an opportunity to sample college golf. As a result of the previous biennial trips the committee has secured more than 30 golf scholarships for junior golfers, making it the most successful programme of its type in the country.
Grampian Houston Junior Golf was founded in 1992 by Bruce Davidson, the current director of golf at the prestigious River Oaks Country Club in Houston, when he was the professional at Kings Links Golf Centre, Aberdeen. His aim was to give young players from the north east of Scotland golf scholarship opportunities in the US studying at college or university while playing competitive golf.
Grampian Houston Junior Golf chairman, John Connon, said, "I am delighted to welcome this year’s 12 lucky golfers to a trip of a lifetime. Once again the standard was high and the selection of the team was not easy. This is an excellent opportunity for young players to improve their game and get a flavour of the various scholarship programmes."
