SCOTLAND BOYS' SQUAD BOUND FOR ABU DHABI FEBRUARY 8-16

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNIONScotland’s national boys’ squad are set to reap the benefits of further warm weather winter training after a return trip to one of the world’s finest new golf developments in the United Arab Emirates was pencilled in for next month.
The full nine-strong squad, led by national youth coaches Neil Marr, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, and Kevin Hale, will travel for an intensive training camp at Yas Links Golf Club in Abu Dhabi from February 8-16, allowing them to take advantage of superb facilities in an excellent climate at this time of year.
The trip comes hot on the heels of the successful four-week training camp undertaken by a 10-strong men’s and boys’ national squad late last year to Yas, who together with Centro Yas Island Hotel and long-standing supporter of the SGU, Aberdeen Asset Management, sponsored the programme.
The same partners are providing in-kind support to help fund the boys’ eight-day camp.
The national men’s squad, meanwhile, are currently in week two of an eight-week winter performance programme in South Africa, thanks to the support of Aberdeen Asset Management and South African businessman Johann Rupert, coupled with continued funding from sportscotland.
Four members of the boys’ squad – reigning SGU boys’ Order of Merit winner Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and County), Blairgowrie’s up-and-coming Bradley Neil, talented Ewan Scott of St Andrews, the former English Under-14 boys winner, and Lothians star Anthony Blaney – will again be involved in the Abu Dhabi trip, after experiencing the opening 10 days of the previous camp.
They will be joined by five other emerging talents in the boys’ squad, Calum Hill (Tantallon), Ben Kinsley (St Andrews), Jamie Savage (Cawder), Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) and 2011 Scottish boys champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck).
The squad will make use of the wonderful modern facilities at Yas, which boasts an 18-hole par-72 Kyle Phillips-designed course - the first links lay-out in the region which was opened in 2010 – a nine-hole academy course, state-of-the-art golf academy and floodlit practice facilities. It is arguably the finest golf facility in the UAE.
The trip, which again reflects the growing partnership between Scottish and UAE golf, is an excellent opportunity for all members of the travelling group to work on fitness and technical aspects of their game ahead of the new domestic season.
During their visit, the Scotland squad will work closely with Marr, National Under-18’s coach, and Hale, National Under-16’s coach, as well as receiving support from Scottish Institute of Sport staff also involved in the camp.
Eighteen-year-old Blaney, of Liberton, said: “I’m really looking forward to going back to Yas Links again in February with the boys.
“With four of us having already been there, we’ll share our experiences with the other boys. The facilities are fantastic and everything we’re working on this winter can be added to and then finalised in Abu Dhabi to make sure we are ready for the new season.”
Marr, the coach in lead charge of the trip, added: “Having seen how good the facilities are at Yas when I was over in November, I know that the boys’ golf games will improve by spending time at Yas. The weather is guaranteed which is great.
“It's the ideal time of year for this, there will be more focus on their playing and scoring ahead of the new season and less on technical input and changes.”