Hartpury University has launched new studentships to help aspiring elite golfers fulfil their potential on and off the golf course. The specialist institution is offering to fully fund masters degrees in the areas of Sports Science (Strength and conditioning, nutrition, coaching), Sport Business Management (MRes, MPhil) or an Applied Research Pathway (MRes, MPhil or PhD). The three students who successfully apply for the two-year part-time courses will also assume roles within Hartpury’s successful college golf programme and therefore have an opportunity to develop core work-based skills.
At the same time, the students will be able to develop their own golf games via a fully funded coaching programme, including sport science support, and a playing itinerary including regular university fixtures, BUCS stroke-play events and tournaments on the new R&A Tour.
The initiative has been developed by Hartpury University’s Golf Academy Manager Matthew Ellis to help aspiring elite golfers further progress their playing opportunities while also consolidating a career pathway.
PGA professional Ellis, a former touring professional, said: “At the age of 16 I was a top junior winning national championships. I was runner-up in the British Boys and then went on to play international golf for Wales and GB as junior and senior. I turned professional and I did okay, but I didn’t ‘make it’. After putting all my eggs in one basket, I then decided to go back to university to re-train, but it was very disruptive and hard to start new career.”
Ellis, who won the 2005 Glenmuir British Professional Championships in 2005, added: “The competition is fierce in golf but you have to give it a go if that’s what you crave. You need have a plan B, however, because having a realistic plan B really takes the pressure off plan A. It’s not negative to plan for not ‘making it’, it allows you to fully focus on your golf game and if it does not come off you can jump straight into a career you love.”
Students from Hartpury’s Golf Academy have won a number of competitions, including the Junior European Open 2019, the British Schools and Colleges Ladies Open 2019 and a British Universities and Colleges Sport Golf league, as well as team and individual titles at the Intercollegiate Tour (ICT) finals and AoC Sport Championships. Golf students at Hartpury – one of the UK’s leading specialist education providers – have access to a wide range of facilities on campus, including a ten-bay indoor range, a 5x4m indoor putting green, a USGA short-game area and an outdoor artificial putting green. As well as tuition from European Tour coach Tom Motley, golf students can also access local courses and professionals on a regular basis.
Applicants for the golf studentships need to passionate competitive golfers with a handicap of two and below and a good undergraduate degree.
