Introduction

The College already owns a nine-hole course on the College grounds, where Kilmashogue Golf Club are based. This also backs onto the prestigious Stackstown Golf Club, the home of Padraig Harrington, a three-time major winner and captain of the 2021 European Ryder Cup team. Stackstown GC kindly offers Junior Membership to our best golfers, ensuring that the experience will be second to none for aspiring young golfers who can easily walk from school to twenty-seven holes of golf. Parents and young people interested in the facilities are welcome to visit the College or view the additional information attached.

As well as developing their golf, young golfers will be full-time pupils at Ireland’s top co-educational boarding and day school, renowned for its outstanding academic results and pastoral care.

The Vision

The number of Academy pupils will be limited to fifteen or sixteen. We have three hundred local members using our course and are keen to work alongside them. If more than the stated number of pupils want to sign up for the programme, a screening process will take place, prioritising those with lower handicaps on the waiting list and more senior pupils.

(It should be understood that golf may be played by all pupils at St. Columba’s College, but only Academy players will have access to the swing studio and priority access to the practice facilities and the course.)

From September 2022, Academy golfers have been largely drawn from our existing pupil body. It is envisaged that once the programme is up and running, we will recruit aspirational young golfers, both boys and girls, from Ireland and overseas.

Initial Membership in the Academy does not guarantee membership the following year. Decisions on membership will be based on progress and commitment to the programme.

While excellence is always worth aspiring to, and we seek to attract fine young players, we welcome interest from any young golfers who are prepared to work hard on maximising their potential. Not every golfer will be a scratch player, and not every golfer can be a single figure handicapper, but all can improve their game. Success will be measured in terms of improvement and enjoyment, as well as by being a positive team player and an encouraging influence on others.

It is expected that Academy players will put as much effort into their academic work as their golf. Failure to perform or make an effort academically, or to conform to the College’s code of behaviour, will result in golfing privileges being suspended or withdrawn.

The Golf Academy has  a state-of-the-art Trackman swing studio complete with an inside putting area alongside the practice range.

Facilities

Academy members will have on-site access to:

• College Golf Course at Kilmashogue Golf Club
• The College wedge range
• Trackman studio and indoor putting green
• Chipping green
• Putting green
• Fully fitted gym for S&C sessions
• The College will help expedite Junior Membership to Stackstown Golf Club for those with lower handicaps. (Pupils will need to pay a modest fee for this junior membership.)
• Those who are not members of a club or do not have a handicap will be able to join the on-site Kilmashogue Golf Club for €180 when the school term is in session. The application process must be completed by anyone interested in the required timeline.

Indoor Putting Facility

In addition:

• Academy players will receive a profile with CoachNow (https://coachnow.io/). This will be the direct contact with the coaching team.
• Players will have access to Capto putting technology.
• Optional away trips will also be organised to local courses. These occasional voluntary trips will take place on Sundays and will be weather-dependent. There are also Transition Year competitions for those interested. Transport to any away excursions is dependent on local academy parents; if this is not possible, the cost will be paid for by the participants or billed to their fee account.
• We are very well situated to take advantage of a variety of local courses.

Costs

The cost in 2024-25 will be €3200. This includes three days of group coaching from the College golf professional throughout the year, with one specialised individual lesson every two weeks. All use of the College golf facilities is included in this fee. (Please bear in mind what the cost of weekly golf lessons would be at a club over a year.) This will also include branded SCC Golf Academy gear.

There will be additional costs from time to time: competition fees, transport costs, potential accommodation, trips, additional branded SCCGA clothing, etc.

(It is understood that parents will also have to pay the school fees, as their children will be full members of the College! For a full rundown of the College fees for both day and boarding pupils, please visit the Admissions Section.

Further Information

If you would like to know more about applying to St. Columba’s College and joining the St. Columba’s College Golf Academy, please email admissions@stcolumbas.ie

To find out more about the Academy, email Josh Adams at joshadamsgolfacademy@stcolumbas.ie

He will also be running non-residential holiday coaching courses for young golfers, which are open to all pupils of St. Columba’s College and other schools.