Rising Golf Stars Head to U.S. Kids Golf Championships

Golf’s young talent will be heading to East Lothian for this year’s U.S. Kids Golf European Championships.

As Gleneagles prepares to welcome the world’s current golfing greats, the world’s top young talent will also descend upon the home of golf to battle it out for Europe’s most prestigious junior title.

Golf’s young talent will be heading to East Lothian – just a 40 minute drive from this year’s Ryder Cup venue – for this year’s U.S. Kids Golf European Championships.

Now in its 6th successful year, the tournament has become a staple event on the calendars of 5-18 year olds, attracting more than 500 young players to compete against their counterparts from across the globe.

Tournament co-ordinator and Gullane Golf Club Professional Alasdair Good, said: “It’s gearing up to be another fantastic year with excitement heightened by the prospect of this year’s Ryder Cup also being held in Scotland.

“We are looking forward to seeing Scotland host both the young stars of the future alongside the best of the best at the Ryder Cup.”

Dan Van Horn, President and founder of U.S. Kids Golf, said: “Not only do the championships help young players learn how to compete, the wonderful thing about competitive play at a young age is that they also learn how to cope with the ups and downs of the game.

“This is invaluable experience and promotes skills that can then be applied to all aspects of the players’ lives in the future.”

The 2014 U.S. Kids Golf European Championships takes places over May 27-29 over five famous East Lothian courses: Gullane No.2, Gullane No.3, Craigielaw Golf Club, Luffness New Golf CLub and Longniddry Golf Club.

On May 30 the top finishers in each category will compete in the Van Horn Cup at Luffness New Golf Course – a showpiece event, modelled on the Ryder Cup, where the best European players are matched up against the top golfers from the rest of the world.

The top five finishers in each age and gender group also automatically receive an invitation to the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships at Pinehurst Golf Club, North Carolina, in August.

Last year the tournament saw over 500 players from 42 countries, adding a distinct international aspect to the competition. With the increasing growth of junior golf, even greater numbers are predicted for 2014.