Stoke Park Celebrates Scholars’ Successes As Programme Enters Fourth Year
The multi-award-winning, five-star Stoke Park Country Club, Spa & Hotel is entering the fourth year of its hugely successful junior scholarship programme – and celebrating the achievements of those who have progressed from it.
The scheme was launched in October 2012 with an X-Factor-style ‘try-out day’ which attracted 50 talented juniors to ‘audition’ for a prized place. A shortlist was created; those on it were interviewed, along with their parents, and a ‘cast’ of 12 was selected.
Each year, prospective scholars undergo a stringent selection process and, in 2016, Stoke Park has a strong squad of 16 talented youngsters – six girls and 10 boys – between the ages of nine and 16.
Stoke Park’s head of golf instruction, Stuart Rank, said: “It’s important to emphasise that we don’t just choose the most talented players. Each must have the right personal attributes to be ambassadors for Stoke Park and be of a character and personality of which members will be proud.
“The scholars receive a monthly group class and individual lesson, while physical screenings are delivered in the gym with golf-specific fitness programmes tailored to each junior. Each receives a scholar’s uniform, which they wear with pride whenever they represent the club or play in club events.
“The results have been fantastic, with many of the juniors reducing their handicaps significantly, representing the club and the county, and winning at county, European and, even, worldwide level.”
Many scholars have been selected for the county squads: the boys in BB&O under-12s, under-14s and ‘elite’, and the girls in Berkshire County Ladies Golf Association (BCLGA) junior and adult teams.
Five of Stoke Park’s scholars feature in England regional squads: John Gough, 17, has captained the south region, while Julia Warke, 16, Isabella Holmes, 15, and Thalia Kirby, 15, are integral to the under-16 training programme, and Nathalie Warke, 18, is part of the under-18 squad.
Last year, Gough won the under-18 category at the US Kids Golf European Championships, in Scotland, by an astounding nine shots, while his younger brother Conor, 13, came a very distinguished second in the under-14s, and the Gregory brothers, James, 14, and Thomas, 13, both returned respectable final places.
Rank added: “It’s only through the generosity and continued support of Stoke Park members that we’ve been able to deliver such a comprehensive syllabus, which we hope will one day produce a future star, home grown at Stoke Park. And, because of all this success we have some pretty tough selection decisions to make every winter.”
Each member makes a £20 contribution from their house levy to maintain the scholarship programme, with the total amount raised matched by Stoke Park. The club is one of the south of England’s leading lights in encouraging and developing junior golf, with a number of other clubs now looking to create and develop their own scholarship programmes.
Rank added: “We are very pleased with what has been achieved so far and everyone at Stoke Park should be proud of our extremely positive reputation within the game and the achievements of our young scholars.”
Founded in 1908 as the UK’s first country club, Stoke Park – one of just two five AA Red Star golf clubs in England – enjoys the unique combination of the traditions of an exclusive members’ club and the best of today’s sporting, leisure, entertaining and hotel facilities.
Those facilities include a historic 27-hole golf course, designed by the legendary golf architect Harry Colt; a deluxe, state-of-the-art swing studio with cutting-edge Trackman technology; 13 tennis courts, comprising indoor, grass and floodlit artificial clay – as used by many of the world’s top players, such as Novak Djokovic, during the annual Boodles tournament; an award-winning spa; indoor pool; state-of-the-art gymnasium; fitness, hot yoga and spinning studios; three restaurants, including the three AA Rosette-winning Humphry’s; and 49 bedrooms and suites.
Set within 300 acres of beautiful private parkland estate in Stoke Poges, Bucks, Stoke Park is only 35 minutes from London and seven miles from Heathrow Airport.