The Golf Australia National Squad features the best amateur golfers in Australia. Each October a new Squad is selected containing approximately 10 men and 6 women, however these numbers can differ from year to year. These players are supported by Golf Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport for 12 months. There is no limit as to how long a player can be part of the National Squad. Players are sent to approximately 10 domestic events annually and supported with overseas travel. Srixon provide equipment for all the players whilst Greg Norman Collection provides apparel. National Squad members make up the majority of Australian representative teams. To be selected in the National Squad players will have performed well at domestic events over an extended period of time. About the Program The AIS Golf Program was established in 1992 as a national elite development program for men and women. The program was initially based in Sandringham, but relocated to Moonah Links on Victoria&aposs Mornington Peninsula in December, 2003. Moonah Links remains integral to the success of the current AIS Golf Program as it will be the base for the majority of camps that take place throughout the year. Camps will also utilise the AIS facilities and staff in Canberra. The Moonah Links facility was purpose built to develop Australia&aposs most talented players with an eye to producing world class golfers. The facility at Moonah Links comprises offices; gymnasium, lecture rooms, physio room as well as purpose built indoor and outdoor hitting areas, short game bunkers and chipping area with many different lies and grasses to prepare the AIS players for many and varied conditions. AIS Scholarship holders compete both domestically and internationally in a number of Amateur and Professional events. They compete in approximately 20 domestic Amateur events each year and are given the opportunity of qualifying for Professional events such as the Australian Open and Australian Masters. Scholarship holders are also assisted annually in overseas travel to events in the UK and US. In August 2007 Mark Holland was appointed as Head Coach AIS Golf. Mark has been involved with the AIS Program since 1996 when he was Scholarship Coach and since 2001 as Head Coach. AIS Objectives One of the key objectives of the AIS golf programme is to provide the means for more Australian golfers to reach the top 100 in World Golf. This will include creating individualised practice and training programmes for each of the squad members. Some of the squad members will also be scholarship holders with their State Institute or Academy of Sport, in which case they will be dual scholarship holders. Australian Institute of Sport – Golf March 2007 saw the recommencement of the AIS Golf Program after a break of nearly two years. The AIS Program is a part of Golf Australia s high performance athlete pathway and the current AIS scholarship holders are all members of the Golf Australia National Squad. The AIS is a camps based program, with athletes living in their home states. Six women and ten men are on scholarship in 2008. Key Personnel Mark Holland – Senior Coach – AIS Golf Tel: (03) 8320 1985 markh@golfaustralia.org.au Peter Knight-AIS/Golf Australia High Performance Program Manager Tel: (03) 9626 5035 peterk@golfaustralia.org.au Matt Cutler – High Performance Manager Tel: (03) 9626 5049 mattc@golfaustralia.org.au Nick Hunter Group Sport Manager, AIS nick.hunter@ausport.gov.au Links New South Wales Institute of Sport – www.nswis.com.au Victorian Institute of Sport – www.vis.org.au Queensland Academy of Sport – www.qasport.qld.gov.au
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