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South Australia National Coach Gareth Jones has been appointed to the role of National Coach for Japan.
Jones will start the role in October and be responsible for establishing and overseeing the development of the Japan Golf High Performance Program for male and female players, which includes training, coaching and sports medicine elements. Jones will also focus on upskilling current coaches.
Jones will spend approximately 50 days per year working in a part time capacity attending mostly specialised training camps.
The High Performance Program will be based out of the Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki located on Japan's southernmost major island Kyushu.
The Japanese Men’s Amateur Team finished 29th (Australia finished sixth) at the 2014 World Amateur Championship (Eisenhower Trophy) while the Women’s Team finished eighth behind the Australian Women’s team who took home the Espirito Santo Trophy.
To showcase Japan Golf, Jones plans to have a highly developed HP program established by 2020, the year Tokyo host the Olympics.
Jones will continue as the South Australian National Coach overseeing the SA High Performance Program and remain as Glenelg Golf Club Head Teaching Professional. He will also continue to work with leading players including local Amateur Antonio Murdaca who in April made his US Masters debut.
On a bi monthly basis Jones plans to bring to Adelaide a group of eight players (four male and four female) as part of an international training base.
Jones sees this relationship with Japan Golf resulting in an improved pathway for Australian players.