The Sports Council has approved the La Cañada Golf Club installations in Guadiaro (Cádiz province) as the venue for golf’s first Specialist Technical Centre for Sport in Spain.

Club president Ángel Gutierrez explains its main features…

“In the first place,” he says, “I would like to highlight and underline the fact it is the first Specialist Technical Centre for Sport (CETD) set up in our country for golf. It is aimed at young Spaniards who, for their age and potential, could become great golfers and good students, an obligatory condition to gain admission.

“The requirements for admission are that they have Spanish nationality, as I mentioned before, be registered with the Andalucian Golf Federation and fall within the following categories: Alevín, with maximum handicap of 9.4; Infantil, with 7.4; Cadete, with 6.4; and Boy/Girl, with 4.4. In addition, I should stress that a good academic record is indispensable.

“The selection process for admission is undertaken by the Royal Andalucian Golf Federation, and involves psychologists, doctors and golf professionals.”

-  The La Cañada centre is due to be inaugurated in 2014. What will be the programme for those youngsters chosen?

- They will have classes the same as in any other high-performance sports centre, as stipulated by the CETD’s director. Our objective is for the youngsters to leave here with handicaps as low as possible so that one day they can be top golf professionals.

- How many youngsters will be taking part in the first year’s course?

- The admission period (as of mid-December) is still not closed, but there are about 20 applications. Logically, some amenities are currently lacking and that will be resolved in 2014.

We have to build three units, or classrooms, for the swing analyser, putt analyser, medical attention centre, etc. At the moment, we will incorporate all that within our own school.

Both the San Roque mayor and the Royal Spanish Golf Federation have offered to help financially with the construction of these classrooms opposite the club’s own school.

We already have the teachers, psychologists, doctors, etc., to begin operating.