Kid golfers compete for USKG European title

The world’s future golfing stars will once again descend on Scotland in June to fight for the title of U.S. Kids Golf European Champion.

The best young golfers on the planet will feature at the U.S. Kids Golf European Championships in East Lothian in Scotland, for what is expected to be the biggest tournament in the history of the event.

Record numbers will travel to Scotland’s east coast from 5-7 June to take on some of the most historic courses in the country including Gullane No. 2, Gullane No. 3, Craigielaw Golf Club, Luffness New Golf Club and Longniddry Golf

Organised by the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation – which provides opportunities for children across the world to learn and play golf and to forge new friendships – the competition will see players as young as six years old challenging for the European Champion titles in various age group.

Dan Van Horn, president and founder of U.S. Kids Golf, said: “Since our inaugural event in 2008, the European Championship has continued to grow in strength and is a main highlight of the junior golf calendar.

“An indication of its growing popularity is the fact that entrants are already 150 up on last year. If that level of interest continues – and we hope other young golfers will want to ensure they are part of this great event – we will be on course for record year; with competitors numbering way in excess of 500.

“That’s a tribute the strength of the relationships with have formed with our East Lothian partner clubs which allows us to create a superb, quality tournament.”

The top finishers in each category will compete in the Van Horn Cup over Gullane No 1 on June 8 – 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.

Tournament Co-ordinator Alasdair Good, head professional at Gullane GC, said: “East Lothian’s historic courses always provide a stunning setting and a great challenge for all of the competitors – a main reason why this tournament has become so popular.

“The European Championship provides an unrivalled opportunity to see the cream of the emerging golf talent from Scotland, UK and the rest of the world.

 “Such is the strength of the platform provided by the competition that we are beginning see some of the winners from our first event go onto to bigger things on the world stage.  That is a superb endorsement of the good work the tournament has achieved.”