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Park Lane College Leeds and Keighley, has announced a new partnership with the De Vere Oulton Hall Hotel, which will open up new training opportunities for young golfers.

The link will give BTEC and NVQ students the extra option of golf as a specialism, where they can learn all the elements of the sport and work on their own game at the same time.

Leeds is already home to a wealth of young golfing talent, including 19-year-old Kiran Matharu who recently competed in the Women's British Open – and the college is hoping some future winners will enrol.

Deputy principal David Fell, said: "The college sports department is hoping to replicate the successful template used to set up our Rugby League academy in conjunction with the Leeds Rhinos, and the football academy in partnership with Leeds United FC.

"Students in these academies have already progressed on to national sides – including the Scottish Rugby League squad – and football teams such as Nottingham Forest FC.

"We're very optimistic that the golf partnership will prove to be just as popular with young people as our other sports academies have been."
Park Lane College Leeds and Keighley, which already offers several BTEC and NVQ courses in sport and leisure, uses links with local organisations to allow students to play sports while studying for their qualifications.


Keith Pickard, director of golf and leisure at Oulton Hall, said: "We are delighted to work in partnership with Park Lane.

"Everyone at the resort is very proud of the facilities and is confident that they will result in young golfers at the college achieving their full potential in the game."

* For more information about courses, call Park Lane College Leeds and Keighley on 0845 045 7275 or email: course.enquiry@parklane.ac.uk