St Andrews, Scotland: Eleven outstanding young people from around the world have been selected as the latest recipients of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club Scholarship.
Now in its second year, the programme is designed to identify, support and develop the next generation of golf’s leaders through financial support and unique connections to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, The R&A and St Andrews.
Selected from over 300 applicants aged 18-29, the new Scholars represent a wide range of interests that are essential to the sport’s future, including agronomy, disability golf, golf development, business, administration and tourism as well as nutrition and sports medicine. This year’s cohort includes individuals from Spain, Great Britain and Ireland, Nepal, New Zealand, Kenya, Australia, the United States of America and Canada.
From the Asia-Pacific region, Nepal’s Kashmira Shah, New Zealand’s Guy Harrison and Australian Claudia Mazarita have been selected.
Living just 100 yards from the sixth green of Royal Nepal Golf Club, Shah grew up watching others enjoy the game. Through a free clinic organised by the Nepal Golf Association, she developed a passion for golf and has since represented Nepal in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific and Asian Games. Shah has ambitious plans to grow golf in Nepal with a special focus on developing the women’s game. This scholarship will enable her to pursue a Masters degree in Golf Management before embarking on a career in Club Management, where she aims to create programmes that increase diversity.
She said: "This Scholarship means everything to me; I was in such a difficult place, and it feels like my path is finally opening up again. Golf has been with me through every high and low, and it's my everything. Whatever I am today it's because of golf and with this opportunity I hope to give back to the game in Nepal, especially by growing women’s golf and providing all the necessary things needed as a female player. I also want to inspire young generations to follow their dreams and seek opportunities to grow and give back."
As the top-ranked player on the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) rankings in New Zealand and the first from his country to compete in a G4D event, Harrison is a leader in disability golf. Living with cerebral palsy, he is a passionate golfer, swimmer and all-round athlete. His ambition is to develop a single All-Abilities golf programme for New Zealand, bringing together multi-class athletes under one system with clear pathways to international competition.
Harrison said: “What an opportunity and massive privilege receiving this scholarship has been for me. Golf has been massively important to overcoming my barriers due to my disability, and I am looking forward to the mentorship aspect of the scholarship so that I can give back to the sport I love; to help increase disability golf options in New Zealand.”
Mazarita is a Human Resources professional currently working for Golf Australia. She is committed to driving inclusive participation and workforce development across the golf industry and believes this scholarship, alongside her MBA studies, will equip her with the strategic, financial and leadership skills needed to navigate the complexities of sports governance, workforce growth and industry development. Her ambition is to step into an executive leadership role within golf where she can influence lasting change and implement impactful programmes which will help to make golf Australia’s largest and most inclusive participation sport.
She said: “I’m so grateful and feel very honoured to become a Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews Scholar. From picking up a golf club at seven and following the career path I did, I never would have imagined I’d one day be working in golf, let alone receiving a scholarship from The R&A. With the chance to study a part-time MBA at the Melbourne Business School with support of this scholarship, it will help me continue to build the strategic and leadership skills to hopefully step into an executive role within Australian golf in the future."
Each Scholar will receive a comprehensive support package to advance both their academic and professional development:
· Up to £10,000 per year towards educational costs.
· Up to £5,000 per year to support golf-related activities.
· Mentorship from a Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
· Access to a peer support network of Scholars, including last year’s inaugural group.
· An invitation to a leadership conference in St Andrews each year they are studying, where all new and current Scholars will meet.
Funded entirely by Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the scholarship reflects the club’s strong commitment to supporting young individuals who aspire to make a lasting impact on the game.
Niall Farquharson, Chairman at The R&A, said: “This initiative is not only about recognising talent, but also empowering young people who are passionate about golf, progressing their careers in the golf industry and contributing to the sport in innovative and meaningful ways.
“The Scholars come from a variety of backgrounds and share a collective ambition to break down barriers and shape the future of the game. Thanks to the support of the club’s Members, they’re able to build connections and experiences that will support their journey in golf for years to come.”
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club Scholarship is an important element of The R&A Foundation’s mission to provide opportunities for people to reach their potential for – and through – golf. Scholars are selected for their dedication, vision and potential to shape the future of golf in the years to come.
