European top 10 venue, Troia, has partnered with Edge Golf College to develop the next generation of top level golfers – with an intensive programme which will give students the education, training, facilities and coaching they need to reach the highest level.

Edge Golf College’s two years of bespoke golf-specific education is solely dedicated to tournament performance, performance psychology and business – touching on topics such as biomechanics and sports nutrition.

Students can leave the college with a degree in Sports Business Management or Sports Coaching Performance, awarded by the University of Central Lancashire. The programme will be taught, and has been written by, a number of industry experts, specialists in their fields, to accelerate golfers’ development faster than any other college programme worldwide.

Combing a higher-education curriculum with more than 45 hours of practice a week, the college will give aspiring golfers the chance to focus on their game, with every aspect being analysed and improved on a daily basis.

Based full-time at the world-class Troia Golf Resort, Edge Golf College is perfectly placed geographically and educationally to transition players from elite amateurs to tournament professionals.

Students will have unlimited access to the spectacular 18-hole championship course, which is highly regarded across Europe for its challenging links holes, offering the perfect test for the up-and-coming players, with small, narrow greens and bold bunkering – requiring them to play a multitude of shots through a combination of pine trees and indigenous coastal plants.

The par-72 course is designed by American golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Senior and stretches 6,317m along the beach.
But it is not just the top quality course that makes Troia the perfect destination for Edge Golf College, the practice facilities include a state-of-the-art academy, newly-designed driving range and several short game areas.

The focused practice and education schedule is combined with regular opportunities to compete, with at least one World Amateur Golf Ranking event every month through the Portugal Pro Golf Tour. Edge’s programme has been designed to allow students to take part in regular tournaments during term time, including releasing students to compete in their national events, encouraging them to play in the European Tour Qualifying School, and, if ranked highly enough, qualify for the Portugal Masters and the Portugal Open.

Neil Connolly, co-founder of Edge Golf College, said: “We launched Edge Golf College to fill the void for top players from European countries, giving them an opportunity to play, practice, compete and learn all year round in a warm European climate, without the upheaval and current uncertainty of heading out to the US for a scholarship.

“We feel extremely lucky to be able to operate out of Troia – it’s one of the best facilities in Europe and is the ideal training environment for our students, not to mention the sunshine and warm weather offering the perfect conditions for personal golf development.

“Many European golf federations, including Portugal, are on board with the concept of Edge. They are tired of coaching their top young talent only to see them disappear to the US on scholarships. It would be hugely advantageous for the federations, the national coaches and the players to stay in Europe with regular access to the team which got them to this point.”

There are three learning options available – remote, blended and residential – with a price point to suit every player’s budget. Scholarships are also available for eligible players.

Edge Golf College is currently recruiting for the first course at Troia, which starts in September 2021, and is requesting that any players interested enquire as soon as possible, as there are a limited number of spaces available.

Players interested in taking their game to the next level can register their interest on the ‘contact’ page at www.edgegolfcollege.com.