Nethy Bridge golfer Hannah McCook, who represented Scotland for the first time last weekend in the Scottish Under-16 girls' open stroke-play golf championship at Craigielaw in East Lothian, has been selected for the Highland Institute of Sport this week.

HannahMcCook.jpgHannah has made impressive improvements over the past year.  Last season, aged just 14, she broke ladies course records at her own club, Abernethy (with one under par) and nearby Grantown (three under par).  She was selected as reserve for the Scottish Home Internationals (under 18) team last summer. Last year her season starting handicap was 10.  Today it stands at 5.5.
 
Reaching her current level has had its challenges for Hannah, who began playing golf with her mother as a six year old.  The Highland weather has not helped and can make planning her training sessions a headache.  Her long term coach, Robert Douglas, is based at Inverness Golf Club adding a logistical challenge of a weekly 70 mile round trip for coaching.
 
“I’ve also skied since I was five with the Cairngorm Ski Club and competed for them for the past few years but this year I’m concentrating on golf,” said Hannah, revealing that something had to go if she was to realise her long term ambition of competing as a professional on the American or European Tour.
 
As a mark of her commitment to and performance in the game, Hannah has met the selection criteria for the Highland Institute of Sport which helps Scottish governing body-identified athletes by providing high performance expertise.  She will now have access to essential support services locally in sports medicine, sports science, strength and conditioning, and career and lifestyle guidance.
 
In joining the Highland Institute of Sport, Hannah will be following in the footsteps of Kelsey MacDonald and Sammy Vass who have both used the support services extensively.  The support on offer has been greeted enthusiastically by player and coach.
 
“Hannah is a real talent, she’s really focussed and has made a real improvement in the last two years,” said Robert Douglas.
 
“She is already strong and I think the physical conditioning will do her a lot of good.  Nutrition goes hand in hand with physical conditioning and the psychology side of the sport is very important.  You see how mentally strong the top pros are when they hit a bad shot and they forget about it almost instantly.  That’s something that all golfers would benefit from.” 
 
Playing at Craigielaw last weekend, Hannah finished a respectable thirtieth out of the 100 plus field.  Representing Scotland for the first time has given her a taste for international competition.
 
“Playing for Scotland was really good,” she said. “I was reserve for the Home Internationals team last year. This summer I’m hoping to make the team.”