In this section...
Michele Thomson, the Ellon golfer who drew a premature halt to her four-year golf scholarship at Jacksonville State University because the golf programme was not all it had been cracked up to be, has been helped back
on the road to a full time career after being re-selected for the Grampian Institute of Sport this week.
Eighteen year old Michelle, the Scottish schoolgirls' champion and holder of the North of Scotland women's title for the past two years, signed up for the college in Alabama last spring but when she began studying in August the swing coach had left.
It took a practice session at home over Christmas to help Thomson realise how much her swing had actually deteriorated since she had left home. On the positive side, the past four months has proved to Michele how good the coaching and support structure in Scotland really is.
You've got to look at what we've got in Scotland rather than just jumping in and automatically thinking that America is the place to be, said Michele, who is now back working with her former coaches, Neil Marr and Ross Cameron.
We've got a lot here in Scotland and it's getting better all the time and for me it's the right decision to be based here.
It means a lot to me to be reselected for the Grampian Institute because it will help me get where I want to be. If I was still in America I think it would take me double the time to get where I want to be compared to what I can do here.
The extensive support of the Grampian Institute of Sport gives athletes selected access to quality training facilities, individually tailored coaching programmes, delivered by experienced coaches and a fully integrated strength and conditioning programme.
Complementing and supporting technical and tactical expertise, the Area Institute network provides access to sports science, sports medicine and performance lifestyle services.
I knew my swing had deteriorated over the four months in America but I did not appreciate just how bad technically it had become, said Michele, who is also benefiting from physiotherapy for a back injury, possibly the result of a poor swing technique.
I wasn't really getting any coaching out there and the Strength & Conditioning wasn't really dedicated to golf. It was an all sports gym session for general fitness whereas with the Grampian Institute the programmes are all specific for the athlete.
Michele admits she will miss the regular American college tournaments, but she has no doubts that by staying in Scotland she will give herself the best chance to become a professional player.
"Having seen what is available in America I'm far more appreciative of what is actually available on my own doorstep in Scotland, she said.
It was the right decision to come back now. I'm going to play full time golf, see where it gets me and maybe try and turn professional after that.
Said Grampian Institute of Sport Manager, Craig Faill, Had Michele not gone to the US she would have been re-nominated to GIS, so we are delighted to accept her back into the Institute and provide her with the support she requires.
Karen Young, our lead physio for golf, is already working with Michele to correct the back problem she seemed to pick up in the States and we will have her back in
on the road to a full time career after being re-selected for the Grampian Institute of Sport this week.
Eighteen year old Michelle, the Scottish schoolgirls' champion and holder of the North of Scotland women's title for the past two years, signed up for the college in Alabama last spring but when she began studying in August the swing coach had left.
It took a practice session at home over Christmas to help Thomson realise how much her swing had actually deteriorated since she had left home. On the positive side, the past four months has proved to Michele how good the coaching and support structure in Scotland really is.
You've got to look at what we've got in Scotland rather than just jumping in and automatically thinking that America is the place to be, said Michele, who is now back working with her former coaches, Neil Marr and Ross Cameron.
We've got a lot here in Scotland and it's getting better all the time and for me it's the right decision to be based here.
It means a lot to me to be reselected for the Grampian Institute because it will help me get where I want to be. If I was still in America I think it would take me double the time to get where I want to be compared to what I can do here.
The extensive support of the Grampian Institute of Sport gives athletes selected access to quality training facilities, individually tailored coaching programmes, delivered by experienced coaches and a fully integrated strength and conditioning programme.
Complementing and supporting technical and tactical expertise, the Area Institute network provides access to sports science, sports medicine and performance lifestyle services.
I knew my swing had deteriorated over the four months in America but I did not appreciate just how bad technically it had become, said Michele, who is also benefiting from physiotherapy for a back injury, possibly the result of a poor swing technique.
I wasn't really getting any coaching out there and the Strength & Conditioning wasn't really dedicated to golf. It was an all sports gym session for general fitness whereas with the Grampian Institute the programmes are all specific for the athlete.
Michele admits she will miss the regular American college tournaments, but she has no doubts that by staying in Scotland she will give herself the best chance to become a professional player.
"Having seen what is available in America I'm far more appreciative of what is actually available on my own doorstep in Scotland, she said.
It was the right decision to come back now. I'm going to play full time golf, see where it gets me and maybe try and turn professional after that.
Said Grampian Institute of Sport Manager, Craig Faill, Had Michele not gone to the US she would have been re-nominated to GIS, so we are delighted to accept her back into the Institute and provide her with the support she requires.
Karen Young, our lead physio for golf, is already working with Michele to correct the back problem she seemed to pick up in the States and we will have her back in
