The group of young golfers, all from the development program of the Ukrainian Golf Federation, have moved to various locations across Europe due to the war since the Russian invasion which began in February. The seven participants came together for the first time since to take part in the Project Ukraine golf camp in the Scottish Borders last week.

The Ukrainian national golf team is reunited in Scotland for the first time since leaving their home country – ©R&A

The camp was organized by a group of women in the golf industry who undertake the R&A's Women in Golf Leadership Development Program and were inspired by one of their colleagues, Veronika Rastvortseva. The group chose to focus their project on Ukraine after Veronika gave a moving first-hand account of what her family was going through during an online workshop. The program's itinerary was quickly revamped and the group launched Project Ukraine, a vehicle to explore the best ways to support the Ukrainian golf community.

Based at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf & Spa in Peebles, young golfers benefited from high quality coaching and clinics, health and nutrition sessions, mental skills and workshops on the rules of golf. Supplied with golf equipment and attire from PING, including special pieces emblazoned with the Project Ukraine logo, golfers played in a special match against juniors from the Stephen Gallagher Foundation on Saturday. In the evening, the group was entertained by former world golf stroke champion Geoff Swain and then took part in a webinar with Close Nutrition.

The Ukrainian national golf team attended high performance coaching in Scotland where they received instruction from St Andrews University Director of Golf Ian Muir -©R&A

On Sunday the group were invited to the final day of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews by the DP World Tour. They were interviewed live on Sky Sports by Nick Dougherty and met Rory McIlroy, Adrian Meronk and posed for a photo with champion Ryan Fox at the famous Swilcan Bridge. On Monday, Project Ukraine was hosted by Peebles Golf Club as University of St Andrews Director of Golf Ian Muir put the group through their paces. Sophie Walker, Sky Sports Golf analyst and presenter and former Ladies European Tour star, joined the camp for a Q&A in the evening before taking them to a putting workshop supported by PuttOut Golf on Tuesday morning.

Ukraine National Golf Team, Veronika Rastvortseva and Toni Zverblis of Project Ukraine pose with Dunhill Links Champion Ryan Fox on the Swilcan Bridge in St Andrews- ©R&A

Rastvortseva, who attended the camp with her two daughters, reflected on what had been a week thanks to R&A "changed the lives" of the participants, saying: "I am convinced that this experience changed their lives. The support they have had during this camp from the Project Ukraine team is tremendous. I can't describe how important it has been for these kids to get together as a family, get them back to the tee to play golf, and just sit and chat in the lobby and share what they have lived during the past months. »

“Their dreams came true – they met Rory McIlroy and shook his hand. They had a welcome message from Tommy Fleetwood – that's a dream for any junior. Unfortunately, all of these kids have trauma – but for us it was so important to take them away from that for a short time.

“I have been in contact with all the families throughout this period so I know all their stories and some are really heartbreaking. I felt a huge responsibility for this to happen. I am so grateful to the entire Project Ukraine team for supporting me in this initiative and putting in so much effort to make this camp happen. »

“We hope Project Ukraine will continue to be able to help other families and junior golfers, as there are many more who need our help. They need educational support and a regular return to the golf course. They need to remember those emotions they felt when they were able to play golf in their home country, which unfortunately they haven't been able to do for a long time. When these children grow up in a few years, they will understand even more the impact of this camp on their journey. It's inspiring. »

Toni Zverblis, Project Ukraine, said: “We have all seen the horrors unfold in Ukraine and were compelled to help after listening to our colleague Veronika Rasvortseva describe what was happening around her at the start of the invasion. Fortunately, she managed to move her family out of the country, but since then she has been working tirelessly from her temporary home in Belgium on this project. She helped the group liaise with the Ukrainian Golf Federation and the families we support. »

“We were delighted to meet these talented young golfers and give them five days to focus on their passion with their peers. Our goal was for the camp to bring hope and inspiration. We want to ensure that the dreams and ambitions of these young golfers are sustained despite the devastation they are experiencing back home in Ukraine. »

A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Golf Federation said: “We would like to thank the R&A for supporting and helping our national team at such a difficult time for Ukraine. We greatly appreciate this help and look forward to working collaboratively in the future. »

Jackie Davidson, Director of Golf Development at R&A, said: “This is a wonderful example of incredibly talented women working in the golf industry using their initiative and expertise to provide an exceptional opportunity for young golfers whose lives and ambitions have been severely disrupted. by the terrible situation in Ukraine. We are extremely proud of their efforts to do something so important for these golfers and are delighted to support the project. We strongly believe that golf should be open to everyone, and this group of women demonstrated the importance of this value in action. »

It is hoped that the group can build on the success of the camp and continue to support more Ukrainian junior golfers in their athletic development and education.

If you want to know more or how you can get involved and support the Ukraine project, click here.

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