International Junior Golf Academy
The Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy
(Hank Haney IJGA) in conjunction with its affiliates- the
Heritage Academy and the International Junior Golf Tour
(IJGT) - is the only organization in the world that combines
training, competition, and academics for serious junior
golfers. Founded in 1995, the International Junior Golf
Academy has become the premier location for students
in grades 5th-12th to groom their golf game to its most
perfected form. It is the only organization in the world of
its type that combines golf training, academics, and
competition for dedicated junior golfers. The Academy’s
mission is to prepare its students for college golf and the
rest of their lives.
The IJGT was also founded in 1995 by the International
Junior Golf Academy to provide junior golfers the
opportunity to compete in a series of first class tournaments on many of America's most prestigious golf courses against the highest quality competition and showcase their talents to the top-ranked colleges and universities. The IJGT is the second largest junior golf tour in the United States and hosts over seventy events every season. The competitions are nationally ranked events by Golfweek and Junior Golf Scoreboard and venues have included TPC Sawgrass, Torrey Pines, and Pinehurst just to name a few.
In 2007, Hank Haney became intimately involved with the IJGA as the Director of Golf and then in 2008 the organization was renamed as the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy. It was very important to Mr. Haney to not be just “a name on the door” but to be a truly active contributor to the Academy that was thoroughly involved with student development. Mr. Haney is therefore personally involved with the progress of the students and has individual coaching sessions with each and every one of them. He takes the time to evaluate their golf swing on a frequent and regular basis and also closely monitors their progress with the rest of the coaching staff. Incidentally, Haney has personally trained and certified each member of the elite staff which works with the students as well. This unique training experience is one that is only available to the students of the Hank Haney IJGA and the number one golfer in the world. There are no other golfers anywhere that can make an appointment to get instruction from Hank Haney. No exceptions.
The Hank Haney IJGA is located on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Hilton Head is a pristine barrier island off of the South Carolina coast that is just north of Savannah, Georgia and about ninety miles south of Charleston, SC. Surrounded by the temperate Atlantic waters, the Island is a beautiful setting where there is an abundance of plant and animal life that enhances the natural splendor. In addition, the climate is one that allows for year-round golfing, making this the perfect place for the Academy. Attendees board in this remarkable setting which is ideal for athletic as well as academic success.
Academics
Academics for students at the Hank Haney IJGA are provided by the esteemed partner the Heritage Academy. This institution is fully accredited by the state of South Carolina and is well-equipped to serve the academic needs of students in grades 5th-12th.
The curriculum is one that is enhanced by small class sizes (about ten students per class on average), private tutoring at all levels, and college-preparatory courses. There are Advanced Placement (AP) classes and an Honors Program as well as I-20 authorization for international students. Speaking of international students, there is extensive English as a Second Language (ESL) training and support regardless of the home language. Every effort is made for students to be successful whether domestic or from abroad. No student will be allowed to fail based on language or cultural differences.
Students attend the Academy from twenty-eight states across the United States and twenty-four countries from around the world. Over the past fourteen years, more than 2000 students have attended the Academy. As many as 90 percent of the students have received college golf scholarships from outstanding colleges and universities including UCLA, University of Georgia, Oklahoma State University, Texas Tech University, University of Virginia, University of New Mexico, Georgia Tech University, Furman University, Boston University, Mississippi State University, and University of South Carolina. From the class of 2009, 94 percent of the students receive a golf scholarship.
Student Life
Student life at the Academy is not one for the lazy or
unmotivated. The young people who attend the Hank
Haney IJGA are extremely focused and goal-oriented.
This should not be mistaken for undue pressure and a
high-stress environment. In addition to the nurturing
academics and elite athletic training, students work with
mental trainers to keep focused and on top of their goals.
Real, attainable, and individualized goals are set and
worked on for each student. There is no “set standard”
that everyone must meet in order to be successful nor are
goals put so high that a student is set up to fail. Each
individual student is treated in just that way – as a unique
individual. Of course, the curriculum and academics are
not a breeze or to be taken lightly but the Academy strives
to maintain a balance of pushing oneself and meeting
significant milestones in golf and academics.
Mental training is an integral part of the weekly schedule and is comprised of workshops and seminars for students to gain the necessary tools to enhance their performance and meet realistic goals on and off the course. The program not only grooms students to have poise in tournament play, but in every aspect of their lives. Frustration, nerves, and competitiveness are all part of what students learn to deal with in the program. Matt Cuccaro, Director of Mental Training at Hank Haney IJGA, possesses a Master of Education in Counseling/Sport Psychology from Boston University and is an active member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Since joining Hank Haney IJGA in the summer of 2006, Matt has trained numerous junior golfers from all over the world and at all skill levels.
Speaking of skill levels, all athletic and academic levels can be successful and thrive at the Hank Haney IJGA. Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA in order to be accepted but there is not a set requirement for level of play. Students that have had little experience on the course have become success stories at the Hank Haney IJGA.
The full year program runs from mid-August through May and is broken up into two semesters. There are also holiday, summer, and weekend programs as well as a post-graduate program. Custom golf training packages for junior golfers are also available with the staff and full-time students at the academy. Space is limited in the programs as a specific ratio of instructors to students is maintained.
A typical day for full year students at the Academy full time is spent on golf training for half of the day and academics for the other half. Weekends are spent competing in nationally ranked tournaments. The entire focus is based around the student’s goals and eventual acceptance to a college golf program. The Hank Haney IJGA is uniquely positioned to prepare a young golfer for their future on a college team and beyond.
