Golf   Adrian Andrade joins Balderstone Sports Institute |05 January 2023

Adrian Andrade

Young Seychellois golfer Adrian Andrade is the first Seychellois to be accepted at the Balderstone Sports Institute, based in Cape Town, South Africa, where he will be going for a PGA Diploma, with the aim of playing professionally.

The Balderstone Sports Institute (BSI) has been operating high performance golf programmes since 2004, and hundreds of young golfers have been through its system and achieved great success. 

It specialises in elite performance training programmes combined with education.

The post-matric programme combines golf specific academics with elite golf training in all aspects of performance. The three-year programme is the ideal choice for students and parents, as graduates have the choice of trying for a professional playing career or forging a career in the golf industry.

Andrade has recently dominated the local scene, winning several competitions including junior tournaments, as well as seniors, including the MCB Invitational Gross.

“To be accepted to the BSI is already a big achievement for me, providing me with the opportunity to do something which I am passionate about for the years to come, and I would like to make it my future career,” said Andrade who further added that he is looking forward to start the new experience.

As for his coach William Weidner, he is very proud of young Andrade’s progression.

“I have seen Adrian grow in the ranks from a timid junior to a talented, humble, well-focused and honest player who will soon be attending the BSI Academy where the structure in place will help him to grow and realise his dream,” said Weidner who further noted that leaving the country at 18 years old to study and be away from his family puts Adrian out of his comfort zone.

“But, he is impatiently waiting for the new challenge and is grateful for being accepted at the BSI Academy,” he added.

Andrade has expressed gratitude towards his family, coaches and the Seychelles Golf Federation (SGF), as well as other sponsors who helped him over the years.

To date the academy has produced many professional tournament winners in South Africa and beyond, as well as launched the international careers for dozens of graduates in the golf industry.

It was this model of combining elite performance coaching and education that led to the formation of the Balderstone Sports Institute, to enable athletes in all sports to commit to demanding competitive schedules and training regimes without their education suffering.

In addition to high school and tertiary education solutions for athletes across multiple sports, BSI also provides athletic training for any sports and consultancy services to individuals, teams and federations.

Roland Duval