Promoted by Shattuck-St. Mary’s Forest City International School

SSM International: Swing for success with the new Golf Centre of Excellence program

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Shattuck-St. Mary’s Forest City International School in Johor, Malaysia, attracts day and boarding students from many countries such as Singapore, Japan, Korea, Canada, the US and the UK.

According to the Head of School Dr. Gregg Maloberti, international students enjoy learning from an American curriculum that stems from Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Minnesota, US.

“Our teaching faculty brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the American curriculum,” he said.

“The majority of our international teachers are Americans. We also have teachers from Canada, the Philippines, the UK, France, and Malaysia. The experience and training our teachers bring to their craft create a truly international learning experience for our students.”

The backdrop for this cosmopolitan experience? South East Asia’s first ecologically green city: Forest City.

“All the academic, residential and commercial properties in Forest City are adorned with vertical greeneries, sky gardens and rooftop gardens. These gardens and systems not only look beautiful, but also they form natural barrier against heat, reduce energy consumption, naturally purify air, conserve rainwater, and reduce noise,” Dr. Maloberti explained.

“It feels like living in a tropical rain forest with greenery everywhere.”

Source: Shattuck St.Mary’s Forest City International School

And where better to experience the School’s new Golf Centre of Excellence program than a green city with a sea view?

Where students become sports legends

This new Golf Centre of Excellence program starts in August 2020 and will focus on training aspiring athletes to become competitive global players.

It is a great addition to the suite of sports activities the school offers for students between Grade 6 and Grade 12. With a Forest City Golf Resort next to the school, students can practice golf and attend any upcoming junior tournaments conveniently.

To help transform Shattuck-St. Mary’s International students into global golf professionals, the School has hired Director of the Center of Excellence for Golf Fred Fruisen, who will be joining in August 2020.

Fruisen brings 23 years’ worth of coaching experience to the course and has many certifications to show for it.

For instance, he holds certifications as a Level 2 Trackman Professional as well as a certified Golfpsych instructor.

Fruisen is also a Class A member of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America and has also been a Class A member of the New Zealand PGA.

Source: Shattuck St.Mary’s Forest City International School

“Innovativeness and encouragement are traits that have led to great success in my career as a golf coach. My personality is outgoing, and I am a natural leader. I’ve been in leadership roles my entire life,” he said.

“For 18 years, I served as Head Golf Coach at two US universities. My golf teams played in 12 NCAA or NAIA National Championships, producing 20 All-America Golfers. My teams’ performances on the course were outstanding, but our emphasis on academics made me most proud.”

In 2009 and 2011, Fruisen’s teams won the Golf Coaches Association of America’s Academic National Championship award. This is an award given to the collegiate golf team with the highest team grade point average in the entire country.

Practical education that makes a lasting impact

The Golf Centre of Excellence program will cost $28,000 MYR or US$7,000 annually on top of regular school tuition.

Shattuck-St. Mary’s International School will be offering scholarships and bursaries for the Golf Centre of Excellence program to talented students who are interested in joining the program.

“Our goal at SSM-FC is to make the Centre of Excellence the finest golf learning facility in all of Asia, so that our student athletes can realize their golfing potential and follow their dreams as far as they wish to go,” says Fruisen.

Source: Shattuck St.Mary’s Forest City International School

Parents looking to send their children to live and study at Shattuck-St. Mary’s Forest City International School can take heart in knowing that their children will enjoy immeasurable personal growth.

For those who join the full-time boarding program, they will learn to live independently from their families and manage their time, which fosters independence and serves as excellent preparation for their future sports career.

Throughout the new Golf Centre of Excellence program, Fruisen will also integrate the School’s commitment to educating the whole child:

“We will nurture the entire person — body and mind. We will be teaching advanced swing techniques and utilizing the latest technology that will not only give our golfers a physical advantage on the golf course, but a mental advantage as well,” he explained.

“This is how we build champions!”

To find out more about the new Golf Centre of Excellence program and the career prospects it brings, click here and reach out to the Shattuck-St. Mary’s team today.

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