ALMOST half of all pupils at Musselburgh's Loretto School are now playing golf every week thanks to the school’s state-of-the-art Golf Academy.

The academy (pictured), which opened its doors this year on the site of the school’s former swimming pool, has helped bolster interest in the sport within the school, where 260 of the 600-strong student body now play.

And it is open to community groups and Scottish national squads to use outside of school time.

The academy has been hailed by Hamish Grey, chief executive of Scottish Golf, as making Loretto the best golfing school in Europe.

The practice hall, which spans the length of the building and offers putting and chipping areas to challenge students, is huge. It has been built over the former Olympic-sized swimming pool, which stretched 50 metres in length.

Loretto, which is based next to the world’s oldest playing course, has a strong tradition of golf stretching back to its founding in 1827.

The school started a golf academy in 2002 with just six pupils involved; however, it has invested in the new centre after taking the swimming pool building, which had been derelict for a number of years, and turning it into an indoor golfing oasis.

As well as the main practice hall there are swing studios, which measure players’ performances and give feedback, putting studios and a range of golf programmes aimed at improving skills.

Children as young as five are regularly using the new facilities, and the ages of some of the younger pupils impressed golfing legend Sam Torrance when he visited. He said: “It’s great that they are starting them at that age as it is important that young golfers get off on the right footing.

“Maybe we will see a Rory McIlroy or Sandy Lyle come from Loretto.”