The four-year BA (Hons) course will be offered by the University of the Highlands and Islands from September, with the backing of leading player Jack Nicklaus.

The degree will ¡°combine the classroom with the fairway¡±, the university said, focusing on themes which should ¡°prepare budding pros for the demands of the golf industry¡±.

The course will be based at the university¡¯s North Highland College in Dornoch, next to Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

It complements UHI¡¯s existing BA (Hons) in golf management, also delivered at the Dornoch campus.

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To gain admission to the new course, students must have an impressive golf handicap ¨C of 4.4 or lower for men, and 6.4 or lower for women.

The course ¡°combines practical training, coaching and playing opportunities with study in academic subject areas¡±, the university added.

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Students will also undertake work placements and receive training in areas such as sports science, golf equipment technology and business to aid their preparation ¡°for a range of career paths¡±.

Mr Nicklaus, who won a record 18 Major championships, said the new course had his full support and was ¡°in the best interest of the future of this great game¡±.

Among the lecturers on the course will be Lesley Mackay, a former European Tour golfer, who described it as an ¡°exciting, enterprising and innovative degree programme¡±.

¡°There is no other degree programme like it in Scotland and it gives an opportunity to aspiring golfers to reach their potential, both as a golfer and academically,¡± she said.

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Several other universities in the UK offer golf-related degrees, but most of these focus on sport management.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com