New golf programme for Orkney children

A new programme designed to encourage children in Orkney to develop an interest in golf and adopt a more active lifestyle was launched at St Andrew’s Primary School in Tankermess in June.

The Orkney Junior Golf Action Plan is linked to Scotland’s National Junior Golf Development programme, clubgolf, a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, Professional Golfers Association, The Golf Foundation and sportscotland that aims to create the opportunity for every child to experience golf by age nine, and to increase junior participation in golf in Scotland.

The Orkney Junior Golf Action Plan aims to:

• Introduce 500 nine year olds in Orkney to firstclubgolf (clubgolf’s introductory game, delivered in school) programme by 2009
• Retain 140 nine to fifteen year olds in Orkney’s clubgolf programme from 2009
• Increase the number of girls playing golf in Orkney by 10 percent in 2008 and also in 2009
• Increase junior membership numbers at golf clubs
• Develop and sustain a base of qualified volunteer coaches, increasing the opportunity for children to sustain an interest in golf
• Create a facility infrastructure for golf development which supports increased participation at club level.
  

The Orkney Junior Golf Action Plan is already making its mark. Stimulating the interest within local schools is clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf. Launched by former Open Champion, Paul Lawrie, firstclubgolf uses multi-coloured modified clubs, rubberised balls and Velcro targets to give nine year olds an enjoyable and safe first experience of the game within the boundaries of the school.

In 2007 alone, 26,000 nine year olds in Scotland were introduced to golf through firstclubgolf. Thirteen schools on Orkney - St Andrews Primary School is one of them – are teaching firstclubgolf to 271 of their Primary 5 children this summer. The game is being delivered by Active Schools and Sports Development Teams from Orkney Islands Council, with the support of school PE staff.

Three local clubs are now equipped to continue these children’s golf education with clubgolf junior programmes.

Stromness Golf Club’s clubgolf coaching attracts up to 22 children each week. Six of the Club’s members have become fully qualified PGA Level 1 coaches and are delivering clubgolf Stage 1, a 40 hour course covering the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full swing, rules and etiquette.

On the course that opened just three years ago, South Ronaldsay Golf Club has started clubgolf coaching this summer. The Club’s four PGA Level 1 qualified coaches also ran winter indoor coaching at the local youth club, where nets and putting mats were funded by sportscotland.

Geographically in between these two clubs is Orkney Golf Club, which has run a clubgolf programme for the past three years. Fourteen PGA Level 1 coaches (four of them qualified at Advanced level) and a support team of 40 helpers coach nearly 70 children each week.

“The clubgolf coaching really took off last year,” said Junior Convenor Ali Learmonth. “It’s improving their abilities and increasing the number of kids that are playing in competitions. This year 34 children entered our first Open, compared to the beginning of last year where just three kids came to our first Open competition. I think the number of children entering our competitions could well double next year.

“Junior coaching has always been taught at our club by one or two people, but not structured as it now is or to so many juniors. We didn’t have a Pro up here but now we have a strong team of coaches we ensure that the children learn the fundamentals right from the start.

“Once the members saw the difference it was making to the juniors and how much they were enjoying it, more started coming on board to coach and help.

“Over the past couple of years we have brought several of our juniors up to the standard of being able to play in men’s 18 handicap competition, the youngest being just 12 years old. This would not have happened without our clubgolf coaching.”

The Club is working with sportscotland to provide new junior practice facilities: a three-bay indoor practice area with a video analysis system which will link to a Professional PGA Coach on the mainland for remote coaching is planned; four shortened junior holes; and a two bay outdoor practice net and an extension to the practice green.

Said Willie MacKay, Highland and Islands clubgolf Manager: “From the first meetings I had with staff at Orkney Islands Council and with the three golf clubs the level of co-operation and excellent communication have been strong features.

“As soon as we had qualified coaches plans were in place for training staff to deliver firstclubgolf and Open Days at each of the clubs were planned so that they did not clash.

“For a time the rapid growth in junior numbers presented capacity issues but these were solved by good planning and training extra coaches. With several coaches now qualified to deliver the clubgolf Stage 2 coaching programme we shall soon see more many juniors gaining handicaps.

“Last year 16 juniors from Orkney Golf Club made the Pentland Firth crossing to play in the Wick Golf Club Junior Open. The indoor golf practice nets and Huxley Putting has generated phenomenal interest and the South Ronaldsay coaches have travelled extensively for other juniors to enjoy the facility. This, along with the plans that Stromness have for their juniors, will bring stability to all three junior sections.

“The challenge that remains is to take golf to the rest of Orkney and bring them into the development. Sanday, Westray and Papa Westray are in the plans for 2009.”