New event marks start of new South Lanarkshire junior golf strategy

October 2009

Twenty-seven budding young golfers from three South Lanarkshire golf clubs enjoyed a new junior golf event at East Kilbride’s Brancumhall Golf Development Centre this month aimed at bringing together players and coaches from local clubs as the finale to a busy clubgolf coaching season.

clubgolf is the national junior golf programme formed by the partnership of the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland as a result of Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup.

The Brancumhall event was a Texas Scramble for children from three local golf clubs, Hollandbush GC, Torrance House GC and Broadlees Junior Golf Academy.

Each club entered nine players, boys and girls, from their coaching programmes. To encourage the children to work together as a team and achieve the best score, each team comprised players from different clubs.

clubgolf volunteer Level 1 coaches, and a multitude of parents and supporters, were on hand to assist with each group’s scoring and encourage the players around the course.

The competition, a huge success, marks the start of a new five year junior golf strategy in South Lanarkshire Leisure which will lead up to the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014.

During South Lanarkshire’s first four year strategy, completed in 2008, over 10,000 South Lanarkshire Primary 5 children were introduced to golf in schools through the firstclubgolf programme. The new strategy will maintain these impressive schools participation figures whilst increasing opportunities for children to progress their skills at local clubs and facilities.

Colin Girvan, Golf Development Officer for South Lanarkshire said, “We achieved some very impressive statistics during the first strategy. However, we are keen to keep improving our programmes and are focusing on supporting schools in-staff training via the Active Schools Team whilst maintaining the resources required to deliver the firstclubgolf programme.

“With 100% rollout of firstclubgolf across South Lanarkshire, exit routes to local clubs and facilities will be the main focus of the new strategy. The demand for junior coaching is greater than ever and there are opportunities for clubs and PGA Professionals to play a part in the South Lanarkshire Golf Strategy and fill their own coaching programmes whether it be clubgolf, Young Masters Golf or a Professional’s own programme.”

Other significant areas of development in the new strategy include creating an elite performance pathway to identify and develop young talented players who could represent Lanarkshire in the International Children’s Games in 2011.

Secondary Schools in South Lanarkshire now have Active Schools Coordinators in position and the Golf Foundation programme, Golf Extreme is currently being delivered in many of the schools.