Westerm Isles clubgolfers at Stornoway Golf Club

New programme for Western Isles juniors

A new programme designed to give youngsters in the Western Isles an opportunity to develop an interest in golf and adopt a more active lifestyle was launched in Stornoway.

The Western Isles 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 Western Isles Junior Golf Action Plan aims to help up to 500 youngsters experience clubgolf’s introductory game, in school, over the next two years.  Ultimately this will result in more junior members at golf clubs, increase the number of girls playing golf, and create a facility infrastructure for golf development which supports increased participation at Club level.

Said Tony Wade, Team Leader Active Schools/Sports Development, “This is the perfect opportunity to get youngsters involved in a new sport that they could sustain for the rest of their life.

“Through the Western Isles Junior Golf Action Plan there is a strong link between the schools and their local clubs.  The youngsters that enjoy the schools programme can progress to a local club that they can go to and a pathway for them to develop their skills.”

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.

Last week, Primary 5 children at Stornoway and Laxdale Primary Schools were amongst the first in the Western Isles to start the 2008 schools clubgolf programme. Last year over 200 primary pupils experienced firstclubgolf in school time.

“The equipment is top notch, it’s very self explanatory and the kids have taken to it,” said PE Teacher, David MacLeod, who is teaching firstclubgolf to the schools’ children each week.

“With three or four golfing activities running at the same time it’s a good way of having lots of kids active and involved.

“I’m a golfer with a strong interest in the game but I’m sure that a non-golfer could be confident of giving a lesson with this equipment.”

At the end of their introduction to firstclubgolf, children will have the opportunity to develop their skills at a local club hosting Stage 1 of the clubgolf programme.  Taught by qualified PGA Level 1 volunteer coaches over two years, Stage 1 is a 40 hour course employing real golf equipment and covers the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full swing, rules and etiquette.

“The critical bit for us is having coaches who can deliver the programme within the clubs,” said Tony Wade.

“Several of our golf club members have been on PGA Level 1 coaching courses on Lewis and in the Southern Isles within the last 18 months so we already have a good core of qualified coaches.”

Golf clubs in Lewis, the Uists, Benbecula and Askernich have signed up to clubgolf and will be running coaching programmes this summer.  One, the Isle of Harris Golf Club, completed its first clubgolf Stage 1 course last autumn.

“We had a very small and not very active junior membership,” said club member and PE teacher, Hugh MacLean. “It was to address this that we decided to get a couple of clubgolf Level 1 coaches and bring as many juniors up as possible.

“Our first group of children have responded well to the coaching.  Some of them came from as far as Tarbert, 12 miles away, and Scalpay, 15 miles away, so they were very keen. The majority are from non-golf backgrounds so this was their introduction to golf and they thoroughly enjoyed it.”

The launch of the Western Isles Junior Golf Action Plan coincides with two other exciting golf developments on the Islands.

The Askernish Golf Club, with its Old Tom Morris course, on South Uist is undergoing a substantial refurbishment that will attract people from around the world.

sportscotland has awarded £35,000 towards building a driving range to be sited at Back Football & Recreation Club. This will go a long way towards growing the game in the Western Isles and, as a covered area, it will give a base for a visiting PGA Professional to work from.

Bill Miller, Chair of clubgolf, who attended the launch, said:  “I am delighted to see the progress clubgolf is making in the Western Isles.

“In 2007 we saw significant developments across Scotland, with 26,000 children receiving an introduction to golf. By establishing sustainable coaching programmes and welcoming more boys and girls into golf, the Western Isles has proved we have a quality programme that offers truly national coverage.”