clubgolf
on a roll in Wallace cluster
Opportunities
for children from Stirling’s Wallace cluster to play
golf have never been better. This spring all 150 P5
children in the area’s six schools experienced the
game through the national junior golf programme’s introductory
game, firstclubgolf.
Their
five week introduction, taught with multi-coloured modified
clubs, rubberised balls and Velcro targets, to give nine
year olds an enjoyable and safe first experience of the
game, finished last week with a Festival at Stirling
University led by Active Schools and supported by clubgolf
and PGA Level 1 volunteer coaches from the University.
“The
Festival was an opportunity for all the children who
have taken part in firstclubgolf to have a fun day trying
out golf with metal clubs, driving, putting and chipping,” said
Kelly Wood, Active Schools Co-ordinator for the Wallace
Cluster.
This
was also an opportunity for the children to decide whether
they want to take their golf to the next level of the
programme. Hosted by the University, taught by
its qualified PGA Level 1 coaches and supported by volunteer
coaches from Bridge of Allan Golf Club, clubgolf Stage
1 involves 40 hours of coaching delivered over two years,
and covers the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full
swing, rules and etiquette.
“Stirling
University has been extremely supportive of the clubgolf
programme and ran a clubgolf course for the first time
last year,” said Kelly.
“Golf
is one of the sports that you don’t often get a
chance to play, so clubgolf has been a good tool for
them to experience that. The kids at school have
been really keen.
“So
far 10 children have signed up for this year’s
Stage 1 course and that number will hopefully increase.”
clubgolf
is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the
Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional
Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland,
developed as a result of the Scottish Government’s
commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in
Scotland to the game.
