Gleneagles experience for Falkirk juniors

Eleven budding young golfers from Falkirk Tryst Golf Club enjoyed a day at Gleneagles on Sunday.

Their visit was a direct result of Gleneagles and Scotland’s national junior golf programme, clubgolf, joining forces again to promote junior golf in Scotland this summer by offering participating clubs an opportunity to play on its Wee Course every Sunday between 15 June and 12 October.

Launched at Gleneagles in 2003 clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, Professional Golfers Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland. It aims to create the opportunity for every child to experience golf by age nine and increase junior participation in golf in Scotland.

The children, who that had completed Stage 1 Year 1 and Stage 1 Year 2 of the clubgolf programme, warmed up at the practice facilities, then split over three tee times to play the Wee Course.

Graeme Cobb, clubgolf coordinator at Falkirk Tryst said: “clubgolf is all about encouraging children to play golf. To come and experience the facilities of a venue such as Gleneagles, especially when it will be hosting the Ryder Cup in 2014, is something that will stick with the children and encourage them to keep their interest in the sport.

“Although titled as 'wee' this was more challenging than many of the children had experienced before. However they all enjoyed the experience.”

Patrick Elsmie, Gleneagles’ Managing Director, said, “Gleneagles has always been committed to golf and we are thrilled to be a part of the clubgolf initiative. We hope to be able to help them in achieving their goal of allowing every child in Scotland to experience the game by the age of nine.

“As the venue to the Ryder Cup in 2014 it is important that Gleneagles continues to work closely with organisations like clubgolf to ensure that the game of golf in Scotland and our young people reap the benefits of playing host to such a prestigious tournament”.