Oban clubs find junior success with clubgolf programme

Children in the Oban area have better opportunities than ever to take up golf after two local clubs joined forces with Scotland’s junior golf programme, clubgolf, this summer.

But more local clubs and helpers are needed to help keep a new generation involved in the game.

clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland.

It emerged from Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup and is a result of the Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game.

Realising the need to add lifeblood to the game, Taynuilt and Seil Golf Clubs have both delivered clubgolf this summer, beginning to transform their junior sections in the process.

“We are a small village with around 1000 people so it’s nice to have a golf club as a local facility in a place as small as this,” said Murray Sim, Junior Convener and clubgolf Coordinator at Taynuilt GC.

“We want to give youngsters the opportunity to play because it’s a game you can play throughout your life. The clubgolf initiative to give all youngsters the opportunity to try the game is very important as far as we are concerned because these are going to be our future members.

“Twelve children (two of them girls) took up our coaching which is a very good uptake. We started with one class a week but now we have divided the children into two groups to ensure that we can give them the best quality of coaching.

“I don’t think these children would have played golf if it wasn’t for the clubgolf coaching.”

The move to start clubgolf coaching at the two Clubs coincides with a surge of interest in golf generated in local schools this year.

Children in 11 of the area’s 19 primary schools had an introduction to golf this year through clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf, delivered by Active Schools Co-ordinator, Dale Kupris and school staff.

“In most cases the children who have played firstclubgolf have never had a chance to swing a golf club,” said Mr Kupris. “The majority had never tried it and they absolutely loved it.”

Sparking an interest in a young generation of children is half the battle. The critical stage of the clubgolf programme is recruiting nearby clubs and helping their members become fully qualified to offer a structured programme.

Taynuilt and Seil saw the potential and put forward three members to be trained, who have since become PGA Level 1 coaches along with Mr Kupris. Now with the interest of firstclubgolf set to increase in schools, more clubs and volunteers will be needed to continue the momentum.

“It’s great that two local clubs are active and being very successful with their junior programmes,” said Mr Kupris.

“Having everything in place regarding regulations and qualified coaches has helped. Now I hope we can encourage more local clubs to get involved and also more volunteers trained so we can increase the numbers of children we can deliver to.”

The message is reiterated by clubgolf’s Regional Manager for Argyll & Dunbartonshire, Colin Bell. “It’s excellent to see these two clubs getting involved in 2008 and there is great potential for further development in the area,” he said.

“The strongest clubgolf programmes in Scotland are where golf clubs have a strong link with their local primary schools and Active Schools Coordinator. This is exactly what is happening in the Oban area.

“This makes the advertising and recruitment for the programme very easy for the clubs, who can then concentrate on introducing the kids to their coaching programmes when they arrive at the club.”

If you are a golf club interested in finding out more about how clubgolf can help develop your junior section or a volunteer who is interested in getting involved as a helper or a golf coach, please contact Colin Bell, clubgolf Regional Manager for Argyll & Dunbartonshire on:

Email: cbell@clubgolfscotland.co.uk
Tel: 07882 364340