children and teachers from Bonhill and Knoxland Primary Schools at the De Vere Ladies Scottish Open

clubgolf preview for West Dunbartonshire children

Sixty children from Bonhill and Knoxland Primary Schools had a preview of the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf, which will become a part of their curriculum next year, when they spent an afternoon at the De Vere Ladies Scottish Open at The Carrick on the banks of Loch Lomond.

The children, all P5s, had an hour of coaching from The Carrick’s Pros, clubgolf volunteer coaches and Active Schools Co-ordinators, before watching the action on the course.

“It was great to be able to take the children along to this Ladies European Tour event and introduce them to the game of golf,” said Active Schools Co-ordinator, Andy McKay.  “For many of them this was their first opportunity to play and learn about the game in a structured way and they seem to have really enjoyed themselves.”

clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland.   Emerging out of Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup, the strategy has been developed as a direct result of the Scottish Executive's commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game by 2009.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s Active Schools team are targeting each of the authority’s 36 primary schools in their roll-out of the clubgolf initiative.  

“This term we are offering training to teachers in 12 of the primary schools so that they can start teaching the children at school in the spring,” said David Martin, Active Schools Manager.  “Over the following two years we plan to roll it out to the other 24 primary schools.”

Clubs across Scotland are playing a vital role in the clubgolf strategy. Following clubgolf’s six-week firstclubgolf course (which happens in the schools), children have the opportunity to progress to the second phase of clubgolf's Player Pathway, Stage 1. Hosted by their local clubs, Stage 1 involves 40 hours of coaching delivered over two years, and covers the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full swing, rules and etiquette.  Progression through Stage 1 and subsequent stages encourages all children to develop their potential while being welcomed into a golf club, and provides access to a structured Player Pathway.

“We are already in discussions with local golf clubs so that after the children have had an introduction at school they will have the option of developing their skills at a local club,” added Mr McKay.