Brucefields Pro Gregor Monks with clubgolfers from the Bannockburn cluster

Brucefields finds the perfect formula

With over half of all Scotland’s P5 children enjoying an introduction to golf at school this year through the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf, Brucefields Family Golf Centre is playing a vital role in encouraging its local youngsters to continue developing their talents.

Emerging out of Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup, clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland.  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.

What makes Brucefields different from the other 220 clubs in Scotland delivering Stage 1 of the clubgolf programme is that instead of volunteers leading the coaching its own Pro and SGU Academy Coach, Gregor Monks, has expanded his own remit to coach these children three nights a week.

“We are a family centre and we got involved with clubgolf because and we want to give back to the game,” said Gregor. “We already have a healthy amount of children coming through the Centre and we do our best to encourage them and make the game fun but we feel the more kids the merrier.”

Almost 50 children arrived at Brucefields for the start of the clubgolf Stage 1 course in May, which has taken them on to the driving range, the putting green and the Par 3 course.

For the 12 week course the Centre charged an astonishingly low £12, making it one of the most affordable coaching programmes in Scotland.  At the same time it dropped its junior membership, offering the children free balls and discount vouchers for the Par 3 course.

When Gregor resumed the coaching last week, he was delighted to see that a hard core of almost 40 had returned for the second block of five weeks.

“Before they came here most of these children were non golfers,” he said.  “But some of the children have already taken up memberships and most of the girls have been and bought sets of clubs.  They are showing a big commitment and we are beginning to see some very good players amongst them.”

Helping to generate the interest in schools are Active Schools Co-ordinators and Sports Development staff from Active Stirling.

“All schools in the Bannockburn cluster are now on board with clubgolf and we’ve been training the teachers to deliver firstclubgolf on the curriculum or in after school clubs,” said Sports Development Officer, Steven Coulter.

“It’s been a really successful year for us, particularly with Brucefields. Of all our after school activities the highest numbers we’ve had are at Brucefields.  The schools have been amazed at the response from the kids to golf. 

“The formula has worked so next year we will follow a similar path.”