Strathpeffer hosts clubgolf coaches day

December 2009

Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club shared a fund-raising event with the Highland clubgolf coaches day.

A fantastic day was had by all 24 volunteer clubgolf coaches with the Strathpeffer course in great condition and the weather overall kind for competition.

These days are organised both as a thank you to the volunteer coaches for their commitment to supporting clubgolf and growing the junior numbers. It allows the coaches from different golf clubs to meet and share their experiences and coaching tips.

Coaches from Abernethy, Carrbridge, Grantown, Brora, Bonar Bridge & Ardgay, Muir of Ord, Strathpeffer, Reay and Thurso gave a wide geographic spread to the day. A fine meal was enjoyed by all with winning team Captain, Alan Bantick, Abernethy Golf Club, praising Strathpeffer Golf Club for their warm welcome, excellent course and high quality food.

With over 1,600 juniors participating in clubgolf coaching across 35 different Highland golf clubs the role of the volunteer coaches workforce is crucial. Throughout Highland, clubgolf are very fortunate in having superb support from PGA Professionals. As well as coaching at their own golf clubs many have supported juniors at clubs which do not have their own professional.

In 2009, over 200 juniors were enrolled in elite coaching programmes with PGA Professionals which impressive results in reducing their handicaps. This will be further extended in 2010 with professionals involved in coach mentoring and also supervising new volunteer coaches as they start to deliver the clubgolf stage 1 coaching course to juniors.

The Coach Education dates for 2010 were distributed so existing coaches can encourage fellow members to book onto Level 1 courses on 20th & 21st March and a second opportunity on 24th & 25th April with application forms available at Golf Clubs and also from clubgolf regional manager, Willie MacKay.

Several of the experienced coaches were looking to increase their coaching expertise by attending the Advanced Level 1 CPD Course at Loch Ness Golf Club on Sunday 7th March.

Team Results:

1st Abernethy Golf Club, Alan Bantick, Kevin Strathdee, Lewis Trail 67pts, winning a fourball at Monifieth Golf Club; 2nd Brora Golf Club, Liam MacDonald, Lesley Beaney, John Beaney 67pts, winning a fourball at Inverness Golf Club; 3rd Carrbridge Golf Club, Ken Malcolm, Irene Blease, Patrick Blease 60pts, winning a fourball at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club; 4th Bonar Bridge & Ardgay Golf Club, 59pts, Mary Hayden, Jeani Hunter wining a fourball at Reay Golf Club; 5th Reay Golf Club 57pts Pete McCartney, Sandy Chisholm, Sue Dawes winning a fourball at Muir of Ord Golf Club; 6th Muir of Ord Golf Club 54pts winning a fourball at Grantown on Spey Golf Club; 7th Thurso Golf Club 48pts Ali Simpson, Angus Cameron, Jack McCracken winning a fourball at Brora Golf Club.
Individual results: 1st Male Liam MacDonald, 37pts. 1st Female Mary Hayden, 31pts