Grange volunteers show Angus children the way

December 2009

A group of enterprising volunteer coaches from Grange Golf Club are introducing children from six local primary schools to the game through the national junior programme, clubgolf.

The five golfers are in their second season of teaching clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf, to eight and nine year olds in the Monifieth schools.

This has been achieved in conjunction with Angus Active Schools Coordinator, Stephen Gammack, who contacted the club’s captain and junior convenor, Ron McDonald, to create a link between the club and schools.

“We spend a month at each school, for an hour a week and it’s working well,” said Ron.
“We covered six schools last year and started this year’s sessions in September. By May we will have been into every school.”

The five club members are literally introducing a new generation of local golfers to the game.

Stephen Gammack, who initially taught the volunteers how to use the TriGolf equipment, which every school has purchased, said, “We always have a hands-up to see who has played golf before and in a class of 25 there are normally only four or five who have played before.

“The volunteers are coaching around 110 children in schools every year so the number of new children being given the opportunity to play golf is substantial.

“Considering the Grange members are all volunteers their commitment is fantastic. They are great with the children and give all concerned a really positive first experience of the game.”

The Grange, which shares the Monifieth Links course with two other clubs, has made further efforts to ensure its junior drive has a lasting impact. It has dropped its under 12s membership fee to just £10 a year and organises an annual putting competition at the course practice ground in May. In 2009 this was attended by 45 children from its coaching programme this year.

Meanwhile, the club’s professional Gordon McLeod, is lending his support to the junior drive by giving coaching on Saturday mornings throughout the season.

“Most of these children haven’t been on a golf course before,” said Ron. “And it’s difficult for kids this young to go out and play on a course, so we take them out on the smaller course for Texas scrambles in the summer and they really enjoy it.”

The volunteer coaches will resume their schools coaching in Seaview School, Monifieth on January 14th.