Catriona accepts Vice
President role

February 2010

Catriona Matthew MBE, the first Scot to win a women’s major championship, is becoming more involved with developing girls golf in Scotland after accepting an invitation to become Vice President of clubgolf partner, the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association.

“I was delighted to accept the post of Vice-President,” said Scotland’s most successful woman professional. “It is always special to gain recognition in Scotland and, hopefully, I can help to generate more interest in girls’ and women’s golf. “

Catriona is a long term supporter of clubgolf. Last year 10,436 children were involved in clubgolf coaching programmes at participating golf clubs. Almost a quarter of this number, 2508, were girls. With the numbers of children in clubgolf programmes at clubs set to rise again this year, the figure for girls receiving coaching will also grow.

“I know that programmes set up by the SLGA and clubgolf have done a great deal over recent years to encourage more girls to take up the game and I’ll be delighted to become involved in some way,” she said.

clubgolf’s projects to get more girls playing golf include:
· Making golf accessible in primary schools

· Offering ‘Girls Only’ coaching at some clubs

· Encouraging fun competition formats, ‘buddy’ systems to introduce new girls at clubs, and social events

· Linking in with SLGA County associations

· Running activities at Ladies golf events

“Getting golf into the primary schools and giving girls the opportunity to play will make a difference, even if just a fraction of the children that are playing at school decide to take up the game,” said Catriona.

“clubgolf’s Girls Only coaching is definitely helping keep more girls in the game. And it’s good to see that children are coming right through the clubgolf programme and into the academies. It will encourage others.”

Crucial to clubgolf’s success in keeping girls involved in the game is good communication between partner organisations. To help achieve this clubgolf is establishing a ‘Girls In Golf’ steering group which will provide organisations, including the SLGA and sportscotland, with the opportunity to work together.

“The more cooperation there is between everyone, the more help girls will get,” said Catriona.

“A lot of it is about getting girls to meet other girls that are playing golf. They will stay interested if they have friends who are playing.”

Said SLGA Chairman, Shona Malcolm, “We are delighted that Catriona has accepted. Both as an amateur and professional, she has achieved so much in the game and is respected all over the world. By taking on the role, it shows her loyalty and commitment to the game in Scotland and she will be a terrific ambassador for golf.”