Stirling clubgolf drive nears full roll out in local schools
March 2010
The drive to introduce every Primary 5 child in Stirling to golf this year through the national junior golf programme, clubgolf, intensified this week when children from all six Bannockburn schools took part in two clubgolf festivals organised by Active Schools.
A lasting legacy to Scotland’s successful bid to host the 2014 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.
Active Schools is an integral part of clubgolf’s schools programme, helping train teachers and supporting the programmes in schools as well as recruiting more volunteers to deliver.
In 2009, over 902 of the area’s Primary 5 children (97% of the total number in Stirling) played golf at school through clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf, which employs modified equipment, is taught by school staff and supported by Active Schools Co-ordinators to give children an enjoyable introduction to the game.
“We are making a massive drive for clubgolf this spring,” said Fraser Crawford, Active Schools Co-ordinator for the Bannockburn cluster, who organised this week’s festival, attended by almost 300 children, to complement the work he is doing in local schools.
“We are putting a lot of emphasis on clubgolf, we trained a lot of teachers and devoted time supporting the staff to teach the six week schools programme. We are now focussing on the school to club links in this and all of our sports programmes.
“We invite parents to the final session at each of the schools to make them more aware of the programme, explaining what the clubgolf pathway is and emphasising the links between the schools and the local golf club.
“clubgolf is not just about us giving the children a shot and leaving it at that. We explain that firstclubgolf is the starting point of the whole clubgolf pathway which can take them through clubgolf and into a coaching programme at a nearby club.
“I am positive that this will lead to more golf taster sessions throughout the year, developing the link between Brucefields, Active Stirling and the Bannockburn schools.”
It was no coincidence that Gregor Monks, PGA Pro at nearby Brucefields Family Golf Centre and Scottish Golf National Academy coach, was also on hand coaching at this week’s festivals.
Brucefields was one of the first clubs in Scotland to support clubgolf and hold clubgolf Stage 1 and 2 training three nights a week for children who have progressed through the firstclubgolf programme.
“There is definitely a buzz with golf at the moment and clubgolf is helping it,” said Gregor. “I’m finding more children coming through now and at a younger age. In particular we are starting to see a lot of 5 handicapper boys at the age of 13.
“At the moment we run clubgolf coaching on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings (at just £2 for an hour’s coaching) and we are looking at running another course on a Tuesday if we can encourage enough children from these festivals.
“We have put a lot of work into the festivals, partly because we are keen to support junior golf in the area and also to build up the awareness amongst the children that we are offering the rest of the clubgolf pathway at the Centre.”
Similar initiatives are taking place across Stirling, and Scotland in general in a bid to introduce 41,000 P5 children to golf through clubgolf this year alone and for 12,000 children to be involved in club coaching programmes.
With clubgolf, Active Schools and local centres like Brucefields all pulling together there is a formula in place to encourage new generations of young golfers to stay in the sport.
Added Crawford: “The children love clubgolf. It’s been really helpful that the local schools have been receptive to our big push and that Brucefields are on board and supporting us.”
For more information about clubgolf and how it can benefit your school or club visit:
clubgolf website: www.clubgolfscotland.com <http://www.clubgolfscotland.com>
Or contact:
Mandy Martin, clubgolf’s Central Regional Manager on
m:07956 540587
e: mmartin@clubgolfscotland.co.uk
