More coaches trained for Highland clubgolf programme

March 2010

Sixteen Highland golf club members attended a two day PGA Level 1 course at Loch Ness Golf Club, all passing their practical coaching qualification which enables them to teach children on the national junior golf programme, clubgolf, the basic skills of golf.

The volunteers came from Aigas, Brora and Bonar Bridge & Ardgay, Grantownn Spey, Inverness, Spean Bridge, Spey Valley Golf Course, Strathpeffer and Torvean Golf Clubs. They were trained by PGA Tutors, Alan Martin, Callander Golf Club and Graeme McDowall, from Fife’s Elmwood College.

Willie MacKay, Highland's Junior Golf Manager, said: "This year we already had six volunteers trained at and we are currently enlisting another half dozen volunteers.

“That will provide 60 newly trained coaches which is beyond the planned target but the extra coaches are very welcome and will allow more than 5600 new juniors to take up golf after Easter when the juniors sections get started at clubs.

"Each of the 16 volunteers receives a 50 percent grant towards the cost of their Level 1 course from Coaching Highland's Coaching Scholarship Programme.”

Since 2002, Coaching Highland has awarded grants to 172 Highland clubgolf volunteer coaches, a total investment of £18,700.

Said MacKay: “Coaching Highland will continue to support their coach education through further grants as they attend courses to advance their qualification. This year golf coaches also benefitted from nutrition and sports psychology courses which Coaching Highland organised.

“It becomes fairly obvious why the Coaching Highland staff won a national award in 2009 for the work they do across the vast area of Highland. In golf alone 200 coaches and nearly 2000 juniors benefit from the work of manager Alan Hoseason and Administrator, Elissa Steven."

Earlier in March ten Level 1 experienced coaches attended an Advanced Level 1 CPD Course which upgrades their qualification and means they can coach juniors to the stage where they can gain a CONGU senior handicap.

If more golf club members are interested in gaining a coaching qualification they can find out more about the course on this website, or contact:

willie.mackay@highland.gov.uk