Golf lessons at Deerpark Primary a ‘logical progression’ for Alloa pro

May 2010

A joint initiative between Sauchie’s Deerpark Primary School and the pro at nearby Alloa Golf Club aimed at building a lifelong interest in the game and growing the club’s junior membership got off the start line last week.

As one of the 19 Clackmannanshire schools which have all had golf on the curriculum for five years through the national junior golf programme, clubgolf, Deerpark has generated a depth of enthusiasm for the game in every year group.

With five of the area’s six clubs supporting the clubgolf programme for the first time this year it was an obvious step for the school to team up with nearby Alloa Golf Club.

Last week the club’s pro Gregor Abel joined the drive, extending his regular remit by teaching the pupils on their back field.

“These children have all been introduced to golf through clubgolf so they already have a fair idea of what they are doing and some are showing the beginnings of a good swing,” he said. “It’s a logical progression for them to move on and start playing with real clubs.”

The catalyst for this project was Active Schools’ successful grant application to the 2014 Communities fund to buy sufficient golf equipment and pay for professional tuition.

Now in full swing, the coaching will run for four weeks in the familiar environment of the school field before moving across the road to the club, for a further two weeks. In the summer holidays a full week of coaching, Monday to Friday, is planned. If that doesn’t cement the children’s interest in golf then an invite to July’s Open in St Andrews should.

“Ultimately we are hoping that these children will enjoy the coaching and will want to become club members,” said Gregor.

“We don’t have a great amount of juniors here, around 50, and not all of them are playing regularly, which is a problem.

“But we do a lot of junior coaching through the summer and we run Go GOLFING for members’ children every second weekend on a shortened course; it’s for children who haven’t had a lot of experience, with lessons afterwards.

“We want to show the Deerpark children where and who we are and how to get involved. Compared to other clubs we are relatively affordable to join at just £40 for the year.

“We would like to target more schools and as Deerpark is the closest, hopefully a few will join us.”

Gregor’s involvement at the school has another equally important role. By training its teacher Hazel Hume how to coach the children, the programme will be sustainable.

“I have taught the introductory game to every child here from P1 to P5 for the past five years so they already have a lot of experience,” said Hazel, an Alloa club member.

“This is a great step forwards for the school. The clubs we have bought for the school are fantastic and we will keep using them for years to come.

“Meanwhile I’m learning a lot from Gregor so that I will be able to keep the coaching going next year.”

In Clackmannanshire, golf is becoming a win-win game for all.