Scott Henry coaches Blair Carnegie at Stirling University

Inaugural Active Stirling clubgolf competition

For an inaugural event, Sunday’s Active Stirling clubgolf Flag competition on Stirling University’s Par 3 course exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Targeting Forth Valley children who are part of the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf, as well as other local youngsters who have golf handicaps, the event’s organisers - Active Stirling, clubgolf and Stirling University, together with a host of volunteers - had hoped to attract 40 children.  The number that turned up on the sparkling autumn day, exceeded 60.

 

“To achieve 60 was a fantastic result,” said Sports Development Officer, Steven Coulter.  “It was the result of a massive effort from a lot of people.  The children came from as far as Falkirk, Muckhart, Killin and Balfron; we had volunteer coaches from local golf clubs and university students all helping to make the day a fantastic success.  Auchterlonies gave us extra prestige by donating prizes of golf equipment.”

 

Two thousand Primary Five children in the Forth Valley had an introduction to golf this year through clubgolf’s six-week firstclubgolf course at school.  Over 600 children have been involved at club level.  Delivered by fully qualified PGA Level 1 volunteer coaches, Stage 1 coaching involves 40 hours of coaching, delivered over two years, and covers the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full swing, rules and etiquette.

 

Progression through the Stages encourages all children to develop their potential while being welcomed into a golf club, and provides access to a structured Player Pathway.  The flag event was designed to mark the season’s end by giving Stage 1 and 2 children the chance to put into practice what they have learnt.  For some, this would have been their first ever golf competition.

 

As an added incentive to keep developing in the game, children were given golf clinics by Scott Henry, the 2006 Scottish Stroke Play Champion and, as a SGU supported golfer, a member of the winning Scottish team in the Home Internationals.

 

“The sooner they can get competing, out on the course having fun, the better they will become,” said two-times Scottish Boys Champion, Henry.

 

“Today is the first time I have given any coaching and I was very impressed by how the kids picked up things.  There are some great little players here and the things I was telling them they were getting right away.

 

“There’s a huge amount of effort going in to encouraging juniors in Scotland and I’m seeing a lot more young faces at golf clubs.  It’s important to get children started young as they learn so quickly at this age.  Now is the perfect time for youngsters to get involved.”

 

The need for an early introduction to competition was emphasised by Gordon Niven, PGA Pro at Stirling University,  “I know from coaching that this area has a lot of good young golfers and it’s vitally important for children to have some form of competition and you can see that they really enjoyed today.

 

“The behaviour of the kids and etiquette we’ve seen today is a great credit to them and their parents.  It’s a great course for kids and from my point of view it certainly gets a thumbs up for next year.”

 

Katie Oman, clubgolf Regional Manager for the Central Scotland area commended the hard work of Active Stirling and staff, clubs and volunteers and thanks Stirling University, Auchterlonies and Scott Henry for supporting the event.

 

“The planning and preparation that has contributed to the success of this event has given us the blueprint for further events and we plan to develop this competition programme to include similar events in Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and West Lothian throughout the 2008 golf season,” she said.

 

Active Stirling clubgolf flag competition winners:

 

Stage 1 competition:

 

1st - Scott Cocker (Dunblane Golf Club)

2nd - Lee McCormack (Brucefields)

3rd - Sean Webb (Brucefields)

 

Closest to the pin - Jamie McMenemy (Brucefields)

 

Stage 2 competition:

 

1st - Fraser Steel (Glenbervie)

2nd - Catherine Allan (Killin Golf Club)

3rd - James Darby (Dunblane)

 

Closest to the pin - Fraser Steel (Glenbervie)

 

Handicap/Advanced Group competition

 

1st - Blair Carnegie (Bridge of Allan)

2nd - James Ronald  (Killin Golf Club)

3rd - Ian Hill (Unknown)

 

Closest to the pin - Hamish Buist (Dunblane GC)