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North Berwick Golf Club PGA Pro, Martyn
Huish teaches clubgolf’s
Stage 3 programme to local children
North Berwick
Pro delivers clubgolf
Martin Huish, the pro at
North Berwick Golf Club, has become the second PGA Pro in East
Lothian to begin teaching Stage 3 of the clubgolf strategy
to local children.
Two years ago the first group
of children in East Lothian experienced clubgolf, a key component
of the junior golf strategy developed under the partnership
of the Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Ladies’ Golfing
Association, Professional Golfers’ Association, the Golf
Foundation and sportscotland, set up to give every nine year
old in Scotland the opportunity to play the game by 2009.
Initially taught by school teachers
in local primary schools, before being taught the fundamentals
by volunteer coaches at North Berwick Golf Club, 11 children
have this year reached the third stage of the player development
pathway, taught by PGA Professionals. A further 40 have
started Stage 3 at Craigielaw and Gullane Golf Clubs.
“You can see some real
commitment from these kids,” said
Martin Huish. “Previously we have done junior lessons
and we have seen some enthusiasm but then it has dissipated
fairly quickly. But with clubgolf
you are beginning to see big commitment from kids and a real
drive to want to do better.”
All 11 children have signed up
for two years of coaching with Mr Huish, at the end of which
they will all be accomplished golfers.
“In Stage 3 we have
upped the stakes, have asked for much more commitment to
take them up the levels,” he said. “We are trying
to push them on so the tolerances we allow them within their
swings are minimized. They are progressing well.”
This year around 1100 Primary
5 children in Dunbar, Haddington, North Berwick, Prestonpans,
Musselburgh and Tranent school clusters will be introduced
to golf in school through clubgolf’s introductory
game.
For the children keen to progress,
local clubs Craigielaw, The Glen, Gullane, Haddington, North
Berwick, Musselburgh Old and Dunbar are al hosting Stage 1. East
Lothian Council will also be running sessions at Fisherrow
Pitch and Putt and Winterfield.
Almost 200 Scottish golf clubs
have signed up to clubgolf and for PGA Pros like Martyn Huish,
having a golf strategy in place which is targeting ever nine
year old in Scotland, has come at the perfect time.
“clubgolf is going
to be the route to go down without a doubt and all the governing
bodies and agencies are behind it,” added Martyn
Huish. “It just needs another couple of years to see
somebody coming through into an event like the Scottish Boys
who has done clubgolf programme.”
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