Gullane GC Head Professional, Alasdair Good assesses a youngster for Stage 3 of the clubgolf programme

Gullane professionals put local children in the swing

An initiative to develop the area’s young golfing talent gathered further momentum last week when 14 Gullane children were assessed for intensive coaching by Gullane Golf Club’s PGA professionals.

The children – eight boys and six girls - are all part of clubgolf, a key component of the national junior golf strategy, developed under the partnership of the Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Ladies’ Golfing
Association, Professional Golfers’ Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland.

The Gullane 14 were amongst the first in East Lothian to experience clubgolf two years ago. Initially taught by school teachers, then given further skills by volunteer coaches at Gullane Golf Club, the children have this year reached the dizzying heights of Stage 3, taught by PGA Professionals.

On Friday, Gullane GC’s head professional, Alasdair Good and his team of professionals, assessed the youngsters for Stage 3.

“These children are now at a stage where we look at their abilities and commitment, see if they have the potential to progress and decide which ones will go on to more intensive coaching,” said Mr Good.

“The most important ingredient they need is a bit of talent and willingness to learn. In terms of enthusiasm they are the best bunch of kids you could ever ask to work with.

“If these kids are going to be county or national players then we need to get them into golf in a big way. It needs thousands of hours of work.

“It’s up to me and Jamie (Richardson) to help get them to the next level and I’m sure we will.”

The 14 children will be divided into two groups, ‘Development’ and ‘Performance’.

“It’s up to them all to maintain their places,” said Mr Good. “Some of the girls not only wanted to be the best girls in the group but wanted to be the best out of the whole group.”

Training is due to begin in the Easter holidays, with an intensive week of coaching, then weekly sessions until the summer holidays, when a further week’s coaching is planned. By the season’s end the Performance group will have amassed 60 hours of coaching, whilst the Development group will have had around 25 hours.

“It’s a big commitment all round but it’s worthwhile and its great to be able to give them this opportunity,” said Mr Good. “It’s one of my loves of the game, to introduce as many youngsters as we can. Hopefully in the future we’ll see some Scottish champions from Gullane.”

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.

Clubs hosting clubgolf Stage 1 for the children keen to progress are Craigielaw, The Glen, Gullane, Haddington, North Berwick, Musselburgh Old and Dunbar. East Lothian Council will also be running sessions at Fisherrow Pitch and Putt and Winterfield.