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Turnhouse GC Head Professional, John Murray
teaches
Edinburgh’s
first group of children to reach the clubgolf Stage 3 programme
Turnhouse Pro
coaches capital children
An initiative to develop the area’s
young golfing talent gathered further momentum this week
when 10 Edinburgh children, amongst the first in the city to
experience clubgolf, began intensive coaching under Turnhouse
GC Head Professional, John Murray.
Two years ago these children were amongst
the first in Edinburgh to experience 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.
Initially taught by school teachers in East
Craigs and Gylemuir Primary Schools, before being taught the
fundamentals
by volunteer coaches at Turnhouse Golf Club, the children have
this year reached the third stage of the player development
pathway, taught by PGA Professionals.
“They have all learnt the basics
of hitting a golf ball and they are very keen,” said
John Murray, who last gave them the first lesson of a 40-week
coaching course. “The aim of Stage 3 is to develop
every aspect of putting, chipping and full swing.
“After Easter we will get a lot
more technical with them, developing what they’ve got
to bring them to the next level and get them on the golf
course.”
All 10 children have committed to the Stage
3 coaching, delivered by Mr Murray over a two year period. By
the end of it he believes they will all be “accomplished
golfers”.
Said the Club’s junior convenor and
volunteer coach, Iain Holt, “These kids had no idea how
to play golf when they started with us two years ago, so it’s
very satisfying to see them progress to Stage 3.
“To get 10 children to Stage 3,
and to have a further four of them as members, from an initial
36 is a good ratio. The Club
and volunteers are delighted that the clubgolf pathway has
been achieved.”
Almost 200 Scottish golf clubs have signed
up to clubgolf and for PGA Pros like John Murray, having a
golf strategy in place which is targeting ever nine year old
in Scotland, hasn’t come a moment too soon.
“Junior golf has needed a structured
programme like this for years,” said Mr Murray. “clubgolf
is going to help any golf club that wants a better standard
of junior golfer coming through.
“It will work and if it works
for us at Turnhouse it will work for any golf club.
The big thing is the golf club has to get behind it.”
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