Torrance House clubgolf coaching

Torrance House Junior Academy set to grow this season

Torrance House Junior Golf Academy completed a highly successful first year with 150 local children graduating from its coaching programme before Christmas.

So popular was the inaugural 2007 coaching that, with the start of the 2008 golf season just weeks away, plans are in place to open it up to even more children this year.

 

The East Kilbride club launched its Academy in partnership with the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf and South Lanarkshire Leisure in the spring of 2007.

 

The program is delivered by 15 PGA Level 1 qualified volunteer coaches, all Torrance House members, with expert coaching from PGA professionals, John Mulgrew and Ricky Gray.  A five year framework will take students from absolute beginner through to youth membership.  Its objectives are to provide the core coaching program of skills, learning, practice, and competition days for junior boys and girls.

 

By taking in nine year olds, who have been introduced to the game at school through clubgolf’s introductory game, the programme is structured to develop and support both the competitive and talented junior golfers as well as the juniors who join the game for fun and recreation.

 

In addition to coaching, the Academy organizes weekly competitions, held on Torrance House’s 18 hole course and the nine hole at nearby clubgolf Development Centre, Brancumhall.

 

The 2007 competitions culminated in an end of season championships with 90 students, aged between nine and 15 years old, competing over two days, in the inaugural event. The event was marked by holes in one from Stuart Forbes and Andrew McFarlane and individual course records from Stuart Forbes, Mark Webster and Ryan Hamilton.

 

Craig Ronald, a past Torrance House Junior Champion and former European Tour player with over 65 victories on the Scottish Tartan Tour, was invited as guest speaker at the graduation event (full details in footer).

 

The Academy’s success stories include East Kilbride 15 year old, Alan Welsh who is a member of the Lanarkshire team and competes for the club’s Gents team.  His coaches believe he has the talent to reach international level.

 

East Kilbride’s Greig Mitchell, who started as a novice in 2005 and had been progressing through the coaching program, was the Academy member to play a team match for Torrance House Juniors in the Lanarkshire Junior League.

 

Gordon Bruce, Chairman of the Torrance House Junior Academy, said, ‘The high calibre of motivated coaches attached to the club has been the cornerstone to the enormous success of our Academy.

 

“This has made it a rewarding experience for all of the students in the program.  The parent feedback has been fantastic, so we know we have a great structure to build on in 2008.  The support we have had from Colin Girvan and his team at South Lanarkshire Leisure and the PGA has made this an outstanding partnership.”

 

This year Torrance House is hoping to invite an additional 50 children into the Academy and is looking at ways to increase the number of girls playing. Anyone interested in joining should ask for an application form from their local primary school.  

 

Although the 2008 Academy is due to start in the spring, specialised PGA professional coaching for six of clubgolf Level 3 students has continued through the winter under PGA professional Ricky Gray, who has provided opportunities to play at several high quality golf courses as well as access to professional club fitting services. The Academy organised fun competitions at Troon for its clubgolf Level 1 students.

 

JD Welsh, Head Coach of Torrance House Junior Academy added, “The coaching program coupled with the competition events, throughout the year, means that junior golfers of all skill levels develop their full potential.  The introduction of team events, individual merits and games, were all designed to be fun.  The fantastic turnout, in all weathers, told us the students thought so.   

 

“It has been a pleasure to see all of our students reaching personal best targets, but more importantly, developing an enthusiasm and enjoyment for the great game of golf.”