clubgolf at Turnhouse

Attention Edinburgh junior convenors and would-be junior coaches

Junior convenors, golf club members, parents and teachers in the Edinburgh area interested in revitalising their clubs’ junior memberships and attracting more children into the game, are invited to a clubgolf information evening at Turnhouse Golf Club on Thursday 24 January at 7.45pm.

Emerging out of Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup, clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland. The strategy has been developed as a direct result of the Scottish Executive's commitment to create the opportunity for every nine-year-old child in Scotland to experience the game.

Over 26,000 children in Scotland were introduced to golf in 2007 through clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf. Following the six-week firstclubgolf course, children have the opportunity to progress to the second phase of clubgolf's Player Pathway, Stage 1, hosted by local clubs.

Stage 1 involves 40 hours of coaching delivered over two years, and covers the fundamentals of putting, chipping, full swing, rules and etiquette. Progression through Stage 1 and subsequent stages encourages all children to develop their potential while being welcomed into a golf club and provides access to a structured Player Pathway.

Turnhouse, the first private golf club Edinburgh to sign up to the strategy, in 2005, provides the perfect example of a club which is developing a strong junior section through clubgolf.

Twelve of the club’s members are trained to deliver clubgolf Stage 1 coaching and 49 children were involved in its clubgolf programme in 2007. The club’s Pro, John Murray is one of 20 Pros in Scotland delivering Stage 3 of the programme.

“This will be the fourth year we have been working with clubgolf and it is a programme I can recommend to other clubs in the area,” said Junior Convenor Iain Holt.

“clubgolf has allowed us to be part of the community and get involved with local schools. Now we are seeing the children coming through the development pathway and becoming members of the golf club.”

A new junior practice facility (which received £28,000 sportscotland Lottery funding) is due to open in April 2008, enabling Mr Holt and his coaching team to “double our capacity to coaching approximately 80 children”.

In Edinburgh firstclubgolf is currently being delivered at many primary schools during curriculum time, with more schools preparing to introduce their children to firstclubgolf this year.

For more information about clubgolf and the presentation at Turnhouse Golf Club, please contact:

Laura Rushby
clubgolf Regional Manager, East of Scotland
lrushby@clubgolfscotland.co.uk T: 07956 540595