Some of the Torrance House Junior Academy pupils with their trophies (Rob Eyton-Jones image).

POPULAR TORRANCE HOUSE JUNIOR

ACADEMY SET TO GROWN THIS YEAR

By ROB EYTON JONES

clubgolf MEDIA MANAGER
Torrance House Junior Golf Academy has 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 programme 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 organises 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.
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 men's 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 programme, 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 programme. 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.

J D Welsh, head coach of Torrance House Junior Academy, added:“The coaching programme, 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 turn-out, 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.”
List of Academy events and successes in 2007:
Torrance House Junior Academy - clubgolf Team Winners
Scott Lennox, Daniel Miller, Rebecca Marshall, Mark Hamilton, Callum Purden, Jack Cann, Andrew Scott, Mathew Lafferty, Duncan Forbes, Ryan Hamilton, Cameron Wright, Mark Webster, Robbie Halleron, Hannah Davidson, Brendan Sweeney, Jacob Kent, Jamie McNicholl, Stuart Thomson, Graeme Hayes, Mathew Roddy, Jack O'Shea, Callum Clayton, Martin Herman, Callum Dewar
Torrance House Junior Academy - clubgolf YEAR 1 Medal Winners
Scott Lennox , Euan Ramsay, Cameron Wright, Thomas Lemon, Jack O'Shea, Jordan Sherwood, Duncan Forbes, David Montgomery, Stuart Forbes.
Torrance House Junior Academy - clubgolf YEAR 2 Medal Winners
Kirsten Brown, Chris Lang, Gareth Samson, Callum Purden, Matthew Lafferty, Andrew Scott, Gareth Samson, Alexander Wilson, Daniel McCauley
Torrance House Junior Academy - clubgolf YEAR 3 Medal Winners
Brendan Sweeney, Stuart McDonald, Ryan Hamilton, Stuart McDonald
Torrance House Junior Academy - clubgolf OPEN Championship YEAR 1 & 2 (Saturday)
Winner: David Hawthorne
Runners-up: Jacob Kent, Mathew Roddy, Jamie McNichol, Graeme Hayes
Torrance House Junior Academy - clubgolf OPEN Championship YEAR 1 & 2 (Sunday)
Winner: Stuart Forbes
Runners-up: Mark Webster, Duncan Forbes, Alexander Wilson, David Montgomery
Torrance House Junior Academy - clubgolf OPEN Championship YEAR 3
Winner: Mark Hamilton
Runners-up: Ryan Hamilton, Stuart McDonald
Torrance House Junior Academy - clubgolf OPEN Girls Championship
Winner: Kirsten Brown
Runners-up: Hannah Davidson, Rebecca Marshall
Torrance House Junior Academy - LEVEL 1 Order of Merit
Winner: Stuart Forbes
Runners-up: Duncan Forbes, Jack O'Shea, David Montgomery, Scott Lennox
Torrance House Junior Academy - LEVEL 2 Order of Merit
Winner: Gareth Samson
Runners-up: Alexander Wilson, Mark Webster, Kirsten Brown, Andrew Scott
Torrance House Junior Academy LEVEL 3 Order of Merit
Winner: Ryan Hamilton
Runners-up: Mark Hamilton, Stuart McDonald
Torrance House Junior Academy Girls Order of Merit
Winner: Kirsten Brown
Runners-up: Hannah Davidson, Rebecca Marshall
Torrance House Junior Academy – Boys Championship
Winner: Cameron Boomer
Runner-up: Stuart McDonald
Best Scratch : Greg Mitchell
Torrance House Junior Academy – Girls Championship
Winner: Emily Glencorse
Runner-up: Julie Glencorse
Torrance House Junior Academy Coach Awards
Jacob Dolan, Carly Frame, Mitchell McKintyre, Rachael Barrowman, Katie Scott, Jamie, McNichol, Greg Archiebald, Katie Park, Euan Slevin, Emily Glencorse, Jack Barnett

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