Central Scotland clubgolf Flag Competition Series third event at Oatridge College Golf Course.

Sunday’s clubgolf Flag competition on Oatridge College’s Golf Course exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Targeting Forth Valley children who are part of the national junior golf strategy, clubgolf, as well as other local youngsters who have golf handicaps, the event’s organisers – Matt Costello, West Lothian Active Schools and Mandy Martin, clubgolf Regional Manager for Central Scotland, together with a host of volunteers from local Golf Club attracted 20 young golfers on Sunday.

A new venture designed to encourage more girls to take up the game of golf at Clubs in West Lothian has been launched this month.

Getting and keeping girls involved in golf is not a new challenge locally, nor indeed in Scotland. As a result, six years ago, discovering that opportunities for their daughters to join a girl-friendly club were limited, a group of parents decided to form the Linlithgow District Girls Golf Society (LDGGS).

"It started as a virtual golf club put together by some enthusiastic mums. They got some Golf Foundation funding, and set about engaging primary age girls in golf. They utilized any local facilities, and the society gathered in strength and size." recalls the Association's Chair, Kenny More, whose eldest daughter has been on the programme from the start.

"From a start of five or six girls we put together a programme of coaching that would systematically develop girls from P4s through to S1,” a time when they should be grabbed by the clubs.  "By that age they'll be 12 year olds, capable of swinging a club, hitting the ball well, keeping scores and understanding the rules and etiquette of golf."

The numbers of girl members in the Association have since grown to 33, and this year the first batch have reached 12 years old, the age where

they could theoretically join a golf club's junior membership. 

Fortunately, with Scottish Golf's junior programme, clubgolf, helping to double the number of girls in club memberships the future is looking much brighter than six years ago.

In the newest development the LDGGS, clubgolf, Linlithgow and West Lothian Golf Clubs have combined forces to offer a pathway for their older

Girls into the clubs, starting with four Medal events for the girls this summer holidays. 

"With the help of Alan Reid and Karen Bowerman, we have just completed the first three competitions and they've been terrific," said Mr More.

"We've had up to 18 girls playing six hole competitions at both clubs. They went round the course with lady members who encouraged them about

play and reinforced aspects of technique and etiquette. The ladies were patient and positive - we couldn't have asked for more “

"The girls' parents came too, met the lady members and, as a result, many realized just what a positive environment this is for their kids to be involved in.

“The feedback has been excellent.  The lady members were all very positive and acknowledged what an excellent raw material the young girls are.  If the lady members can do that half a dozen times in the year for us it will make an enormous difference to girls wanting to join a golf club. 

Plans for next year include organising four lessons for the 'graduating' girls at the start of the season with the Pros from West Lothian and Linlithgow GCs, followed by more summer medals.

"Over the next few years there will be 33 girls moving from the LDGGS. With the support of the clubgolf strategy and the ladies sections of both clubs, I hope as many as possible become life-long members of our local clubs" said Mr More.

As West Lothian and Linlithgow Golf Clubs have just four and nine girls on their memberships respectively they will hopefully be falling over each other to sign up the girls.

Organisers of the inaugural clubgolf Volunteer Coaches' Golf Day at Callander GC (Saturday 9th August) were delighted with the turnout of 21 participants. 

The purpose of the event was to acknowledge the work of the volunteer golf coaches in Central who have worked tirelessly this summer to coach hundreds of local children in their clubs. 

The day also served as an ideal opportunity to meet and share good practice with fellow coaches from other clubs.

clubgolf, the national junior golf programme, is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland.  It emerged from Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup and is a result of the Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce every nine-year-old child in Scotland to the game. 

So far this year 33,466 of Scotland’s Primary 5 children have experienced golf in school through clubgolf’s introductory game, firstclubgolf.  

The programme is making its presence felt in golf clubs too. In 2008 clubgolf coaching is being delivered at 232 clubs across Scotland by a volunteer workforce of 1128 qualified coaches.

It is the clubgolf volunteer coaches from Central that the coaches’ day was intended to reward.  Clubs participating were:  Callander and Killin (Stirling); Tillicoultry and Alloa (Clackmannanshire); Greenburn, Harburn, Linlithgow and Pumpherston (West Lothian).

Teams of three comprised ladies and men from different clubs within the Central area.  The format for the competition was Stableford with the best two scores counting.  Prizes were awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams, closest to the pin and best overall score.

Said Katie Oman, clubgolf Regional Manager for Central Scotland:  “This event was a lot of fun and I think very worthwhile for the volunteer coaches in my area.  I hope that it will continue on an annual basis. 

“To date, we have recruited and trained 165 volunteer coaches in Central and with 157 actively coaching this year, it is fair to say that the dedication and commitment of these volunteer coaches is outstanding.  Without the support of these volunteers, the programme would not be as strong as it is in the area. 

“Our sincere thanks go to Callander Golf Club for hosting the event, the catering staff and Allan Martin, Callander's Golf Professional for helping to run the event.  Thanks also to clubgolf for providing the prizes and the participating golf clubs for donating tee-times as prizes.”

Results:

- 1st place was Team 5 consisting of Macrina Crawford (Harburn GC), Gordon Thomson (Greenburn GC) and Audrey Corrieri (Callander GC)

- 2nd place was Team 2 consisting of Francis Brown (Linlithgow GC), Liz Breingan (Tillicoultry GC) and Brian Hislop (Greenburn GC)

- 3rd place with a score of 74 was Team 4 consisting of Liz Stevens (Kiilin GC), Liz Morgan (Callander GC) and John Perry (Tillicoultry GC)

- Closest to the Pin - Doug McEwan (Linlithgow GC)

- Best Overall Score - Macrina Crawford (Harburn GC)

If anyone is interested in becoming a clubgolf volunteer coach, please contact the clubgolf Regional Manager for Central Scotland on Tel: 07956 540587.