clubgolf, the national junior golf strategy launched by Colin Montgomerie at Gleneagles in 2003, has introduced over half of all nine year olds in Scotland to golf this year.Emerging from Scotland's successful bid to host the Ryder Cup, clubgolf was launched on the Scottish Executive's pledge to create an opportunity for every child in Scotland to experience golf. clubgolf has been developed under a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, Professional Golfers' Association and the Golf Foundation. It is funded by the Scottish Executive through sportscotland.
 

Initial figures show that so far this year over 25,000 children have experienced clubgolf�s introductory game, firstclubgolf, at school or in after school clubs. That number is expected to rise following the introduction of further children to firstclubgolf this autumn term.
�Investing in junior golf at grass roots level through clubgolf is vital if we are to achieve our overall aim in Scotland of making the game more attractive and available to all,� said Colin Montgomerie.
�The key is giving children the right introduction, then providing a support structure that will allow each player to progress to the level to which they aspire. It is wonderful to see that through clubgolf this is being achieved on such a grand scale and I am sure the programme will continue to flourish.�
Over 200 golf clubs in Scotland have signed up to deliver Stage 1 of the clubgolf strategy. More than 1000 volunteer coaches have been trained to work within these clubs.
�To have given half of Scotland�s P5 age group an introduction to golf this year is a significant milestone for clubgolf and we expect to see the figure rise to as many as 27,000,� said clubgolf Project Manager, Torquil McInroy.
�With 212 clubs across Scotland now active in the programme it is encouraging that most of these children will have the opportunity to progress to Stage 1 clubgolf coaching at their local club.

�This year we expect to see 60 percent growth in the numbers of children involved in clubgolf Stage 1 programmes at Scottish clubs. As a result the more advanced Stages 2 and 3 will begin to fill up over the next two to three years, increasing the opportunities for golf pros to get involved with clubgolf.�