Scotland's new European Tour star Peter Whiteford and rising Ladies European Tour player Clare Queen were on hand to launch the SGU’s latest initiative for junior golf, the Dunfermline Building Society Junior Club of the Year Awards.

Part of Dunfermline Building Society’s £100,000 sponsorship agreement with the Scottish Golf Union, the new awards have been designed to reward clubs across the country for their efforts in promoting junior golf and encouraging more young participants in the game.

The awards will be open to all golf clubs and facilities in Scotland, with the winning club receiving £1,000 towards their junior programmes, plus five runners-up awards of £300. The six winning entrants will also have their work showcased to other clubs and facilities in Scotland, aiming to encourage further good practice across the country. The awards will also be supported by clubgolf, Scotland’s national junior golf programme.

Fife professional Peter Whiteford, who has made the cut on his opening three events on his debut European Tour season having successfully graduated from the 2007 Challenge Tour, welcomed the new initiative:

“The Dunfermline Building Society Junior Club of the Year awards is a great idea and one which will encourage more clubs to promote golf among youngsters in their community.”

“There are many examples of clubs and volunteers doing great work at junior level and these awards will help highlight that activity even more.”

Each club and golf facility will be invited to nominate themselves for the Awards, with entries being judged on a number of different criterion, including accessibility, community links, achievements, coaching programmes and testimonials from other parties.

Clare Queen, who has recently completed her second season on the Ladies European Tour finishing 39th on the Order of Merit, said:

“It’s really important that clubs in Scotland do all they can to encourage boys and girls to play and enjoy golf and its great that the Dunfermline Building Society Junior Club of the Year Awards will recognise those clubs who are doing the most.”

“I was lucky enough to benefit from being part of a very good junior section at Drumpellier Golf Club and there seems to be more girls getting involved in golf from an early age, which is great for the game in Scotland.”

Nomination forms will be posted out to all clubs and facilities in Scotland during the first week of January and will also be available to down load on-line on the SGU website. The Dunfermline Building Society Junior Club of the Year Award winners will be announced at the Scottish Golf Dinner on Friday 28 March 2008.

The Awards strengthen Dunfermline Building Society’s commitment to junior golf in Scotland, following a successful first season of their Junior Masters sponsorship, with more than 2,500 youngsters from 200 clubs taking part, with one third of the field in some of the events made up of girls.

Dunfermline Building Society also launched their new Fairway Saver Account for golfers two months ago, with more than 850 accounts with a value in excess of £2m already opened.

Chief Executive Graeme Dalziel added:

“Sponsorship of golf in Scotland is extremely important to Dunfermline Building Society and our values are closely linked to those of the Scottish Golf Union and the great work being done by volunteers in golf clubs.”

“We are very proud to be making a difference and hope that our sponsorship can lead to Scotland producing more exciting young players like Peter and Clare in the future.”