North Berwick Pro Martyn Huish coaches Clara Young at Heriot Watt’s indoor Golf Academy. Image by Rob Eyton-Jones

Clara Young becomes North Berwick's

youngest ever ladies champion

Twelve year old Clara Young became North Berwick Golf Club’s youngest ever Club Champion on Sunday after beating the holder, Dianne Huish 5 and 4 in the Ladies Club Championship.
“This is the first time I have played in the Championship and I was hoping to get to the semi finals,” said a delighted Clara. “When I got to the final I decided to go for it. I was really excited to win and I’m pleased to be the youngest winner.”
Her mother, Dawn, had attempted on several occasions to win the title but the silverware had eluded her each time. A semi finalist this year she found herself as caddie for her daughter in this year’s final.

North Berwick was one of the first clubs to come on board with the junior national programme, clubgolf, in 2004, and Clara was one of its earliest recruits.

Having received coaching from the Club’s Level 1 volunteer coaches, Clara progressed quickly to Stage 3 coaching with the Club’s Pro Martyn Huish.

“It’s certainly unprecedented in our club for someone so young to get anywhere near this Club Championship,” said Martyn, whose younger brother Ollie won the Club’s men’s title.

“Clara has a great attitude on the course, a very wise head on her 12 year old shoulders and was cool, calm and collected through the final.

“She has been right through the clubgolf programme from the start. She started firstclubgolf at school and I’ve been having coaching for almost four years.

“This is what it’s all about, to get somebody coming out the other end with the potential to go on.”

Since she started this season with a medal at Gullane in February, Clara has slashed her handicap from 19 to 10. Her stunning progress was helped by Martyn coaching his Stage 3 players indoors through the winter at Heriot Watt University’s Golf Academy.

“The coaching at Heriot Watt has helped me reduce my handicap and I’ve played a lot over the winter,” said Clara.

Said Martyn, “She has come out the blocks flying this year which proves getting some sort of structured lesson through the winter makes a difference.

“It’s not easy to quantify the individual parts of coaching, but the combined approach is what we are after. When you start seeing results like this coming out it does make you think we’ve done the right thing.”

Clara, who also plays badminton and hockey for East Lothian, hopes to reduce her handicap further this season “down to six or seven”, and is also looking forward to playing in the Scottish Girls event.