The last word on the clubgolf debate:

From Ellie Whyte
Captain of Aberdeenshire Ladies CGA

There is nothing I would like to see more, than droves of kids, especially girls, out there getting stuck into their golf. So I am loathe to be critical of any scheme which is trying to promote the great game.
However, whilst in no way wishing to detract from the invaluable contribution made by those volunteers who give up their time to become clubgolf coaches and run sessions for Stage 1, I too have concerns regarding the effectiveness of the clubgolf programme to bring about a significant increase in the number of girls playing in golf clubs.
I get the impression that the initial stage of introducing Primary 5s to the game is successful. The feedback from schools always seems very positive. I think it is a great idea to target this captive audience en masse. According to the clubgolf statistics, of which there are many, there then seems to be a reasonable uptake at Stage 1 but thereafter follows a definite decline, particularly of girls.
Now, it cannot be denied that as girls go through the teenage years, it is very hard to get them to keep their committment to any sport, let alone one as frustrating as golf. But, therein lies the challenge.
It would appear to me, there is a link missing between Stage 1 and getting girls to join golf clubs as junior members, particularly if they are from a non-golfing family. Perhaps there is a need for a 'nursery' pre-club to be set up so girls can play appropriate conditioned competitions like flag events, scrambles over six or nine holes and even take a card for a handicap.
I know Aberdeen City Council and the Paul Lawrie Scheme used golfing buddies to help run these sort of events so the kids could compete with success and learn more about the rules and etiquette of the game. I feel a balance of a little coaching and a lot of play gives most incentive.
Girls in particular need events which are social, fun and have prizes to help keep them interested. In Aberdeenshire, we have recently sent out a questionnaire to the ladies' section of our clubs to try to determine how many girls are members and if they are or have been involved with clubgolf coaching.
From the 18 returns so far, there doesn't appear to be a significant rise in the number of girls joining our clubs. Furthermore, the two clubs with by far the most girl members run their own club coaching and not clubgolf.
However, we will need to gather information for the next few years before our results will be really valid or conclusive. Perhaps a national questionnaire could be devised which would indicate the impact of clubgolf in clubs across the country.
In this age of accountability, it is surprising that no-one is checking that the money is being used to good effect. I don't think there is an easy answer to the problem of attracting girls to golf, but having some sort of national approach must surely be a good idea.

Ellie Whyte