PGA Captain Jim Farmer and clubgolf Project Manager, Torquil McInroy, present a cheque for £1000 to Orkney GC’s Junior Administrator Janette Mackie and volunteer coach Stewart Fotheringhame, winners of the clubgolf Junior Club of the Year Award, at The Open. Image by Rob Eyton-Jones.

Orkney Golf Club awarded clubgolf Junior Club of the Year

Orkney Golf Club was crowned winner of the clubgolf Junior Club of the Year Award at The Old Course, St Andrews today (Wednesday 14th July), the final practice day for The Open Championship, after a tight contest with six other shortlisted clubs.
Organised by Scotland’s national junior programme clubgolf and sponsored by the Scottish Golf Union, the Awards recognise clubs that have demonstrated excellence in promoting junior golf during 2009.
PGA Captain, Jim Farmer, who was part of the judging panel, awarded Orkney GC £1,000 from the SGU, to be invested in its junior programme. The club was also invited to put forward a team of three adult members to play in a European Tour pro-am, playing alongside a leading professional golfer.
The six runners up clubs - Eyemouth GC (Berwickshire), Gullane GC (East Lothian), McDonald GC (Ellon, Aberdeenshire), Orkney GC, Palacerigg GC (North Lanarkshire), Powfoot GC (Dumfries & Galloway) and The Royal Montrose GC (Angus) - were each awarded £300 from the SGU to help develop their junior programmes.
All seven clubs offer clubgolf coaching. clubgolf is a partnership between the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland, which emerged from Scotland’s successful bid to host the Ryder Cup,
When Orkney GC began offering clubgolf coaching in 2007, its junior coaching numbers jumped quickly from 22 to 74, outstripping its coaching facilities. The resourceful islanders secured funding (from three local businesses and sportscotland’s Sportsmatch scheme) and in 2009 opened new facilities which included an indoor golf centre, outdoor double bay practice net, four forward junior tees with artificial mats and a four hole short course.
To meet the demands of more juniors, in 2009 the club increased the numbers of qualified volunteer coaches to 14, four of whom were trained to Advanced Level 1 CPD to coach at Stage 2. Lacking a PGA Pro on the islands, the club secured funds to bring in a PGA Pro for a ‘Summer School’. As well as coaching the club’s juniors the Pro mentored the club’s volunteer coaches.
Said Orkney Golf Club’s Junior Administrator, Janette Mackie, “It is fantastic to win and a great reward to everyone that has helped us make this project successful.
“So many people have been involved within the club to make our junior programme a success. Willie Mackay (clubgolf Regional Manager for Highlands and Islands) has given us a tremendous amount of belief to progress our junior programme.
“We feel we are a small club but this has given us a big belief that we are genuinely part of the golf scene in Scotland. This is great for the future.”
Said clubgolf Project Manager, Torquil McInroy: “Congratulations to Orkney Golf Club for demonstrating real drive, and achieving impressive growth despite the many challenges faced by being in a remote location. This has been a real team effort involving the club and its local community.
“Orkney’s efforts are a great example to other clubs and this award is recognition of the hard work carried out by their volunteer coaches and club members. The infrastructure they have set up will benefit juniors and the community alike for years to come.
“The response to the awards in its third year was again very encouraging and I would like to thank all of the clubs who entered this year.
“All seven clubs shortlisted showed tremendous initiative and excellence in developing and promoting junior golf.
“The good work by clubs across the country is vital for the health and future of the game. Long may it continue.”
Rob Eyton-Jones
clubgolf Media Manager