DUDDINGSTON TO REBUILD MEMBERSHIP WITH HELP OF CLUBGOLF

Edinburgh Active Schools Co-ordinator Colin McMillan training Portobello High School’s Community Sports Leaders to help deliver clubgolf introductory game coaching (image by Rob Eyton-Jones).

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY CLUBGOLF
Edinburgh’s Duddingston Golf Club has come on board this year as one of 300 facilities nationwide offering the clubgolf programme.
Eight members will attend clubgolf Level 1 training through the PGA in March. With the support of club pro, Alastair McLean, they will begin a clubgolf coaching programme in April for children from the local primary schools
“Like every other club which is finding business more of a challenge at the moment we need to rebuild our membership and we see clubgolf as a great way to achieve this,” said the club’s secretary, Duncan Ireland.
“We have made the commitment and will be going for it in a big way this year. Our volunteer coaches will get them started, then the professional s will take over to help them progress.”
Like many clubgolf delivery centres, Duddingston has examined its own constitution to look for ways to encourage children to take up the sport. This year it reduced its joining age from 12 to 10, enabling children from its clubgolf programme to become members.
“Allowing children to join at 10 will tie in perfectly with our clubgolf coaching which hopefully they will enjoy and want to take further,” said Mr Ireland. “Many of these children won’t be from golfing families so we want to make them feel welcome and hopefully get them into junior membership.
“If we can get the children interested then there is a good chance we will be able to attract their parents and grandparents too.”
To increase the number of children being introduced to clubgolf in nearby primary schools, Edinburgh Active Schools Co-ordinator, Colin McMillan has begun training Portobello High School’s Community Sports Leaders to help deliver clubgolf introductory game coaching.
“It’s a win-win situation bringing in Community Sports Leaders to support the clubgolf programme,” said Mr McMillan.
“Delivering alongside the teachers, these students will learn how to teach and manage a class. Having the high school sport students supporting them increases the teachers’ confidence and creates a better atmosphere.”
This Easter the Portobello students will support school staff in local primary schools deliver the five week firstclubgolf block as part of their Community Sports Leader award coursework.
“One of the reasons for getting the Community Sports Leaders Award students involved is because they are excellent ambassadors for activity in general and they can enthuse young children at the introductory level,” said Mr McMillan.
“It is an ideal way to support community development by providing sustainable sporting pathways. Fostering a culture of volunteering throughout schools and into the wider community, through local clubs like Duddingston Golf Club, provides an opportunity to engage target groups who would not normally get the opportunity to participate in such activities.”
Rob Eyton-Jones
clubgolf Media Manager
t: 07775 746981
e: rob@eyton-jones.co.uk

Official clubgolf website: www.clubgolfscotland.com