JACKIE DAVIDSON APPOINTED CLUBGOLF MANAGER

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY CLUBGOLF 

clubgolf (Scotland Ltd) is delighted to announce the appointment of Jackie Davidson as clubgolf Manager to lead the national junior programme in delivering Scotland’s 2014 Ryder Cup pledge.

Davidson, pictured, brings extensive sports development experience from her current role of Scottish Cycling’s Chief Executive, where she has been responsible for significant growth and increased participation in the sport.

Under her tenure at Scottish Cycling, and as a result of a regional structure she created to support cycling’s grass roots, youth participation grew by 18 percent and membership expanded from 2,300 to 4,000 over five years.  Working with key stakeholders she coordinated the Strategic Framework for Mountainbiking in Scotland.

A Director of Commonwealth Games Scotland and former Scottish Triathlon Director, Davidson who describes herself as a “keen recreational golfer”, will now focus her energy into golf and is looking forward to the challenge of taking clubgolf to the next level.

She takes over a healthy clubgolf programme which, since its 2003 launch has introduced 180,000 children to golf in school.  Last year 12,000 juniors, 3,000 of them girls, took part in clubgolf coaching programmes at 300 clubs and facilities, under the instruction of some 45 PGA Professionals and 1,400 qualified volunteer coaches.

“clubgolf is an excellent programme that has achieved phenomenal results in a very short space of time,” said Davidson, who lives in Fife’s Lundin Links and will start her new role this summer.

“It really is a best practice model for every other sport in Scotland and something to be very proud of.  I'm really excited about working in golf and look forward to the challenge of taking the programme forward, introducing more young people to the sport, getting them involved at club level and encouraging them to become lifelong members.”

Together with her eight-strong clubgolf regional management team and the integrated support of colleagues from partner organisations, Davidson will build on clubgolf’s achievements with the following priorities:

· Creating the opportunity for every child in Scotland to play golf by the time they are nine years old

· Engaging more PGA Professionals to lead and support club programmes

· Supporting club volunteer coaches to ensure juniors receive a quality coaching experience ·  Work with colleagues throughout Scottish Golf to support clubs in growing their junior memberships

Welcoming Davidson, Scottish Golf Development Manager, Andy Salmon said:   “We are delighted to have someone with Jackie’s knowledge and expertise joining our team in Scottish Golf and we have complete confidence in her ability to build on clubgolf’s progress.  

“Jackie’s experience in sports development combined with her proven track record of success and tremendous people skills makes her the ideal person to lead on achieving our key goals of providing every nine year old with the opportunity to play golf and increasing club membership.”

Rob Eyton-Jones

clubgolf Media Manager

t:  07775 746981

e:  rob@eyton-jones.co.uk

Official clubgolf website: 

www.clubgolfscotland.com