JANE CONNACHAN TEACHES THE CLUBGOLF TEACHERS

Here's how it's done! Jane Connachan teaching an East Lothian schoolteacher to be a clubgolf volunteer coach. Image by Rob Eyton-Jones.

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY CLUBGOLF
A PGA lady professional, Jane Connachan, has taken the lead in encouraging more East Lothian teachers to become involved with clubgolf coaching in their schools.
clubgolf is the national junior golf programme, a lasting legacy to Scotland’s staging of the 2014 Ryder Cup through the partnership of the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland.
So far 114 East Lothian teachers have been trained to deliver clubgolf’s introductory game on their curriculums but more are needed to teach in local schools.
When increasing numbers of them asked how they could develop their golf skills East Lothian Golf Development Officer Kate Green saw the opportunity and organised a new programme with local PGA Pro, Jane Connachan.
“Giving lessons to these teachers will give them a better understanding of golf so that when they teach clubgolf in schools they will be better coaches,” said Connachan, who began coaching the first 12 teachers at Musselburgh Sports Centre this week.
“The teachers are a real cross section, ranging from established players to complete beginners. The response has been very encouraging and it is certainly something I would recommend to other pros around the country.”
That former European Ladies Tour player Connachan is at the forefront of a new idea which could take root across the country comes as no surprise.
She has been involved with clubgolf for three years, coaching children at Fisherrow, Haddington and Musselburgh Old Golf Clubs. Last month she attended clubgolf’s Stage 3 Orientation programme at Largs, equipping her to take her most advanced juniors to the higher levels of coaching.
“clubgolf coaching is definitely something I would recommend to other pros,” she said. “Getting more pros involved will have a knock-on effect and more will become interested.
“Until now I've been working on clubgolf Stages 1 and 2 and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. We should have some kids coming up to Stage 3 now and having done my Orientation I am ready to coach them.”
An advocate of junior coaching, both for the personal satisfaction it brings and for safeguarding the game in Scotland, Connachan added, “It's very worthwhile coaching children and once you've got the groups up and running it really takes care of itself.
“As a professional golfer, of course, you have got to make sure you have a living from it but I get such a kick out of seeing a kid improve and have a sport for life.
“Whether they become really good, low handicap players or internationalists I want kids to go out and enjoy it and then as adults have the best time of their life on the golf course.”


Rob Eyton-Jones
clubgolf Media Manager
t: 07775 746981
e: rob@eyton-jones.co.uk
Official clubgolf website: www.clubgolfscotland.com