PERTHSHIRE CLUBS LINK UP FOR GOOD OF JUNIOR GOLF

NEWS RELEASE FROM CLUBGOLF

In the spirit of friendly cooperation, two Perthshire golf clubs are supporting each others’ efforts to build their junior sections.

Aberfeldy and Dunkeld and Birnam are by their own admission small clubs with no resident pro. But they have a strong urge to offer more for local juniors.

This month both clubs came on board with the national junior programme, ClubGolf, organising for a member at each to become trained Level 1 coaches – Aberfeldy’s Lesley Whitwood and Douglas Ogilvie from Dunkeld and Birnam’s attended the two-day course with the PGA.

“I really enjoyed the training,” said Mr Ogilvie who already has an impressive golf CV, having helped organise major competitions and refereed at amateur level.

“It has added the skills to my knowledge to be able to teach golf, something I thought of taking on as a career as I approach retirement in my current profession. I would advocate the course to anyone and I am certainly considering taking it further.”

ClubGolf coaching has already started at Aberfeldy, with eight youngsters at the first session, which will run through the season.

Dunkeld and Birnam’s coaching gets underway at the end of this month, when the numbers of juniors wanting coached can be gauged and appropriate classes set up.

To extend playing opportunities, Aberfeldy and Strathtay Golf Clubs are allowing juniors a joint membership at the two clubs and they have just begun discussion to work together with John Cowan at Taymouth Castle juniors to organise small matches and inter-club challenges. This is something that the Committee at Dunkeld and Birnam are keen to sign up to and extend the opportunities for local juniors to enjoy.

 “As small clubs, the number of volunteers available may be overwhelmed by the number of juniors,” continued Mr Ogilvie. “So by pooling the resources of the small clubs, we can ensure that all juniors in the area are catered for at a high standard.”

“We feel that by working together to encourage young people we will impart the best knowledge to our younger members and expand the junior numbers.”

 Both clubs already have promising young players and in an effort to take the game to the community Lesley Whitwood has been working with the local Active Schools Co-ordinator, Karen Todd, coaching in Breadalbane and Grandtully schools. Some of the students have since joined Aberfeldy’s Friday afternoon coaching sessions.

Coaching at Dunkeld and Birnam GC will start shortly, beginning with Saturday morning sessions, which will be open to any local youngsters willing to get involved.

To find out more about ClubGolf coaching at the two clubs, contact:

Aberfeldy GC on Tel: 01887 820535 (junior sessions at Aberfeldy are on Fridays at 5 -6 pm and at Strathtay on Mondays at 4 -5 pm run by Lesley Whitwood with help from patents)

Dunkeld & Birnam GC: 01350 727524

Rob Eyton-Jones

t: 07775 746981

e: rob@eyton-jones.co.uk