PARENTS AND SCHOOLS COULD HALT DECLINE IN GOLFING GIRLS' NUMBERS
Aberdeenshire official blames the parents for lack of girls playing in junior medals
All four semi-finalists (Molly Stewart, Donna Pocock, Carol Wilson and Fiona Campbell) in the Aberdeenshire women's county championship at Cruden Bay Golf Club on Sunday had come through the girls' medal competitions at one time or another during the 25 years they were organised by Ethel Farquharson.
But, like many other counties, the trend is for fewer and fewer girls to play golf. For instance, at the recent Aberdeenshire girls competition, only one tee time was needed by organiser Donna Pocock - there were only THREE girl entrants.
Ten or 20 years ago, an Aberdeenshire girls medal competition would draw close on 20 entrants.
One Aberdeenshire official, who prefers to remain nameless, says that it's not only the girls who are to blame.
"I blame the parents. If girls are to be encouraged to play golf and driven to wherever they can practise and play in open competitions, then one or both of their parents have to provide the transport and show a keen interest in what their girls are doing," she said.
"But fewer and fewer parents are prepared to devote their time to getting their daughters really into the game of golf. It's a great pity. The counties will suffer in the long run due to lack of members, i.e. no girls coming through the junior ranks to take the place of the members whose golfing days are behind them."
If the worrying trend of decreasing numbers of girls playing golf is to be reversed, there is the view that the schools could play an important role by somehow or other girls to take up the game as part of their physical education classes.
Perhaps fixing up a practice net or two or taking the girls to a driving range on a regular basis as part of their school curriculum.
All four semi-finalists (Molly Stewart, Donna Pocock, Carol Wilson and Fiona Campbell) in the Aberdeenshire women's county championship at Cruden Bay Golf Club on Sunday had come through the girls' medal competitions at one time or another during the 25 years they were organised by Ethel Farquharson.
But, like many other counties, the trend is for fewer and fewer girls to play golf. For instance, at the recent Aberdeenshire girls competition, only one tee time was needed by organiser Donna Pocock - there were only THREE girl entrants.
Ten or 20 years ago, an Aberdeenshire girls medal competition would draw close on 20 entrants.
One Aberdeenshire official, who prefers to remain nameless, says that it's not only the girls who are to blame.
"But fewer and fewer parents are prepared to devote their time to getting their daughters really into the game of golf. It's a great pity. The counties will suffer in the long run due to lack of members, i.e. no girls coming through the junior ranks to take the place of the members whose golfing days are behind them."
If the worrying trend of decreasing numbers of girls playing golf is to be reversed, there is the view that the schools could play an important role by somehow or other girls to take up the game as part of their physical education classes.
Perhaps fixing up a practice net or two or taking the girls to a driving range on a regular basis as part of their school curriculum.
Labels: Girls
posted by Gillian |
See story on its own page | 2:41:00 pm
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