First Minister launches golf initiative
First Minister Alex Salmond and Women's Open Golf Champion Catriona Matthew were joined by talented young players at North Berwick Golf Club for a cash announcement for the sport in Scotland.
An investment package worth more than 2 million has been provided for golfers at every level from young children to the country's best prospects.
Louise Martin CBE, chairman of sportscotland, was also at the press event in North Berwick where Catriona, who was awarded the MBE and Freedom of East Lothian, was brought up and honed her early golfing skills.
The package includes:
1 million of new investment from sportscotland over the next five years to provide support for Scotland's most talented players as they bid to make the transition to tour professional.
1,073,720 from sportscotland to the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) and Scottish Ladies Golfing Association (SLGA) to support coaching, the academy programme and the strategic development of the sport
Of the 1,073,720 listed above, 500,000 is targeted investment in the successful clubgolf programme, with a new strategy also launched this week.
Announcing the funding, Mr Salmond said: "As Scotland gears up to stage five Women's British Open championships over the next decade and host the Ryder Cup in 2014, this investment puts us in a great position to attract more professional players to the game.
"It will also build on the success of clubgolf, our national junior programme, which has introduced golf to record numbers of children in Scotland – almost 40,000 P5 pupils last year.
Encourage
"We aim to give every child in Scotland access to our national game. This excellent package of support at every level puts us well on the way to re-establishing Scotland as the world's greatest golfing nation."
Catriona added: "clubgolf is doing a great deal to encourage more children to take up the game and develop their skills.
"Getting golf into so many primary schools is generating a huge amount of interest and clubgolf's Girls Only coaching is definitely helping to keep more girls involved.
"It is very encouraging to see that children are now starting to come right through the clubgolf programme and into the national academies.
Programme
"I am delighted to support this new strategy and I am sure it will be a huge success."
Sharing the spotlight were three young golfers from North Berwick who have been involved in the clubgolf programme.
Clara Young (13), Euan Bowden (14) and Calum Hill (14) demonstrate a real aptitude for the game and have now been selected for Scottish Golf's Academy programme.
In 2010 all 32 Scottish local authorities will offer firstclubgolf and 41,000 children in P5 are set to benefit. By the time the Ryder Cup comes to Scotland in 2014, every nine year old child in Scotland will have been given the opportunity to try the game.
The existing network of qualified volunteer coaches will have grown to 1650 and 150 PGA pros will be working in a variety of roles with clubgolf. As a result of school/club links there will be 15,000 children in coaching programmes at clubgolf centres, with the aim of retaining them in club membership and enjoying golf as a sport for life.
To manage the new investment targeting the transition of amateurs to tour professionals, an independent company will be established.
The board will be chaired by former R & A captain Graeme Simmers OBE, who is also a former chairman of sportscotland, and supported by a board of advisors including former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallagher. The longer term aim will be to supplement sportscotland’s contribution through private sector investment and ensure that players get tailored support in their early professional development.
Both male and female players will benefit from a range of services including coaching and training, sports science, the opportunity to attend warm weather training camps in the off season and in some cases, meet the underwriting of playing costs.
Photo: Steve Lindridge
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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