Press Release
4 April 2014
Golf in Shetland tees off with coach education, junior membership discounts and plans for a local Ryder Cup event
Shetland and Whalsay Golf Club coaches are preparing for their PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association) Level 1 Coaching qualification this weekend. Six members from Dale and one from Whalsay will be put through their paces over the weekend on a 2 day course being delivered by PGA tutor Allan Martin, who coaches out of Buchanan Castle Golf Club near Loch Lomond and delivers coach education across the Grampian, Tayside and Highlands and Islands region. The course will give coaches the skills and knowledge to support the ClubGolf junior programmes at each club.
Alan Harcus, Junior Convener at Shetland Golf Club says, “We are delighted to have Allan in Shetland. His visit will give our new coaches the skills to support our coaching at the clubs. We must thank Big Lottery Awards for All for the funding to bring this course to Shetland at zero cost to candidates which makes the course more accessible.”
Coach Education is just one part of the busy golf programme in 2014. Shetland and Whalsay Golf Clubs are also planning a joint Ryder Cup-style event for juniors, with the two clubs competing as Europe and the USA, complete with decorated clubhouses in the European and American colours and flags. Funding has been secured for the events through both clubs by Shetland Islands Council and ClubGolf Scotland.
Robert Anderson, Junior Convener at Whalsay Golf Club says, “The junior Ryder Cup events should be a fantastic opportunity for all our young golfers to expand their golfing knowledge and experience. With these events, most of the juniors will find themselves playing the splendid format of Matchplay for the first time, and also gain the experience of being part of a team versus team situation.”
To further support junior golf participation levels, ClubGolf is currently offering a £20 membership discount to new members. Supported by the Scottish Government, the aim is to encourage more youngsters to join their local club by offering a £20 voucher to every ClubGolf junior who is applying for their very first golf club membership. Claiming the £20 voucher couldn’t be easier, parents can simply go online and download the voucher at http://www.clubgolfscotland.com/parents/
Willie MacKay, ClubGolf Regional Manager for Highlands & Islands says, “Developing ClubGolf in Shetland is a true partnership with Golf Clubs, local authority and ClubGolf being supported by sportscotland. 2014 is the biggest sporting year Scotland has ever had and I am delighted that children will have the opportunity to sample the flavour of the Ryder Cup, and more volunteers are coming forward to build the grassroots of the golf clubs which is their junior membership. ”
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