The South Ayrshire Junior Golf Action Plan, which aims to make golf accessible to every child in South Ayrshire, has been officially launched at the County Buildings in Ayr by the Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Economic and Tourism Development Committee, Councillor Robert Campbell and two of South Ayrshire’s top professional golfers Ross Drummond and Mhairi McKay.

Created in partnership by the Council and clubgolf, the South Ayrshire Junior Golf Action Plan is the West of Scotland’s first regional golf development strategy. The Plan has set a number of targets to be reached by 2009:

• Introduce 1,250 nine year olds to clubgolf every year through schools.
• Retain 1,000 9 to 15 year olds in the clubgolf programme at any one time.
• Enable 600 9 to 15 year olds to experience golf in a community golf programme.
• Increase the percentage of girl golfers in membership of clubs from current level of 55
• Establish 6 clubgolf centres - school, club and community linked centres delivering some of the above.
• Develop one new junior-specific clubgolf facility.
• Develop three affiliated junior golf facilities.

Convener of the Council’s Economic and Tourism Development Committee, Council Robert Campbell said: “South Ayrshire has first class golf courses, many of which are owned by the Council. The Open Championship that is played in South Ayrshire provides young golfers with an opportunity to see world famous professionals playing at a local course. I am keen to see children become more actively involved in golf, which is a healthy activity, a challenging sport and a pastime that families can enjoy together. Importantly I hope that this programme will get children to become ‘active for life’ as golf is a sport which people of all ages can play.”

The golf Plan mirrors Scotland’s National Junior Golf Strategy, clubgolf, and was created out of the Scottish Government's commitment to introduce every nine year old child in Scotland to the game by 2009.

The clubgolf strategy brings together the Scottish Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, the Professional Golfers' Association, the Golf Foundation and sportscotland. The Scottish Government is providing £500,000 per year, until 2009 through sportscotland, to fund the programme. Scotland’s most famous golfers, Paul Lawrie, Sandy Lyle, Catriona Matthew and Colin Montgomerie, support clubgolf.

After delivering a golf clinic to school children at the launch Prestwick based professional golfer Ross Drummond said: “The South Ayrshire Junior Golf Action Plan is a great opportunity for children to experience the game of golf at an early age and learn the basic skills which will stay with them throughout their golfing lives. Not only is golf a fun game which is played in a safe and secure environment, it demands a high standard of discipline and etiquette, qualities that will be of benefit in their overall development.

“South Ayrshire has a wealth of golfing history with the first Open Championship being played at Prestwick Golf Club and Turnberry and Troon currently on the Open rota. With around 20 courses it provides the perfect opportunity and environment for children to learn the game and be part of a wonderful golfing tradition.”

The Plan will focus on attracting young golfers within schools and public courses, by utilising a newly appointed Golf Development Co-ordinator, clubgolf’s West of Scotland Regional Manager and Active Schools co-ordinators.

During a pilot programme in 2004, clubgolf introduced over 2,500 primary school children throughout Scotland to golf. In the summer of 2004 more than 1,000 children in the West of Scotland were amongst the first to experience firstclubgolf in their school curriculum. This year over 12,000 children in Scotland have already been introduced to the game through firstclubgolf.

Alan McMillan, clubgolf Junior Golf Manager said: "Many individuals and organisations have been involved in developing the South Ayrshire Junior Golf Action Plan over the past six months.

“The strategy has had a very lively period of consultation with plenty of feedback from the people of South Ayrshire. We have no doubt that the completed strategy will attract the widest possible support and commitment and will encourage more people to get involved.”

Pictured outside the County Buildings representatives of South Ayrshire Council and clubgolf, along with young people getting into the swing of the launch.

July 2005