Club's junior drive delights
Published 8 Jul 2010 09:30
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Gullane Golf Club's sterling efforts in promoting the junior game have been recognised.
For the club has been shortlisted in clubgolf's Junior Club of the Year Awards.
Gullane GC is one of seven clubs from all over Scotland which have made the final cut for the award, which acknowledges excellence in promoting junior golf over the past year.
The winner will be announced on Wednesday, the final practice day for The Open, at St Andrews, and will be awarded £1,000 to invest in its junior programme. The runners-up will receive £300 each.
The club that takes the top prize will also be invited to put forward a three-strong team of adult members to compete in a European Tour pro-am alongside a leading professional.
Gullane's club pro Alasdair Good, who has put countless hours of work into the club's junior programme, was delighted with the recognition and said Gullane would be a worthy winner of the award.
"It's fantastic news for the club, it's nice for all the people who've put in hard work," he said.
"Everyone's put in so much work and effort and it's great to get recognition; it would be even better to get the big prize.
"I think Gullane definitely has a great chance of winning it, I can't imagine any other club has done more for junior golf in the last seven or eight years than Gullane has. It's been a passion of mine since I've been at the club. It shows the level of golf in East Lothian is very strong.
"We've come a long way in the last 15 years. I'm absolutely thrilled to bits."
Laura Rushby, clubgolf's East of Scotland regional manager, said: "Gullane is going from strength to strength with its junior development and they are highly innovative in their approach.
"In August 2009 they introduced a very informative junior golf blog, keeping all of the juniors and parents in touch with everything that is happening, from news to coaching and competitions, results both at Gullane and Gullane Ladies Golf Clubs and throughout the golfing world.
"Gullane and Gullane Ladies Golf Clubs have been working together for the last five years, developing their clubgolf coaching programme and building a strong player pathway which links in with PGA pro Alasdair Good and his team of assistants.
"They have an enthusiastic group of volunteer coaches and helpers who work together with the junior convenor Iain McLean and clubgolf co-ordinator Andy Walker to bring as many golf opportunities to juniors at Gullane."
She also praised the club for establishing strong links with Gullane Primary School and added: "Gullane has introduced under-14 junior matches with local neighbouring clubs and hosts the US Kids European Championships, which was brought about by Alasdair Good and benefits the community as well as the club.
"Congratulations to Gullane Golf Club and Gullane Ladies Golf Club for making the final; it's great to see them being rewarded for their hard work and devotion to junior development."
The other clubs shortlisted for the award are Eyemouth; McDonald Golf Club in Ellon; Orkney Golf Club; Palacerigg Golf Club in Cumbernauld; Powfoot Golf Club near Annan and The Royal Montrose Golf Club.
Clubgolf hopes that in 2010 it can introduce 41,000 kids in Scotland to the sport and aims to have 12,000 actively involved in the group's coaching programmes.
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