Salmond sees green shoots of recovery in Scottish golf

Published on Tuesday 10 March 2009 22:26

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond has hailed the success of the Scottish team which won the World Amateur Team Championship in Australia as an inspiration to the next generation of competitors and the increased number of children who are being introduced to the game throughout the home of golf.

At a reception in Bute House to honour Wallace Booth, Calum Macaulay and Gavin Dear, the three golfers who brought home the Eisenhower Trophy from Adelaide, Salmond revealed that Scottish government support for clubgolf, the junior golf programme, was likely to extend well beyond this year.

After explaining how 33,600 primary school pupils took part in the scheme in 2008, a 30 per cent increase on the previous year, Salmond said: "We have a three-year comprehensive spending review and we don't commit beyond that. But I think you can safely say that given the success of the scheme that it would be in a very good position for continuation of funding."

The clubgolf programme, which costs around 1million to run each year, was launched in 2003 as part of the 2014 Ryder Cup bid with the aim of introducing nine-year-old children to the sport. It also expects to provide more comprehensive coaching for more than 10,000 boys and girls this year.

Asked if backing for clubgolf would continue until 2014, Salmond said: "We've got to focus on big events which are coming up like the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup. But that doesn't mean we have to stop there."

An unexpected by-product of the junior scheme at a time when Scotland's golf clubs are shedding members is that it may increase the number of potential new recruits in future years.

"In terms of reinforcing the grassroots, by getting in more youngsters, that's the real answer to clubs which are concerned about declining memberships," argued the First Minister. "If you can increase the number of young people playing golf by 30 or 40 per cent, then, as these youngsters move forward, you increase the numbers taking up membership.

"I don't want to belittle what's already being done (to attract more juniors]. The general answer to 'Could more be done?' is yes. But inspirational stuff like Scotland winning the Eisenhower Trophy also helps as well. The clubs which produced these guys will get a boost from their success."

As well as providing ongoing support for nurturing young talent – "Sporting success lifts the nation in confidence," he said – Salmond is also keen to exploit Scottish golf's potential for enhancing the country's wealth.

"There's a view that we haven't marketed previously Scottish golf in anything like the way we could and should do," he added. "The range of new courses in Scotland demonstrates there's still a huge, unsatisfied international demand for Scottish golf.

"Definitely, we want to keep on investing in Scottish golf. The success of the clubgolf scheme shows what can be done. We also have a golf initiative in China next month which we'll be announcing in a week or two, which we're very hopeful about. What we have to do is make sure there are schemes which attract enough youngsters to ensure the next generation is coming through. And we've also got to look at golf as a major economic weapon for Scotland."

These are difficult times for Scotland's professionals with no Scot figuring in either the top 50 of the Race to Dubai or the top 100 of the world rankings. According to Salmond, that picture will change in the years ahead. "What happened with the Eisenhower Trophy team tells you what's going to happen in a few years' time," he predicted. "We also have women players coming through in the Curtis Cup and there's a reservoir of expectation."

Booth, who hopes to represent Great Britain and Ireland against the USA in the Walker Cup at Merion in September, believes he's been given every opportunity in Scotland to make the most of his talent.

"I'd be glad if our win in Adelaide gives encouragement to the next generation," he said. "On a day like today, all the great memories come back. It's nice to do something for Scottish golf after how much the game has given you over the years."

Hamish Grey, the chief executive of the Scottish Golf Union, said the latest figures confirmed the game was still growing.

"With the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles drawing ever closer, now is the perfect time to increase participation and help our youngsters develop their talent to whatever level they aspire," he said. "With the success of the programme and the wealth of opportunities available for young golfers, clubgolf is already helping to create a legacy beyond 2014."