Children given clubs in hunt for future Tiger

SPECIALLY-DESIGNED junior golf clubs are to be handed to children as young as five at dozens of Lothian schools in a bid to unearth Scotland’s answer to Tiger Woods.

The mini-clubs will be used to introduce thousands of youngsters to the sport as part of a project supported by three times former Open champion Nick Faldo.

Based on a similar initiative in Scandinavia, the scheme is to be introduced at all of East Lothian’s 36 primary schools, following a successful trial.

The local authority has invested thousands of pounds in the imported junior-sized golf clubs for pre-teenage children. Children are also being offered the carrot of coaching with professional players at the age of nine.

The move comes amid increased interest in the game with the Open golf championship held at Muirfield.

Backers believe the classes will help to encourage a healthy lifestyle, and improve self-esteem and behaviour, because the sport’s etiquette focuses on respect for opponents.

Council golf project officer Tracy Drysdale today said: "We’re encouraging children who wouldn’t necessarily get access to golf and making it open to everyone. This gives kids an opportunity to get outside so they’re not just playing computer games ."

The project allows pupils from the age of five the chance to use basic plastic clubs and over-sized balls. A series of low-cost lessons with local pros which are subsidised by the Golf Foundation charity then puts real equipment in the hands of the slightly older children.

Faldo, who has won the British Open and Masters events three times each, was among several professionals to offer their expertise to youngsters who have taken part in the pilot project at Muirfield last week. Scott Gourlay, head assistant professional at Dunbar Golf Club, acknowledged the children’s enthusiasm made them a joy to teach.

He said: "If children get the basics right at eight, then in ten years’ time they have a chance to be very good.

"We have been starting from basics with junior-sized clubs and working on swing, stance and posture. They have really taken to it.

"You’re never too young to start. Tiger Woods took up the game before the age of four and look what he is doing now."

North Berwick, Gullane, Dunbar, Winterfield and Castle Park are among the golf courses involved in offering introductory classes for youngsters. Children pay 1.50 per hour of coaching with putters, woods and irons provided.

Golf Foundation development officer Brendon Pyle, who has worked on the pilot project, said he believed it could help improve pupils’ classroom discipline and reduce youth crime.

He said: "In golf you can take real pride in behaving in a good way. The response has been fantastic and we’ve had 900 kids at 15 primary schools get a taste of golf.

"It would be great if the next time we have an Open at Muirfield we had a local player with the reputation of someone like Tiger Woods competing."