Scottish Golf launches new national junior 'framework' to help clubs

Scottish Golf has launched a new National Junior Framework, which has been devised as a “one-stop-shop” aimed at enabling affiliated clubs to plan, fund, manage and grow a junior section.

Scottish Golf's new National Junior Framework was rolled out to clubs in a webinar on Thursday night. Picture: Scottish Golf

Rolled out last night in a webinar, which was joined by over 280 clubs, the new programme has been devised from a planning and development process that has been taking place for more than a year.

Aimed at supporting clubs who want to increase junior membership, it is based on consultation with a wide range of people who work on the frontline of junior golf, including junior organisers.

They include PGA professionals, volunteer coaches, the Paul Lawrie Foundation, Stephen Gallacher Foundation, PGA, Junior Golf Scotland Children’s Golf Trust, R&A and the Golf Foundation.

Karin Sharp, Scottish Golf’s chief operating officer, said: “The National Junior Framework is the result of over a year’s planning and development with our valued partners in the junior golf sector.

“The dedicated website demonstrates our commitment to junior golf and the future of the game in Scotland.

“It has everything that junior organisers, whether professionals or member volunteers, need to run a successful junior golf programme and will be a key benefit of what the Scottish Golf offers our affiliated golf clubs for the future.”

The National Junior Framework is made up of six pillars and caters to all clubs, no matter their location or size. These are:

1 Learn To Golf: A dedicated suite of online tools that make planning and preparation for coaching sessions both inspiring and less time consuming.

2 Golf In Schools: Supporting a club’s school engagement with coaching plans and access to financial support for lessons, transport and equipment.

3 Events & Competitions: Create and manage a range of events from Skills Challenges, Junior GolfSixes and Flag Challenges. Junior organisers can also upload scores, track progress and access competition packs to use at the club.

4 Funding & Support: Range of funding options including the Club Hire Fund to purchase equipment to hire out and Roving Pro to deliver coaching from a PGA Pro.

5 Safe Golf: The SafeGolf Portal and Self-Assessment Tool to ensure that club’s meet their safeguarding responsibilities.

6 Education & Training: Access to Scottish Golf training & education programmes to deliver a successful junior programme, plus connect with other Junior Organisers through our Hive online learning platform.

Gavin Forrester, Scottish Golf’s participation manager, is excited about the new programme, saying: “The National Junior Framework has been very well received by the clubs that we have been trailing it with.

“We believe that we provide everything a club or junior organiser needs to create a successful junior programme from scratch, even if they have not run one before.

“There are a lot of powerful tools available and over 280 clubs joined our Zoom Webinar which is now online and took junior organisers through the Framework and answered any questions they had.”

Scotland has led the way in rolling out Junior GolfSixes since the format was launched on the European Tour in 2017.

A message from the Editor:

Get a year of unlimited access to all of The Scotsman's sport coverage without the need for a full subscription. Expert analysis, exclusive interviews, live blogs, and 70 per cent fewer ads on Scotsman.com - all for less than £1 a week. Subscribe to us today https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions/sports