Golf: Lothians building for future

THE new crop of young Lothians golfers literally flexed their muscles in last week's Scottish Boys' Championship thanks to a new exercise regime that was added to the coaching programme for the first time this year.

As well as impressive winner Grant Forrest, a number of youngsters from clubs in and around the Capital made their presence felt in the season-opener at West Kilbride.

Liberton's ever-improving Anthony Blaney reached the fifth round, while Forrest's Craigielaw clubmate Ewen Donaldson, Willem Kerr (Craigmillar Park) and Euan Bowden (Glen) all made it to round four.

Kerr and Bowden, both 14-year-olds, achieved that feat in their first appearance in the event, to the delight of Lothians Boys & Coaching Convenor Paul Gibson.

He oversaw a revamped coaching programme over the winter and believes the decision to introduce a golf fitness element has proved a hit.

"I'd go as far to say that it's the biggest success we've ever had," said Gibson. "Alex Woods of Golf-Fit has been taking the sessions and he's been a revelation – the boys have found it absolutely fantastic.

"The exercises have been specific to golf and, coupled with a pilates programme, some cardiovascular stuff, psychology sessions with Ed McCosh and, of course, the excellent tuition from our coaches, everyone seems to have been in favour of the work we've been doing.

"It's a programme aimed to aid the development of players and, though we are definitely seeing signs of success, the one thing we won't be doing is resting on our laurels.

"For instance, we will be raising the bar in terms of dietary requirements going forward as it has been noted by a couple of our providers that eating habits are not ideal."

A total of 32 boys, all under-15s, were part of the main coaching programme, with additional support being given to three under-16s and another ten players who were part of a development squad.

"There's a belief that the more players you coach the more chance you have of success but I don't agree with that," added Gibson. "We've got a high-quality squad of players at the moment with a lot of potential and both Grant Forrest and Anthony Blaney are shining examples.

"Grant, who started out at Bathgate before joining Craigielaw when his family moved to East Lothian, has been in the SGU Academy for a couple of years now and can look forward to defending his Scottish Boys' title at Dunbar as he's got another year to go.

"Anthony is another great success story. He's both dedicated and motivated and is an example that other young players should follow."

Forrest will certainly be in the Lothians side for this year's Scottish Boys' Area Championship and Blaney is also in the running to play in that event at Peebles.

Nine players will take part in a trial at the Borders course on 23 April, with the four players selected returning the following week for a day aimed at helping with preparation for the event.

Revealing that Forrest will not just be picked but also captain the team, Gibson said: "Dean Robertson (the former Scottish amateur champion and now a leading junior coach] will be in attendance on the second of those dates.

"He is very good when it comes to the mental and preparatory side of things and will help the players enormously in terms of course management."

According to Gibson, Borders will be the team to beat – and not just because they'll be playing on their home patch.

"I think this will be their best-ever opportunity to win the event for the first time," he said, predicting that Peebles duo Craig Howie and Daniel Flannery are likely to join forces with Simon Fairburn (Torwoodlee) and Lauder's Callum McNeill. "Put it this way, if we beat Borders we will be there or thereabouts."