Golf: Retiring Wood hits out at 'elitism' coaching claims

The Lothians Golf Association has been accused of "elitism" due to a reduction in the number of juniors who currently receive coaching

"The Lothians now only choose to coach 25 juniors (out of all the juniors who play] for free," noted a recent comment on edinburghnews.com

"What message are they sending out to all the other youngsters? When the selectors also pull the purse strings then how can that be impartial?

"I am a parent and would have no objection if there were ten places up for grabs and to be played for, not chosen.

"What happens is that a divide is created with some gaining great advantage, ex- perience and circumstance based on another's selection. Who can actually identify talent?"

Speaking ahead of tonight's AGM at Newbattle, Wood defended the current coaching programme, pointing to the fact coaching convenor Paul Gibson had recently been invited to a seminar in England to talk about it as proof of the pudding.

"We must be doing something right for that to happen," said the Haddington man, who hands over the president's chain to right-hand man Denys Flaherty after two years in the post.

"To be honest, it comes down to money and also what the Scottish Golf Union is doing with its Academy programme."

Wood pointed to Craigielaw's Grant Forrest winning the Scottish Boys' Championship and Lothians lifting the Scottish Boys' Area title as evidence of the programme working.

"Liberton were also crowned as Scottish junior champions at Spey Valley recently, while Ewan Bowden and Callum Hill are among some exciting youngsters coming through in East Lothian," he added.

2010 has also been year to remember for Carrickvale, who won the Lothians men's title for the first time before going on to add the Scottish crown.

"It's great for Lothians golf that clubs like Liberton and Carrickvale are tasting success as it used to be the same ones all the time," said Wood.