Robertson optimistic over Futures initiative

A NEW initiative to help develop the skills of young Scottish golfers has been stepped up, with the first in a series of workshops being held yesterday at Stirling University.

The Futures programme is the brainchild of Dean Robertson, the former European Tour player who is now the performance golf coach at Stirling, alma mater of both former British Women’s Open champion Catriona Matthew and PGA Tour star Richie Ramsay.

The programme aims to provide mentoring for promising young golfers and around 70 people took part in the first workshop, which was hosted by Robertson and Dr John Mathers, a renowned sports psychologist.

Current Stirling golf scholars, including Graeme Robertson, Jack McDonald and Eilidh Briggs, were among those in attendance, while the “Futures” included Ben Kinsley, the current Scottish under-16 champion from St Andrews.

Robertson, himself a former Scottish Amateur champion, said: “The Futures initiative is a programme to help foster and develop young talent.

“It is in addition to, and complimentary of, the work being undertaken by the Scottish Golf Union. It revolves around using a breadth of knowledge, expertise, experience and interests of key individuals to establish a supportive environment for young players to develop their skills through changing systematically and progressively the learning environment they find themselves in.

“It is aligned with education and provides mentoring and parental support. The workship was an opportunity for youngsters to interrogate the scholars and that can only be a positive thing.”

Stirling swept the boards this season, winning the Scottish, British and European titles and Graeme Robertson, who was recently named in the Scottish elite squad for next season, is still part of the programme, which currently involves 13 golf scholars.

Angus Carrick, son of former Walker Cup player David, is one of the new recruits, while Englishman Patrick Spraggs has re-joined after a short spell in America.

“We are adding to the development of young golfers,” added Robertson. “At the same time, though, our aim is to help them become rounded, critical thinking, confident and reflective learners. It is about having an impact at an early age and then bringing them on and I am constantly looking at ways to improve the programme here.

“In the meantime, we will continue to keep a low profile and let the performances of the University of Stirling International Sports Scholarship programme (ISSP) and Futures members do the talking for the programme.”