Salmond pays tribute to clubgolf

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond believes clubgolf, Scotland’s junior golf initiative, is a perfect example of how youth development is the way ahead in Scottish sport.

Launched in 2003, clubgolf’s target has been to give every nine-year-old in the country the opportunity to play golf in the build up to the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014.

“Some years ago we were facing a game whose average age in Scotland was approaching 60 – the same as farmers,” said Salmond. “clubgolf is sorting that out. It’s not just that we are going to have more than 40,000 youngsters with a club in their hand this year, it’s also looking at the coaching stats. We have 12,000 in coaching – 1,200 volunteers as well as PGA teaching professionals.

“The money that’s being invested in clubgolf (the Scottish Government has just announced fresh £2 million backing to cover the scheme from 2014 to 2018) is a downpayment on the future.”

Asked if football, for instance, should be taking a lead from golf as it comes to terms with early exits in Europe, Salmond added: “Absolutely, it’s the only way forward.

“The clubs have a huge difficulty in terms of finance. Once clubs like Rangers and Celtic could bring in the likes of Gascoigne, Larsson, Laudrup, great players. They are no longer in that position. The only possible way forward is to have more facilities, more coaching and more development at youth level.”

A further £19,500 has gone into the clubgolf coffers after that sum was raised through a cut-price admission for Friday’s second round of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.