Golf: Youngsters enjoying caoching benefits

Mar 18 2011 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

DOLLAR Golf Club expanded its junior membership by 40 per cent last season.

The introduction of the Clubgolf coaching programme increased numbers to 60.

Junior convener Donald Malcolm said: “It was amazing. We started our coaching programme with one child, ended with 30 and more children became members as a result.”

He went on: “A lot of our children last year come from afar and so this year we aim to capture the local ones.

“We are making a consolidated effort to grow membership from Dollar Academy and to get the P5s from Strathdevon School. Local Active Schools coordinator Boushra Oussellam is contacting the parents to get it going.”

Donald hopes that 16 new children will begin Clubgolf coaching, starting with a taster on Monday, March 28, at 4.30pm.

Lacking a resident pro, Dollar has been part of a mentoring and support programme led by Callander pro Allan Martin.

“Thanks to Allan, the programme that we have put together is quite structured,” said Donald. “He ran an excellent workshop for volunteer coaches at Dollar Academy and when the season starts he is going to watch us coaching children and indicate how we can improve. To have that ability to talk to him is very helpful.”

A second strand of Dollar’s plan is to help juniors become better players. It superimposing two nine-hole par 3s on its course last year to encourage youngsters to play, helping four players to earn a handicap.

Club captain Doug Bradley added: “We've worked on the constitution and our biggest breakthrough is to let juniors with a handicap play with adults in our adult competitions.

“It used to be quite strict here and a junior had to have a single-figure handicap before they were allowed to play with the adults.

“Fortunately there has been an enormous change in the way we engage with juniors and we are broadening the base of adults who can play with and encourage them.

“To some extent that is breaking a bit of a tradition. A lot of the adults remember being treated rather poorly as youngsters, however this is changing. We have a really good open door, with Dollar Golf Club council being completely behind this initiative.”

Anyone interested in becoming a Clubgolf coach can contact Mandy Martin on 07956 540587.