Strathmore Golf Centre is again teeing-up the chance for more local kids to pick up a club and ignite a love for the sport.
The Perthshire course has this week launched a unique ‘Start-up Scholarship’ after securing funding and the early response has been extremely positive.
The scholarship will pay for 10 under-12s - the plan is five boys and five girls - to enjoy 12 months of free membership, as well as a host of other benefits.
Also included will be a set of clubs from the popular club hire scheme and a pair of golf shoes. Youngsters selected are set to receive 17 one hour group coaching sessions with PGA professionals, full use of the Leitfie Course, practice area, putting green and floodlit driving range.
Golf balls, tees, marker pens and markers will be supplied with players, if they so wish, having the opportunity to take part in Flag Competitions, GolfSixes, Handicap and Scratch Leagues.
“We have had kids go off on scholarships to America,” said junior convenor Iain Butchart.
“So we thought about doing scholarships at the other end. Something at the beginning. I thought this could work and we ran through a few ideas.
“There will be parents who want their kids to take part in sport, but obviously there is a cost factor that comes into it.
“This is such a fantastic opportunity for parents who are finding things difficult to have their children participate in golf.
“I’ve got the funding and we launched it on Friday. We quickly had 10 kids registered so this is going to take-off, which I knew it would.
“This is to give kids a chance to take part in a sport. The more people you speak to and more you try, the more success you are going to have.”
Strathmore has been a frontrunner in helping the next generation onto the course - and that continued despite the challenges of Covid-19.
“Last year we had 28 girls in the junior section,” Iain explained. “I don’t think there will be another club in Scotland with that. It’s phenomenal.
“It is maybe because we promote ourselves. We had an intake of 49 new kids last year in total.
“Some kids will try it for a year and then decide it is not for them, but at least they came along for a period of time.
“Golf is something you can always go back to. It’s a skill they will never lose now.
“What I have always found is, if you can get kids at any age to come along, it creates camaraderie. That is great.”
Iain added: “I also spoke to five of our older kids and asked if they would fancy being mentors for some of the younger ones. And that has been amazing.
“Not only are the younger ones getting the benefits out of it, the older kids are too. They see themselves as having an important role.
“You need to get the balance of knowing what works and, when you know what works, make sure you keep it going.”
To find out more about the scholarship at Strathmore, email iain@ianddinsurance.co.uk
