Blair coaches win in Aviemore

Jun 24 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SIXTY of clubgolf’s volunteer coaches in the vanguard of junior golf development in Scotland teamed up with a European Challenge Tour professional to play the spectacular Spey Valley course in the Scottish Hydro Challenge Pro-Am this week.

Blairgowrie Golf Club, who have been offering clubgolf coaching for the first time this year, won the day and the first prize of dinner, bed and breakfast for four, plus golf at Spey Valley, donated by Macdonald Hotels.

Accompanied by Welsh professional Kyron Sullivan, Blair trio Phil McKenna, Stuart Graham and Rodney Neil, came in with a better-ball score of 60, one point ahead of the team from Inverness. In third place, also on 60, was the composite team from Milngavie, Tabert and Vale of Leven Golf Clubs.

“Full marks to two guys who were the strength in the team,” said McKenna, Blairgowrie clubgolf co-ordinator, after the Big County coaches they could play as well as they can coach.

“Rodney was just holing the ball from anywhere and had five birdies. Kyron just boomed the ball up the middle on every fairway, which was fantastic.

“The condition of the course was outstanding. We certainly knew when you putted your ball where it was going to go.”

Fellow team member and county player Stuart, who had been battling with a bug and had to leave straight after the competition, made a huge contribution to the team. Sullivan noted: “He started with a birdie and finished with a birdie, which was the winning formula.”

Blairgowrie Golf Club has a healthy junior section but is low on girl members.

McKenna and his team of 10 qualified volunteer team qualified coaches have seized the opportunity created by the Active Schools network which has taken clubgolf’s introductory game into the local primary schools and has been running clubgolf coaching at the club since the spring.

“Everyone at Blairgowrie Golf Club is very supportive of the work we are doing with the juniors,” said McKenna.

“The managing secretary Dougie Cleeton and the volunteer coaches are all doing a fantastic job and putting in time and effort with the kids.

“When we go back to the club and tell the juniors we are coaching that we have been playing with a professional from the tour I think there will be a bit of inspiration for them as well.

“I’m certainly looking forward to getting back to the club and telling everyone about the great time we have had today.”

Preceding the Scottish Hydro Challenge, being played over the same course, the Pro-Am was a reward for volunteer coaches playing a part in the clubgolf programme.