Dollar Golf Club has enlisted the support of a local pro to start its new recruits on the right track and keep up the momentum of the junior programme it began last year.

Pictured:  PGA Pro Gregor Able and Scottish Golf Academy member Robert Watson with Dollar GC clubgolfers, volunteer coaches and the Explanair trainer, by Rob Eyton-Jones

PGA Professional Gregor Able has been brought in to give six coaching sessions to the club’s new intake of primary school children through the national junior programme, clubgolf. 

“The volunteer coaches have done a great job and this is probably the most proactive club I've seen,” said Able.  “That was the first time I have seen these kids and they are only three or four weeks into their golfing lives, which for me is the right age to get them.

“A few have parents that play but generally speaking these kids have played golf at school or seen it on television and they want to have a go at it. They were very good, they listened and there's some potential amongst them.”

Able’s first lesson took place this week on Dollar Academy’s rugby pitches, the ideal venue to work on the basic swing.  As they progress he will take them on the club’s course to develop their chipping and putting skills.

Lending his support was one of the club’s most successful youngsters, 13 year old Robert Watson, who used the occasion to donate his family’s Explanar trainer to the junior cause.

“My granddad bought the Explanar for my sister and I at a young age and it has been in our back garden all our lives,” said Robert, a Dollar Golf Club regular since age four and the youngest member of the Scottish Golf Academy. “I've used it every night and I have just grown out of it now, so we thought that the club would be able to put it to good use.”

It seems that everyone at the club is backing the junior programme which saw a remarkable turnaround last year, the junior membership growing by 40 percent to 60.

The club had realized just in time that a modern approach was needed to bring in a new generation of golfers:  it introduced new, affordable membership categories to appeal to children and families; it created a mini course; and seven members became qualified volunteer coaches.

Through its Discretionary Grant Scheme for clubs and facilities signed up to deliver the national junior programme, clubgolf partner the Golf Foundation’s recently awarded the club a £500 grant.  This has been earmarked to pay for the professional coaching and allow the club to train a further two volunteer coaches.

“This year we have put a lot of effort into bringing more local kids to the club, particularly from non golfing families,” said the club’s Junior Convenor, Donald Malcolm.  “Now we are in the fortunate position of having plenty of enthusiastic early starters.

“I've got to thank Mandy Martin from clubgolf, Elan Borrowman at Dollar Academy and the local Active Schools Co-ordinator Boushra Oussellam because they have been extremely good at rounding up people to help bring in high numbers.

“I firmly believe we have to get the juniors into the right habits from the start, particularly with the full swing which is quite complicated and it does require a pro’s approach to make corrections. It is a great benefit for our volunteer coaches to observe and then follow up his lessons with more knowledge.

“I'm impressed by Gregor and convinced we have the right guy on board.”

Dollar GC is staging its second Open clubgolf Flag Event on Sunday 5^th June and entries are welcome through Mandy Martin at clubgolf, 2nd Floor, Falkirk Stadium, 4 Stadium Way, Falkirk FK2 9EE Tel: 07956 540587