Glenbervie GC and Larbert High School recently established a new ‘School of Golf ’ partnership, designed to bring more young people into the game and to support those existing young players wanting to improve their skills. With Glenbervie keen to boost their junior membership numbers and the school having a number of keen golfers, Bobby Rushford (club PGA professional) and the school’s Derek Paterson worked closely to offer a new golf academy for youngsters. Launched in August, the academy provides a junior membership and coaching package and has recruited 10 players, aged from 11 to 17.
Glenbervie, already a strong supporter of the national junior programme ClubGolf, are providing the Larbert High School players 40 hours of coaching over the course of a year, (with sessions taking place from 4 – 6pm after school on Thursdays), as well as the chance to enjoy junior membership. The coaching currently takes place on Glenbervie’s excellent short game facilities, and will move indoors over the winter months.
Larbert High School already offers various activities for pupils outside of school hours, with the school acting as the thriving base of the Tryst Community Sports Club, and Paterson is delighted golf is also now included. “We’re just looking to get more people involved in golf,” said Derek. “So with Glenbervie keen to boost their junior members, this new partnership has been a good fit. Bobby has been a massive factor in pushing things on, with the package of coaching and special junior membership. Ten players have signed up to the programme, with only one a previous member at Glenbervie. As well as the golf playing and coaching, they are also learning other life skills like social relationships, decision making and working in a group.”
Ian Williamson is one of the youngsters participating. The 15-year-old said: “I’ve enjoyed it since I joined, using the day membership in the summer and now the coaching after school. The professional coaching is good for my ability and since I’ve joined my dad, Stuart, and his friends have joined Glenbervie too.” Connor Draycott, 12, added: “I saw on Twitter that there was the chance to get involved in this. I’ve loved the coaching and really like the team events.”
Rushford, meantime, hopes the partnership continues to go from strength to strength and added: “We’re delighted to welcome these new youngsters to Glenbervie and are looking forward to working closely with the school to further develop the programme in the future. One way we are looking to do this is offering the young people the opportunity to achieve an SQA accredited qualification through Golf”.
See the photograph below showing Bobby Rushford and some of the Larbert High School students.