Programme will help young golfers develop

Developed by assistant professional David Snodgrass, the new programme aims to take East Neuk youngsters – from as young as six years old up to 16 - from complete beginners to potential golfing stars, as well as giving first class development coaching to those already playing.

Announced at the end of March to a meeting of over 60 parents and children, the programme will run from mid April to mid September.

“Any youngster is eligible and there is no requirement for them or their parents to be existing members of the Society,” said David Snodgrass. “We’ve structured the programme to take the different age groups and skill levels through the whole range of golfing shots including driving, iron play, pitching, chipping, bunker play and putting.

“We have four or five really good young golfers in the club already,” he said. “However, we think there may be many more with potential in the East Neuk and we want to give them the chance to enjoy the game.”

David has only recently returned from a 10 week sabbatical working at a golf course in Florida, where he picked up many new ideas on coaching.

Beginners will have an hour of tuition on the range, followed by an hour on a short course designed especially for the children. Intermediate level youngsters will have two hours tuition one week, alternating with two hours on the course the next week, while those with handicaps already will play 18 holes on the course, whilst being coached.

“This is a great opportunity for local youngsters to take up a sport that can provide enjoyment, fresh air and companionship, as well as competition,” said Crail Golfing Society Captain David Maiden. “We can take up to 36 youngsters on the programme and for the beginners who don’t have clubs yet, we have invested in some juniors’ clubs to get them started. If any parents would like their youngsters to try it, we’d be delighted to hear from them.”

Crail Golfing Society junior member 12 year old Anna McKay, has been highly successful, winning the UK finals of the worldwide Wee Wonders tournament four years in succession.

Currently playing off a handicap of 11, she won the Crail Ladies adult championship against all the other ladies in the club last year.

Crail Golfing Society is the seventh oldest golf club in the world having been founded in 1786. It has two courses: Craighead Links, which was designed by the Olympics course architect Gil Hanse and opened in 1998, and Balcomie Links, which was laid out by old Tom Morris in 1895. The Society is a traditional members’ club with 1400 members across the world. It also hosts over 10,000 visitor rounds each year.