Ross-shire groups interested in getting amongst the prizes have until today (February 10) to get their nominations in.
A prize of £1,000 is up for grabs in the RBS Junior Club of the Year Award, while £500 will be presented to Scottish Golf’s leading volunteer at the annual Scottish Golf Awards, taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow on Friday, March 23.
Hosted by BBC commentator Andrew Cotter, anchor for last season’s Masters, Open Championship and Walker Cup, the awards will celebrate the achievements of golfers and golf clubs across Scotland, raising funds to develop the country’s young golfers.
Numbers of juniors taking up golf across Scotland are at an all time high as a result of the flourishing national junior programme ClubGolf, supported by RBS, which has introduced 220,000 P5 children to golf. More than 12,675 children are now active in ClubGolf coaching at 311 clubs in Scotland, with an army of 1,575 hard-working volunteer coaches giving up their time to work with the youngsters.
Backed by 18-time Major champion Jack Nicklaus, RBS launched a three-and-a-half year sponsorship of the programme last summer, to support ClubGolf’s development of golf in the community and encourage children to stay in the game.
The RBS Junior Golf Awards will reward clubs and volunteers that demonstrate excellence in promoting junior golf, with the winners receiving their prize alongside the biggest names in Scottish Golf, with former Open Champion Paul Lawrie and Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie in attendance last year.
This year’s winners will join an illustrious list of names at the forefront of junior golf development typified by the reigning Junior Club of the Year, Orkney.
“Winning this award meant a huge amount to us and the whole event was an amazing experience,” said Orkney Golf Club’s junior administrator Janette Mackie.
“The publicity it generated really increased awareness of golf locally. Not only have we had more juniors joining as a result, we have seen a lot more adults taking up the game and more have joined than we have had in years.
“I believe that what we have achieved here can be done anywhere in Scotland.”
Palacerigg Golf Club’s junior convenor, Frank Anderson, winner of last year’s Volunteer of the Year category, is equally enthusiastic about the event.
“The Scottish Golf Awards was a brilliant evening and it was great to be acknowledged,” he said. “A lot of people have commented to me since about it and the prize money was very useful in buying new junior equipment.”
To nominate your club for RBS Junior Golf Awards visit www.scottishgolf.org. All nominations must be received by today (February 10).
