First Minister celebrates Scotland's golf world champions as new figures show big increase in youngsters playing the sport
First Minister Alex Salmond today formally honoured the Scottish team that won last year's men's World Amateur Team Championship on the day new figures showed a huge 30 per cent increase in the number of children playing the sport through clubgolf, Scotland’s junior golf programme.
The First Minister today hosted a reception in Edinburgh to celebrate the achievements of the history-making Scottish amateur team that won the Eisenhower Trophy in 2008 and said that the future of Scottish golf looked positive with two-thirds of Primary 5 pupils being introduced to the sport at school last year.
In 2008 33,600 P5 pupils took part in clubgolf’s introductory game firstclubgolf and 8,563 were involved in clubgolf coaching programmes at 233 clubs across the country. In 2007 26,000 P5 that took part in firstclubgolf and 5,850 children took part in clubgolf programmes at 182 clubs.
This year more than 10,000 children are expected to take part in the clubgolf programme, which was first established in 2003 following Scotland’s successful bid to host the 2014 Ryder Cup.
Speaking at a reception in Bute House, First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"Scotland is proud to be the home of golf and I am delighted that more and more young people across the country are getting a taste of our national sport, and hopefully being inspired by the World Champions we are honouring today.
"With the Open Championship returning to Turnberry during Scotland’s Homecoming Year it’s fantastic that two-thirds of our primary school pupils have now been introduced to the game through the innovative clubgolf programme.
"Golf is a significant part of Scotland’s culture, identity and economy, and I am delighted to mark the achievement of the Scottish men’s golf team in winning the World Amateur Team Golf Championship for the first time ever in 2008.
"Congratulations to Callum Macauley, Gavin Dear and Wallace Booth on their wonderful performances in Adelaide to bring home the Eisenhower Trophy.
"Sporting success lifts the nation in confidence and in spirit. Celebrating and recognising Scottish sporting achievements at the highest levels is important to our sense of national identity and pride.
"Last year was a fantastic year for Scottish sport with our Olympians and Paralympians achieving great things on the international stage. We can only hope that 2009 and beyond is as successful.
"With the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and Commonwealth Games to look forward to, 2014 is shaping up to be a great year for Scotland and Scottish sport. There really is no better time for us to increase participation in sport and to nurture the potential our young people to create Scotland’s future sporting success stories."