Caithness junior golfers grow in confidence after 30 hours of coaching
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Junior golfers from Caithness who signed up for a North District coaching squad have grown in confidence as a result, as well as showing improvement in their play.
The coaching consisted of 30 hours run over 10 weeks between January and April, based at Thurso Golf Club. Lesley Mackay, a pro who lectures at the Dornoch campus of UHI North Highland, ran the sessions assisted by Laura Durrand, a level 2 golf coach who coaches at Thurso.
Nine of the older Caithness juniors took up the opportunity – Rachel Durrand, Isla Mackay, Ben Durrand, Tyler Gordon, Owen Bain, Dylan Mackenzie, Jess Calder, Roni Wares and Grace Campbell.
Most of the time was spent out on the course. Sessions involved swing analysis, course management, setting individual routines and focusing on each individual's goals.
Laura said: "Each and every one of the juniors has left this winter training programme with a box of tools to help improve and develop their golf. By the end of the 10 sessions the improvement in their golf was very easy to see, along with how their confidence had grown.
"These sessions will stand them in good stead for the season ahead. Their handicaps have already been crashing down since the beginning of April, which is so inspiring for all other juniors and golfers to see.
"I think it is fair to say they all enjoyed the sessions."
For the ninth session, the group took a train journey to Helmsdale Golf Club to tackle the short and tricky nine-hole course.
Comments from the juniors when asked why they had taken part in the sessions included “I signed up so that I would play more in the winter than I normally do” and “I wanted to lower my handicap and learn some new ways to shape shots to give me more choices when playing a shot”.
Lesley said: "It’s a privilege to coach such a talented group of individuals. I have no doubt their hard work will result in an excellent season.
"The juniors at Thurso Golf Club are extremely enthusiastic and committed. There is an excellent weekly coaching programme that has led to some of them being chosen to take part in North District coaching.
"Laura has worked hard for many years to encourage juniors in Thurso and this has resulted in 50 juniors turning up to coaching each week. Hopefully this will only continue to grow, and I am hopeful some of them will end up coming to UHI North Highland studying either BA (Hons) Professional Golf or BA (Hons) Golf Management."
Junior nights are held at Thurso Golf Club on Wednesdays, Reay on Fridays and Wick on Mondays.
Laura added: "It's great to see Caithness juniors thriving. Any keen juniors should give their local club a shout – the more the merrier."
