North District places after Reay juniors impress
AN unprecedented number of Reay Golf Club juniors have been invited to join the Scottish Golf Union’s North District squad.
The four players – 13-year-old James Hawes, Gregor Munro (14) and his 12-year-old brother, Euan, and Tom Ross (14) – were selected following a Talent Identification Day at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club where they were assessed by North District coaches Robert Douglas (Inverness), Stuart Morrison (Tain) and David Torrance (Nairn Dunbar).
Being accepted for the squad will give these youngsters an opportunity to access professional coaching and support with regular high-level junior competition against other similar prospects.
As this squad only took 14 new entrants from the vast North District area, this is a huge achievement for junior golf in Caithness. And it is no accident.
Eight years ago Caithness golf clubs embraced the national junior programme, clubgolf, a legacy to Scotland’s successful Ryder Cup bid.
A dedicated team of Reay volunteer coaches, through the club’s head coach Evan Sutherland, have developed a system of limited holes handicapping which encourages progress within juniors from an early age where they are schooled into playing to maintain a handicap.
Through training of qualified coaches and developing facilities, Caithness clubs together with Thurso and Wick high schools, have allowed dedicated indoor coaching to prolong the training season.
"All this would not be possible without the support of the active schools co-ordinators who deliver an initial introduction to golf in schools, and the support and assistance of Willie MacKay, clubgolf’s regional manager for Highlands and Islands," said Mr Sutherland. "Clubgolf has provided the structure and stepping stones that has allowed Caithness junior golf to flourish.
"I now need to hand these boys over to their professional coaches, who have plans for coaching support at a local level. I will still be there to support both them and their coaches when needed.
Scottish Golf National Academy coach Stuart Morrison will coach brothers Gregor and Euan Munro, who play off 10 and 20 respectively, and 12 handicapper Tom Ross at Tain Golf Club. Robert Douglas will coach 15 handicapper James Hawes at Inverness.
Mr Morrison said: "Having four boys from Reay Golf Club reaching this level shows that Evan’s hard work over a long period of time is now starting to bear fruit.
"Evan and his volunteer coaches have put in a huge commitment, both in coaching their juniors week in and week out, and also taking them to competitions, so they are being seen and being recognised.
"I see a lot of commitment from these juniors too. Being on the squad means they will have to travel at least 80 miles to get to coaching and they could be travelling up to 150 miles to play in a competition."
Reay Golf Club’s captain, Murray McGlasson said: "We are absolutely delighted that our investment in junior golf is now producing results.
"Since the juniors started to play in senior events they have fitted in well, and their knowledge and ability has come on leaps and bounds.
"The only downside is that the boys improve so quickly that they seem to win most of the competitions, and our prize-giving this year might look like a school disco."