Moray clubs pitch in for award

EIGHT Moray golf clubs developing their junior sections through national junior programme ClubGolf could be in line to scoop a £1,000 prize.

The RBS Junior Club and Volunteer Awards will be held in Glasgow in March, with nominations being sought to reward clubs and volunteers in the Moray area.

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.

Cullen, Elgin, Forres, Hopeman, Keith, Kinloss, Moray and Strathlene & Buckie are eight clubs developing junior sections in Moray who are eligible for an award.

Backed by 18-time Major champion Jack Nicklaus, RBS launched a 3½ 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.

The March awards will be hosted by BBC commentator Andrew Cotter, anchor for last season’s Masters, Open Championship and Walker Cup, and 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.

"We’re delighted to be supporting the Junior Awards, which highlight the tremendous work being done in golf communities across Scotland," said Suzanne Williamson, Sponsorship Manager for RBS. "Our investment in Scottish Golf is focused on the grass roots of the game and these awards give something back to those who put in so much effort behind the scenes to ensure that golf remains accessible for our country’s youngsters."

To nominate your club for RBS Junior Golf Awards visit www.scottishgolf.org . All nominations must be received by February 10.