Stornoway Golf Club up for top award

The Lewis club has been recognised for its contribution to junior golf in Scotland over the last 12 months and is in the running to bag the award with £1,500 first prize. By reaching the final four, the club has already guaranteed £500 for its junior section.

The winner will be crowned at the 2016 Annodata Scottish Golf Awards in Edinburgh on March 11th.

The key to Stornoway’s successful year stemmed from needing to introduce new, younger members.

Speaking about the club’s nomination, Junior Convenor Donald Smith, said: “We were very pleased to be shortlisted for the Junior Club award, given where our junior membership levels were a year and half ago, and I think it is because we’ve made improvements very quickly. We had to take a long hard look at ourselves and thanks to ClubGolf staff, we were inspired to introduce six-and nine-hole courses within the course, which has been crucial for 12 to 14 year olds, as 18 holes take too long and can be too difficult for them.

“We then went into schools and put our junior noticeboard in the PE department to get the message out to secondary school children, and we have had a huge surge in regular competitors from four to 32.

“I’ve enjoyed golf so much, I was keen to give something back so was inspired to rejuvenate the juniors. With parents, coaches, and the community all involved, we’ve been able to achieve an awful lot in the last 12 months and we now have a structure which means the work can carry on seamlessly regardless of who is Junior Convenor.

“We’re thrilled to be nominated and to be sitting at the table at the Awards with other people who are being recognised for doing something of value.”