ALL Scottish golf clubs are being asked to give a pledge to foster junior golf in a bid to move away in a concerted manner from the still prevalent hostile attitude of some adults.
The four-point junior charter involves promising to teach young players, make the game enjoyable and affordable for them, and to give them a chance to improve.
Clubs agreeing to participate in the scheme will be awarded a parchment signed by officials of the Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, and the club concerned. The document is intended for framing and displaying in the clubhouse as a declaration.
Hugh Hunter, the SGU's training convener, said: ''I am very encouraged by initial reaction to the idea. It is certainly being discussed widely and we are looking to having our launch in October or November.''
The plan is a follow-up to a national survey of clubs that attracted a response of more than 400 and showed such a wide variation in ways of catering for juniors, ranging from good to non-existent, that the SGU were convinced of the need to move forward in a united and consistent fashion. In particular, there is an aim of doubling the current 2600 junior girl golfers, who are outnumbered by boys by a factor of 10 to one.
One example of the inconsistent attitude to juniors is the high number of clubs who do not allow young players entry to their club championship. Hunter said: ''Some of the reasons given for their exclusion display an awful attitude, such as 'Their time will come'; 'We can't play in their championship, so why should we let them into ours?'; 'The club champion is expected to represent the club and that might mean sitting down and having a drink'.
''My view is that the club champion should be the best player in the club, irrespective of age.''
This charter, he added, was a two-way arrangement between the club and player. The junior player entering the scheme must also give a commitment to learn technique, rules and etiquette and to support the club. The second point of the charter promises juniors that they will be made welcome and not be hounded off the course by intolerant adults.
The financial side is considered just as important and Hunter added: ''Some youngsters, when they reach the age of 18, are expected to pay entry fees plus a full subscription and, as a result, are forced out of the game. We would like to see a more graded approach so that we are not losing young talent purely on financial grounds.''
The final point is probably the least straightforward, with suggestions that clubs construct short courses that can be played by youngsters aged 12 and under with tennis-size balls playing into bigger bucket holes and introducing a junior handicapping system common to both boys and girls, with youngsters receiving up to four shots per hole.
That, said Hunter, would be an extension of the Golf Foundation Merit Award Scheme, which rewards juniors for taking lessons, passing rules and etiquette tests and improving their playing abilities.
Hunter said: ''We will issue the charter to any club which says 'yes' and it will be given on trust which is the spirit of golf.''
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