Young golfers

Editorial, The Courier, 27 October 2000

In a concerted bid to strengthen the already immense popularity of golf, the Scottish Executive and Bank of Scotland are putting up £24 million for development of the game and securing the Ryder Cup in 2009. Every child will get the chance to swing a club by their ninth birthday.

If the outlay seems generous, so are possible returns. Last year’s competition in Boston pulled in about £103 million, £30 million more than anticipated. With more courses per head than any other country, Scotland must play to her strengths.

Executive tees up youth golf strategy

The Courier, 27 October 2000

Every Scottish child is to be introduced to golf by the age of nine, under plans announced yesterday as part of a bid to host the Ryder Cup in 2009.

The commitment was announced by deputy minister for sport Rhona Brankin as she teed off the official bid to bring the tournament to Scotland.

A successful bid for the event would net the Scottish economy at least £67 million, as well as boosting golf tourism, one of the Executive’s target sectors for increasing visitor numbers.

To aid the bid, £24 million is to be spent on developing the sport over the next nine years, with the pledge to give every child a chance at taking part in the game by the age of nine, a centrepiece of the strategy.

“Golf is immensely popular in Scotland and we can boast the best golf courses in the world,” said Ms Brankin. “We want to give every child in this country the opportunity to play golf. Hosting the Ryder Cup in 2009 can help us to achieve that aim.

“We shall extend our existing commitment to golf and to widening opportunities and introduce every child in Scotland - boys and girls - to the game of golf by the age of nine. That is our 2009 Ryder Cup pledge.”

The £24 million golf strategy is being backed by leading golfers including Colin Montgomerie and Sam Torrance and will see a formal bid for the tournament submitted at the end of this month.

Montgomerie sent a message of support and said, “I firmly believe that we have the most comprehensive bid possible.

“Our bid will be a catalyst for the development and promotion of golf in Scotland.

“I am delighted that plans have been developed as part of the bid to give so many young people access to the sport, and to give them the chance to play golf by the age of nine is the kind of commitment that few other nations can boast.”

Paul Lawrie, winner of the 1999 Open, said securing the event for Scotland would mean more to him than his victory at Carnoustie.

“We are the home of golf and the Ryder Cup is probably the second or third largest event in the world. I can think of nothing better than to play in a winning Ryder Cup team in Scotland. It would mean more to me than Carnoustie.”

Education minister Sam Galbraith, who has Cabinet responsibility for sport, said, “The Scottish Executive have produced a bid of the highest quality to attract the 2009 Ryder Cup to Scotland, the home of golf.

“Every criterion laid out by the PGA (Professional Golf Association) and Ryder Cup Ltd has been comprehensively addressed within the bid document.

“There has been no room for compromise on quality or commitment in the development of Scotland’s bid and we believe the finished product gives Scotland the best possible chance of winning the right to host the 2009 event.”

The £24 million strategy, made up of £14 million on golf promotion and £10 million to secure the Ryder Cup, is being backed by extra cash from the private sector including the Bank of Scotland, said Mr Galbraith.

An economic study commissioned by the Executive showed when the 1997 Ryder Cup went to Valderrama, in Spain, it created £56.2 million, while last year’s event in Boston generated £103 million.

But last night the SNP said the scheme shows the Executive has got its priorities wrong.

“Ten years ago there were 2000 council houses built but in 2000 there are none,” said party housing spokesman Linda Fabiani. “In a country as rich as Scotland we should certainly give our kids decent sports provision, but we should put a roof over everybody’s head first.”

Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan pointed to figures showing that 1000 Scots sleep on the streets every night.

“Labour’s priorities are completely out of step with everyday reality,” he said.

“While ministers are going on about golfing opportunities, thousands of Scots don't even have a house.

And Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie said, “This policy is out of touch and should be out of bounds. “It’s hard to believe there’s nothing better to spend our money on.”

Golf tourism is worth an estimated £100 million each year to the Scottish economy, with 260,000 visitors playing on courses across the country, and the Executive wants to increase its impact on the £2.5 billion tourism industry.

A decision is expected on the winning bid in January.