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Drive to get more Scottish Ryder Cup stars of the future





First Minister Alex Salmond
First Minister Alex Salmond

A £2 million scheme has been teed up to attract thousands more children to golf in Scotland.

First Minister Alex Salmond announced the Ryder Cup legacy on the final day of Johnnie Walker Championship.

The money to be spent between 2014 and 2018 will attract tens of thousands more children to the game, Mr Salmond said.

The First Minister revealed the investment package during a visit to the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

The extension of annual investment of £500,000 in each of the four years to 2018 was announced by the First Minister during a visit to a children’s golf lesson – part of Scotland’s successful clubgolf initiative.

The package builds on legacy plans for the 2014 Ryder Cup, the first time in more than 40 years the prestigious tournament will be played in Scotland.

The First Minister also welcomed a donation of £19,500 to clubgolf by Gleneagles.

The money represents the proceeds of their £5 Friday initiative, where all the revenue from on-the-day ticket sales at the Johnnie Walker Championship is donated to Scotland’s junior golf programme.

Mr Salmond said "Scotland is the undisputed worldwide home of golf. We have the best courses in the world and facilities that are second to none.

"The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles is a terrific example of just what we can deliver when the eyes of the golfing world are upon us.

"Encouraging the next generation of golfers is crucial. Clubgolf gives thousands of children in Scotland the chance to play golf, putting a club in the hands of every nine-year-old in the country and creating the possibility of golfing success at the highest levels."

The First Ministe said that golf makes an enormous economic contribution to Scotland.

"The 2014 Ryder Cup alone will generate an estimated £100 million for our economy and golf tourism is worth an estimated £220 million to Scotland every year

Patrick Elsmie, Managing Director of Gleneagles Hotel, said "As the venue for Ryder Cup 2014 we are determined to ensure that hosting one of the greatest sporting events in the world helps to create a positive and lasting legacy for Scottish golf. A crucial part of that legacy will be inspiring young Scots to take up the game of golf.

Clubgolf Manager Jackie Davidson said: "clubgolf is delighted to receive this further four year commitment from the Scottish Government which will enable us to build on the success of the programme.

"We are already succeeding in introducing record numbers of children to the game, raising junior performance levels and increasing junior memberships in clubs.

"Extending funding until 2018 is a great tribute to what we have achieved so far and puts us in a strong position to promote lifelong participation, increase club membership and support wider opportunities for talented players to come to the fore."


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