Free golf lesson from PGA professionals

at Open Championship

Youngsters attending the Open Championship at Turnberry will not only have the chance to see stars like Tiger Woods but also grab a free lesson from a PGA professional.
Among the dedicated band of 20 pros dishing out a total of more than 1,000 15min lessons will be newly appointed PGA captain Jim Farmer.
The Scot, who in one of his first duties as captain attended the US Masters at Augusta, is relishing the opportunity to pass on his expertise at grassroots level and help the next generation of golfers improve their games.
“I used to do work with a 100 kids on a Saturday morning at St Andrews,” said Farmer who is also honorary professional for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.
“I’m really looking forward to it, the children are really enthusiastic and we might only have 15 minutes but they can pick up a lot. Having taught so many kids one of the secrets is that you need to work on all the basics of grip, posture and stance but also get them up and running quickly so they can hit the ball and enjoy it. Also even if they don’t have the best grips or stance you actually find that kids are great at adapting.”
Other Scottish pros passing on their skills at the R&A Junior Golf Centre, where the Golf Foundation will also be running various activities, will be Bill Lockie, runner up in the 2009 Senior PGA Professional Championship (North Gailes Golf Centre), Andrew Wiley (Ardeer), Andrew Marshall (Houston Golf Range), Alex Knox (King James VI) and Anthony Mackrell (East Kilbride).
One pro deserving special mention is Kirkhill club pro Duncan Williamson who recently took advantage of the longest day in the year on June 21 to play his course as many times as possible throughout the day and evening in aid of charity.
Beginning at 3.05am and carrying his own bag, and accompanied by an assortment of celebrities and club members, he eventually came off the 18th green – for the eighth time – at 10.24pm.
Golf Foundation chief executive Mike Round said: “The Golf Foundation relies on a strong sense of partnership with PGA professionals for the whole year round. “In tandem with our regional development officers, PGA pros work wonders in taking golf into schools and then in turn welcoming youngsters to their golf facilities. This activity is crucial for the growth of the game. “Hopefully Turnberry will help to bring in a new generation of young golfers to all our golf clubs and help the sport to make further strong progress in the years ahead.”
The R&A Junior Golf Centre will be open from Sunday, July 12 to 19. Lessons can be booked on the day only.
The full team of PGA pros at the R&A Junior Centre next week are as follows:
Jim Farmer, Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
Allan Knox, King James VI G.C
Bill Lockie, North Gailes G.C
Anthony Mackrell, East Kilbride G.C
Andrew Marshall, Houston G.R
Simon Payne, Cowglen G.C
Duncan Williamson, Kirkhill G.C
Andrew Wylie, Ardeer G.C
Peter Ball, Birley Wood G.C, South Yorkshire
Joanne Bates, Lancashire
Alan Bradshaw, Bootle G.C, Merseyside
Shay Brennan, John Cook School of Golf, Oxfordshire
Sharon Brookes, Community Golf Coach, Blackpool
Gordon Cattrell, Middlesbrough G.C
Jon Darby, John Cook School of Golf, Oxfordshire
Geraint Dixon, Bedfordshire G.C
Jamie Donaldson, Cambridge G&CC
Kevin Flynn, Tournebury G.C, Hampshire
Ashley Howard, Hovenden Park G.C, Lincs
Stuart Hurstfield, Alyn Waters G.C, Cheshire
Jason Laszkowicz, Owston Hall Hotel & G.C, South Yorkshire
Duncan Moore, Keighley G.C, West Yorkshire
Paul Warner, Portsmouth G.C, Hampshire