Cuthill Youngsters Get into the Swing

Learning Golf at the Royal Musselburgh ..can't do better than that!

More than 20 youngsters from Cuthill in Prestonpans have taken up Willie Park Bursaries provided by the Prestoungrange Arts Festival to learn golf at the Royal Musselburgh. This first group arrived with parents in tow at the Club on Saturday at 10 am where Callum Smith and Kenny Glen, aides to John Henderson the Club Professional, got them started. Kenny Glen was just back from his win at the Scottish Assistants' Championship and was himself a Cuthill youngster a few years ago just like the new intake. If they needed role models the youngsters had no further to look that Callum and Kenny.

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Launch by Willie Park Descendants Sheila Baird and Baron of Prestoungrange

Under the £5,250 Willie Park Fund scheme, launched on Saturday July 28th by Willie Park's descendants Sheila Baird [great grand daughter] and the Baron of Prestoungrange [great great nephew], up to 48 Cuthill area youngsters of school age can receive six months tuition at the Club. Those who attended the launch session, which included a clubs display by MacGregor's, will receive a formal certificate on completion and special vouchers for the practice range at Meadowmill. Throughout they will learn golf etiquette and club rules and be required to conform at all times.

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The scheme was launched to offset debate about the current renaissance plans for Cuthill Park, championed by the Prestoungrange Arts Festival and Cuthill Park Residents' Action Group earlier in the year. One of the objections raised had been that youngsters practising their golf had done so in the park in the past - and might again in the future. No need for that now anyway; they have good neighbours at the Royal Musselburgh offering a helping hand.

The first picture shows Sheila Baird with her husband Archie, and the second Callum [green stripes] and Kenny addressing the youngsters.

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