The first cohort of Scottish golf’s young leaders’ programme is a new initiative aimed at bringing new ideas into the game among the next generation, and we met for the first time at St Andrews last week.
The purpose of the programme of young leaders, made up of 11 talented youths across Scotland, is to provide a platform for stakeholders to provide new perspectives in the game and promote new ideas.
As reported in Scotsman, participants in the program running until September 2026 will engage in a variety of projects focusing on key themes such as leadership, golf profiles, and career opportunities in golf. The program includes peer-to-peer learning, development opportunities, and collaborative projects with golf clubs and partners.
The group, all ages 16 to 21, met for the first time at Fairmont St. Andrews last week and visited the R&A World Golf Museum for a feel for the history of the game.
Alan Oliver, Variety and Inclusion Manager for Scotland Golf, said: “We had a really positive day. We connected young leaders with R&A and the Scottish golf staff, introduced important themes and laid the foundation for an exciting program.”
The group includes three 16-year-olds, Erin Husky of Sterling, Jasmine Riordan of Royal Dornock and Rory Abercrombie, an Annan Hill member, with 21-year-olds Calm Stockton (Arbros Artistan) and Jacob Dalland (Dandas Parks) among the oldest.
“The mission of golf in Scotland is to create a ‘game for everyone’ in Golf Scotland,” said CEO Robbie Clyde. “Many young people enjoy golf and can play it for the rest of their lives. It’s a unique sport in that respect. And we want more young people to take up more young people (especially more girls) to enjoy all the benefits it can bring.
“To ensure that young people are welcome in our sport, we need to listen to their experiences, take on ideas on how to support their ambitions and demonstrate that golf can not only be the perfect sport to play, but also provide a fulfilling career.
“This Young Leader program is a very exciting first step in creating a path to golf and highlighting career opportunities. For us, we are also emphasizing as a governing body to learn about where young people want the game, the future of our sport.”
