AN EXCITING chapter has begun in junior golfing across the Forth Valley with a movement looking to bring clubs and talent together.

Budding young golfers, including from clubs at Alloa and Braehead, have been taking part in the Forth Valley Junior Golf (FVJG) League which culminated in an experience playing at the Queen's Course at world renowned Gleneagles.

The initiative came after a disrupted 2020 calendar, promoting the game in a friendly and fun environment and allowing young talent to broaden their horizons by playing a number of different courses.

Throughout this season, junior golfers have been competing in what has been dubbed the Race to Gleneagles.

More than 150 competitors took part in opens at their home golf clubs of Alloa, Braehead, Stirling, Falkirk and Bonnybirdge – the five which founded FVJG and put in place junior convenors to co-ordinate the effort.

With best scores complied in a league table, the top 10 secured a place to compete at Gleneagles on Sunday, August 22.

The finalists were aged between 10 and 17 years old, with handicaps between 6 and 35, in a bid to provide opportunities for golfers of all ages and abilities.

Lynn Parsler, junior convenor at Braehead Golf Club, said: "It has been an absolute privilege for us to see how much the junior golfers and their families have embraced this new venture.

"To have seen so many juniors attend these events across the central belt, seeing golf courses completely new to them and meeting other young golfers and forming friendships has been extremely rewarding.

"The showpiece event of the year at Gleneagles will live long in the memory of all involved."

On the day, Caleb Stanners of Falkirk Golf Club narrowly pipped Cameron Doyle of Braehead Golf Club to win the inaugural Rob Roy Trophy.

Lynn added: "All of us involved with FVJG would like to pay tribute to all those involved at Gleneagles Golf Resort for providing such a special and memorable experience for our players.

"The prospect of playing at such an iconic venue has really captured the imagination of our youngsters and has given them all the incentive to work on their games, knowing the reward that could await them.

"Some of these kids may never be lucky enough to play this course again, so we would like to thank Alison Goodwin at Gleneagles for all of her support in making this day possible; we sincerely hope that this is a relationship that can continue beyond this year, in an effort to inspire more of our kids to compete in our local open competitions and in so doing supporting their own clubs."

Up next will be a day of finals for the inter-club league on Sunday, September 5, dubbed the Race to Bonnybridge.

Clubs have been playing against one another in a series of match-play team games and the final day will see the five go head-to-head to decide on the winners of the Bruce and Wallace leagues.