New Scottish base for 2014 Ryder Cup player’s organisation
Hundreds of youngsters in Scotland are set to benefit from the state-of-the-art Stephen Gallacher Foundation Centre of Excellence, which was formally opened this week.
The 2014 Ryder Cup player has been encouraging participation in golf for ten years now via his foundation (SGF) and the new facility, at Kingsfield Golf Centre, means he can spread the gospel of golf, whatever the weather.
Situated just outside Linlithgow in Lothians, participants in his Foundation’s coaching programmes will benefit from practising on a Huxley putting green while utilising the PuttView training aide plus there are two Trackman bays.
At the opening local schoolchildren were invited to test out what’s on offer alongside leading tour pros Bob MacIntyre, Calum Hill, Connor Syme, Marc Warren, Richie Ramsey, Grant Forrest and Louise Duncan.
Stephen Gallacher Foundation manager Scott Knowles said: “It is absolutely amazing.
“It’s the opportunities that it gives the kids in all types of weather. It’s great all the games that are on the putting lab and also the Trackman. The school kids will absolutely love this place and it’s amazing that we’ve got an opportunity to use it.
“Without doubt, it’s six star and it’s something that I never thought would be created. Maybe Stevie did, but I never thought the foundation would have this as a facility where we could bring kids to enjoy our beautiful game.”
Kingsfield is owned and run by the Arkley family, who have also committed to supporting the SGF financially.
Susan Arkley said: “It’s been a massive investment for us but we’ve not been frightened about what we’ve done and it is now up to us to keep pushing it.
“We’ll be giving a donation back to the Stephen Gallacher Foundation every year and that’s massive as the children are the future, after all, and that’s what we need to concentrate on.”
The SGF runs its own events and group teaching sessions at clubs in Scotland, culminating in the Race to Dunbar final every Autumn. It has also been running a schools coaching programme for more than seven years, which now reaches 40 schools.