Golf clubs across Scotland are embracing the opportunity to drive levels of participation with record numbers of sign-ups for 2026 Scottish Golf junior programmes pointing towards a bumper summer of activities and continued long-term growth of the sport.
Scottish Golf, through implementation of its strategic framework, is fully committed to supporting affiliated clubs with the recruitment and retention of new players of all ages with a particular focus on under-represented groups such as juniors, golfers with a disability and females.
Building on a year of outstanding growth in 2025 which saw a rise in both club memberships and overall participation figures, the stats for core programmes in 2026 are already hugely encouraging.
Fraser Crawford, participation manager for Scottish Golf, said: “It’s fantastic to see momentum build and record numbers of sign-ups as we work together with our member clubs to develop the next generation of players. Across the board, clubs are engaging with our National Junior Framework, disability programmes and women and girls’ strategy to help bring more people into Scotland’s national sport. We know that clubs engaging in our programmes see junior membership growth 2.3 times greater than clubs who are not.”
For juniors, the number of clubs registering to take part in programmes such as junior flag championships, GolfSixes and GolfNines is on the rise. All three programmes show significant growth in the numbers of clubs registering to take part in line with Scottish Golf’s well-established Junior Golf Framework.
Clubs taking part in GolfSixes, an abbreviated and fun format of the traditional game played over an accessible course, have risen to 169 from 151 in 2025. This year will see the first year of full roll-out of GolfNines with a notable number of areas/regions and GolfSixes leagues now embracing GolfNines and delivering at local level. Scottish Golf will this year run 12 regional GolfNines leagues and, additionally, will host three national events bringing together players from across Scotland in a fun and inclusive environment.
A total of 78 clubs in rural or island communities, who do not have a PGA pro attached to their facility, have taken advantage of Scottish Golf’s Roving Pro Fund. For this programme, qualified PGA coaches travel to outlying communities and, in partnerships with the clubs and part funded by Scottish Golf, the Scottish Golf Charitable Trust and host clubs, deliver coaching blocks for golfers of all ages and backgrounds.
Scottish Golf’s Club Hire Fund – enabling golf clubs and facilities to provide new golfers with equipment at either no or low cost – is also booming. Thirty-four golf clubs have enrolled on this scheme.
New for 2026, affiliated golf clubs have also been able to source funding from Scottish Golf for women’s and girls’ activities. A total of 47 clubs will receive Get into Golf funding of £400 to boost their girls’ starter programmes.
At the next level of development, 14 clubs have successfully applied for up to £1,000 of funding provided by Scottish Golf in partnership with the Golf Foundation. Five golf clubs, at a more advanced stage of their girls’ development plan, will each receive £1500 to enhance and grow their offer.
Crawford added: “With the season well underway and coaching activities around golf clubs picking up as the weather gets better, this is a busy and exciting period for everyone involved in junior golf in Scotland. We’re hugely indebted to the small army of volunteers at our clubs who do so much to support grassroots golf. In turn, we will do all we can to support them carry out their work. Together, we aim to encourage the players who are getting into golf to develop a lifelong love of the sport and to discover the many sporting, social and health benefits associated with our great game.”