The first Performance Day of winter for the South of Scotland Junior Elite Squad was held at Brighouse Bay on Saturday 29 October in misty and damp conditions with no wind. Under the tutelage of PGA Professionals, Chris Robinson and David Broadfoot fourteen boys enjoyed a day of instruction and assessment.
In the morning the boys played a stroke play competition over 11 holes while Chris and David assessed their strengths and weaknesses, course management and attitude. Three boys played to par, Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbright), William Squires (Kirkcudbright) and Taylor Kerr (Sanquhar) but the rest seemed to spend a lot of time ball searching in the long rough.
Over lunch the professionals interviewed each boy to determine their aims for next season and what they would have to do to achieve them. This information would be collated and sessions introduced into future coaching days to improve their weaknesses. One weakness which had been found was the accuracy of shots to the green from within 100 yards and this was what was concentrated on in the afternoon.
They all played one shot from 100 yards to a flag in the middle of a green. Only six of the fourteen finished on the green and only one which gave a possible birdie chance was a poor reflection of their handicap but confirmed the coaches assessment. The boys accepted that this area needed practice and improvement. Short game practice from different positions around the green to different pin positions on the green had a higher percentage rate and was obviously something the boys did practice.
The day finished with a short session on hitting the fairway and the boys went home with plenty to consider for the next coaching day on Saturday 12 November.
The photograph shows the Elite Squad at Brighouse Bay.