East Kilbride captain responds to Warren

• East Kilbride captain responds to Marc Warren’s comments
• Warren said junior section at club was called an ‘insidious growth’
• “East Kilbride has changed considerably since those days”

The captain of East Kilbride GC has responded to comments from leading Scottish golfer Marc Warren that the junior section at the club was called an ‘insidious growth’ when he was growing up there.

Speaking to Martin Dempster of The Scotsman earlier this week, Warren said: “I don’t go back to the golf club I grew up playing at as we were treated quite poorly. Obviously, it’s changed days, but the secretary at the time called the junior section an ‘insidious growth’ and what happened then leaves a really sour taste.”

In light of the comments from Warren, who was made an honorary life member at East Kilbride in 2002, current captain Alastair Renny was quick to point out that those particular attitudes are long gone at the club.

“East Kilbride GC, has changed considerably since those days” – Alastair Renny

“It was very disappointing to learn that Marc and some of his contemporaries felt less than welcome as juniors at our club,” he said. “It is little comfort to realise that this reflected an attitude towards juniors which prevailed throughout many golf clubs at that time. However, golf, and most importantly, East Kilbride GC, has changed considerably since those days.”

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That change is reflected in the fact that East Kilbride, which actively participates in ClubGolf, has its healthiest junior section since the 1970s, with a junior membership open to 8-17-year-olds at relatively modest fixed subscription rates. Juniors can then progress to a youth membership, where discounted subscriptions apply until the age of 30.

Current club professional Graeme Bell, who runs successful summer and winter coaching programmes, responded to the original article on Twitter, saying: “I’m the pro @EKGolfClub we do lots for junior golf. We are in a new age and all the kids here idolise @MarcWarrenGolf.

“It’s more positive at most clubs now. I played junior golf at the same time and it was difficult. We all really appreciate how Marc has helped the kids up here and put our club on the map.”

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Cue a response on Twitter from Warren, who said: “As I said it’s changed days and people at EK now. They have been doing a great job with the junior section and anything I can do to help out I would gladly do.”

And captain Renny was mightily pleased with Warren’s comments about possibly making a return to East Kilbride GC.

“I am delighted that Marc Warren, Scotland’s leading golfer in the world rankings, has acknowledged East Kilbride GC’s current positive attitude to promoting junior golf and has pledged his willingness to lend further support in our efforts to expand this essential component of a thriving club.”

All’s well that ends well then, and things could get even better for Warren this week as he currently has a share of the clubhouse lead at the British Masters after a six-under-par opening round.

Marc Warren :: Bad junior experience

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