Open champ Henrik can pick a winner Stenson draws raffle for Muckhart youngsters
Defending Open champion Henrik Stenson is helping to inspire the next generation.
The kind-hearted Swede put a smile on the faces of Muckhart Golf Club members this week by conducting their junior section’s fundraising raffle draw.
Footage emerged of Stenson, currently the world’s eighth best golfer, pulling names out of a pot during his visit to Dundonald for the Scottish Open.
Junior convenor Chris Turlik (45), who recorded the video, said: “The video idea came about due to timing more than anything.
“Henrik was more than happy to do it. It’s great for us and the kids love it.
“It’s amazing to get people like Henrik involved. He started golf late but is a big fan of junior golf.
“He runs his own junior tournament in Sweden and has a lot of things going on. He is very involved in the development of golf.
“Getting the video done was a bit of fun. We managed to get it recorded outside where he was staying down at Dundonald.
“It was his idea and he wanted to get the Claret Jug out to make sure it was involved.
“We didn’t give him any script, he does all that himself.
“He doesn’t see it as a chore. If he thinks it is helping people then he is happy to do it.
“The reaction to the video has been very good. It went out on social media and it has been well received.
“People like to see the pros doing things a little different to what they normally would. Henrik Stenson It’s all good fun but we won’t be releasing the outtakes.”
Stenson yesterday teed off his bid to retain the Open title at Royal Birkdale.
Muckhart junior members, meanwhile, continue to impress across the Perth and Kinross County golf scene.
Turlik, who has a wealth of experience in the golf industry, is delighted to be playing his part.
He said: “The junior section is fantastic. We have several elite players but also dozens of beginners coming through.
“We work with Clubgolf and have a lot of development stages.
“Our club professional Brian Leishman is heavily involved and there are a lot of volunteer coaches.
“We’re over 80 juniors this season, which is a good number when compared to other clubs.
“We have 20 juniors with handicaps, the youngest of which is 11 and the oldest 17.
“Last year we won the county junior scratch league and the same three-man team is together this year. We’re very strong at that end.
“We’re also reaching a lot of team finals in both scratch and handicap competitions. The juniors play in the county’s Race to Kingsbarns and do well.
“It’s a strong section and we have juniors who our younger beginners are looking up to.
“In the next couple of years I think we will see some more good results coming out of Muckhart.
“All of the clubs have good players – there is no question about that – but what we have is numbers and the more numbers you have, the more likely you are to produce elite players.
“Generally Muckhart Golf Club, like many, has had a few difficulties over the past few years. We’ve tried to turn it around in many ways.
“The junior section has always been strong and we can use that as something which we know we can do well.
“Other aspects of the club needed attention and things are on the up.
“Compared to where we were a year ago, the club is in very good shape.
“Interestingly, the name that Stenson pulled out of the pot was that of Alex Glaister, who in May became the first female club captain in Muckhart’s 109-year history.
“This is indicative of the club’s forward thinking approach to reasserting itself in regional golf.
“The work that has been done this year is bearing fruit with membership and visitor numbers on the up and the courses in immaculate condition after some investment in the greenkeeping department.
“Setting three-year and five-year plans is definitely something that needs to be done at all clubs because they need to run more like businesses.
“Are these in place now? No. Will they be in place? Yes.
“We are working towards that and get a lot of support from Scottish Golf and the Perth and Kinross County Golf Union.”
His journey to Muckhart has been an interesting one and Turlik’s passion for the game of golf is showing no signs of fading.
He told the Perthshire Advertiser: “After 18 years in Dubai we moved to Scotland a couple of years ago, which has been a good move.
“I’ve got more of a passion to play now than I did when I was working full-time in golf.
“My kids play and that encourages me to play.
“But the passion to work in golf has always been the same. I’ve always enjoyed it.”
It was his idea and he wanted to get the Claret Jug out to make sure it was involved