Perthshire primary pupils to benefit from hi-tech golf facility

Open day later this month for families to take tour and meet staff

Perthshire primary schools will benefit from a new hi-tech golf facility being built at Glenalmond College for the centenary of its golf course next year.

The facility is being funded by former Glenalmond pupils and will see two full simulation bays featuring the latest ball flight technology, as well as a six-hole indoor putting green installed at a new golf school.

The investment at the school, which is home to around 360 girls and boys who are day and boarding pupils, is being led by Tim Mitchell, Glenalmond College’s head of golf.

Mr Mitchell said: “Glenalmond has phenomenal potential in terms of what it will be able to offer children keen to develop their golfing skills.

“We are the only school in Scotland with our own James Braid nine-hole golf course and we have plans to further improve the course in the coming months.

“The fact we have more than 300 acres of grounds in total means we have huge scope to continue to develop our golf and other sporting facilities.

“At Glenalmond, our young golfers will also see a host of the best wildlife our Perthshire countryside has to offer – from deer and red squirrels to pine martens and birds of prey.

“The new indoor facility means children will be able to continue to practise when the weather is difficult and we are particularly looking forward to welcoming children from local schools to take advantage of the new facilities we will have later this year, too.”

The Glenalmond course has at least one famous alumni in Carly Booth, the professional female European tour golfer from Comrie, who currently sits 216th in the world rankings.

The Perthshire golfer appeared in her first professional event, The Scottish Ladies Open, at 14 and was the youngest player to represent Great Britain and Ireland in the 76-year history of the Curtis Cup.

Glenalmond College is hosting an open day on Saturday September 21 from 10am to 2pm and inviting families to visit for a tour to see its facilities and meet pupils and staff.

The fact we have more than 300 acres of grounds in total means we have huge scope to continue to develop our golf and other sporting facilities. TIM MITCHELL, GLENALMOND COLLEGE’S HEAD OF GOLF