TO build the game’s bright future under the new Scottish Golf banner, it’s important that we look back. Not only to include the good things going forward, but also to remember the bad aspects and how they must continue to be stamped out.

On a day of celebration as the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies Golfing Association came under the one umbrella, Marc Warren’s words may not exactly have been what officials would have liked to hear, but well done to the Scottish No 1 for telling the truth as he recalled his days in junior golf.

“I don’t go back to the golf club I grew up playing at as we were treated quite poorly,” said Warren, referring to East Kilbride, where he was made an honorary life member in 2002 in recognition of a successful amateur career that was topped off by a winning Walker Cup appearance. “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.”

No wonder and, as Warren continued with his tale, he left Paul Lawrie, sitting beside him, shaking his head in total and utter disbelief. “We had a really strong junior section, including three internationals – Craig Heap, Stephen McGavin and myself – but now I think only two of that are members. They were lost purely because of what happened and I possibly could have been as well but, luckily, I began to get encouragement when I started playing at other places,” added the three-times European Tour winner. “The point is how easily you can be put off by some clubs being overly stuffy. It’s totally unnecessary.”

via Martin Dempster: Juniors golfers must be welcomed – The Scotsman.