TWO OF Scotland’s rising stars in the golf world, Peter Whiteford and Clare Queen, are helping to promote the game to juniors players.

They were on hand in Fife to tee-off the Dunfermline Building Society Junior Club of the Year awards, helped by the society’s chief executive Graeme Dalziel.

The awards are part of its £100,000 sponsorship deal with the Scottish Golf Union and have been designed to reward clubs across the country for their efforts in promoting junior golf.

They will be open to all golf clubs and facilities in Scotland, with the winning club receiving £1000 towards its junior programmes, plus five runners-up prizes of £300.

The awards will also be supported by clubgolf, Scotland’s national junior golf programme.

Fife professional Peter, who has made the cut on his opening three events on his debut European Tour season, having graduated from the Challenge Tour, welcomed the scheme.

“The awards are a great idea,” he said.

“There are many examples of clubs and volunteers doing great work at junior level and these awards will help highlight that activity even more.”

Clare, who has recently completed her second season on the Ladies European Tour, finishing 39th on the order of merit, said, “I was lucky enough to benefit from being part of a very good junior section at Drumpellier Golf Club. There seem to be more girls getting involved in golf from an early age, which is great for the game in Scotland.”

Clubs can nominate themselves. Forms will be posted out in the first week of the new year and will also be available to download on the SGU website.