From Wee Wonders to Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup stars - junior programme making mark in golf

Wee Wonders was launched in 1995 by Alasdair Good, now the PGA head professional at Gullane, and it continues to play an important role at grass-roots level in the development of young golfers in Great Britain and Ireland.

The programme has just received a huge boost through new support from Callaway Golf, one of the biggest brands in golf, and Good is delighted that it is still viewed as something that can help make a difference when it comes to both growing the game and producing future stars.

“It is absolutely incredible,” the Wee Wonders founder told The Scotsman. “We’ve always felt from day one that the most important thing was to give youngsters an opportunity. We had no idea in 1995 that we would see some of the best players in Europe come through.

“Whether it’s youngsters making friends or families playing golf together, that has always been central to what Wee Wonders is about – families enjoying the game on courses that are proportionate to their ability to hit the golf ball.

“All of that is great, but, at the same time, it has been absolutely amazing to see four players, for example, play in the last two Ryder Cups in Bob MacIntyre, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick. I have to be slightly biased because Bob was our first Scot to make it into a Ryder Cup team.

“One of the most remarkable stories is Matt Fitzpatrick, who wasn’t one of the best players when he came through the Wee Wonders but was our first major winner. Tommy was good, as was Tyrrell. Aaron Rai was another one as well. and also Marco Penge. There have been loads of them and Solheim Cup players as well.

“Leona Maguire, for example, is a force of nature as well and she absolutely transcends the gender issues within golf. I love watching the Solheim Cup and the likes of Leona can only inspire youngsters in Ireland, as does Charley Hull, another Wee Wonder, in England.”

Wee Wonders runs a three-stage championship each season starting with regional qualifiers, followed by regional finals and culminating in a Grand Final at North Berwick and Gullane.

This year’s regional qualifiers in Scotland are being held at Swanston, Peterculter, Royal Dornoch, Gleneagles, Bathgate, Portpatrick Dunskey, Haddington, Nairn, Inchmarlo Golf Centre, Carnoustie, Moray, Aboyne, North Berwick, Edzell and Hawick.

Through the new partnership, Callaway Golf will support Wee Wonders through strategic investment, access to equipment, and collaborative initiatives designed to enhance the experience for young players and their families.

Programme was born from a ‘simple belief’

“Callaway’s support is a powerful endorsement of what we are striving to achieve,” said Good, who runs the programme in tandem with his day job at one of the busiest golf clubs in Scotland. “Wee Wonders was born from a simple belief: that talent is nothing without opportunity.

“This partnership allows us to invest further in our pathways, ensuring we continue to provide a platform where young players not only develop their golf, but discover valuable life lessons and a love for the game they can enjoy for a lifetime.”

There’s a good chance that someone who will take part in Wee Wonders this year could follow in the footsteps of those Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup players, something that has clearly proved attractive to Callaway Golf.

“The future of golf depends on the opportunities we create for young players today,” said Ben Sharpe, the company’s president EMEASPI. “Wee Wonders has earned enormous respect for the way it has nurtured talent for over 30 years - not just by running great tournaments, but by building confidence, character and a genuine love for the game.

‘Partnership is about opening doors’

“This partnership is about opening doors, providing access to the right equipment and experiences, and helping young golfers fall in love with this sport.”

The proof is in the pudding when it comes to Wee Wonders, which is music to Good’s ears. “We still talk about how it is about them enjoying the day, but what we hear from the kids is that when they go and play in events, they play in something that is big and exciting and it makes them feel important,” he declared.

“It gives them that wee taste of nerves and trying to put together a round playing against better players. It certainly seems to do something positive for them.”