Speaking at the official inauguration of Ruchill Golf Course, Councillor Purcell announced that:

• Charges will be abolished for all under-18s who live or study in Glasgow at the municipal golf courses at Alexandra, Knightswood, Lethamhill, Linn Park, Littlehill and Ruchill.

• Young people will show eligibility by presenting either a Glasgow Kidz Card or Young Scot card.

• The scheme aims to increase participation in sport by young people in the run up to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Councillor Purcell was joined by Scottish golf legend Colin Montgomerie at the official reopening of Ruchill Golf Course on Thursday, 17 September, 2009.

The course, which has been reopened after 12 years, will be available for golfers on a full time basis from April 2010, is intended to raise interest in the sport and help provide activities for young people in the area.

Councillor Purcell said: “I am delighted to announce the introduction of free golf for under-18s in Glasgow. 

"Increasing physical activity in the city is a key objective for the Council, and we believe that removing charges for young people can help introduce them to the game of golf. 

“Our six golf courses are spread across the city, and provide excellent facilities within reach of all of our citizens.

"The removal of charges for tennis in the city saw over four times as many people playing tennis in Glasgow, and we hope this will have a similar effect.

“Although golf is not a Commonwealth sport, I am determined to ensure that we do everything we can to provide high quality, affordable sporting facilities to everyone in city in the run up to Glasgow 2014.

"We already provide free access for all to our tennis courts and bowling greens along with free swimming for the under-18s and over-60s, and I believe that the introduction of free golf will encourage more people to take up sport and help deliver a more active Glasgow.”

There are six municipal courses in Glasgow, run by Culture and Sport Glasgow.  They are Alexandra, Knightswood, Lethamhill, Linn Park and Lethamhill, as well as the newly inaugurated Ruchill, which will be be available for golfers on a full time basis from April 2010.

At present, young people pay £5.15 for 18 holes on these courses, or £3.10 for nine holes.

Charges will be abolished at these courses from 1 October 2009 for under-18s living or studying within the Glasgow City Council boundary.

In order to play on the course, young people will be required to book in advance and have a valid Kidz Card or Young Scot Card.

Glasgow Kidz Card is available to anyone aged five to 11, living or attending school within the Glasgow City Council boundary. The card is issued free of charge.

The Glasgow Young Scot Card is also free and available to anyone aged 12 to 18 living or attending school/college within the Glasgow City Council boundary.

The card provides young people with discounts at events and venues, in shops, in places to eat and for driving schools as well as free and discounted access to sports facilities across the city.

More information on the Kidz Card and Young Scot Card can be found here.

Glasgow City Council abolished charges for its tennis courts and bowling greens in 2004. The total number of people using the tennis courts rose from 6,189 in 2003/04 to 26,408 in 2007/08.

For more information, members of the public should contact Culture and Sport Glasgow on 0141 287 3575.