Barrhead High School students are to put their teachers’ skills on the putting green to the test in a golf tournament.

The eight-strong group of pupils, of varying ages and skill levels, will take on eight teachers in Ryder Cup-style matches at nearby Fereneze Golf Course today, with bragging rights up for grabs.

It is hoped the competition, organised by Barrhead High’s PE department in collaboration with the golf course’s junior convener Tommy Kelly, will spark an interest in playing the sport, which is under-represented in the local area, despite residents having the course at their disposal.

Mr Kelly said: “Not much golf is played by young people within the local area, so we’re hoping the tournament is going to drum up interest in the sport and we start seeing more people wanting to be involved.”

While there may be more popular sports with the children of Barrhead, Mr Kelly believes there is none better at teaching a wider lesson about values than golf.

He added: “When you look at other sports, especially football, they can have a reputation more for the negative side of things – for being unsportsmanlike, with players cheating and diving.

“Golf is the only sport where players call a penalty on themselves.

“It gives you a sense of how to act maturely when competing and teaches players about the morality of their actions.”

It’s not just members of the PE department at the school who are trying to emulate the likes of Colin Montgomerie and Rory McIlroy on the thoroughfare.

Teachers of mixed abilities from across the school curriculum are looking to get involved.

Mr Kelly added: “It’s not often we get good publicity here in the school system, so hopefully this is a bit of good news for the school.

“They have really dedicated staff who do a lot of work with the kids, even outside of school hours.

“It’s really all just a bit of fun but, of course, there’s a competitive nature too – especially with the kids, who want to come out on top against their teachers.”

For more information about getting involved in golf, visit www.ferenezegolfclub.org.