By Gary Anderson

September 27 - Ryder Cup captains Tom Watson of the USA (left) and Paul McGinley of Europe show off the famous trophy to pupils at Auchterarder Community School in PerthshireRyder Cup captains, Tom Watson of the United States and Europe's Paul McGinley attended Auchterarder Community School in Scotland to mark the launch of an innovative educational resource that uses the event to enhance teaching and learning, as the one year countdown to the biennial event at Gleneagles next year continues.

Joining Watson and McGinley at the launch was Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, Shona Robison and Perth & Kinross Councillor and convenor of lifelong learning, Bob Band.

Developers of the new online resource claim iit will provide teachers with fresh tools and pupils with new learning experiences inspired by the Ryder Cup.

The online tool is structured through a virtual 18 holes of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Centenary Course at Gleneagles.

Each hole provides a different framework for learning and covers subjects linked to the curriculum for excellence including history, science and, through an association with ClubGolf, physical education.

"This is a wonderful project that represents a very bold statement about Scotland's efforts to ensure the lasting legacy of The 2014 Ryder Cup," said Robison.

"The resource is the most sophisticated yet to come from a Ryder Cup and I very much hope pupils and teachers alike will be inspired by the event's incredible history to use the tools."

Each of the 18 holes incorporates three separate components that include information and resources for both teachers and pupils on a variety of subjects that also include the environment, event management, golf hole design, the rules of golf, marketing golf and tourism, amongst others.

Information and resources for teachers and pupils surrounding a range subjects including golf and the environment can be accessed on the newly launched Ryder Cup educational resourceInformation and resources for teachers and pupils surrounding a range subjects including golf and the environment can be accessed on the newly launched Ryder Cup educational resource
















The "teeing off" section of each hole contains video interviews carried out by pupils of Auchterarder with individuals associated with the specific theme of that hole, while "on the fairway" contains educational tasks for pupils to carry out to aid learning and "the putting green" section is aimed at teachers, providing them with suggested learning points and lesson plans.

The resource has been jointly developed by Perth & Kinross Council, the Scottish Government, Education Scotland and Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils with input from Ryder Cup Europe.

"The Ryder Cup educational resource has been specifically designed to fit in with the curriculum for excellence, providing key learning points for pupils and new, innovative ways of teaching," said Band.

"The resource will be available online and mixes classroom activity with video and other multimedia so it can be accessed at home and indeed by anyone around the world.

"Teachers are always looking for opportunities to inspire children and young people with new ideas and fresh approaches.

"I have every confidence that this resource will enable many people to really enjoy learning through the filter of such a significant and prestigious sporting event."

The Ryder Cup match at Gleneagles will be the second time the tournament will be staged in Scotland, following on from Muirfield in 1973, and Europe will be looking to defend the title they won in dramatic fashion in Medinah, Illinois last year in what will be the 40th edition of the prestigious match play competition.

Watson and McGinley share a joke at the one-year-to-go press conference in the Geneagles Hotel were the eyes of the golfing world be fixated next SeptemberWatson and McGinley share a joke at the one-year-to-go press conference in the Geneagles Hotel were the eyes of the golfing world be fixated next September



























The launch of the new educational resource aims to capitalise on the interest generated by hosting the event in Scotland and forms part of the 2014 Ryder Cup legacy plan.

"The Ryder Cup is about being part of something bigger than the game of golf alone," said McGinley.

"We were delighted to support this initiative, which aims to build on the legacy of the Ryder Cup and introduce golf, through wider learning, to a whole generation of young people.

"It is a fantastic achievement."

The new online resource can be accessed by clicking here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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