Former Open Champion, Paul Lawrie has addressed issues what he believes is hurting the growth of the game at a junior level.

Lawrie, who has been in the professional ranks now for 34-years, knows what he is talking when it comes to junior golf having proudly set-up the Paul Lawrie Foundation in his beloved Aberdeen.

And the Carnoustie winning hero addressed issues within junior golf that he believes should be addressed by all golf clubs if the game is to grow.

Paul Lawrie passing on his knowledge in being 34-years a professional to members of this Paul Lawrie Foundation. (Photo – Paul Lawrie Foundation)

“One of the biggest issues when we talk to the juniors in our Foundation is that they say to use ‘I don’t want to get dressed-up to play golf’ and ‘I don’t want to have to change my clothes to play’,” said Lawrie speaking in a Scottish Golf arrange paned discussion that included he and victorious Solheim Cup captain, Catriona Matthews.

“A lot of golf clubs have changed the dress rule for juniors and made everyone aware that we just want kids to play.  We want to grow the game and basically, they want to play in their sweat pants and ask ‘why can’t we play in our sweat pants?’

“Though there is a lot of golf clubs out there that still don’t allow this including the use of mobile phones in the clubhouse.

“People are busy and people are on the go, and there is just certain things that golf needs to get better at and they certainly need to relax a lot of rules certainly with regards dress codes, access to clubhouses.

“They also don’t need all the older members having a go at their juniors when they should be trying to encourage them.

“I know it’s difficult but we are trying to get juniors into the game but shouting at them and making them do this or do that … well, if I was a kid that would not want me to come back to the club.

“So, we just need to get a little better at that.”