Lochview has become a busy and thriving golf hub attracting players of all ages, abilities and from a variety of backgrounds.
North Lanarkshire Counil’s John Kelly poses with the Golf In The Community Award at the 2026 Scottish Golf Awards held at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow on March 27, 2026. (Photos Chris Young/Scottish Golf).(Image: WSH)
North Lanarkshire Council’s outstanding work in providing affordable golf for all from their base at Lochview Family Golf Centre has earned them the 2026 Golf in the Community Award, proudly sponsored by PING.
Lochview, situated in Coatbridge and featuring an 18-hole golf course and floodlit driving range, has become a busy and thriving golf hub attracting players of all ages, abilities and from a variety of backgrounds.
North Lanarkshire Council has used the facility to great effect to roll out several different programmes reaching all sections of society from a populous and diverse catchment area.
For a decade now, North Lanarkshire Council, through their sport section called Active and Creative Communities, has worked with ASN schools to offer golf to pupils with a wide range of additional support needs ranging from autism to social and behavioural issues.
Download the Lanarkshire Live app today
The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.
Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.
The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.
Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire – iOS – Android
Their work with mainstream schools has also developed with the doors to the centre thrown open to pupils for free on Friday afternoons as local schools break at lunchtime for the weekend. This has not only engaged more young people with golf but also led to a reduction in local crime rates.
Sessions to attract women and girls remain popular options. Last year 75 girls signed up for the Girls’ Hub which was overseen by volunteers and driven by a Community Golf Instructor.
In addition, over 100 kids regularly attend the busy Lochview Academy at the start of their golfing journeys.
And in an area that deals with high levels of deprivation, the Council is also sensitive to the cost of playing the sport with many concessions in place through their passport to golf scheme.
John Kelly, the Golf Operations Manager for Active and Creative Communities at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “I was shocked when our name was read out. The standard in this category was really high – and we’re just a small facility working away with a lot of volunteers to bring golf to the community.
READ MORE: Lanarkshire households urged to submit meter readings ahead of new Ofgem price cap
“It’s a really proud moment for us to win this and a win for everyone in our community.
“Lochview is a very fun, family-friendly, open to everyone venue and once people try it here they stay for their whole golf journey.
“Our mission is to make Lochview a key part of the community for the most vulnerable person through to the seasoned golfer.
“Our range is full to brim at night and during the season the course is busy. The café upstairs has an open door for everyone.
“We have no dress code, no rules, just respect for each other. Come here and have fun.
“What we do in the community is just as important as creating the next Robert MacIntyre.”
READ MORE: North Lanarkshire volunteers can enjoy more connected way to find opportunities with new mobile app
In recent times, Lochview has also worked closely with the council to help integrate children who have relocated to North Lanarkshire as a result of the war in Ukraine.
Golf tuition and free access to the course allows kids who have never previously had an opportunity to play to pick up a club for the first time.
By providing a welcoming, inclusive and affordable route into golf, North Lanarkshire has shown real commitment to engaging with children, young people, parents, carers and families and has used the power of golf to unlock the potential of groups from all sections of the community.
Emma Lindsay is a coach at Lochview and gets a real kick out of watching young girls coming along to play for the first time and catching the golfing bug.
She said: “I love the sport and all I want to do is inspire young girls to get in so they can look up and see other girls playing sport.
“They can see the representation for women is there, it’s not intimidating or scary and there is always a community there for you.”
Young and old, North Lanarkshire’s drive to encourage everyone from the community to play golf is paying dividends.
Joe McKenna has been playing for five decades and loves the friendly atmopshere at Lochview and the affordability of the council facility.
READ MORE: Pupils at Wishaw school take to the stage for Pinocchio production
He added: “I’ve been coming for 50 years now and I’m a member of the passport to leisure scheme.
“It’s economical – just £6 a week. You won’t get that anywhere else. They are nice people too.”
*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
READ MORE: Police officer has permanent scarring after being punched by thug who also tried to choke him