A NEW initiative which allows veterans to play golf for free has been officially launched in Clackmannanshire.

Tee Times for Troops is a scheme launched by Active Stirling which allows veterans to pick up the clubs and play a round of golf at certain times without paying.

So far, eight golf clubs have signed up to the initiative including Alloa and Alva, where the Wee County branch of the scheme was launched last Friday.

The other clubs signed up are Balfron, Bridge of Allan, Buchanan Castle, Callander, Dunblane and Stirling.

On hand to aid the launch was Keith Brown MSP, who served in the Royal Marines before going into politics.

The SNP deputy leader told the Advertiser that he is fully behind the scheme and hopes there is more that can be done.

He said: “It’s a really good initiative which provides an opportunity for veterans which is not currently there. Most importantly, it gives them a chance to meet with other veterans which is ideally what they want to do.

“It also gives them the chance to have some relatively relaxed exercise and to socialise with other people. I think it’s great and I’m happy to support it.”

Mr Brown added that the scheme can work as a therapy for veterans too.

He said: “We know they benefit when they come together as veterans, it gives them a chance to talk to each other and are more likely to open up to other veterans than they are to a professional sometimes.”

Allen Gibson, club development officer for Active Stirling, first came up with the idea of the initiative and says it was a “pipe dream” to have eight clubs signed up and added that expansion could happen very soon.

He said: “It has grown a lot since we rolled it out and the Duke of York has even endorsed it now and is wanting to roll it out throughout the royal courses. It is good having eight clubs to start but we hope to expand it soon.

“We need to walk before we run, however, because we need to get it right. We are also hoping to do some referral work with Combat Stress for guys with PTSD and anxiety etc.

Andrew Bain, chief executive of Active Stirling, added: “We’re hoping to get some of the Falkirk clubs signed up soon and I can see this going right across the central belt.

"Like Allen said, it’s trying to manage it so we keep the quality right and keep it from growing arms and legs.”