Campaigners in Moray want to use the healing power of golf to help people work together to break down learning disability barriers.
Enthusiasts packed the Covesea Links near Lossiemouth at the weekend to try their hand at the challenging sport.
Young players were tasked with working together with their parents across the nine-hole course in order to build up their skills.
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Moray MP Douglas Ross shook off pre-round nerves to smash an exploding golf ball to kick-start the event, which was organised to celebrate Scotland’s year of young people.
Yesterday, Franz Rolinck, director of organisers Living Golf, described the “wonderful sight” of parents helping teenagers improve their talent.
The German native, who has lived in Forres for 17 years, was a promising international sportsman before his hopes were ruined after suffering a serious brain injury in a car crash.
However, he has credited golf for helping his recovery by encouraging him to develop ways to overcome the debilitating effects of the collision.
Now Mr Rolinck hopes the game can turn the tide on the rise of mental health difficulties seen amongst youngsters.
He said: “There is an amount of disengagement of parents these days with the learning that their children are doing – we want to help them work together as a team.
“When you are swinging a club and hitting a golf ball you are working both sides of your brain, then you get that feeling of being in the zone when you see the ball fly.
“It’s a very unique feeling, which encourages people to perfect their swing.”
Players, who were aged between 18 and 75, enjoyed perfect golf conditions on the Moray Firth coast for the event on Saturday.
Some competitors with physical disabilities were helped by their families to complete the entire round.
Mr Rolinck added: “It’s was a wonderful sight to see families helping each other to practise their golf.”
