The PGA and English Ladies Golf Association (ELGA) have joined forces, in conjunction with Peugeot, to bring a new and exciting golf road show to the Midlands.
In a bid to encourage more young girls to try their hand at the sport, the PGA are providing two qualified professionals for each venue, to offer girls aged from 6 – 11 years, free golf lessons using the latest ‘Tri-Golf’ foam and plastic golf sets supplied by the Golf Foundation.
The road show will stop at a number of unconventional golfing venues throughout the region including parks, town centres, play schemes and schools, in an effort to reach as many potential young girl golfers as possible.
A similar scheme has proved extremely popular in parts of Canada and Sandy Jones, the PGA’s chief executive, hopes that it will prove a bit hit back here in England. “Numbers of young girl golfers taking up the game remain frustratingly low, which makes this the perfect time to branch out and try something a little bit different,” said Sandy.
“In taking golf to non traditional venues and targeting girls at primary school age, we can attract a much wider audience. Our focus on the fairer sex also extends to all lady golfers where plans are in place to encourage more women to gain qualified status and join the professional ranks as teacher, tour players, retailers or golf directors,” he added.
Kirstie Jennings, road show organiser and national girl’s development officer at the ELGA, has some surprising statistics about the low numbers of young lady golfers across the country. “Just 4,000 junior girl golfers are currently members of golf clubs in the UK compared with a figure in excess of 60,000 boys. Traditional methods of generating interest in golf do not appear to be working as effectively as they may have done in the past,” she explained.
“When the PGA asked ELGA to help organise this particular road show we were obviously delighted. It represents a great opportunity to raise awareness of golf and to reach out to young girls who wouldn’t normally consider to going to a golf club for private lessons,” she added.
The PGA has previously experienced road show success with its nationwide National Golf Week campaign, which saw hundreds of young and old budding golfers visit the Alexander Stadium to partake in free PGA professional golf lessons.
The road show will tee off today with a visit to Marlborough Primary School in Cole Heath before moving on to the following venues in the Midlands.
22 & 23 July Marlborough Primary School, Cole Heath
25 July Swanhurst School, Bilsley
26 July Hillcrest Leisure Centre, Dudley
31 July Edgwick Play Centre, Coventry
1 August Mary Stevens Park, Dudley
6 August Sanders Park, Bromsgrove
7 August Langley School, Solihull
8 August Pershore High School, Pershore
13 August Lickey End Recreational Ground, Bromsgrove
15 August Waseley Hills School, Ruebury
20 August Sanders Park, Bromsgrove
21 August Buffery Park, Dudley
23 August Green Park, Dudley
28 August Market Square, Stafford
PGA www.pga.org.uk