Olympic Torch Relay was burning bright at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club on 23 June. The Torch was a welcome addition to the area’s ‘Road To The Open’ project in the build-up to The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in July (19-22 July).
A significant bonus to the sizeable crowd that had assembled in the early hours was the opportunity to see The Open Championship’s ‘Claret Jug’ trophy – brought to the club by Open Championship organisers The R&A. Two of world sport’s most iconic symbols were seen together on the 18th fairway.
Golf Foundation North West Regional Development Officer Andy Leigh helped to arrange a visit to the club of 110 local children from neighbouring St Thomas’s School, who clearly relished the morning spectacle.
Royal Lytham & St Annes club officials and members welcomed visiting athletes and the general public on a day which highlighted how this area of the North-West is pulling out all the stops to make this an Open Championship to remember.
Through funding provided by The R&A, Lancashire County Council, Sport England and the Golf Foundation, the ‘Road To The Open’ project is being led by a team of enthusiastic volunteers who are passionate about sport and have been recruited to support golf activities across the county.
This team is supporting the ‘Town Tour’ and ‘Beach Tour’ events which aim to deliver golf activities in areas across Lancashire and expose golf to thousands of people, with events held in Blackpool, Preston, Fleetwood, Blackburn, Morecambe and other locations.
This project is part of the England Golf Partnership’s growing Get into golf campaign which encourages new and returning players www.getintogolf.org
The Golf Foundation’s Andy Leigh said: “All the young boys and girls from St Thomas’s School had a fantastic time and were clearly excited to learn about the Olympic Torch and golf’s Claret Jug. We will now make sure that these children receive more opportunity to try golf.
“The Golf Foundation will be present at Royal Lytham & St Annes throughout the whole week of The Open in July, welcoming youngsters to have a go at golf with the support of The R&A and the England Golf Partnership.”
The Open Championship takes place at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club from 19 to 22 July and will be preceded by four practice days from 15 to 18 July, where visitors can see the golfing legends in ‘full swing’ before the Championship contest has even begun.
Any junior (under 16 years of age on 15 July 2012) who is accompanied by a responsible adult will be admitted free of charge and will be given the appropriate ticket at the paygate.
The group managing The Road To The Open project includes representatives from The R&A, the Golf Foundation, the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), England Golf, Lancashire County Council and Sport England.
Accommodation www.visitlancashire.com/open2012
The Road To The Open project www.roadtotheopen.co.uk.
The Open www.theopen.com
Torch & Jug.jpg
Image The Olympic Torch meets the Claret Jug at Royal Lytham & St Annes