A pilot study is now under way to trial the Golf Foundation’s new ‘Junior Golf Passport’. Both children and PGA professionals are expected to benefit from the enhanced Junior Golf Passport, which is enjoying a radical makeover to grab the attention of boys and girls in 2013.
After extensive consultation with the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and coaches across the country, the new physical resource and online Junior Golf Passport has been “designed by coaches for coaches” as the official junior learning programme for the England Golf Partnership and Golf Development Wales.
This vital resource for grass roots junior golf will offer a business opportunity for PGA professionals and support PGA pros, coaches and volunteers as they engage with children new to golf. Striking visuals and clear instruction plus a strong interactive element online, will modernize the traditional Junior Golf Passport significantly. There will be a particular focus on fundamental movement skills and practical ways for delivering the Golf Foundation’s ‘Skills for Life’ message.
In the New Year, parents and their children will also be able to access the Passport together to promote family golf. The Junior Golf Passport will provide the first step on the ‘Player Pathway’ and will support youngsters as they aim to emulate their heroes as potential champion players of the future.
The final prototype is currently being tested in a 10-week pilot study featuring groups of PGA professionals at 15 golf facilities. Following their feedback, the finished product will be completed and rolled out ready for the 2013 golf season, as part of the Golf Foundation’s HSBC Golf Roots programme that has attained strong success in the school and club networks.
The Foundation has taken Tri-Golf and Golf Xtreme golf formats into thousands of schools with the support of the Youth Sport Trust, and the new Junior Golf Passport is seen as an excellent pathway into a life in golf clubs for youngsters under expert PGA coaching supervision.
Mike Round, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “We are delighted to say that initial feedback from PGA professionals during our pilot study has been excellent. The aim of the Junior Golf Passport is to introduce more young people and families to golf in a structured and affordable programme that develops playing, physical and personal skills as well as a lifelong connection to golf. It will also support the PGA coach in helping their juniors and parents to grow to love the game. The new Junior Golf Passport will offer outstanding value for money that encourages all young people to play whilst providing real business opportunities for the coach.”
The package of support will:
- Offer value for money for young people, with real business opportunities for the coach
- Include both physical learning books and interactive web-based learning for the child, parent and coach
- Offer a comprehensive selection of lesson plans and coaching resources to enable quality delivery to all ages and abilities
- Provide training opportunities to upgrade current junior coaching and develop the optimal learning environment to nurture and keep players
- Enable access to the successful HSBC Golf Roots brand with its associated benefits, programmes and support from the Golf Foundation.
Mike Round added: “The feedback from PGA coaches in our pilot programme is also helping us to fine-tune elements of the Junior Golf Passport to make this an excellent addition to the learning programmes of the England Golf Partnership and Golf Development Wales in 2013. Designed by coaches for coaches, we think the Junior Golf Passport will help the Golf Foundation build on the excellent momentum we have enjoyed recently in schools, communities and clubs.”
The Golf Foundation’s HSBC Golf Roots programme reached well over 750,000 youngsters during the last year and aims to reach one million boys and girls throughout 2013. HSBC Golf Roots activity is supported by the Youth Sport Trust at school level and in the wider sport by The R&A, The European Tour, the Professional Golfers’ Association, the Ryder Cup Committee and Trust, the British Golf Industry Association’s ‘Grow Golf’ Fund, Sport England and headline sponsor HSBC.
HSBC Golf Roots and the Golf Foundation www.golf-foundation.org