Royal Eastbourne Golf Club is experiencing a valuable dual benefit from supporting its youngsters through JOLF – a pioneering golf coaching programme.
Not only are juniors at the club benefiting from improving their skills in a fun environment, but there has also been an impressive rise in adult membership since the JOLF programme was launched. four adult members have joined since the programme began. An added benefit is that the club particularly wanted to increase the Ladies’ and Children’s sections of the club and this is what has happened. Family members have a crucial role to play in the JOLF coaching programme, and they are invited to be involved in all aspects and stages of their child’s development. As parents take part in the sessions and follow their children’s progress in golf, they take an interest in the game. Coaches and clubs report that parents then begin to play, take lessons and purchase equipment.
JOLF is a coaching programme for children of all ages. It provides children with a great learning experience in a supportive group environment, in which their individual needs are the main priority. Children achieve a broad range of skills, attitudes and knowledge. In addition to steadily improving GOLF SKILLS, the programme also promotes children’s development in MOVEMENT and MINDSET SKILLS. Children are given their personal JOLF Journal, which they use to record their progress and personal targets. JOLF’s 7 caps – white, red, yellow, green, blue, brown and black – mark a child’s progressive improvement through the programme. However, children at different skills levels can play games and learn together because the JOLF approach means that every task can be differentiated to suit individual abilities
JOLF is also a coach development and training resource. The JOLF team provides training and support that a golf coach needs in order to be able to deliver a high quality programme for children. Royal Eastbourne Golf Club along with 14 other English clubs and over 400 children each week are currently pioneering this innovative programme, which develops children’s love of golf by engaging them in fun games and creative activities.
Laurence Collier, Assistant PGA Professional at the Royal Eastbourne Golf Club commented: “Having delivered junior programmes for over 5 years now, I can honestly say that JOLF has been the most successful of all. It manages to encapsulate all areas of a child’s development which appeals not only to the parent, but also to the coach, other club members and most of all, the child. Retention figures are 100%, with new children joining each week.”
Coaches and clubs are able to sign up to join the JOLF community which entitles them to deliver the coaching programme and receive guidance and support in areas that include safeguarding, marketing, managing groups and games based coaching and coach training.
For further information about JOLF contact Neil Plimmer, Director JOLF Ltd, 07713 646988 or neilplimmer@tiscali.co.uk
Neil Plimmer www.neilplimmer.com
Royal Eastbourne Golf Club www.regc.co.uk
JOLF LTD www.jolfisjuniorgolf.co.uk