Hundreds of potential golf club members enjoyed the chance to give golf a go at the Golf Live celebrity event held at Celtic Manor over the weekend.
Celebrities and families took the opportunity to mix with the New2Golf mascots, with more than 100 people signing up to join the scheme and being pointed towards their local participating clubs.
The mascots, part of the New2Golf campaign supported by golf’s governing body the R&A, mixed with the celebrities such as former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and world champion swimmer Mark Foster.
The event also provided the opportunity to work with Maes Ebbw, one of the schools involved in the Golf Development Wales disability project, funded by Sport Wales.
Golf Union of Wales director of development Hannah Fitzpatrick explained, “The event was packed with a lot of non-golfers as well as golfers, which helped to make it a great success. There were plenty of families who wanted to start golf, so they were able to go up to the Golf Development Wales stand and have a free lesson.
“Lots wanted to sign up for New2Golf membership which offers plenty of benefits to help people take up the game, as well as signposting a club with New2Golf professionals who will take the vouchers.
“There was also a lot of interest in the Golf Development Wales beginners scheme, supported by golf’s governing body the R&A, which has more than a record number of 65 clubs around Wales participating in this year’s promotional scheme.
“Over the weekend there were 300-400 who took advantage of the opportunities at the Golf Development Wales area. Some of those were already golfers, but there were around 120 who signed up for New2Golf.
“The celebrity involvement at Golf Live attracted many people wanting to start the game, so it was perfect opportunity for Golf Development Wales to get involved. The mascots helped to entertain everyone and the celebrities were great, shaking hands with the mascots and supporting us too.
“Golf Live gave us tickets for one school and we chose Maes Ebbw. The disability project is funded as part of the Sport Wales community strategy, allowing us to develop 10 hubs round Wales so that people with a disability can have lessons at little or no cost with specialist trained professionals.
“Maes Ebbw are linked with Celtic Manor and this was the start of that scheme, but every Friday they can have golf lessons from one of the professionals at Celtic Manor, which is one of the 10 disability hubs.”
The professionals involved in providing free lessons at the Golf Live event were Matthew Rees, Haverfordwest, David Pocock, Valleys Golf Enterprise, Jack Roberts, Mid Wales golf, Scott Hood, Llanwern, and Mike Davies from Glyn Abbey.
Golf Development Wales www.golfdevelopmentwales.org