Several PGA backed UK initiatives have had a boost after more than 500 free junior golf clubs were donated to support a drive to get more youngsters into the game.
The generous gesture from Sigma Golf, who represent PGA Collection and the Europro Golf Group, will enable PGA professionals to make use of them in schemes being run in England, Ireland and Scotland.
PGA professionals play a vital role in growing the game, typified by Sheffield-based Peter Ball who will put some of the clubs to good use in his inner city coaching sessions. Ball, a PGA Fellow Professional, has helped introduce thousands of children into the game including recent first time European Tour winner Danny Willett.
In Scotland the clubs will support the ClubGolf programme which through the hard work and dedication of PGA pros and volunteer coaches has already brought more than 40,000 primary school children into the sport while they will also go to coaching initiatives delivered by PGA professionals in Ireland through the GUI Provinces and the ILGU Club Coaching Programme.
Gloucester-based Sigma Golf’s managing director Richard Jewell, himself a PGA Advanced Fellow Professional, commented: “We are delighted to be able to support junior golf and as we are all aware, golf participation has been flat over the past few years and the future of the sport relies on encouraging more young people to take up the game.
“Through the England Golf Partnership and the Golf Foundation, and with the support of dedicated PGA professionals, they are addressing this problem and we are therefore very pleased to be able to help.
“Due to the success of the PGA Collection Kids range many of our customers, including Crown Golf and the European Golf Centres, are now stocking a full range of the PGA Kids clubs and have jointly agreed to donate their previous junior equipment to a good cause through the PGA and The Golf Foundation.”
PGA professionals play a central role in growing the game of golf for the future, not just through coaching but through the application of their skills and knowledge of the business of golf at every level of participation and performance.
PGA professionals, through their leadership of initiatives such as the EGP ‘Get into Golf’ programme and ClubGolf, are delivering wide and varied coaching programmes to golfers of all ages and abilities, ensuring in the process that the PGA’s Right Coach; Right Place; Right Time vision for the future plays its part in growing the game at grass roots level, and importantly the PGA professional continues to be positioned at the heart of golf.
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