A group of Derbyshire golf clubs have joined forces to help spearhead the drive to encourage more people into the sport in the High Peak Borough of the county.
The six clubs have formed the High Peak Golf Development Group to deliver a range of activities to make it easier than ever to give golf a go.
Now the group has received additional support after their small grants application to Sport England of £8,600 for developing golf in the High Peak Borough of Derbyshire was successful.
The money will allow the High Peak GDC – made up of Buxton High Peak, Cavendish, Glossop, New Mills, Chapel en le Frith and Hope golf clubs – to raise their profile out in their local communities even further.
A community golf coach will be engaged to take the sport away from the established clubs and out into local parks, schools, organisations and businesses with the help of a new inflatable and portable net, which means someone can try swinging a golf club and hitting a ball away from the traditional greens and fairways of a course.
Nigel Furniss, Development Officer for the Derbyshire Golf Partnership, said: “It is really encouraging to see these clubs coming together and working in partnership to try and develop the game of golf. All clubs are facing the challenge of recruiting and retaining members and it is easy to take an individual approach to the problem.
“But this group has recognised the potential of strength in numbers and of pooling ideas and resources to the benefit of the sport and also their own clubs. The additional funding will help the group progress further and we are indebted to Sport England for their support.
“Our target now is to introduce 800 people to golf and hopefully excite them to want to continue in the game and hopefully join a club, but more importantly become a lifelong participant in a sport which brings so many health and social benefits.”
The High Peak group is one of a number proposed in the county, brought together by the Derbyshire Golf Development team.
Other proposed golf development groups in the county are NE Derbyshire & Chesterfield; Derbyshire Dales, Amber Valley & Erewash; and Derby & Derby South
Get into golf is a national campaign to inspire adults to take up the game and is run by the England Golf Partnership through its network of County Golf Development Groups, supported by Sport England and National Lottery funding.
Get into golf opportunities include FREE taster sessions and low-cost beginner courses with PGA professionals. They are a fun and sociable way to start golf – and a great way to make new friends.
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