Girls new to golf are to benefit from a change to the Golf Foundation’s annual ‘Brooch Competition’, held by golf clubs up and down the U.K.
Each year the nationally recognised golf charity teams up with ladies’ sections/golf clubs to stage fundraising competitions which offer a prize of a high quality brooch, produced by Links of London exclusively for the Golf Foundation.
Through its HSBC Golf Roots programme, the Golf Foundation’s aim is to make golf and its benefits available to any young person and help them to ‘Start, Learn and Stay’ in the sport. HSBC Golf Roots supports England Golf, Scottish Golf and Golf Development Wales and since 2011 has helped introduce more than 2.5 million young people to golf across the United Kingdom.
While traditionally, money raised from the Brooch Competition would fund a variety of projects, in 2016 every pound raised will be invested directly into helping more girls to enjoy golf, offering them the Skills for Life, a Game for Life and a Healthy Life.
Golf Foundation Regional Development Officer Stacey Mitchell, who leads Girls Development for the charity, said: “The Brooch Competition is a great tradition in clubs and remains very popular with many, so we really wanted to continue with this. By putting all the money raised into girls’ golf projects exclusively in 2016 we now hope this will fire the imagination of more women in our golf clubs, encouraging them to put something back into the game and support the next generation of girl players.”
All British golf clubs will receive an attractive leaflet detailing the new Brooch Competition, urging the members to support girls’ golf development by staging their own event this summer.
Stacey added: “All funds will be spent carefully as part of a major effort by the Golf Foundation to welcome more girls into the sport, so we really do need the support of women golfers to help this important participation drive.”
Recent examples from the Foundation in this area include ‘Girls Golf Rocks’, a joint project in partnership with England Golf, where county squad players help as mentors and leaders for new young girls being introduced to golf at local golf clubs in their area. The project started in Essex as a pilot last year and was successful (creating 20 new regular players) and now this year Girls Golf Rocks will be expanded throughout England, in each of eight counties.
The PGA Collection will be providing an attractively coloured 7-iron to every participant of these projects to help the girls get started.
Similarly innovative, a ‘Girl Guides Golf’ pilot project in South Lincs in partnership with Belton Woods Golf Club, will see 10 Girl Guide groups receiving a taster session before the girls go on to play in a teams competition day at the golf club in May. This will consist of fun activities, skills challenges, competitions but also a big focus on the social aspect of golf and Skills for Life. The project also features plenty of follow-on opportunities for the girls.
Each of the Golf Foundation’s eight Regional Development Officers has also been tasked to run a progressive initiative for girls of their own in 2016.
All golf clubs who regularly support the Brooch Competition will receive their Brooch prize as usual in the Spring. Golf clubs taking part in the Brooch Competition will need to make a minimum donation of £35 to cover the cost of the Brooch prize. Clubs can learn more about the appeal by calling 01992 449830.
Golf Foundation www.golf-foundation.org