Golphinforkids – the innovative new concept in golf clubs for children – has scooped a prestigious award.
At the star-studded Sports Business Innovation Awards in Scotland on Wednesday, Golphinforkids was named Best New Sports Product or Service less than a year since its launch.
The brand, owned and manufactured by Ayrshire-based Golphin Ltd, is changing the way youngsters are introduced to swinging a golf club for the first time.
The brainchild of Scotland-based businessman Calum McPherson and developed in partnership with PGA professionals and biomechanics experts at Strathclyde University, Golphinforkids clubs are unlike any other.
With aerospace engineering and design at their core, they’re 35% lighter and more forgiving than conventional junior clubs, with a 35% larger sweet spot. As a result, children find it much easier to take them away smoothly, swing, make contact with the ball and get it airborne.
The Sports Business Innovation Award for Best New Sports Product or Service is for the Scottish small- or medium-sized business (SME) which has, in the last 3 years, developed and launched the best new sports or physical activity-related product or service.
The awards, run by Sporting Chance Initiative (SCI), recognised and rewarded the very best and most innovative businesses and individuals in the Scottish sport industry at a glittering awards ceremony at Glasgow Science Centre.
Said Calum: “I’m delighted, not only for Golphin as a company, but for everyone involved in the project who has contributed to getting our clubs launched and in the public domain.
“This award recognises our efforts to change the way golf is introduced to children by making it easier, more fun and more enjoyable – challenging the norm and proving that technical innovation really can play a part in making golf more accessible and more appealing to the younger generation.”
More than 140 UK teaching professionals are now using Golphinforkids equipment for children’s lessons and Golphinforkids has been chosen by both France’s Federation of Golf and Ireland’s Confederation of Golf to further enhance their kids’ golf initiatives.
Last year, it was chosen by the R&A to take part in its SwingZone at the 2014 Open Championship at Hoylake and it’s expected to follow suit at St Andrews this July.
Stirling-based Sporting Chance Initiative, Scotland’s only hub for innovation in sports business, is the driving force behind the Sports Business Innovation Awards. Since 2011, SCI has supported 693 small to medium sized enterprises, creating and safeguarding an estimated 522 jobs and adding a predicted £6.04m to their collective turnover.
The two main sponsors of this event are the University of Stirling (designated as ‘Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence’) and Stirling University Innovation Park (SUIP).
Golphinforkids clubs are grouped in age and height brackets 3-5 (39-47″), 6-8 (47-53″) and 9-11 (53″-58″). Clubs are available individually and sets include a driver, 7 iron, putter and ‘swedger’ – a super-forgiving wedge – along with a bag and Dolphin driver headcover.
The branding has a strong affiliation with dolphins to present a fun, friendly image to the kids.
For teaching professionals, a special coaching pack consist of 12 clubs, a bag and three headcovers and since launching at the Scottish Golf Show in March and exhibiting at The Golf Show in Harrogate, Golphinforkids has gone from strength to strength.
Golphinforkids www.golphinforkids.com
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