For the whole week at The Open at Royal Birkdale the Golf Foundation is giving kids the chance to enjoy golf and build confidence and resilience.
And it was fitting in this famous footballing region that the Foundation could host a community festival at The Open, involving teams of youngsters from charities Everton in the Community and the LFC Foundation, thanks to support from The R&A.
This unique derby match-up was also the very first event on the new R&A ‘Skillzone’ outdoor playing area right in the heart of The Open course layout.
Forty boys and girls had a go and, as no-one could resist a contest, the two footballing dynasties took each other on in a series of skills challenges where focus and teamwork were crucial.
Both community bodies have taken part in the groundbreaking legacy project ‘The Road To The Opens’, supported by The R&A and England Golf, in which the Golf Foundation has taken golf to brand new players around the North West, promoting the excitement and prestige of The Open and The AIG Women’s Open.
A major part of the legacy is to introduce the experience of the Golf Foundation’s Unleash Your Drive programme to schools, clubs and local groups, which builds confidence and resilience for young people and supports mental wellbeing.
Both the LFC Foundation and Everton in the Community will take on this project having received training from the Golf Foundation’s team.
Meanwhile in the big derby in the Skillzone, young George was proud to represent his team, the LFC Foundation. George said: “I thought I’d just be watching on the course. I didn’t expect to actually play in our team in the activities. Golf is amazing and I want to play more.”
The LFC Foundation’s Chris Kirkland was a goalkeeper for Liverpool and England before swapping the gloves for a coaching and mentoring role to help youngsters.
Chris said: “We are about helping people, helping the community, trying to give people opportunities they wouldn’t normally get. We have some amazing staff who do this. But I know, looking back, that we would never have had the opportunity to come to The Open and do what George and his friends have done.
“The biggest winners today are these kids. Some of them have never played golf before. Some were very nervous at the start, but they’ve given it a brilliant go. And I think you see the smiles and the laughter on all the faces. We’ve had a wonderful day, and that doesn’t happen without the Golf Foundation and The R&A.”
Adding up the points of the skills challenge it was the red of Liverpool who narrowly held sway over the blue of Everton. For some, their sport, and being part of such positive organisations, is what makes it all so rewarding.
Joseph, who was playing for Everton in the Community, said: “I’ve been at Everton for about four years. When I started, I was at rock bottom if you want me to be honest with you. And since then, obviously day by day, breath by breath, I’ve developed. They are always there for you. The door is always open.”
Joseph added: “Golf is good for confidence. I play rugby as well and they are actually similar: you need focus and the discipline. If you don’t have that in golf you’ll scuff up your shots, your chips and putts.
“I’ve always wanted to come to a live golf tournament so I’m made up. To come here and witness it first hand, you can’t ask for much more really.”
John Rawlinson, a coach and mentor with Everton in the Community, said: “It’s been unbelievable today to be part of this massive event. The young people we work with are often from disadvantaged backgrounds and the opportunity to try golf here and see The Open is really big.
“It’s knocking down a barrier for all the young people who are new to golf.”
Last year Everton in the Community reached around 1,400 young people across a range of sports, including football, rugby, kayaking, darts, basketball and golf.
John added: “I think it all gives them something to focus on. It has given them a place to go, a safe space for them to come and speak to coaches. We work alongside a lot of youth workers and we speak to our young people about the challenges they may be having in their personal life or other things. Just build the confidence, that type of work really.
“Some of the girls here today for example, maybe they’ve only held a club a couple of times, and they might get the bug and then go on to play more. Great. It’s about opportunity.”
This hugely positive link-up with these two goodwill organisations was made possible thanks to Golf Foundation partner StreetGames, a charity that is expert in taking sport into communities and giving priceless opportunities to young people from all backgrounds.
The Golf Foundation’s Regional Development Officer for the North West, John Selby-Sly, said: “We know how much golf can help young people, and thanks to The R&A we can create a legacy to encourage more new youngsters into the game in this region. Our friends at StreetGames deserve massive praise for helping make this happen and it’s been a privilege to work with the LFC Foundation and Everton in the Community,