Lancashire clubs will be rocking this summer – as part of a national campaign to encourage more girls to take up golf. Girls Golf Rocks is being spread further afield after a successful launch that opened up the sport to more youngsters than ever.
Lancashire joins the 26 counties running the programme – with six clubs being host centres for the free taster sessions in May and follow-on coaching.
The clubs taking part are Southport Golf Academy (May 19), Aintree Golf Centre (May 18), Lancaster Golf Club (May 12), Harwood GC (May 18), Accrington GC (May 28) and Crompton and Royton GC (May 11) with up to 150 places available.
The six-week follow-up coaching costs just £35, with those taking part receiving a goody bag, a 9 iron club and being offered a pathway into the junior programme at the clubs.
In 2018 more than 1,650 girls attended Girls Golf Rocks taster sessions and 1,200 enjoyed it so much they went on to take coaching courses with PGA professionals.
Club support officers for Lancashire, Helen Searle and Adam McAlister, say the arrival of Girls Golf Rocks is a major plus for the sport in the county.
Helen explains: “The six clubs involved mean there is a good geographical split across the county, while the online booking makes the courses easy to join. So there should be something for everyone.”
Adam adds: “Clubs are being encouraged to get out into the local community and work with schools, community groups and family members from within their own ranks.
“While Girls Golf Rocks centres on the six clubs, there is a lot of work going on at clubs across the rest of the county to develop stronger junior sections and help more young people take up golf.”
Girls Golf Rocks is a joint programme from England Golf and the Golf Foundation, supported by the women’s county associations. It aims to increase the number of girl players from an average of just two per club.
To find out more visit www.englandgolf.org/girls-golf-rocks or follow the campaign on Twitter @GirlsGolfRocks1 or Facebook.com/GirlsGolfRocks
Pictured top: Girls Golf Rocks launches at the Southport Golf Academy with Julie Walker, Lancashire Ladies Junior Co-ordinator, and Sadie Adams and Emily Halstead, two of the Academy’s girls. Also pictured is coach James Carpenter, who is part of the team assisting PGA professional Richie Benyon with the project