School children in the Causeway Coast and Glens region of Northern Ireland are getting an opportunity to experience golf through the development of the new ‘Road to the Open’ programme.
A collaboration between The R&A, Golf Ireland and The Golf Foundation. a series of Golf Camp workshops have been especially created for school children in the local area led by coaches who have been trained in the Community Golf Leader Award.
Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ciarán McQuillan, who recently hosted a charity golf day in Portstewart Golf Club, said: “Council is delighted to offer this programme to local primary schools, and we hope the young people who participate really enjoy this in the lead up to the Open. I’m sure we will see stars of the future as the pro golfers pass on tips for starting out in the sport.”
Following the programme for schools, there will also be a number of ‘Mini Open’ golf events taking place in the local area around Royal Portrush Golf Club, venue for the 153rd Open Championship these include one at Bushfoot Golf Club in Portballintrae on June 11 and another at Ballyreagh Golf Course in Portrush on June 17. These events will provide an insight into how it feels to play a golf course in the form of a competition similar to The Open.
Councillor McQuillan added: “Council’s Sports and Wellbeing Team have delivered a fantastic programme to local school children in the lead to The Open this summer and, who knows, we may unearth the next Rory McIlroy on the North Coast!”
