The England Golf Partnership aims to increase the number of individuals playing golf by 10%, from 4.2m to 4.6m, by 2009 and to grow the active members of affiliated clubs by 50,000. The plan has been developed in conjunction with Sport England and with the support of the Golf Foundation. Funding has been earmarked from April 2005
Under the umbrella of the England Golf Partnership, The Professional Golfers‘ Association, English Golf Union and English Ladies Golf Association have created a ‘Vision for English Golf‘ and will be revealing their plans to more than 70 key influencers in the game on 5th October at The De Vere Belfry. The aim is to increase the number of individuals playing golf by 10%, from 4.2m to 4.6m, by 2009
In addition to launching the Vision, which has been developed in conjunction with Sport England and with the support of the Golf Foundation, The England Golf Partnership will also be presenting its proposed strategy for the Whole Sport Plan as a final draft to delegates for consideration and discussion.
This is the first time that the three organisations have come together in such a way and follows the move to increase and widen participation levels in the game across all ages, gender and cultural backgrounds.
As Norman Fletcher, partnership manager of the England Golf Partnership, explained, “We are creating a framework that other nations will follow and this is being produced on the back of extensive development work. Future research will provide the game with critical benchmarking data.
“In addition to increasing the number of individuals playing golf, we are also aiming to grow the active members of affiliated clubs by 50,000.”
The Whole Sport Plan for 2005 – 2009 will represent the strategy to make the Vision a reality, and will subsequently be revised and finalised after discussions in October. The Whole Sport Plan must be submitted to Sport England by the end of this year in order to qualify for the first cycle of funding, which has been earmarked for the development of the game from 5th April 2005.
Specialist sports consultants, Performance Matters, have provided technical expertise in the development of the Whole Sport Plan. Roger Moreland general manager of Performance Matters said, “We have been really impressed by the attitude within the game of golf, which has come together to provide one vision and one voice.
“Golf is getting its act together and deserves a rightful place amongst the top four sports of football, rugby, cricket and tennis in England. From the work we have done, the approach and attitudes from all the parties involved, we see no reason why golf shouldn‘t become part of the nation’s Big Five.”
Copies of the ‘Vision for English Golf‘ will be distributed to all golf club officials and PGA professionals throughout England following the meeting at The Belfry on 5th October.
PGA www.pga.info
EGU www.englishgolfunion.org
ELGA www.englishladiesgolf.org