Following a survey of the 1,890 affiliated golf clubs, the English Golf Union has identified that over 75% of those who replied have membership vacancies, a total in excess of 25,000. The majority of these clubs, no matter whether they are private members, municipal or proprietary has requested help in filling junior, male or female vacancies.
The EGU says that these figures confirm the need to invest in grass roots initiatives to encourage more people into the game and ultimately help them into golf club membership.
In order to assist this process the EGU believes that it is now in a position to provide an opportunity to help every standard of golfer to achieve whatever they wish in the game. A structure is now in place for attracting people into golf and on to golf club membership, opening up the possibility for individuals to be coached and play at club, county and international level.
It begins with ‘free golf coaching for beginners’, allowing people to experience golf for the first time. A series of coaching days to be held around England this summer will provide beginners with an opportunity to receive free coaching from a qualified PGA professional.
If they want to take this further then the EGU’s Associate Membership Scheme gives the non-golf club member an opportunity to gain official recognition of their ability through an EGU handicap and a host of other benefits.
Although juniors can take part in these initiatives, there is a specific program called ‘Junior Club Coaching’ that helps youngsters develop the required skills to enjoy the challenge of playing golf.The latest EGU initiative and final link in the chain is making the golfer aware of which golf clubs have membership vacancies and creating an easier route for them ultimately to join the club. Full details including a list of golf clubs with membership vacancies will be published on the Internet.
The EGU is committed to ‘opening up more golfing opportunities’ and intends to continue helping people to get into golf and sustaining their interest and participation.
English Golf Union www.englishgolfunion.org