The EGP views the three-day public golf show held at ExCeL, London, as an opportunity to demonstrate what a great sport golf can be for all ages and how easy it is to give golf a go.
The EGP is made up of the English Golf Union (EGU), the English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA), The PGA, and is supported by the Golf Foundation and Sport England.
More women, more girls and boys, and more beginners from all backgrounds and abilities are the targets for the EGP at the show.
A team of dedicated PGA professionals will offer free 15-minute golf lessons over every hour of the three days, coaching the long game in specially created nets and the short game in an innovative putting and chipping area.
Younger people will find a visually exciting ‘Golf Roots’ zone, where boys and girls hit their first full shots and putt at colourful targets using Tri-Golf and Golf Xtreme equipment in an energetic and fun environment. ‘Golf Roots’ is the Golf Foundation’s national project designed to increase the numbers of golfers in schools and to link these new players to golf clubs.
During the show representatives from the county golf partnership network (CGPs) will be present to help answer any visitor enquiries on how to get started, where to play, and how to develop their golf.
The EGU and EWGA have been working hard to promote ‘GolfMark’ and will be looking to educate visitors on this initiative during the event. GolfMark is a successful national scheme that identifies and recognises junior and beginner friendly golf facilities providing new golfers and families with assurance when thinking about starting to play.
EGP Chairman Bill Bryce said: “It is very important for partners of the England Golf Partnership to get involved in public events which may bring new people into the sport. The London Golf Show has the potential to help get the message out there that golf can be a sport for everyone and can be a great game to play your whole life.
“The county golf partnerships present will be looking to build on our objective of sustainability as well as recruiting golfers; keeping people involved in the game, as players, and also volunteers; giving something back to the sport. However, the emphasis will be on providing a fun golf experience for all players under expert supervision.”
The work at this event will serve the EGP’s objectives ‘Grow’ and ‘Sustain’, via England Golf’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and its vision to ‘Grow the Game’.
London Golf Show www.londongolfshow.com