The English Golf Union and English Ladies’ Golf Association have announced that 2005 was another hugely successful year for golf coaching at junior and beginner levels.
In order to evaluate the success of the Junior Club Coaching and the Free Taster Coaching sessions, which are run by clubs with the support of grants provided by the EGU and ELGA, the two organisations have recently audited those clubs who participated in both schemes last year.
The Junior Club Coaching initiative involved 593 clubs, which represents the second highest level of participation in the seven years that the scheme has been running. On average, over 20 junior golfers received coaching at each golf club. This equates to almost 12,000 children across the country receiving golf coaching in 2005. Over 15% of participating children were girls.
The Beginner’s Taster Session initiative was offered by 193 golf clubs across England in 2005 and was equally successful. Over 5,000 beginners, both adults and juniors, were introduced to golf through this scheme. Most promising was the fact that, of those beginners, 76%, representing almost 4,000 golfers, were still participating in the sport after a six-month period.
Both grant aid schemes have got off to a positive start in 2006 with over 500 golf clubs so far applying for the £125 Junior Club Coaching grant and almost 300 golf clubs already seeking the £200 Free Golf Coaching grant. As an extra incentive this year, and to provide further support to member golf clubs, the EGU and ELGA are also offering an extra £25 to any club that participates in both coaching initiatives. At each participating club both schemes are delivered by PGA professionals.
Free Golf Coaching and Junior Club Coaching funding are initiatives jointly provided by the EGU and ELGA and supported by the PGA, via the England Golf Partnership’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf.
The Whole Sport Plan for golf identifies how the EGP will achieve its vision of becoming ‘The Leading Golf Nation in the World by 2020’ from grass roots right through to elite level.
Further information on the Free Golf Coaching initiative can be found at the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org.
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