The number of golf clubs offering Free Golf Coaching for beginners this year has quadrupled to 200, highlighting how important this successful initiative has become.
As part of their ‘Get into Golf’ campaign, the English Golf Union and English Ladies’ Golf Association continue to offer funding for golf clubs wishing to help develop the game by providing opportunities for beginners to experience golf and hopefully maintain their involvement.
Now in its fifth year, taster sessions have already begun at many venues and are available right across the country. Any beginner regardless of age, gender or background can register with a participating venue to receive at least one-hour of free coaching (balls and clubs also provided) with a qualified PGA professional.
Richard Flint, EGU golf development manager, said, “Free Golf Coaching has proved to be a crucial development tool in attracting beginners to golf and retaining their participation, and our aim for this year is to attract 20,000 new golfers to the game.
“Previous research has identified that 80% of participants continue in golf, predominantly at the venue where they received their initial experience. In order to study this impact in more detail, the EGU and ELGA intend to implement a long-term tracking system as part of their golf development research strategy.”
Following the ‘city centre’ coaching days implemented for the first time last year, the number of non-golfing locations will also increase with the support of Swingtech’s mobile golf academy, allowing those interested in golf to simply ‘have a go’.
For a complete list of venues go to www.englishgolfunion.org and click on Free Golf Coaching. Details will also be published in local press as appropriate.
For further information please contact: Richard Flint, EGU Golf Development Manager,
Tel: 01526 354500 development@englishgolfunion.org
Four-fold increase in clubs offering ‘free coaching’
