The English Golf Union’s and English Ladies’ Golf Association’s grass roots initiative Free Golf Coaching for Beginners has once again proved successful in 2002 with just under 3,000 newcomers being introduced to the game at 45 venues around the country and continuing their involvement afterwards.
Free Golf Coaching was available to beginners (regardless of age, gender and background) at venues all over England between April and October 2002. Anyone wishing to experience golf for the first time simply registered with a venue and received one-hour of Free Golf Coaching – golf clubs and balls were also provided free of charge.
Justin Rose, who is fully behind the EGU’s’Get into Golf’ structure said, “It is crucial that people are given the chance to experience the game of golf and more importantly continue their participation. Free Golf Coaching is a great catalyst for this and I fully support the development work being done”.
All participants were given information on a variety of initiatives aimed at continuing their involvement in golf, including regular participation, rules and etiquette, obtaining an official handicap and joining a golf club.
Research has highlighted that 76% of Free Golf Coaching participants have become involved in golf since their free lesson, by booking further lessons, playing or even joining a facility. Richard Flint, EGU golf development manager comments, “We aim to build on this success and develop the initiative further in 2003. Our intention is to take Free Golf Coaching into a variety of non-golfing facilities in England.”
For more detailed statistics go to www.englishgolfunion.org and click on’Get into Golf’ and’Initiatives’.
Richard Flint, EGU Golf Development Manager, Tel: 01526 354500
E-Mail: rflint@englishgolfunion.org
Key Results:
98% of participants said they had benefited from the Free Golf Coaching
96% of participants said they would register again for Free Golf Coaching
76% of participants said they have been involved in golf since their initial Free Golf Coaching
Type of involvement (4 weeks following initial coaching):
42% – booked a golf lesson (s)
40% – played a round (s) of golf
6% – joined a golf club
12% – other
Age Breakdown of participants:
15% – under 20 yrs
9% 21 – 30 yrs
19% 31 – 40 yrs
31% 41 – 50 yrs
18% 51 – 60 yrs
8% – above 61 yrs
Previous golf experience of participants:
57% – not until coaching
16% 0 – 3 months
16% 4 – 11 months
11% – 12 months+
Junior/Adult breakdown
16% – juniors
84% – adults
English Golf Union www.englishgolfunion.org