England’s network of County Golf Partnerships (CGPs) enjoyed a hugely successful summer of sport and introduced over 70,000 people to golf in the six months to the end of September.
That’s almost double the number who tried the sport in the same period last year.
The number of adults (aged 16-plus) involved in once-a-week golf activity also increased. In addition, 23 Partnerships reported a total of 1381 new golf club memberships during the six months.
The increases were achieved despite the challenge of the wettest summer in 100 years and the competing attractions of events such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the Olympics.
The successes, detailed in the latest CGP Impact Report, were underpinned by:
- Increased attendance by CGPs at public events to promote golf and drive people towards structured taster and coaching opportunities.
- The ‘Get into golf’ marketing campaign, launched in April 2012, helped the CGPs to promote a consistent message across the country.
Richard Flint, England Golf’s Development Manager, commented: “These are fantastic results for the CGPs and for golf clubs. It is clear that CGPs are benefiting from working more closely together and sharing examples of best practice.
“These successes are also good news for golf clubs and the PGA professionals who work with the Partnerships. They benefit from spending on coaching sessions, refreshments, green fees and memberships.”
The CGP network supports grass roots golf at county level and is an integral part of the England Golf Partnership’s (EGP) Whole Sport Plan for golf. All CGPs offer activities, such as taster sessions and coaching programmes with PGA professionals, to attract beginners and returners to the game, particularly those aged 16 and over. Highlights of CGP activities over the six months included:
- Cheshire – a women’s project attracted 244 people with over 100 going on to further coaching and membership, while almost 2000 people took part in tasters at events including the Ricoh Women’s British Open, Cycletta and Olympic and NHS activities. Pictured is a group of women taking part in the Cheshire project.
- Dorset – over 16,000 people enjoyed tasters at the Olympic and Paralympic Live site at Weymouth beach.
- Surrey– over 3800 adults were involved in events and coaching sessions; almost 300 people were involved in university projects.
- Golf Weeks in the Midlands and the South West both attracted more than 2000 people to taster sessions and follow-on coaching.
Overall, activities by the CGP network from April to September 2012 resulted in:
- A total of 70,442 people had a go at golf; an increase of 95% on the same period last year. Of those, 36,642 were aged 16 and over; an increase of 84%.
- A total of 10,258 people (aged 16-plus) were involved in regular, once a week, participation; an increase of 8%.
The latest CGP Impact Report can be downloaded at www.englandgolf.org/cgps
England Golf www.englandgolf.org