The juniors were invited to the Kids into Golf day along side Sam Torrance at TopGolf in Watford. They were able to play for free throughout the day at the revolutionary new golf centre. Over 500 children hit over 23,000 balls in just 12 hours.
Sam Torrance, European Ryder Cup captain and a keen ambassador of junior golf, opened the day for all children regardless of age or golf experience. “It is so important to attract new players into the sport,” said Torrance. “The kids here today are the future of golf,”
The aim at TopGolf is to score points by aiming each ball, which contains a tiny microchip, at 11 ‘green sized’ targets. You score more points for hitting targets further away and for hitting nearer to the pin at the centre of each target.
“The kids are really enjoying themselves. They are scoring points which makes it great fun – rather like tenpin bowling except they’re playing golf,” continued Torrance.
The Golf Foundation, the charity that promotes junior golf, was also at the event. Stuart Armstrong, UK development manager for the Golf Foundation said: “Lots of the kids are playing golf for the first time. It’s not about being the best, it’s about having a go. This is great news for everyone involved with golf. “
Free advice and tips were on-hand from TopGolf’s David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Additional junior golf clubs were donated by Masters and the European Tour supplied each child with a 2001 Ryder Cup hat.
Kids into Golf will be held annually at TopGolf Game Centres as sites are developed throughout the UK.
TopGolf www.topgolf.co.uk