The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) have announced that the National Skills Challenge supported by FootJoy will have its most successful year yet.
Almost 700 clubs and 5,000 juniors have already registered to take part in the National Skills Challenge which once again will be supported by leading golf brand FootJoy who are providing prizes for boys and girls who reach the Regional and National Finals.
The National Skills Challenge has been developed for young golfers and is designed to be challenging at all levels and above all is intended to be fun. The Challenge is a series of 10 activities, covering the five golfing disciplines of putting, chipping, pitching, bunker play and full swing.
There is also website which allows youngsters to continue and share their golfing experiences outside of the club itself, either at home, at school or wherever they have access to the Internet. Players’ scores are posted on the National leaderboard, which once complete, identifies the top players from each group who will be invited to Regional and then hopefully the National Finals held at the National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa.
Richard Flint, EGU/EWGA Golf Development Manager, said: “Both clubs and juniors love the Skills Challenge, a fact that is proven by its increasing popularity every year. We are also delighted that FootJoy have continued their support. The feedback from the players last year who were competing for not just places in the next round but also FootJoy prizes was fantastic and their support allows us to make this initiative even more successful.”
FootJoy are providing the prizes for the Regional and National Finals, plus gifts for all youngsters taking part in these stages. Around 130 children in the Regional Finals all receive a FootJoy glove, while group winners will take home a pair of FootJoy shoes and Titleist golf balls. Every child at the National Final wins a FootJoy cap, Titleist balls, while group winners receive a Titleist Vokey wedge.
Richard Fryer, European Marketing Manager for FootJoy said, “It’s great to be involved in something that is successful and to have record numbers of both clubs and juniors taking part is great news. The National Skills Challenge provides a great way for juniors to compete in a different but still imaginative way to the more traditional competition formats. We had no hesitation in supporting this grass roots initiative for the second year and wish everyone who takes part the best of luck.”
The EGU and EWGA recommends that golf clubs integrate the National Skills Challenge supported by FootJoy into their own club coaching programme, to provide encouragement for juniors to improve and develop their game in a fun environment.
The first Skills Challenges event for 2011 is running until 1st May with the Regional Finals taking place at Chesfield Downs Golf Club, Hertfordshire, Farrington Golf Club, Somerset, Close House Golf Club, Northumberland and The Warwickshire Golf Club, Warwickshire in August and the National Final on 10th September.
Find the full list of dates and more information at www.getintogolf.org/skills
Footjoy www.footjoy.co.uk