England Golf has launched a new £300 grant to help GolfMark clubs and RangeMark driving ranges with projects to grow junior golf.
The money – which must be matched by the club or range – can be used to offer structured coaching sessions with PGA professionals and activities to attract boys and girls and encourage them to progress and stay in the sport.
The GolfMark and RangeMark awards are made by England Golf and recognise facilities which are junior and beginner friendly. There are currently 630 GolfMark clubs and 37 stand-alone ranges which have been awarded RangeMark. The grant is available to all facilities which hold an up-to-date award and may be applied for at any time from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014.
Richard Flint, the England Golf Development Manager, said: “England Golf is committed to supporting and rewarding the hard work of all GolfMark and RangeMark facilities. This grant will help them provide opportunities for young people to get into golf and to encourage them to remain within our sport and become the adult members of the future.”
The new grant is just part of England Golf’s commitment to junior golf.
In addition to GolfMark and RangeMark, England Golf runs the National Skills Challenge, supported by FootJoy. Over 6000 children from almost 800 clubs are registered for the Challenge which aims to make practice fun for young golfers and help them improve their putting, chipping, pitching, bunker play and the long game. Facilities can register online at any time and receive a variety of free resources, see www.getintogolf.org/skills
The latest edition of the England Golf Junior Organisers’ Handbook was published earlier this year. This is a complete guide for anyone involved in running a junior section and is available to purchase or for free download from www.englandgolf.org
The network of County Golf Partnerships also offers clubs and ranges support for activities for the over-14s.
Information about the new Junior Development Grant has been sent to GolfMark and RangeMark facilities. Details are also available online, together with an application form at www.englandgolf.org/juniorgrant