The Golf Foundation has thanked one of its chief supporters – The European Tour – for helping to stage successful golf clinics for youngsters at a total of eight European Seniors Tour events.
The Golf Foundation, a charity committed to the sporting and social development of young people through golf, has been able to present the clinics thanks to European Tour backing, and to use them to raise the profile of grass roots junior golf during the tournaments.
A group of local youngsters are to attend the penultimate clinic which takes place at the PGA Seniors Championship, at Stoke-by-Nayland Golf Club, near Colchester,today.
This exercise by the Golf Foundation is part of its support of the national golf partnerships of England, Scotland and Wales, with the aim of increasing participation by offering greater access to the sport for young people.
Mike Round, Chief Executive of the Golf Foundation, said: “These clinics provide an excellent opportunity. I think that for any youngster to watch a top European Tour professional hit shots and then actually receive their advice must be inspirational. Hopefully they will be regular players for life now and will get much out of the positive attributes that golf offers young people.
“The European Tour helps what we do as a charity greatly, all in support of the national golf partnerships’ desire to grow the game. We are all hugely appreciative of the European Tour’s backing.”
Six previous European Seniors Tour events have staged clinics this summer, including the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open held at Conwy GC, the Wentworth Senior Masters held at The Wentworth Club, Surrey, and The Midas English Seniors Open, at St Mellion International Hotel, Golf and Country Club, in Cornwall.
A number of Seniors Tour professionals, including Costantino Rocca, Jeff Hawkes and Tony Johnstone, gave up their time to help young players who are working through the Golf Foundation’s structured learning programme, the Junior Golf Passport.
The final clinic of the series is to be staged at the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open at Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club, at the end of September.
At the recent Wentworth event, girls aged between seven and 13 attended a one-hour clinic organised by the Golf Foundation and the European Tour. Surrey County Ladies supplied the youngsters for the occasion, drawn from local clubs.
Carol Macdonald, Golf Foundation South East Development Officer, said: “The clinic was a great success and all the children really enjoyed it. They were excited about playing golf and also meeting the famous Senior Tour players.”
Meanwhile, at the St Mellion clinic, 24 youngsters from the area received coaching from eight Seniors Tour professionals. The boys and girls were chosen from golf projects that work closely with the Golf Foundation in Devon and Cornwall.
Glenn Ross, South West Development Officer for the Golf Foundation, said: “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for the youngsters and a great climax to all the well-run local projects.”
