New drive to get juniors in the swing

DURHAM is among four counties chosen to work in partnership with England Golf over the next two years to encourage more juniors to become involved in the sport.

Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Somerset are also joining the pilot project, which aims to have more under-18s playing and joining clubs.

The latest England Golf Club Questionnaire, which is carried out every two years and tracks trends, shows a decline in junior membership.

On average, each club lost three boy members between 2014 and 2016 and altogether juniors account for just seven per cent of club members.

Lee Dolby, England Golf’s Young People Manager, commented: “It is vital we address the challenges facing junior golf.

“Durham and the other three counties have enormous commitment and enthusiasm for developing junior golf and involving more young people.

“I am very much looking forward to working with them over the next two years to see how much of an impact we can have and how we can inspire a love of golf to last a lifetime.”

Durham spokesperson Mike Greener, Club Support Officer and Coaching Coordinator, said: “We are excited to be involved with this national project.

“We look forward to creating more support for grassroots development, opportunities for juniors to play more golf in the county and to be involving and inspiring clubs and volunteers.

“Durham is already deeply committed to growing junior golf.

“It works closely with England Golf, the Golf Foundation and club PGA Professionals on projects such as Girls Golf Rocks and HSBC Golf Roots activities, as well as running a successful and popular Junior Golf Tour, Race to Rockliffe and a coaching talent pathway.”

Each of the four counties will have a bespoke plan which recognises their particular challenges and targets.

They will be supported by Dolby and the England Golf network of club support officers and regional managers.

This will include offering access to research, workshops and educational resources and help with marketing to a younger audience.

Dolby added: “By working closely with counties, rather than individual clubs, we can look at wider solutions which, eventually, we can share across the country.”