England Golf is proud to launch the all-new Junior Journey, in partnership with the Golf Foundation.
The new framework for junior golf in England will aim to inspire enjoyment and inclusion for children and young people in golf, whether it be from their first swing at a school, or getting the most out of golf club membership.
Both organisations are committed to introducing more young people to golf and creating sustained participation and love for the game, with the Junior Journey highlighting the steps a young person can take.
Through the Unleash Your Drive initiative, the Golf Foundation will provide golf clubs with links to schools and communities to help introduce more youngsters to golf, while also continuing to offer their GolfSixes programme – which sees youngsters play six-hole competitions on the course.
England Golf’s role will be to support golf clubs with membership (recruitment and retention), volunteers, coaching, handicapping, and ensuring they meet the Terms of Affiliation by having SafeGolf accreditation and Respect in Golf accreditation, which are crucial in providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all, and demonstrating that there is no place for discrimination at the golf club.
Both organisations are urging golf clubs to consider the recruitment of junior members by linking with schools and communities, through to how they build a pathway for juniors to get into club membership.
The goal of the Junior Journey is to create positive perceptions of golf and golf clubs, provide opportunities to play regularly and develop lifelong skills, to create fun, inclusive and competitive experiences, and to drive membership and inspire a lifelong love for the game.
The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) are supporting the Junior Journey developed by England Golf and the Golf Foundation, as their Members and club professionals will play a crucial role in a club’s junior activity, working alongside their fellow club staff.
Both organisations are committed to introducing more young people to golf and creating sustained participation and love for the game, with the Junior Journey highlighting the steps a young person can take.
Through the Unleash Your Drive initiative, the Golf Foundation will provide golf clubs with links to schools and communities to help introduce more youngsters to golf, while also continuing to offer their GolfSixes programme – which sees youngsters play six-hole competitions on the course.
England Golf’s role will be to support golf clubs with membership (recruitment and retention), volunteers, coaching, handicapping, and ensuring they meet the Terms of Affiliation by having SafeGolf accreditation and Respect in Golf accreditation, which are crucial in providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all, and demonstrating that there is no place for discrimination at the golf club.
Both organisations are urging golf clubs to consider the recruitment of junior members by linking with schools and communities, through to how they build a pathway for juniors to get into club membership.
The goal of the Junior Journey is to create positive perceptions of golf and golf clubs, provide opportunities to play regularly and develop lifelong skills, to create fun, inclusive and competitive experiences, and to drive membership and inspire a lifelong love for the game.
The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) are supporting the Junior Journey developed by England Golf and the Golf Foundation, as their Members and club professionals will play a crucial role in a club’s junior activity, working alongside their fellow club staff.
England Golf Junior Development Manager Laura Yapp said: “We want to inspire more juniors to play golf, and to do that, we need more clubs to enhance their offerings. The Junior Journey provides the perfect platform for clubs to grow and develop junior golf, and as a governing body, we will support golf clubs in providing more opportunities for young people.
“We want clubs to come forward and become ‘Junior Hubs’, and to be proactive in driving their junior section, as they can be the future of their clubs.”
In a recent England Golf survey for juniors, the youngsters said the things they liked most about golf was that they could play with their family, could take part in competitions and win trophies, and that it could be outside. 47% of those youngsters said that golf was their favourite sport with the main reasons given indicating that it was a chance to play with family and friends, that it was fun, social and enjoyable, and that they could see improvements.
From the research, 80% of golf clubs wanted to have a sport-wide pathway, to follow and support them with the pathways they create for juniors. The Junior Journey provides a blueprint for clubs to develop their pathways with the support of both the England Golf and Golf Foundation teams. With 84% of young people loving golf where they are part of a club that has a pathway, the Junior Journey supports clubs to provide a young person-centred approach to develop in the game.
Yapp added: “The research has allowed us to come up with a sport-wide pathway to promote and support clubs with. By highlighting the stages a young person can take and aligning our work resources and programmes with the Golf Foundation, we can bring our workforces together to provide the best support.
“We have also collaborated to jointly recognise the clubs who are implementing their own Junior Journeys by appointing them as ‘Junior Hubs’, and we’d like to see as many as possible come forward to help shape the future of their clubs by having a thriving junior pathway.”
Head of Development at the Golf Foundation, Martin Crowder, added: “The Golf Foundation has proven expertise and a strong track record in developing junior golf, with well-established programmes such as GolfSixes League in clubs, and Unleash Your Drive in schools. Our Regional Development Officers are looking forward to working in partnership with their England Golf colleagues to help clubs attract and retain more young people in our sport.”
To find out more about the Junior Journey, click here.
“We want clubs to come forward and become ‘Junior Hubs’, and to be proactive in driving their junior section, as they can be the future of their clubs.”
In a recent England Golf survey for juniors, the youngsters said the things they liked most about golf was that they could play with their family, could take part in competitions and win trophies, and that it could be outside. 47% of those youngsters said that golf was their favourite sport with the main reasons given indicating that it was a chance to play with family and friends, that it was fun, social and enjoyable, and that they could see improvements.
From the research, 80% of golf clubs wanted to have a sport-wide pathway, to follow and support them with the pathways they create for juniors. The Junior Journey provides a blueprint for clubs to develop their pathways with the support of both the England Golf and Golf Foundation teams. With 84% of young people loving golf where they are part of a club that has a pathway, the Junior Journey supports clubs to provide a young person-centred approach to develop in the game.
Yapp added: “The research has allowed us to come up with a sport-wide pathway to promote and support clubs with. By highlighting the stages a young person can take and aligning our work resources and programmes with the Golf Foundation, we can bring our workforces together to provide the best support.
“We have also collaborated to jointly recognise the clubs who are implementing their own Junior Journeys by appointing them as ‘Junior Hubs’, and we’d like to see as many as possible come forward to help shape the future of their clubs by having a thriving junior pathway.”
Head of Development at the Golf Foundation, Martin Crowder, added: “The Golf Foundation has proven expertise and a strong track record in developing junior golf, with well-established programmes such as GolfSixes League in clubs, and Unleash Your Drive in schools. Our Regional Development Officers are looking forward to working in partnership with their England Golf colleagues to help clubs attract and retain more young people in our sport.”
To find out more about the Junior Journey, click here.
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org