Senior stars & volunteers create a day to remember!
European Seniors Tour golfers, Golf Foundation development staff and young volunteers all combined brilliantly at a special golf clinic for youngsters.
Leading players from the European Seniors Tour helped local youngsters to improve their game during the Golf Foundation clinic at The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship, at De Vere Slaley Hall, Northumberland, in August.
The European Tour is a strong supporter of the Golf Foundation, and is assisting the Foundation’s development team in setting up player clinics at six European Seniors Tour events this season.
Golf Foundation Regional Development Officer John Wood was full of praise for the attitude of the Tour players who took part, a group including England’s Tony Charnley, Jeff Hall and Nick Job.
Special praise also went to the young volunteers who helped to run the day.
As a new addition to the Senior Tour coaching clinics, the young volunteers were provided by the County Sports Partnership, Northumberland Sport, as part of a programme that encourages more young people to train and help as volunteers. This is the first time in England that young volunteers have helped The European Tour run part of its tournament schedule in this way.
The aim to create more young volunteers is a key drive of both Sport England and the England Golf Partnership.
John Wood said: “I would like to thank Laura Carmichael from Northumberland Sport for organising the volunteers, who were a great help in the smooth running of the day. They got stuck in and were extremely willing to help in sometimes difficult weather.
“The Tour players at De Vere Slaley Hall were tremendous. They helped 24 youngsters to really improve, and carried on over their allotted time to make sure every youngster was happy. I’m sure every young golfer was inspired by the day.”
Volunteers took the roles of player liaison, registration, photography, ball collectors, autograph organisers and much more!
The majority of youngsters involved in the European Seniors Tour clinics are connected to Golf Foundation initiatives which create formal links between schools and golf clubs, and promote the structured learning programme the Junior Golf Passport.
The programme of clinics has so far been held at the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open and the Irish Seniors Open in June, and The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship and Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters in August. Two more will take place at the Weston Homes PGA International Seniors from September 12-14, and the Scottish Seniors Open from September 26-28.
This promotional work 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 golf for young people.
