MIDLANDS Golf Week is getting bigger and better for 2013

MIDLANDS GOLF WEEK

MIDLANDS Golf Week is getting bigger and better for 2013.

The annual week-long festival of golf will – for the first time – include clubs from across eight counties.

More than 4,750 would-be golfers have seized the opportunity to give the sport a go during the first two years of the event.

Now the 2013 festival will cover the Northamptonshire area as well as Shropshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Rutland – putting golf at the heart of the local community.

And the dates for this year's wide range of activities - from free taster sessions and roadshows to coaching programmes and open days – has been extended to include two weekends, making it even easier to get involved.

Midlands Golf Week will take place from April 12-21, following on from the US Masters, when interest in golf is on the upswing ahead of the English summer.

Says Sharon Heeley, regional development officer for England Golf: “By including two weekends in this year's festival, Midlands Golf Week and the events being staged by the clubs will be accessible to even more people with activities to suit all ages and abilities at a time to suit them.

“We are also delighted to have Northamptonshire on board this year which means would-be golfers across the Midlands should be able to find a venue to give the sport a try to suit them, too.

“Playing golf can bring impressive health and wellbeing benefits and there's no better sport for bringing people together – whatever their age, gender, background or ability.

“Midlands Golf Week is the ideal time for people to give golf a go, with plenty of follow up offers on coaching and potential club membership available, too.”

Midlands Golf Week forms part of a national Get into golf campaign and full details of all activities across the eight counties can be found by visiting the activity map at getintogolf.org

A total of 122 clubs signed up to support Midlands Golf Week in 2012, with 576 different activities available.

These included Golf and Zumba, Fairways and Fodder, fashion shows and £20.12 offers in Olympic year. Last year's event was also endorsed by golfing celebrity Jasper Carrot and 2012 Dubai Desert Classic winner Robert Rock.

Midlands Golf Week is run under the umbrella of the county golf partnerships, which bring together the development officers, PGA professionals, county men's union and ladies association and the clubs themselves to develop a pathway into golf.

Get into golf is a national campaign to inspire new golfers run by the England Golf Partnership through its network of County Golf Partnerships, which work to grow the game.

Get into golf opportunities include free or low-cost beginner courses with PGA professionals. They are a fun and sociable way to start golf – and a great way to make new friends.

Discounted lessons can cost as little as £25 for a five-week course.

To find your nearest centre visit   getintogolf.org   and look at the activity map or  call 0800 118 2766

Notes for Readers

For more information on England Golf or Midlands Golf Week contact Sharon Heeley, Regional Development Officer

Tel: 01386 725263

Mobile: 07734088319

Web: www.englandgolf.org

For more information on the work of the Staffordshire Golf Partnership contact Sean Hammill, County Development Officer, Staffordshire County Golf Partnership.

Website: https://www.staffsgolfpartnership.com/

Mobile: 07771 794193

Email: sean.hammill@btinternet.com

For more information on the work of the Warwickshire Golf Partnership contact Julia Burton, County Development Officer, Warwickshire County Golf Partnership.

Website: www.warwickshiregolf.info

Mobile: 07917 131001

Email: julia@warwickshiregolf.info

For more information on the work of the Leicestershire and Rutland County Golf Partnership contact Jade Boggust, County Development Officer, Leicestershire and Rutland County Golf Partnership.

Website: www.lrcgp.org.uk

Mobile: 07896 259 440

Email: lrcgp@hotmail.co.uk

For more information on the work of the Shropshire and Herefordshire Golf Partnership contact Mark Taylor, County Development Officer, Shropshire and Herefordshire County Golf Partnership.

Website: www.shropshireherefordshiregolfpartnership.co.uk

Mobile: 07756 969531

Email: mark.taylor72@o2.co.uk

For more information on the work of the Worcestershire Golf Partnership contact Warwick Holland, County Development Officer, Worcestershire County Golf Partnership.

Website: www.partnership.worcestershireamateurgolf.co.uk

Telephone: 07737 110273 or 01527 541054

Email: warwickholland@aol.com

For more information on the work of the Northamptonshire Golf Partnership contact David Davis, County Development Officer, Northamptonshire County Golf Partnership.

Website: www.northamptonshiregolf.org.uk/

Mobile: 07846 142297

Email: d.davis@northamptonshiregolf.org.uk