Young golfers in Staffordshire on pathway to success

STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY GOLF PARTNERSHIP

PROMISING young golfers in Staffordshire are being put on a pathway to success.

The Staffordshire County Academy programme offers expert coaching from PGA professionals at one of eight centres across the county.

The Academy serves as a stepping stone towards the full Staffordshire county teams or helps provide a coaching framework for the future for players who show the potential and determination to improve their golf.

Applications are now being invited for the 2013 Academy, which is run under the umbrella of the Staffordshire County Golf Partnership as part of its commitment to encourage and develop young golfers.

Explains Sean Hammill, county development officer for the Staffordshire CGP: “We aim to identify boys and girls with potential from across the county and help nurture them to maximise their potential and prepare them for elite development.

“The programme is designed to complement coaching that is already provided at golf clubs and facilities.”

The programme includes two layers of coaching – with the Development Squad for those players who may not yet have an official golf handicap but who display potential and enthusiasm while the Futures Squad is for players who been identified as potential elite golfers.

The first step towards becoming involved is to take part in one of the three free assessment days aimed at those between 7 and 17 years of age.

These are open to players who have not yet been part of the Academy programme.

They take place at:

Trentham Golf Club on May 19

The Three Hammers Golf Complex on May 26

Drayton Park Golf Club on June 2

Anyone interested should register through the CGP website – www.staffsgolfpartnership.com

Academy coaching will take place at Drayton Park GC, The Chase GC, Lichfield Golf and Country Club, Beau Desert, Onnely Golf Club, Sedgeley Golf Centre, The Three Hammers Golf Complex and Trentham Golf Club.

The Academy offers a further stepping stone for young players along the CGP's ‘Pathway to Excellence'.

This starts with Get into golf schemes in schools, driving ranges and clubs throughout Staffordshire where young people can enjoy their first golfing experience and take follow up lessons.

Sean Hammill adds: “F or many years golf clubs and golf professionals have helped develop young talent in Staffordshire as well as other counties.

“However, unless a boy or girl was a low handicap golfer, the chances of that child developing to their full potential and representing their county were slim.

“The Staffordshire County Academy programme is designed to identify talented juniors, including children that may not have had a great deal of golfing experience or may not yet be members of a golf club. ”

The Academy is now in its fourth year and caters for a squad of more than 110 youngsters.

Further information is available at the website www.staffsgolfpartnership.com

The England Golf Partnership (EGP) brings together the amateur governing body, England Golf and the PGA, to grow the game with the support of the Golf Foundation and Sport England.

County Golf Partnerships, involving the county men's women's and professional organisations, are part of the EGP's Whole Sport Plan for golf and an integral part of its vision to make England the world's leading golf nation by 2020.

In Staffordshire the partnership is supported by the Staffordshire Ladies County Golf Association, the Staffordshire Union of Golf Clubs and the Staffordshire PGA.

For more details of the activities in Staffordshire visit www.staffsgolfpartnership.com .

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