PESSYP School Club Links

Introduction

School Club Links is a goverment funded initiative aimed at delivering a co-ordinated junior golf programme in school and clubs as part of the national Physical Education and Sport Strategy for Young People (PESSYP) strategy. In golf, this is delivered through 'Golf Roots'. The key challenge is to ensure that young people can progress from school based activity into regular club activity. The England Golf Partnership has defined a School Club 'link' as a written commitment between a School Sport Partnership and a golf club that has achieved GolfMark club accreditation or is working towards GolfMark (to be achieved within 2 years). Other Golf Roots Centres are also invited to enhance the link by working alongside the GolfMark facility and offering further coaching and playing opportunities.

There are currently 150 School Club Link projects in England bringing School Sport Partnerships and accredited golf clubs together.

The Role of the Regional Development Officers (RDOs)

Working together under the England Golf Partnership through a team of Regional Development Officers, the Golf Foundation will support the recruitment of juniors in schools and the community while the English Golf Union and English Women’s Golf Association will support retention of players in clubs. Essentially, the Golf Foundation RDO will work with the Partnership Development Manager, providing training and support on the schools programmes, Tri-Golf and Golf Xtreme. The Golf Foundation RDO will also liaise with the club (usually the PGA Professional Coach) about the introduction of the pupils to the golf club and their beginner coaching experience. This introductory experience might include a schools golf festival hosted at the club.

The English Golf Union / English Ladies Golf Association RDO will liaise directly with the club (usually the secretary, general manager or junior organiser) about the development of the juniors within the club and the policies and procedures in place at the club to support both juniors and adults, through GolfMark. Guidance on volunteering, child protection and equity initiatives will also be given.

The Role of the School Sport Partnership Coordinator

The schools coordinator, usually the Partnership Development Manager, will oversee the roll-out of Tri-Golf in primary schools and Golf Xtreme in secondary schools, providing curriculum and after-school golf opportunities for pupils and training for teachers through the Golf Foundation workshops. They will also be responsible for liaising with the club(s) about providing entry opportunities for the pupils at the club(s).

The Role of the Club Coordinator

The club coordinator, usually the junior organiser, PGA level 2/3 coach or secretary, will oversee the programme of coaching at the club, utilising the Junior Golf Passport, and lead the club in working towards GolfMark. They will also be responsible for liaising with the school coordinator.

The Development Plan and Grant Award

Together, the Partnership Development Manager and club coordinator(s), supported by both Regional Development Officers, will write a 2-year Development Plan detailing the activities in schools and clubs, a timescale and the level of funding for each activity. This will be submitted to the England Golf Partnership for a direct grant of £1,900* (plus related workshop and resources worth a further £600) to the programme over 2 years. The award is typically made to the School Sport Partnership due to its remit for developing School Club Links as a strand under the PESSYP strategy and its opportunity to enhance the programme with further external funding. 

• The England Golf Partnership reserves the right to ask for full funding to be returned should the activities programmed on the development plan not take place.

For more information about School Links, contact Brendon Pyle, Development Manager on 01992 449830.