They heard golf was coming to Hoylake for The Open… so the school decided to look into this sport, and a few weeks later were playing golf at The Open itself! A group of youngsters from Bidston Village Primary School from Prenton on the Wirral relished the Golf Foundation’s ‘Open 4 All’ approach at golf’s greatest championship.
The Golf Foundation team believes passionately that golf should be available to everyone and is delighted to be welcoming so many schools and families to Royal Liverpool Golf Club all week for The Open as guests of The R&A.
Bidston Teacher Vicki Fallon picked up the phone earlier in the summer, and would be welcomed by the Wirral Golf Academy, which has a superb track record in encouraging new youngsters. They were then able to sample the game in school using the Golf Foundation’s Golfway equipment with teachers learning how to deliver the game.
The Bidston youngsters were soon playing in their first fun competition at the GolfSixes Mini League at Arrowe Park golf course and would win the Foundation’s ‘Open 4 All’ trophy – a competition which combines excitement and learning for children with special educational needs.
Miss Fallon brought her class along to The R&A Swingzone beside the 14th hole at Royal Liverpool GC on Tuesday, just 50 yards from where the competitors were practising ahead of the championship.
“This has been incredibly exciting for our children. To play with the Golf Foundation staff and then to have a look around The Open itself delighted us, and for the children to receive this wonderful trophy with the school name engraved on it is brilliant. We are sure golf can be a great new game for our school.”
Bidston Village Primary has been one of 40 school and local groups appearing at The Open as part of The R&A’s ‘The Road to The Open’ project which is growing the game in Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire around The Open, supported by the Golf Foundation and England Golf.
Golf Foundation Regional Development Officer Gavin Forsyth said: “These youngsters have shown a great interest in learning their first steps in golf, and as a group they have demonstrated how being focused on a fun new skill is fantastic for building confidence. We hope they are the first winners in a long line of schools for the future to win our Open 4 All trophy. The Road to The Open is about building for the future for our young people.”
