High quality first golf in schools, inspiring more youngsters from all backgrounds, is a central Golf Foundation aim for 2021. It was fantastic for our team members Katie Moggan and Andy Leigh to be at the very welcoming Crowlands Golf Centre in Dagenham this week to help lead our very first workshop in the roll-out of our brand new Primary Schools Programme for 2021 and beyond.
Present were teachers from five local schools who learned about our specially tailored new six-week programme that gives children the chance to try golf, learn the basic playing skills and other transferable skills that will help them away from playing golf.
We were using our dynamic new adapted equipment, Golfway, from our partner Masters Golf (more soon). After this first phase involving around 30 schools in early summer, the whole programme will be formally launched in July, and rolled out to an estimated 1,000 schools.
In this session, the teachers clearly loved sampling how a first go at golf can be great fun! PGA Advanced Professional Chris Jenkins hosted Andy and Katie, and Chris will now be delivering four sessions in each of the schools (Valence Bonham and Valence St George, St Joseph’s, Grafton, and Eastbrook Primary) culminating in a major festival at the club for all the children. This will be the case for all our schools taking part, who will receive a bag of Golfway equipment (clubs, balls, targets etc) and the teachers will continue delivery after Chris has finished his six sessions.
They also received our new Primary Schools Programme booklet that is packed with information on how to start youngsters in golf, including some of the basics skills of golf, inclusive learning elements, life skills techniques and a full range of fun lesson plans that are all geared to help pupil and teacher enjoy a hugely positive introduction to the game.
Katie Moggan, our Special Projects Officer, said: “We were delighted that all the teachers loved this session. All the equipment and resources were very well received and they were excited to be taking golf back into their schools.”
One workshop delegate wrote afterwards: “Katie, many thanks to you and Andy for delivering a really great course. The resource booklet is excellent and so is the equipment the schools will all receive. We are so looking forward to the festival.”
Katie added: “We would like to offer special thanks to Chris Jenkins and the team at Crowlands Golf Centre who all welcomed us so well and made it great to be back delivering golf in the fresh air again in a safe environment. Our team is looking forward to many other such days in the season ahead.”
