The Golf Foundation has celebrated National School Sports Week by visiting a primary school that exemplifies all the great things that ‘Unleash Your Drive in Schools’ is offering young people.
As the Youth Sport Trust encourages schools, families and organisations to better help young people in a week of events and awareness (June 16-22), national charity the Golf Foundation is showcasing its recent progress in schools – while also thanking a new partner, the British Golf Industry Association (BGIA), for its fresh and innovative support in linking more schools to golf clubs.
Upton St Leonards CofE Primary School near Gloucester is one of 1,400 schools registered for Unleash Your Drive, where children learn the basics of golf while developing life skills such as concentration, resilience, self-reflection and respect for others – mental toughness tools that can strengthen children’s mental wellbeing and can be used effectively in many other situations like class work, exams and in life outside of school.
Golf Foundation Regional Development Officer Tom Sparks has trained the school’s teachers to be able to deliver golf to 60 Year Six pupils, using safe, fun, easy-to-play Golfway equipment.
To highlight the Foundation’s support of the Youth Sport Trust’s National School Sports Week, Tom joined teachers and invited parents for a celebratory sixth week of golf learning at Upton St Leonards (June 12) before the youngsters joined the coaching team at Gloucester Golf Club for six more coaching sessions.
Rewarding the enthusiasm of all at the school, the Golf Foundation selected Upton St Leonards as one of 42 schools selected in England, Scotland and Wales to take part in a new pilot project to strengthen the link between a school and their local golf club, thanks to financial support from the BGIA.
Head of School Andy Lewis said: “I’m delighted that all our children and staff have had a great time learning golf with the Golf Foundation. To see youngsters in Week One struggling to hold a club to now hitting good shots is remarkable; it’s been lovely to see some children, who don’t consider themselves as sporty, excelling at golf, and being complimented by the others as they score a three or a four. There is more to this than just golf: learning to concentrate on your own performance, being self-reflective, while through play they’re learning the etiquette of the game, learning to take turns, and respect each other.
“One of our children with some quite complicated additional needs hit one of the best shots we’d seen and scored a two, and the whole field just stopped and applauded him. This child might never have experienced that in a PE lesson before. If we can get this right, these children have got a game for life here. They could be playing until they’re 60, 70 years old, so the second phase of this is really important, to get these children feeling comfortable on a driving range, on the putting green and around the golf club, and they will then hopefully join that club. This would be fantastic, and it’s also a great opportunity for our school to create a really good link with the local club.”
For the children and parents, their golf session at the school was much enjoyed, despite heavy rain at times, and there was an air of looking forward to the golf club experience.
Ally, one of the parents who came to watch her son play golf for the first time, said: “My son has had a brilliant time today, the children are all loving it. I’ve seen him taking the time to plan and prepare and he’s calming himself down before taking the next shot. He doesn’t often do calm! It’s great to see the children helping each other with the scores, real teamwork.”
Year 6 pupil Emilia said: “We can work well together because if one of us does a bad shot, we make sure they don’t get upset and tell them it’s okay. You have to focus on the ball and when you’re learning in class you have to focus on the work too. I want to carry on with golf lessons and try to get better as I grow. You can carry on doing personal bests because each year you can develop and then you’ll get better each year.”
Year 6 pupil Josh said: “So when you are stepping up, it’s quite nerve wracking, so you have to try and calm down and get your focus on. If I do a bad shot, I just make sure the next one’s a good shot, trying to get better as an individual.” Josh says he can use his skills in other lessons and next wants to play at the golf club. “Yes maybe in a test in class. For 30 seconds you just need to calm down and get the question done. Breathing. Just clear your mind and try and answer the question or do the shot. We take a big breath in and then you exhale it in five seconds. So 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. I want to go to the golf club to try and get better and see where I can end up with golf.”
PGA Teaching Professional at Gloucester Golf Club Tom Hodgson said: “I’m really looking forward to hosting the pupils at Gloucester Golf Club and it’s great to work with the local school in continuing the kids on their golfing journey. The new Unleash Your Drive in Clubs resources from the Golf Foundation look fantastic and are really helpful.
“The structure of the programme is brilliant and offers a steady plan with plenty of freedom for the coach. The pathway from first swings to a fully fledged golfer is laid out in an excellent way.”
Golf Foundation CEO Brendon Pyle said: “We were delighted we were able to support everyone at Upton St Leonards, who have shown what can be achieved through Unleash Your Drive to help young people equip themselves with valuable life skills while learning a new game in which they can thrive. This new pilot project can explore stronger links between schools and golf clubs which can benefit everyone, so we would like to thank everyone in the British Golf Industry Association for their fantastic support to make this happen. During National School Sports Week our charity team also reflects on the wonderful work of the team at the Youth Sport Trust who work so hard to make a positive difference for young people.”
BGIA Chair, Martin Wild, said: “This is exactly the kind of experience that can spark a lifelong interest in golf. We know that when young children are given the chance to pick up a club and have fun in a supportive environment, they quickly discover how rewarding and enjoyable the game can be. It’s fantastic to see so many pupils taking part, and we’re proud to support this initiative which gives children such a positive and joyful first step into golf.”