Golf Foundation Ambassador Felicity Johnson (pictured) has shown her support of a recent focus by this charity on recruiting and retaining more girls in golf (the Foundation is proud to be a signatory of The R&A Women in Golf Charter).
The Golf Foundation is looking to increase the number of girls visiting a golf club through its HSBC Golf Roots programme as part of this drive.
Starting at school: the Foundation encourages all schools to include girls in mixed teams for School Games events, aiming for each school team to be made up of 50% girl players. In clubs, the charity has the aspiration that in its growing ‘GolfSixes League’ programme there is a minimum of two girls per team of six in 2019, and in two counties the Foundation is trialling all-girls’ Leagues this year (more news soon on the expansion of GolfSixes League for 2019).
Meanwhile, for more on the growing Golf Foundation/England Golf ‘Girls Golf Rocks’ project (reaching new girl players in 26 counties in 2019) and recent good work with Brownies and Guides and more, see the Girls Golf page.
Girls Golf Rocks took place in 21 counties in 2018 after starting as a Golf Foundation project in Essex in 2014. Last year, 1,600 girls benefited from more than 100 clubs. In four years, 250 Girls Golf Rocks Ambassadors have been trained, aiming for each one to mentor younger girls and spread a highly positive girls’ golf vibe in their area.
The ‘retention’ benefits of the scheme are looking promising. An estimated 80% of girls who try the game at special taster sessions are going on to take coaching courses – and many are expected to move into club membership.
The highlight of the Girls Golf Rocks Ambassadors Leadership Day at The Belfry in October was the guest appearance of new Golf Foundation Ambassador, Ladies European Tour player Felicity Johnson, who delivered a motivational talk which inspired all the girls and the Foundation/England Golf staff present.
Golf Foundation junior retention resource the ‘Box of Tricks’ contains many ideas for junior sections which are attractive to new and existing girl players while the Foundation learning programme the Junior Golf Passport is similarly designed to demonstrate to new young girls who receive coaching from a PGA Professional that golf can be a great sport for them!
The Golf Foundation team of 10 Regional Development Officers are all working hard to maintain this focus on girls’ golf. All of this work wouldn’t be possible without great help from PGA Pros, volunteers of all ages, club staff, many parents and all our supporters.
(Picture: Leaderboard Photography)
