The R&A SwingZone at Royal Troon has offered many innovations when encouraging young people into the game during The Open week – and another took centre stage on Wednesday, when a group of ‘Golf Nines’ participants were welcomed along by the Golf Foundation and Scottish Golf.
Golf Nines is a pilot project designed to build on the success of GolfSixes League, which has been so popular throughout the Home Nations. While GolfSixes is team golf for very new players – more than 8,000 youngsters are already signed up to play in 2024 – Golf Nines encourages the typically 36-24 handicap emerging player. Like GolfSixes, it is still played in team pairs in the fun and inclusive Texas Scramble format, but this iteration takes place over nine holes.
On Wednesday, Royal Troon played host to a Golf Nines theme at the SwingZone. Six local Scottish clubs played a Golf Nines fixture in the morning, and were then invited along to The Open courtesy of Scottish Golf and the Golf Foundation. There, they enjoyed seeing the stars of the game in action across Royal Troon before heading to the SwingZone and taking on a variety of the fun games and challenges that are on offer.
“It’s been great,” said Matteo Balzan, a youngster from Gourock Golf Club. “Golf Nines was really good fun and we enjoyed the game today against the other teams. I’m keen to get up to playing 18 holes when I’m ready. It has been brilliant to be at The Open today and we’ve watched the players on the course. I’m hoping to see Scottie Scheffler do well, and Scottie and Jordan Spieth signed my golf glove on the course, which was amazing!”
Gourock Golf Club Junior Organiser Ian Samuel added, “The young ones have really enjoyed GolfSixes League right from the start, but some of them then want to go to the next level and Golf Nines is the right fit we think. Our club has been delighted to take part in this project and I must say Scottish Golf have been fantastic.”
The Golf Foundation has been present all week at The Open to encourage youngsters from all backgrounds to try the game, supported by The R&A, and working with Scottish Golf, The PGA and EDGA.
