When it comes to unearthing the next generation of golfing talent the European Challenge Tour has few betters, something that is also true of its pursuit to grow the game across the globe, evidence of which was in full effect on Pro-Am day at the Challenge de Madrid.
As the great and good of the second tier shaped and honed their skills ahead of this week’s event at El Encin Golf Hotel, a short distance outside the Spanish capital, a special guest was introducing almost 200 local school children to this great game we call golf.
Bogey Bear, or Oso Bogey to the locals, was working on behalf of the Madrid Golf Federation in a scheme that plans to introduce the sport to a new generation of Spanish golfers and perhaps unearth the next Seve Ballesteros, Sergio Garcia or Jose Maria Olazabal.
Javier Gervas, the Director General of JGolf 18.0, this week’s promoter, was in attendance to explain in a little more detail as to what the federation’s scheme entailed.
He said: “This is a communication vehicle to promote the game of golf, and to give a friendlier image than the elitist view some have of the game. It also helps to promote the game to kids and to increase their enjoyment of golf.
Bogey Bear entertaining the kids in attendance at the Challenge de Madrid
“The Madrid Golf Federation has started a programme which takes golf into schools, where they are showing the sports teachers in around 24 schools in Madrid how to teach golf. This means that within the programme of sports at each school, they can now teach golf.
“Yesterday (Monday) we had a school with 50 kids come and visit, and today we have 185, and they have been divided into five areas. One is the TPI (a soft play area with light balls, plastic clubs and targets), another is putting, and another is hitting it on the range.
“The fourth one is then about showing them around the course, with them just walking a hole. There are a couple of professionals with them, and they will explain to the kids about tees, where to hit from and a bit more about being on a course.”
As well as events like this, where kids get to experience a golf tournament in the flesh, there are also a number of phases that aim to grow the game across Madrid.
This is one of a number of federation initiatives across the country and within the various regions in Spain, and promises to grow the game in a nation that has such a rich tradition within the sport.
“We are promoting golf to 3,000 kids through the federation and within the schools, and the programme has various phases,” said Gervas.
Almost 200 kids continued their introduction to the game on Tuesday in Madrid
“The first phase is to train the teachers who will show the kids within the schools themselves, while the second will see them come to a golf course to actually see what it is like and hit some balls.
“The third phase is a family golf day, where the federation will pay for the whole family to come to a course, giving the parents a chance to get involved too. In theory, the kid is already hooked, but we want the parents to play too.
“After that, the kids get five free lessons, and if they are interested, the federation will pay for three months of further lessons and then pay for them to have a half set of clubs. From there they will also give a special 20 per cent discount to the parents too.
“This is the second year of this initiative, and in these kids’ case, their school started in October and over a couple of months their teacher has learned how to teach golf. Now they are visiting the course this week.
“Bogey Bear transmits something different about golf to the kids, it is closer to them, and it is important to make it fun.”
These kind of initiatives are critical in growing the game, and the Madrid Golf Federation are sure to benefit in the future as more kids in the region are introduced to the sport.
There will also be an exhibition on the range this Saturday from Spanish professional Gerard Pera, who is ranked inside the top 20 on the world long drive rankings.
The next generation of Spanish golfers learning the game alongside this week's professionals at El Encin Golf Hotel
