Formed thanks to a successful Ryder Cup bid 12 years ago, Golf Development Wales has continued to make headway in providing fantastic beginner facilities and getting more people into golf since its inception. In aid of raising awareness to this low cost, inclusive golf coaching program, former Ryder Cup player Phil Price and Stuart Manley were roped in to try their hand at Street Golf.
The pros were put through their paces and tasked with hitting a variety of targets in the form of dustbin lids, buckets, cones and umbrellas- each of these signifying a certain amount of points- with Philip Price fairing the better of the two.
Next up was the turn of the kids, who under the guidance of the two European Tour professionals, made light work of the array of objects in front of them. The enthusiasm was apparent and it is easy to see how these types of activities have enjoyed great success and turned thousands of participants into avid golfers.
As one engagement tactic that the development program uses, Street Golf has proved to be a great way to engage young people who may not have played the game before and has been successfully delivered as part of many schemes across Wales in a variety of communities.
The impact of Golf Development Wales was felt immediately when the project launched in 2002. Since its creation, 38 new or improved beginner facilities have been developed due to the Ryder Cup Legacy Fund which are still being used across Wales to increase participation and act as an introduction to the game of golf.
As a direct result of this infrastructure, more than 40,000 people participate in Gold Development Wales activities each year across the country.
The initiative provides low cost coaching across Wales with clubs, community groups and local authorities linking with Golf Development Wales to access coaching grants that enable them to target men, women and juniors to play golf at their clubs.
As part of this funding each participant signs up to New2Golf, which was launched in 2012, and already over 2000 people have signed up. New2Golf provides the participants with lesson vouchers and fun ways to learn about the sport.
Through the Wales Open, Golf Development Wales has linked with ISPS Handa to promote inclusive golf across Wales; 30 PGA professionals have been qualified in an inclusive training course and provided with funding to kick-start wide-ranging delivery across Wales. With the inclusive nature that golf has, the program integrates the R&A adapted rules for disabled golfers so that the sport is made more accessible and also retains members.
As a Governing Body the Golf Union of Wales was awarded the Disability insport Bronze award to recognise the work being done to develop the inclusive side of the sport, and the changes being made within the organisation.
