The British Golf Industry Association is funding its biggest ever investment in growing the game of golf, supporting a new Golf Foundation pilot programme aimed at getting more school pupils playing at golf clubs after a six-week introduction in school.
Expanding the success of the Golf Foundation’s Unleash Your Drive in Schools programme, the BGIA support will enable the national charity to support more than 1,000 pupils and take them on their first journey from picking up a club in school, to a visit to a local golf club, and playing on a course.
Over 12 weeks, 42 projects across England, Scotland and Wales will introduce pupils to golf in their school, teach them six transferable life skills and mental toughness tools, and provide pupils with the opportunity of coaching with a PGA Professional at a local Junior friendly golf club.
The culmination of the introductory programme will then see participants given the opportunity to take part in the highly successful beginners club competition, GolfSixes League, which last year helped to generate a 27% increase in junior membership at clubs involved.
Along the way, the project will introduce the participants to several of the many benefits of golf including transferable life skills, coaching from a PGA Professional, playing on a course and taking part in a competition.
The project is the next step in the successful Unleash Your Drive in Schools programme, which was launched by the Golf Foundation in September 2023, and has seen more than 1,000 schools register their interest. The programme teaches mental toughness tools to pupils through a six- week course, and early results have indicated a 20% rise in mental toughness understanding among pupils who took part.
The funding from the BGIA will now allow the Golf Foundation to introduce a more consistent club-based follow on, and a stronger link between golf clubs and local schools.
BGIA Chair, Martin Wild, said: “It’s paramount that young people are introduced to golf as early as possible, not only to enjoy the game itself but also to discover the fantastic careers the golf industry has to offer. In a world where technology and social media often keep children indoors, this programme is a great antidote—encouraging them to be active, social and engaged in a lifelong sport. Grow Golf funding members are delighted to make this significant investment, as it opens the door for more children to experience the incredible opportunities that both the game and the wider industry provide.”
“Our aim is to build upon the success of the Unleash Your Drive programme in schools and ensure that at least 50% of the pupils involved have a follow-on coaching experience with a PGA Professional at a golf facility,” added Brendon Pyle, CEO of the Golf Foundation. “Our sport offers many benefits and opportunities to young people and we want more young people to progress into golf clubs and facilities. The recent Careers in Golf workshop, offering pupils a taste of the multitude of job opportunities within the wider industry, was piloted with the help of the BGIA, and we are delighted that we can expand their support to many more young people.”
Bob Smith, Chair of the Grow Golf Fund, added: “This is the most substantial commitment we have made and it’s fantastic to see the industry rallying behind such an important initiative. The Golf Foundation does incredible work introducing golf to school children and it’s truly encouraging to see the wider golf community investing in the next generation of players.”
