Golf
Golf is a sport where you need to use a club to get a small ball in a hole that could be up to half a kilometre away. With sand, water and trees in the way it is a great challenge and fantastic fun. Golf is also a great way to keep yourself fit and it gives you the chance to learn new skills and make new friends. If this sounds good, then read on!
Golf, it’s a boring game for old men, right? WRONG.
The traditional image of golf is changing! If you haven’t considered giving it a go, or you tried golf some years back, it might be worth another look. The old fashioned views of golf are being changed with loads of clubs having junior sections where you can go with your friends to learn and play the sport. There’re lots of shorter, faster versions of golf too, that can fit whatever time you have free. There are also different ways to play, both at a golf club or in your community, in a team or on your own.
Golf is really expensive. WRONG.
Playing golf is no more expensive than other sports. Yes, if you want to have all the latest equipment it can start to cost a little but just to get involved and to have fun the costs are really low. Many golf clubs will have equipment that you can use for free and group sessions where you can learn and have fun with your friends are not expensive. If you get hooked and want to consider a membership at a golf club, while you are young these memberships are often low cost too!
Golf is hard to learn. WRONG.
Like all sports golf is a difficult game to master but learning the basics is quick and easy. Within a few lessons you will be hitting the ball in the air and challenging your friends to fun games and activities. The best thing about golf is that it doesn’t matter what size you are or what your fitness level is. You can enjoy playing golf and competing with your mates. Many clubs will provide beginner courses of lessons and taster sessions at weekends or during school holidays, so there are plenty of chances to get involved.
Girls don’t play golf. WRONG.
More girls than ever before are taking up golf and getting involved in programmes like Girls Golf Rocks it’s a great way to make friends and have fun. Girls Golf Rocks is a programme specifically for girls to learn to play golf in a fun and social way that ROCKS! Clubs across the country are offering sessions. If you are keen to discover more about Girls Golf Rocks sessions starting in your local area for 2021 you can keep up to date by registering your interest to girlsgolfrocks@englandgolf.org
How do I get involved?
There are several ways you can start playing golf. Some schools offer sessions in lesson time or as part of an after school club. If yours doesn’t, ask your teacher to see if they would look at setting one up. This can lead to exciting opportunities such as competing in the Schools Games. If your school doesn’t offer golf you can look for your local golf club that runs sessions at the weekend. These are ideal for beginners and experienced golfers and there will be a coach who can help you learn. The Golf Foundation have a network of clubs called HSBC Golf Roots Centres who specialise in providing activity for young people. You can find a club near you by going onto the England Golf Website and entering your postcode. https://www.englandgolf.org/find-and-play/?search
What else can I get involved in?
Once you start learning golf there will be lots of exciting activities where you can use your new skills and meet new people. There are loads of competitions for all ages and abilities that you will be able to enter and lots of different courses you will be able to play. Getting out on the course with your mates is a great way to spend your weekend and you could get involved in national programmes like the Golf Sixes League where teams compete against each other over 6 holes.
Here are a couple of our England Golf Young Ambassadors telling their story about how they got involved and what golf means to them. You can see more on their website https://www.englandgolf.org/volunteer/young-ambassadors
Name: Niamh Cripps
County: Wiltshire
Home club, if you have one
Broome Manor Golf Complex
How I got into golf
When I was 8 my golf club came to my primary school. I then went to the club for a free taster with my coach and fell in love with the game.
What I love about golf
At golf, I feel like I can just be myself! When playing golf I feel like I can escape any of the day to day stress of life and just enjoy myself. I've made so many new friends from 6 year olds to 60 year olds. It's great to be able to play a sport that all ages can play together.
Why I’d like to involve more people in golf
Golf made such a difference to my life. Before I started playing golf, I was extremely shy and struggled with my confidence, since then I've grown largely in confidence through meeting new people at my golf club. I think golf teaches people lots of important life skills that they can apply to everyday life. This ranges from communication skills to manners and etiquette. These are such good qualities for anyone to learn. Golf shaped me into a better person and I think it could do the same for so many more.
What I’ve achieved in golf (both on and off the course)
I've played in a range of competitions across the UK from Wee Wonders national final to European Championships in Scotland. But the thing I've enjoyed the most was playing for Wiltshire in Inter Counties against the other South West counties. I am part of the Wiltshire Under 18 Girls’ Performance Squad and play for my golf club's ladies scratch team. The younger girls at my club really look up to me and I'm lucky that my coach allows me to be his assistant for their lessons. The confidence I have achieved through golf is my biggest achievement and I have even been recognised for it by my school.
Why I want to be a golf Ambassador and what I’d like to achieve
As an Ambassador, I would like to help make golf more accessible for under represented groups. If we can reduce the pressure put on new members by changing their perception, the amount of people joining the game will increase. I would like to use my place as an Ambassador to present the positive aspects of golf and learn more about how to involve certain under-represented groups into golf.
One interesting fact that nobody would guess about me
One thing that no one would know about me just from looking is that I have a 32 degree curve in my spine. This is called Scoliosis and because of this I wear a back brace to stop the curve from getting any worse. I am supposed to wear it for a minimum of 18 hours a day which is difficult as I can't play golf in it. It is a huge hurdle to overcome but with the support of my parents, friends and others around me it shouldn't be anything out of my reach.
Who/what Inspires you
One person who inspires me is Stacey Lewis. Stacey Lewis is a professional golfer that has scoliosis so her story reminds me that it is always possible to achieve my dreams as long as I work hard for it. Some other people that inspire me are the girls group that I help coach. All of them are so enthusiastic and just want to have fun. It puts a smile on my face to see young girls enjoying the game so much. The final people who inspire me are my family. My family are the most generous, kind and supportive people on Earth. They give up so much for me which I am very grateful for.
What would you say to other young people that are looking for a new sport or activity to try
Be open to trying new things; you’ll never know what you like until you try it. I remember being nervous when I started playing golf and it was so worth it as it has completely changed my life. Sport is all about getting out, having fun and making new friends. So don't worry about how you're doing or whether or not you're winning; just have fun and enjoy trying something new. You never know, it might be the best thing you ever do.
Your one piece of advice to other young people
Live your life smiling because if you can't smile whilst doing something it's not worth doing.
Name: Kai Williams
County: Bedfordshire
Home club, if you have one:
Bedford and county golf club
How I got into golf
After a bundle of trials and errors trying to find the sport that I enjoyed doing at the age of 4, golf was the only one that clicked. When I picked up a golf club I felt right at home. However I do strongly think my parents have had a massive influence in my golf and I don’t know if could have made it this far without them.
What I love about golf
I love many things about the sport; the competition, the time outside, and the social aspect of golf. But above all I love the self-competition and driving to do better than I did on the previous games/s. I love the etiquette and respect that most clubs have towards each other as well.
Why I’d like to involve more people in golf
I would like to involve more children in the sport because I feel schools overlook golf and do not promote it to the standards that they do other sports such as football or rugby. So children do not have the opportunity to even try golf, let alone love it as much as I do.
What I’ve achieved in golf (both on and off the course)
I started the game when I was four years old, and ever since I swung my first club, I had a connection with the club and fell in love with the game. The first competition I entered I was around 8 years old. I have played plenty of competitions, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. However, golf proved to help me off the golf course as well as on. Golf seemed to raise my confidence massively.
Why I want to be a golf Ambassador and what I’d like to achieve
I want to be an Ambassador to inspire the next generation of junior golfers. I would like to achieve at communicating with the group and putting forward ideas to make junior golf better.
One interesting fact that nobody would guess about me
One interesting thing about me is that my great grandad was the high commissioner of Granada twice.
Who/what Inspires you
I have many people to thank for inspiring me through my golf: my coach Sam Smith who has been my coach from the very beginning when I started at the age of 4 his patience and fun coaching really made me want to keep coming back each week. Martin McDermott the junior organiser of the Bedfordshire County who dedicates his own time to ensuring that Bedfordshire juniors have competitions all year round, and my family. More specifically my parents. My parents have been the biggest inspiration of all and I can’t thank them enough.
What would you say to other young people who are looking for a new sport or activity to try
Don’t overlook or underestimate golf as a sport. It is just as demanding and entertaining as any other sport out there and has a social aspect unique to any other sport as well. Make sure you try all sports because sometimes it’s the one you least expect that sticks with you for life
Your one piece of advice to other young people
Your only failure is not to try. Never Give Up and always smile!
