As the 2019 Masters Tournament drew to a close in Augusta, Kent youngsters had their chance to try a hand at golf as part of a programme of free coaching sessions organised by Lullingstone Park Golf Course (LGPC) in partnership with Kent Sport and Physical Activity Service.

One-hour sessions held earlier this month enabled eight to 12-year-olds to work with LPGC PGA head professional Mark Watt to learn the fundamentals of the sport and to practise swinging, chipping and putting. The six boys and two girls also had the opportunity to ask Mark about the sport and to discover ways in which they could take what they had learned to the next level.

Sophie Ward, funding and partnerships manager, at Kent Sport and Physical Activity Service, says:

“We’re so pleased Kent Sport and Sports Directory UK have been able to support the Sencio Community Leisure junior golf lessons at Lullingstone Park Golf Course. We hope they inspire those who took part as well as many more young people to consider taking up this great sport.”

In recent years England Golf has been actively trying to steer the sport away from an image of one played only by middle aged men in plaid trousers and to position it as a game suitable for all ages: male or female, fit or unfit, style icon or sensible dresser. The governing body’s Get into Golf campaign has been seen as key to inspiring more people to get involved.

In addition, Girls Golf Rocks – a joint programme from England Golf and the Golf Foundation that aims to increase the number of girl players – is back in 2019 and will now be running across 26 counties including Kent. Last year, more than over 1650 girls attended Girls Golf Rocks taster sessions and 1200 of them went on to take coaching courses with PGA professionals.

 

Mark Watt, PGA head professional at Lullingstone Park Golf Course, says:

 

“The image of golf has changed and this is being led by initiatives such as Get into Golf and Girls Golf Rocks that are bringing the sport to new audiences, especially those who may have never thought of it as an activity they’d ever pursue. We are grateful to Kent Sport and Physical Activity Service for its support and hope we can do more to encourage and inspire the next generation of golfers.”

For details of LPGC’s lessons programme go to sencio.org.uk/golf/lessons or call 01959 533793.

-ends-

April 25, 2019

Press enquiries to David Leck at Sencio Community Leisure in 01322 528580/07710 326256