Hundreds of potential golf club members enjoyed the chance to give golf a go
at the Golf Live celebrity event held at Celtic Manor over the weekend.
Celebrities and families took the opportunty to mix with the New2Golf
mascots, with more than 100 people signing up to join the scheme and being
pointed towards their local participating clubs.
The mascots, part of the New2Golf campaign supported by golf’s governing
body the R&A, mixed with the celebrities such as former Ryder Cup captain
Colin Montgomerie and world champion swimmer Mark Foster.
The event also provided the opportunity to work with Maes Ebbw, one of the
schools involved in the Golf Development Wales disability project, funded by
Sport Wales.
Golf Union of Wales director of development Hannah Fitzpatrick explained,
“The event was packed with a lot of non-golfers as well as golfers, which
helped to make it a great success.
“There were plenty of families who wanted to start golf, so they were able
to go up to the Golf Development Wales stand and have a free lesson.
“Lots wanted to sign up for New2Golf membership which offers plenty of
benefits to help people take up the game, as well as signposting a club with
New2Golf professionals who will take the vouchers.
“There was also a lot of interest in the Golf Development Wales beginners
scheme, supported by golf's governing body the R&A, which has more than a
record number of 65 clubs around Wales participating in this year’s promotional
scheme.
“Over the weekend there were 300-400 who took advantage of the opportunities
at the Golf Development Wales area. Some of those were already golfers, but
there were around 120 who signed up for New2Golf.
“The celebrity involvement at Golf Live attracted many people wanting to
start the game, so it was perfect opportunity for Golf Development Wales to get
involved.
“The mascots helped to entertain everyone and the celebrities were great,
shaking hands with the mascots and supporting us too.
“Golf Live gave us tickets for one school and we chose Maes Ebbw. The
disability project is funded as part of the Sport Wales community strategy,
allowing us to develop 10 hubs round Wales so that people with a disability can
have lessons at little or no cost with specialist trained professionals.
“Maes Ebbw are linked with Celtic Manor and this was the start of that
scheme, but every Friday they can have golf lessons from one of the
professionals at Celtic Manor, which is one of the 10 disability hubs.”
The professionals involved in providing free lessons at the Golf Live event
were Matthew Rees, Haverfordwest, David Pocock, Valleys Golf Enterprise, Jack
Roberts, Mid Wales golf, Scott Hood, Llanwern, and Mike Davies from Glyn Abbey.
For further information check out the New2Section on the Golf Development
Website.
www.golfdevelopmentwales.org