The Kent Golf Partnership is launching its second year of an initiative to develop a county wide coaching programme aimed at identifying and encouraging talented junior golfers. Funds have been provided to support this initiative through the England Golf Partnership.

The first stage of this year’s programme will be the staging of Open Talent Assessment Days to identify young golfers, boys and girls, who show talent and enthusiasm for the game. KGP is to run three Assessment Days in August 2011.  Those with a disability are encouraged to take part, but if not selected will be made aware of other available programmes.

Following these days, it is planned to invite selected young people to move on to a County wide coaching programme based at KGP Academy Training Venues.  This will provide the necessary coaching support to enable the young golfers to attain their full potential and to have the opportunity to progress to the County Junior squads.  Although subsidised, once selected, there will be a nominal charge for the six month programme.

The Talent Assessment Days will be held during the School Summer holidays as follows:

• Chelsfield Lakes Golf Club, Orpington – Thursday 11^th August
• Boughton Golf Club, Faversham – Wednesday 24^th August
• Tudor Park Golf Club, Maidstone – Thursday 25^th August

Each day will follow the same pattern. There will be a two hour session of coaching and assessment run by Academy appointed coaches. The sessions will be split into three components – long game, short game and putting. There will be skills challenges plus a short discussion with one of the coaches.

If you know of a junior golfer who would benefit from this initiative, please encourage them to register for one of the Assessment Days.

Registration for the Talent Assessment Days can be completed by downloading a form from one of the following websites:

• www.kentladiesgolf.org.uk
• www.kentgolf.org
• This site: Kent Golf Search for Talent 2011 Registration Form

or from your Club Secretary, Professional or Junior Organiser.

Please email completed forms to gary@kentgolfpartnership.org.uk or post to:

Gary Bason, Kent Golf Development Co-ordinator,

Manston Golf Centre, Manston Road, Manston, Kent CT12 5BE

Search starts for young golf volunteers for The Open

The Kent Golf Partnership is searching for young people to act as volunteers when The Open championship is played at Royal St Georges, Sandwich, in July 2011.

There’s a host of roles for volunteers aged 16-25, such as helping in the media centre – where they could rub shoulders with the likes of Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell – or working in the tented village.

The Kent Golf Partnership – which wants to use The Open Legacy to grow the game of golf in the county – is seeking suitable candidates for these volunteer roles.

But first, they’ll have to prove their commitment by becoming Kent Golf Young Ambassadors and helping with competitions at local projects.

These include schemes to encourage adults and children to try golf for the first time, Feel Inspired sessions for disabled people to experience the sport, and county academy sessions to help children aged 11-16 to improve their skills. These initiatives are run at a range of centres across Kent.

All new volunteers will be trained during March and April and will help with competitions during May and June. Those who are subsequently selected to volunteer at The Open will be on duty at Royal St Georges, Sandwich, on selected days from July 10-17.

The closing date for applications is Sunday, 27 February 2011. For further information, including an application form, please contact Andrew Willems at awillems@englishgolfunion.org or 07715 055 509.

For more information contact:

Gary Bason

Golf Development Officer, Kent Golf Partnership

07791 308 596

gary@positiveimpactgolf.co.uk

www.kentgolfpartnership.org.uk

EDITORS NOTES:

The Kent Golf Partnership brings together the men’s, women’s and professionals’ county organisations to grow the game in Kent. County Golf Partnerships are part of the England Golf Partnership’s ‘Whole Sport Plan’ for golf and an integral part of its vision to ‘Grow the Game’. The England Golf Partnership (EGP) is a partnership between the English Golf Union (EGU), English Women’s Golf Association (EWGA), the PGA, and supported by the Golf Foundation and Sport England.



The Kent Golf Partnership is launching its second year of an initiative to develop a county wide coaching programme aimed at identifying and encouraging talented junior golfers. Funds have been provided to support this initiative through the England Golf Partnership.

This programme is aimed at boys and girls aged 5 – 15, who have talent and interest but who are not part of the present County squad coaching programme.

The first stage of this year’s programme will be the staging of Open Talent Assessment Days to identify young golfers, boys and girls, who show talent and enthusiasm for the game. KGP is to run three Assessment Days in October 2010. Those with a disability are encouraged to take part, but if not selected will be made aware of other available programmes.

Following these days, it is planned to invite selected young people to move on to a County wide coaching programme based at KGP Academy Training Venues.  This will provide the necessary coaching support to enable the young golfers to attain their full potential and to have the opportunity to progress to the County Junior squads.  Although subsidised, once selected, there will be a nominal charge for the six month programme.

The Talent Assessment Days will be held during the October Half Term holidays as follows:

• Kings Hill Golf Club, Maidstone – Wednesday 27^th October
• Chelsfield Lakes Golf Club, Orpington  – Thursday 28^th October
• Boughton Golf Club, Faversham – Thursday 28^th October

Each day will follow the same pattern. There will be a two hour session of coaching and assessment run by Academy appointed coaches. The sessions will be split into three components – long game, short game and putting. There will be skills challenges plus a short discussion with one of the coaches.

If you know of a junior golfer who would benefit from this initiative, please encourage them to register for one of the Assessment Days.

Registration for the Talent Assessment Days can be completed by downloading a form from one of the following websites:

• www.kentladiesgolf.org.uk
• www.kentgolf.org
• This site
  

or from your Club Secretary, Professional or Junior Organiser.

Please email completed forms to gary@kentgolfpartnership.org.uk or post to:

Gary Bason, Kent Golf Development Co-ordinator,

Manston Golf Centre, Manston Road, Manston, Kent CT12 5BE

Trials throughout the County were held between October 2007 and May 2008 with over 400 schools and 25,000 to 30.00 children taking part in 14 different sport of which TriGolf was one.Boys and girls from primary, secondary and special schools from years 3 to 11 competed.

The Games were led jointly by KCC Communities Directorate and Children, Families and Education Directorate. They are being developed through a partnership involving School Sport Partnerships, Specialist Sports Colleges and governing bodies of sport; all managed by KCC Sport, Leisure and Olympics Service and Advisory Service Kent.
13 teams of 10 children from different areas in Kent competed in 11 different challenges using TriGolf equipment. Canterbury were the eventual winners with East Kent Coastal runner-up and Thanet in third place.Carol McDonald from the Golf  Foundation did a wonderful job organising the TriGolf. This was no mean feat as she had 130 children, their teachers and supporters to keep in check!

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Representatives from Kent Sports Development, Kent Golf Union, Kent County Ladies Golf Association and the Golf Foundation were also in attendance.

Jim Pocknell, the Partnership Chairman, along with Andy Willems, Regional Development officer for the English Golf Union, gave a presentation outlining the aims of the Partnership and the Development
Plan for 2008 to 2010.

Sheena Pitchford representing Kent Sports Development gave an overview of County Sports Development in general.
A little light relief was provided by Carol MacDonald of the Golf Foundation in the form of Tri Golf which was available to anyone wishing to “have a go”.

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The basic objectives behind the new partnership are to promote and increase the awareness of the game in Kent, introducing more people to golf regardless of age, gender and background. 

The aim after that initial step is to help players to sustain their involvement and participation in golf by getting involved with clubs and competitions. 

This will be achieved by working with golf clubs in Kent, and other national agencies to produce and deliver a county golf development plan. 

The Partnership has already held a series of club forums throughout the county to advise Club Officials and Professionals of the scheme and to give them an opportunity to share their ideas for developing golf in the County so watch this space. 

The Kent Golf Partnership (KGP) as it is called, is receiving funding and support from England Golf Partnership to write a development plan for the county; if approved it will receive further funding to put the plan into action. In addition, Commercial Sponsorship will be welcomed with an opportunity to advertise on the upcoming KGP website. Anyone interested should contact Ian Betts for further information. 

The England Golf Partnership comprises the English Golf Union, English Ladies Golf Association and the Professional Golfers Association with support of the Golf Foundation and Sports England.