Golf is moving out of its traditional setting and into the parks and leisure centres of Nottingham this summer with free, informal sessions to attract new people to the game.
Golf is moving out of its traditional setting and into the parks and leisure centres of Nottingham this summer with free, informal sessions to attract new people to the game.
Get into golf opportunities from England Golf are on offer as part of the city’s 2016 ParkLives programme which encourages people to make the most of their local park - and 120 have already taken part
Weekly sessions are taking place in Wollaton Hall Gardens and Deer Park, Bulwell Hall Park and Woodthrope Grange Park over the coming months, with Family Fun activities during the school holidays.
There are also follow on opportunities for people who want to keep on playing, with further Get into golf activity available in both the city and county.
People attending major summer events, such as the Riverside Festival, will also have the chance to try golf in an informal setting.
Golf was also offered to people trying new activities on the FREESport programme at Harvey Hadden Sports Village. The eight-week programme, which also included opportunities to try tennis and badminton, proved so popular that golf sessions are continuing there every Thursday from 10 till 12. Meanwhile, the ‘Nifty Fifties’ group at Portland Leisure Centre are also taking golf sessions.
In addition, women’s groups are being invited to try golf as part of England Golf’s programme to show that #ThisGirlCan. A Girls Golf Rocks project, run jointly by England Golf and the Golf Foundation and supported by young county players, has also been launched to offer a fun and friendly introduction to girls. Both these initiatives are running right across Nottinghamshire.
The Get into golf activity is all part of a project to test new ideas run by England Golf, the Nottinghamshire Golf Development Group and Nottingham City Council. It supports the city’s strategy to get more people physically active and it aims to banish out-dated perceptions about golf and remove barriers to playing.
The activities promote the health and wellbeing benefits of golf and its social appeal. For example, in a 9-hole round a player will walk two to three miles, take over 5000 steps and burn over 450 calories.
Claire Hodgson, England Golf’s Head of Participation, commented: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Nottingham City Council and tapping into their local expertise and knowledge to help take golf into the city.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for us to introduce golf to people who may not normally try it and promote golf in a non-traditional way to help break down some of the perceptions which are out there. We’ve had a great response so far and we’re looking forward to getting more people active through golf during the summer months.”
The project presents a great chance for golf clubs in and around Nottingham to promote opportunities to new and returning golfers. Golf club staff and volunteers are welcome to attend sessions and get involved.
Two newly appointed Get into golf Engagement Officers, Nyle Challinor and Jason Froggatt, are involved in the project, working closely with Nottinghamshire’s County Development Officers.
Get into golf is England Golf’s campaign to inspire people to take up golf and play more often. To find out more about the activities on offer visit www.getintogolf.org/notts and www.parklives.com
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