National Golf Month 2017 hailed a success

National Golf Month (NGM), the annual initiative aimed at growing grassroots’ participation in golf, was hailed a success today as the campaign formerly came to an end.

Now in its fourth year of running, emphasis was placed on growing the number of women trying the game. Recognising that female participants only made up a small proportion of the playing base in the UK (14 per cent), NGM this year encouraged clubs, pros and centres to offer thousands of free group taster sessions exclusively for women.

The campaign was this year backed by a number of high profile golfers including Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley and Ladies Tour pro golfers Charley Hull and Mel Reid and celebrities including the BBC’s Naga Munchetty and fellow TV presenter Denise van Outen.

Doug Poole, the BGIA’s Project Director for NGM said, “We never could have wished for the reaction and engagement we have received this year, not only from the industry, but also to women who recognised the great health and physical activity benefits our sport has to offer. We have reached well over 10 million people this year through a variety of different media channels.”

NGM is part of a string of marketing initiatives aimed at helping improve women’s participation in the UK.

“Golf is one of the few sports in which women and men can play together. It’s sociable and we have a great story to tell. With England’s Golf ‘Women’s Golf Month’ taking place in June, and the International Women’s Golf Day taking place in on 6 June, it is surely now about building momentum,” added Poole. “If we can maintain that momentum, I have no doubt that we can help address golf’s gender imbalance and make a contribution to a culture change on our clubs and courses.”