StreetGolf gets kids playing

A creative game format called ‘StreetGolf’ has wowed young people from all backgrounds this summer, and the StreetGolf ‘Cup Final’ was contested recently at the 3 Hammers Golf Complex in Staffordshire. Youngsters have tried playing StreetGolf in their communities up and down the country, thanks to a partnership between golf charity the Golf Foundation, Premier League 4 Sport (PL4S) and Sport England.

The Golf Foundation’s national StreetGolf Club Championship Final was a vibrant and exciting event showing golf in a whole new light to the competitors, where chipping, putting and full-shots were all needed in games specially created on the day at the excellent facility at 3 Hammers Golf Complex.

PL4S has been a central player in the initiative, helping promote golf in its football club communities thanks to the support from twelve Premier League and Championship football clubs. A team from Cardiff City were deserved winners of the final, with Derby County second, and Southampton in third place.

To qualify, boys and girls played in a mini tournament at a local golf club (many experiencing a golf club for the first time) in order to select eight teams of four for the grand final. A key part of the project is offering youngsters the chance to play competitive golf at golf clubs, thereby opening up a new sport and its benefits for them to enjoy.

Football stadiums have even proved to be excellent venues for imaginative golfers. For example, Derby County’s iPro Stadium recently hosted a match between teams of youngsters from Derby County, Aston Villa and Stoke City, creating their own StreetGolf games and playing formats in the stadium itself.

Andy Leigh, regional development officer for the Golf Foundation, is leading the project. He commented, “All the young people have had great fun at a fantastic final today, and this has been a really good opportunity for them all to enjoy their progress as golfers. Major congratulations to winners Cardiff City and all the teams taking part and a huge thank you to the staff at 3 Hammers Golf Complex who have prepared an outstanding course and offered wonderful all-round service.

“StreetGolf is all about introducing young people to golf in their community environment, and its strength is its fun and flexibility. This flexibility has allowed us to also bring StreetGolf into the golf club for the first time to offer young people a taste of life at a club and to encourage a link with the club members and the PGA professional going forwards.”