Having been piloted in 2016, the Golf4Girls4Life (G4G4L) Programme, created by the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) and the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU), is now in its second official year and growing from strength to strength.
In 2017, the programme saw over 170 volunteers and 34 PGA Professionals from 85 clubs educated on the importance of having practices and structures in place for girls. The programme has been derived through feedback from young girls themselves and for CGI Development Manager, Anne Brett, this is the key component of the framework;
“When we set about designing G4G4L our main goal was to get as many girls playing as possible. Rather than us, as adults, assuming what the girls wanted we decided to ask them what they liked and what they wanted from golf through focus groups. These focus groups have helped shape G4G4L into a programme that is focused on fun, inclusion and empowering each girl to be the best that she can be. We often hear that every junior’s dream is to play on tour, to play for Ireland, to be a scratch golfer but actually when we spoke to the girls the majority of them just wanted to be in an environment that allowed them to have fun with their friends and this is the message that we are trying to convey through this programme.”
Through feedback from those clubs involved in the programme in 2017, over 50% introduced the G4G4L Player Progression Guide, while 55% introduced more social events and off – course activities for their girls. Furthermore 100% of the workshop attendees stated that their learnings would be beneficial to them and their girls.
Why do girls want to play golf? Well, in the words of one particular girl from Naas Golf Club;
“You get to make new friends and spend time with your friends. It’s not a sport for everyone but it’s my favourite sport. I would encourage my friends who don’t play golf to play because it is fun, you become more independent because once you have your handicap you can go out and play on your own without a parent, I love it!”
For further information on Golf4Girls4Life follow on Facebook and Instagram
Visit cgigolf.org in order to apply for your club to be involved in the programme this year.
Photo’s above -Mary Doyle takes a selfie with the attendees of the Golf4Girls4Life Festival in Mid-Leinster, attendees at the Ulster Golf4Girls4Life Festival take part in a putting challenge.
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