Club Handbook for Junior Golf' unveiled by Confederation of Golf in Ireland

A new handbook designed to help Golf Clubs in Co. Offaly develop and extend the services and opportunities they offer to young people has been unveiled by the Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI), the Irish Ladies Golf Union (ILGU) and the Golfing Union of Ireland (GUI).

By Damian Moran

e-mail: damian@offalyexpress.ie

Twitter: @offaly_express

The ‘Club Handbook for Junior Golf’ offers Golf Clubs access to a range of content and practical advice on achieving a ‘best in class’ Junior Golf offering across a variety of areas including:

Junior Club Operations (coaching, competitions, handicaps, communication)

Junior Club Committee and Leaders

Safeguarding Children in Golf

Girls in Junior Golf

The guide also offers access to a variety of templates and checklists to assist in the implementation of Junior Club programmes, such as recruitment forms, role descriptions, permission forms and safety checklists. A number of real life case studies are also included which provide excellent learnings and ‘best practice’ examples, including Balbriggan Golf Club who initiated a Cadet’s Section, Enniscrone Golf Club which developed a Junior Club Programme and an insight into how Naas Golf Club worked to increase participation among young female players.

To access the new Club Handbook for Junior Golf, please click here: www.epageflip.net/i/627843-club-handbook-for-junior-golf

The CGI, the ILGU and the GUI will host a number of seminars throughout March and April 2016 which will focus on the variety of different areas featured in the Junior Club Handbook. Golf Clubs can find out further information about these seminars on www.cgigolf.org or www.golfnet.ie.

John Roche, Director of Golf and Business Development, Confederation of Golf in Ireland commented: “This document is the result of months of hard work and brings into one place the wealth of Junior Golf knowledge and experience available from the GUI and the ILGU, along with contributions from the PGA and other sports bodies. Golf is truly a game for all the family and we recognise the importance of fostering a love of the sport amongst the next generation. The advice and guidelines contained within the document are very relevant and current and we’d encourage all Golf Clubs to utilise the materials as appropriate to them. Together we can ensure the future success of the sport we all love.”

Sinead Heraty, Chief Executive of the Irish Ladies Golf Union, said, “The Club Handbook for Junior Golf provides practical and easy to follow guidelines and recommendation for the development of junior golf. It will be a key reference point to Clubs who are seeking to grow their junior membership and instil a lifelong passion for the game in young golfers. It is a great example of the golfing organisations in Ireland working together on a very worthwhile initiative.”