GOLF FOR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

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1 GOLF FOR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES Get your students into golf

2 Contents Introduction 3 HOW CAN GOLF BENEFIT YOUR UNIVERSITY and college? 4 The five point offer 5 Bringing golf to your campus 6 student activators 7 INFORMAL TYPES OF ACTIVITIES 8 Structured Coaching Sessions 9 Social activities 10 Competitions 11 support 12 promotion 13 case studies 14 2 Front cover image from Leaderboard Photography

3 INTRODUCTION Golf is a great social sport which helps people to stay healthy, take part in exercise and have fun - all at the same time. It can be played by people of all ages and abilities in a range of different formats and often appeals to individuals who wouldn t ordinarily associate themselves with sport. Through their Five Point Offer, England Golf and its partners are able to support you in creating more opportunities for students to participate in golf. This resource sets out the support, tools and information required to make golf the perfect vehicle for a University/College to help engage with their students and encourage them to experience the game of golf, whilst also improving their level of physical activity and employability. 3

4 HOW CAN GOLF BENEFIT YOUR UNIVERSITY and college? STUDENT EMPLOYABILITY There are a range of volunteer opportunities within golf, which could enhance a student s curriculum vitae and support future employment. HEALTH, WELLBEING & FITNESS Playing golf has a number of health and wellbeing benefits associated to keeping fit while enjoying the outdoors. INCLUSION Golf is an inclusive sport for people of any age, gender or ability. SOCIAL Golf provides an excellent platform for socialising and also offers networking opportunities. SPORTSMANSHIP As a sport, golf encourages good judgement, confidence, self-motivation, co-operation, persistence, respect and responsibility for a person s actions. ENGLAND GOLF SUPPORT TO UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES Through England Golf s network of County Golf Partnerships, dedicated support is available from a County Development Officer who can work with your University/College to deliver all or part of golf s Five Point Offer. By working in partnership, a plan can be developed and implemented with resources available to support. This plan will enable you to grow student participation in a fun and exciting way, encouraging students to gain new skills and opportunities that will allow them to develop as individuals in a game they will be able to play and enjoy for life. Opportunities will also be available for current golfers to ensure they are retained within the game. 4

5 THE FIVE POINT OFFER The Five Point Offer was devised to give Universities and Colleges a better understanding of how golf could benefit their institution, students and staff. Grow Opportunities to develop and support new participants into golf. SUSTAIN Opportunities to develop and support current handicap golfers and participants. Excel Competitions and societies for all ranges of abilities to access within the game. the FIVE POINT OFFER PARTNERSHIP Support to develop links between universities and golf providers to provide low cost opportunities. EMPLOYABILITY Education and training to increase student employability. James Ayres, Sport Roehampton Manager, University of Roehampton, said The support from Surrey Golf has been something that has really impacted on the development of golf at the University of Roehampton. It has been a great way to raise the profile of golf across the University and has also provided a fun and interactive way of engaging with new students, many of which would not normally take part in the game. It is always a great addition to the student programme particularly fresher s week where it is a really visible tool. Image from Leaderboard Photography 5

6 Bringing golf to your campus One of the biggest misconceptions about golf is that you have to play it on a golf course. The reality is, playing on a course is just one of the ways to participate in the sport and increasingly more and more young people are playing golf in a variety of ways, adapted to their environment. EQUIPMENT County Golf Partnerships may be able to support your University/College in accessing suitable equipment to deliver golf activity on site. Below are some of the types of equipment which may be appropriate to use; Golf Xtreme - This equipment includes lighter golf clubs, reduced flight golf balls (which ensures maximum safety within limited space), targets and velcro discs, marker cones and putting cups. Foam balls - These are extremely safe and lightweight allowing golf to be played indoors. Almost Golf ball - Performs like a real golf ball but is just a third of the weight and is completely safe to use on campus. Targets - These can be created within your institution setting by utilising everyday objects. Putting mats - County Golf Partnerships may be able to provide these in a variety of different sizes and shapes. 6

7 Student activators To help with the delivery of golf at your institution, England Golf recommends that you recruit one or more Student Activators to work alongside the County Development Officer. Support is available to help select an Activator and this will be done in partnership between the University/College and County Golf Partnership. The role of the Student Activator will be to; Support the development of golf within the University/College to increase participation, through the delivery of informal and formal activities. Recruit and retain new golfers through golf related activities. Organise a golf society within the University/College if appropriate. Work with the County Golf Partnership, in particular the County Development Officer. The Student Activator does not have to come from a golfing background as training may be available to support. County Development Officers will work closely with the Activator to help them establish golf activities on site as well as arranging coaching sessions at local golf facilities. There are a number of benefits to being a Student Activator; Experience of project management and event planning. Opportunity to develop golf within a University/College. Potential training qualifications. Kit will be provided. Social activities. Local and national volunteering opportunities. Access to local golfing opportunities. Several students who have taken part in developing golf within their University/College have since been successful in developing a career within the industry. 7

8 INFORMAL TYPES OF ACTIVITIES Informal activities can take place in a range of areas from tennis courts through to sports fields or courtyards. Freshers Fairs Taster sessions and activities can be offered at Freshers Fairs to engage with a high number of students. County Development Officers may be able to support with the organisation and delivery of the events and to also provide equipment and branding. Pitch and putt Pitch and putt courses can be created and played on any green space or even on tarmac. Golf Xtreme equipment is ideal for this activity and guidance will be provided to support delivery. Commenting on this format, the Student Activator for Hertfordshire University, said: Players at Hertfordshire participated in regular golf activities at the University. This made golf accessible for students in a fun and friendly environment. Campus golf By utilising campus space, interesting targets can be sought out, for example chipping balls into targets, such as litter bins. 8 7

9 Structured Coaching Sessions Image from Tom Ward Photography Coaching is a really important aspect of the game. Students may have the opportunity to access coaching sessions by PGA Coaches at local golf facilities, either in a group or individual. A number of golf courses and ranges are working with County Golf Partnerships to help deliver coaching to students as part of the national Get into golf campaign to increase regular participation. Some facilities will offer regular sessions, with support to help players make the transition onto the course. More experienced golfers can also utilise coaching sessions to help improve their performance. Students and staff will be able to access these structured sessions and through visiting golf facilities there may be an opportunity to work in partnership with a local PGA Coach who may be able to visit your University or College to run further sessions on site. Taster sessions These provide an opportunity for students to get some basic coaching and try a few shots in a fun, sociable environment. Jonathan Wright, Coach Education and Development Manager, Professional Golfers Association, said: Coaches go through rigorous training and development to ensure that they are able to deliver inspiring and effective coaching sessions for young people. 9

10 SOCIAL Activities Golf events Golf events provide an excellent opportunity to socialise and inform people about other golf related activities on offer at your University/College. Activators can organise and host numerous social activities, varying from taster sessions on site, to Night Golf fun events, through to more traditional playing opportunities at local golf facilities. Night Golf Night Golf is an exciting version of the game that allows students to play golf in the dark, with glow-in-thedark balls. It started as an unusual and fun game for young people but has significantly grown in popularity with a number of Night Golf sessions taking place across the country. These sessions provide students of all abilities with the opportunity to socialise and take part in a new version of golf. A Student Activator said: I really enjoyed having a go at playing Night Golf. I had such a good time with my friends on the evening and it was a perfect platform to make some new friends and socialise with people not on my course. Playing in the dark means that I don t have to worry about how I look as a beginner. 10

11 Competitions British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) invite Universities to provide players to represent their institutions within golf competitions. For students it is a huge honour to represent an establishment in a BUCS tournament and a great opportunity to come together for a bit of healthy competition with their fellow students. BUCS At BUCS, golf is a mixed programme with teams competing in a league competition throughout the season, from October to February. Each team s position in the league pyramid determines whether they qualify for the championship, trophy or conference knockout competitions, culminating in the Team Championships Finals. The BUCS student tour is very popular and is played at some of the UK s most prestigious courses. To qualify for the tour finals, individuals must compete in at least two out of eight qualifiers with the top 40 players in the order of merit qualifying for the Tour Finals Further information on BUCS can be sought from Many organisations arrange competitive golf for schools and colleges. For more information please go to 11

12 support England Golf University Scholarships Golf University Scholarship provides support to the best amateur golfers in British Universities to continue to improve and give them every chance of breaking into the full England Golf team. A limited number of England Golf University Scholarships are available to elite amateur golfers continuing their education. The England Golf University Scholarship aims to: Retain talented young student golfers in performance golf through their student years especially those most at risk of dropping out of education. Support talented young student golfers to make progress up the player pathway to the national squad and England Team selection. Enhance the level of success of talented young student golfers in the England Golf Order of Merit tables and in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. To find out more information about University Scholarships, go to 12 Image from Leaderboard Photography

13 PROMOTION To help promote golfing activities which form part of a University or College plan, England Golf can provide Activators with the following support; Social Media Students are increasingly engaging with each other through social media. England Golf can provide training to students on how to use social media effectively to help engage potential golfers. This in turn will help create content and drive traffic to a University or College s relevant social media platforms for golf. Branding England Golf has developed branding materials which can be used to promote golf on site. Brightly coloured banners and posters can be supplied to support the promotion of your golf programme. 13

14 CASE STUDies University Kingston University County Golf Partnership Surrey PROJECT OVERVIEW With no golf activity in place, Kingston initially decided to undertake some informal activities to try and drive interest in golf. An Activator was recruited who provided have a go sessions on a weekly basis on campus. These sessions were delivered in non-traditional environments and offered a fun, social activity for all involved. Within a month of these activities, the local Get into golf centre, Sandown Park, has enjoyed students paying, playing and eating there during quiet times. Now the Activator has been trained to be a Level 1 coach, she no longer needs the full support of the County Development Officer and the project is sustainable. On average 30 students attend the informal once a week session. Regular weekly sessions at Sandown Park Golf Centre with an average of six students attending. The Activator was trained as a Level 1 coach and has since won an award for volunteering at the University. University Coventry University County Golf Partnership Warwickshire PROJECT OVERVIEW Due to a lack of facilities at Coventry, the University identified the need to provide an offer off site for their students. Supported by the Warwickshire County Development Officer, regular coaching sessions and playing opportunities at a local golf club were sourced. All sessions provided equipment, coaching and transport to support continued participation. The University attracted over 120 students who took part in coaching at the Warwickshire Golf and Country Club, with 20 of them continuing in regular activity including the setting up of a 1st team to represent the university in the BUCS leagues 2013/14. Over 20 students attended sessions on a weekly basis. The University has entered a team into the BUCS league. 120 students received coaching at the local Get into golf centre. University Sunderland University County Golf Partnership Durham PROJECT OVERVIEW As a result of limited playing opportunities, there were few students participating in golf at the University. Through the recruitment of an Activator, students were encouraged to participate and put a team into the BUCS leagues. Supported by the County Golf Partnership, playing and coaching opportunities were also provided at nearby clubs and local funding secured through Sportivate to help recruit more golfers. The students have arranged golf days with other universities within their area and plan to enter a second team into the BUCS league. The team won their division in their first year. There are around 10 golfers who now play regularly at the University. The County Golf Partnership was successful in attracting 400 Sportivate funding to support an introductory coaching programme. 14

15 Image from Leaderboard Photography

16 NEXT STEPS For further discussions on how England Golf can help you to get the most out of golf at your University or College, please contact England Golf on or The National Golf Centre Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, LN10 6PU Tel: 44 (0) Fax: 44 (0) Web: