Starting Up
In May 2009 Donaghadee Golf Club, in Ulster approached Gary Lavery, Junior Golf Ireland, with an interest in improving their junior membership. PGA Professional, Gordon Drew and his junior committee wanted to use the JGI Coaching Programme to increase the number of boys and girls playing golf regularly, making an active junior section.
The club advertised the JGI coaching programme using the JGI press release in the local media in May and June and having been inundated with enquiries they arrived at a final number of 62 registrations for the coaching.
Developing the section
Gordon Drew and his assistant delivered coaching sessions throughout the summer to 30 boys and girls using JGI's Player Manual 1 for 8-11 year olds. Of the 30 juniors who took part in the coaching 21 took membership in the club, raising their total junior membership to 110!
Jim Cullen, Secretary Manager of the club said "Donaghadee was delighted with the response we had to the coaching throughout the summer and the buzz around the club was great. Our plan is to work even harder in 2010 to increase the junior membership to 150 by linking with JGI's primary schools programme"
Future Plans
The club has identified 3 local primary schools, (St. Anne's PS, Tower View PS and Donaghadee PS), which will participate in training with JGI development officer, Gary Lavery. The teachers will then deliver Tri-golf to 7-11 year olds between March and May of this year and from there the pupils will transfer to the JGI coaching programme at Donaghadee Golf Club during the summer months.
The club have recently received funding from Sport NI to redevelop their current practice area / junior academy, which will then double up as a 6-hole short course with a loop of 3 Par-3 holes, allowing juniors to play and practise on 9 holes any day of the week!
We wish all in the junior section the very best in developing this exciting new junior facility and look forward to seeing the first juniors playing on it in July of this year!
