Junior Golf Ireland supported by the ISC
One of JGI's main aims is to increase the participation of young people in golf, which direct relates to the Irish Sports Council's aim of increasing participation among young people, at a sport of their choice at a level at which they feel comfortable. It is because of this focus on giving children a fun, but high quality introduction to sport, that JGI decided to become involved in the ISC's Buntús programme. The ISC Buntús programmes aims to raise the profile of PE and sport, provide in-service training to teachers and support meaningful activity for young people.
JGI allocated part of its Tri-Golf TM budget to the programme by delivering Buntús Golf to several schools in the Kildare, Kerry and Donegal region, to teachers that had already completed the generic Buntús programme. The Buntús Golf Cards give teachers ways of introducing a modified form of the game in a fun way but the activities do not have to be delivered in a structured sport manner.
As well as providing significant financial support the ISC provides support to golf through its Buntús programme, access to the Local Sports Partnerships and the Team Ireland Golf Trust. In addition the ISC fully support the Junior Development Plan.
The Team Ireland Golf Trust, which is administered by the Irish Sports Council, aims to contribute to an increase in the presence of Irish golf professionals on a variety of international tours. It is a partnership including the PGA – Irish Region, the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union, along with state and corporate supporters and chaired by Mr Padraig O’hUiginn.
In 2003 players such as Peter Lawrie, Gary Murphy and Damian McGrane were highly successful participants of the Trust. 2004 featured some of our high profile female professionals, as Suzanne O’Brien retained her card on the Ladies European tour, while Rebecca Coakley and Hazel Kavanagh obtained cards at the Qualifying School.
This year the TIGT allocated up to €280,000 to aspiring golfers such as David Higgins, Rebecca Coakley and Colm Moriarty to compete on the European PGA Tour and Ladies European PGA Tour. In addition to this golfers who are funded can avail of state of the art facilities at the new Golfing Union of Ireland Academy, located at Carton House, Maynooth. You can follow the progress of these golfers and more by clicking on the PGA logo featured at the bottom of all the Junior Golf Ireland pages, or click on www.europeantour.com,www.europrotour.com orwww.ladieseuropeantour.com. A comprehensive list of TIGT receipients is available from irishsportscouncil.ie
In the same way that JGI wants young people to participate in golf for life, the ISC wants sport for young people to be a life-long pursuit. For further information on young people in sport see the ISC/ERSI Children in Sport Research Study, or click on their logo at the end of the page for more information about the Buntús, TIGT or related programmes for young people.
