24 RYDER CUP Building the future
Thanks to the efforts of Golf Development Wales, the Ryder Cup and other partners, golf is the buzzword in Wales at the moment. And its impact on local imaginations has been startling.
INTERVIEW Legacy for Wales
The Ryder Cup Wales Legacy fund is a £2 million investment that has supported over 41 projects in 15 different local authorities in Wales and has helped to build over 200 new holes and 32 new chipping and putting greens, making a significant impact on the golfing landscape of Welsh golf. GBD spoke to Ellen Jones, Ryder Cup Wales legacy facility officer on the impact this remarkable event is having on the principality.
What does your new role entail exactly? My role as Ryder Cup Wales legacy facility officer is to increase opportunities, participation and awareness of golf and ultimately to increase membership within the clubs I am working with. The aim is to ensure that the newly created facilities are utilised to their maximum and are sustainable so that there will be a lasting legacy left from Wales for hosting the Ryder Cup.
Y
oungsters from St Gabriel’s RC Primary School in Newport, a chip and a putt
away from the Celtic Manor course itself, have built their own mini golf course in the school grounds.
Te teachers and children have worked together on the project but the youngsters’ imaginations created the design. Boys and girls designed the holes in a computer package (Newport Ryder Cup Education IT programme from Golf Development Wales [GDW]) and helped in the creation of the finished course in the school grounds. Zoe Tacker, GDW officer for South
Wales, said: “Tis was a great initiative. Everyone has caught the Ryder Cup bug here and golf activity at St Gabriel’s mirrors fantastic work all over Wales. Everyone is looking forward to the big event but the way Golf Development Wales and its partners have delivered golf programmes will ensure that as many beginners as possible continue to enjoy their golf in Wales in the years to come.” An estimated 1.5 million opportunities
have been created for juniors and beginners to try golf in Wales. Junior participation is up and so far 41 new beginner golf facilities have been built around Wales.
Pictured: Ryder Cup makes the art class. Below: A youngster designs a golf hole and (below) the gang gets to play it!
Meanwhile, children at St Gabriel’s are
pictured enjoying an art competition based around the Ryder Cup sponsored by GBD magazine. GBD has contributed art materials for the school to keep the creative process going on the golfing front. Perhaps the next great golf course architect could come from this very classroom! GBD
Why is a legacy important? It’s important because participation in sport can be a positive force in people’s lives and golf as a sport can be played by people of all ages as well as all sectors of society, and has a huge potential for increased participation. The Ryder Cup, and the newly created specialist beginner facilities that have been developed through the legacy fund, will provide the ideal platform for golf to reach out and become more accessible.
What’s it been like in Wales in the build- up?
The atmosphere is now building with anticipation and there is a definite buzz across the nation as we draw closer to the great event. Hopefully this enthusiasm will act as a powerful catalyst, generating enthusiasm and providing a great platform to boost Welsh golf.
How will the Ryder Cup change Wales? I think the Ryder Cup has and will continue to have a positive impact in Wales. Golf Development Wales was created as part of the bid and since they were formed there has been over 1.5 million opportunities for juniors and beginners to try golf. Junior participation is up; around one in five children participate in golf. Around 10,000 women and girls have had beginner coaching and 41 new beginner golf facilities have been built around Wales.
GBD SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
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