Impact Stories - The Golf Foundation

How Girls of Brum Helped Birmingham Girls Discover Golf for the First Time

Golf Foundation — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:40:07 +0000

I thought I'd be rubbish but it's actually dead fun and different to what I thought.

Maryam

The rain hammered down on Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, but it did nothing to dampen the mood at Girls of Brum, a city-wide event giving girls the chance to try new sports, build confidence and step outside their comfort zone.

Led by Sport Birmingham, the day brought together girls from schools and communities across the city for a packed programme of activities. At the golf station, many arrived unsure of themselves, wondering whether they'd even be able to hit the ball, worried about getting it wrong in front of their friends.

Those nerves didn't last long. Within a few minutes, the girls were celebrating their first successful shots, cheering each other on and throwing themselves into every challenge, cones cleared, putts holed, wins celebrated together.

Maryam was among them. "I thought I'd be rubbish but it's actually dead fun and different to what I thought," she said.

Izzy had never picked up a club before. "It was hard at first because I've never done golfing before but after a few goes now I like it because I can do the putt and hit the ball where I want and beat my friends."

One volunteer, watching the group take shape, summed up why days like this matter. "It's quite empowering for young girls to try something like golfing as it's not something they normally come across in school. I can see when they get going how much they actually enjoy it and how important it is for them to try out different sports like golf. It's a great set up."

That was the pattern throughout the day: a little hesitation at the start, then a quick turn into real enjoyment, the girls encouraging each other rather than competing against each other. By the end of each session, when asked whether they felt more confident and whether they'd want to try golf again, the answer was overwhelmingly yes.

It's a small window into what golf can offer girls who've never had the chance to try it, not just a new sport, but a new sense of what they're capable of, delivered in an environment built entirely around encouragement rather than pressure.

A big thank you to Girls of Brum and Sport Birmingham for the opportunity to be part of such a positive and inspiring day.

Unleash Your Drive helps ‘Peake Performers’ in Cornwall

Golf Foundation — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:07:09 +0000

Whilst the majority of the 2,000+ schools registered for Unleash Your Drive are primary schools, many secondary schools across England and Scotland are also seeing the benefits of the Golf Foundation’s standout mental toughness programme for young people.

Just before May half-term our charity had the pleasure of visiting Poltair School in St Austell, Cornwall where the Unleash Your Drive programme is having a noticeable impact on a select group of pupils.

Targeting Year 10 students in the Peake Group (named after the astronaut Tim Peake to demonstrate to students that anything is possible and to help build their resilience), the school immediately identified the mental toughness tools unique to Unleash Your Drive as the ideal intervention to boost the confidence, focus and overall wellbeing of a group of students with various learning needs as they approach their critical Year 11 final year.

Attending their 6th session of the golf programme, the students sprinted from their changing rooms to the 3G pitch excited to find out what games and mental toughness skills they would be playing.

“What are we doing today, Mr Pyle?” they asked their teacher and Head of PE at Poltair School, who has been leading the Unleash Your Drive programme and is equally as enthusiastic about its impact on his students.

“Get your square of concentration ready, boys and girls,” said Mr Pyle as he demonstrated a favourite putting game called “Cliffhanger” and questioned the students about how to focus on a specific space around the ball and ignore all other distractions around them.

“Are you going to try and put us off with music again, Mr Pyle?” one of the cheekier pupils called out.

“I’ve not brought my stereo out today, Jayden,” said Mr Pyle, “but I will be making a noise and trying to put you off as you putt!”

The students were engaged, laughing and working together throughout the session as the games progressed from ‘Cliffhanger’ to Drive for Show/Putt for Dough, and the ultimate ‘Crossbar Challenge’, while Mr Pyle constantly reinforced the importance of applying other mental toughness tools such as square breathing to control nerves and positive self-reflection by asking ‘What Went Well and Even Better If?’

The learning was also reinforced by several breakout sessions where the teacher sat the students down, asked them to get out their whiteboards, and tasked them with writing down answers to questions about the mental toughness tools. They then held up the boards and took turns talking about where else they could use them.

Real-World Impact: How the Students use Mental Toughness
Joe showed a diagram of square breathing and explained that he had used this technique to keep calm in his recent mock exams.
Aston said that he used the square of concentration to help him stay calm and focussed in rugby matches.
Evan talked about how he uses the square of concentration when he is playing golf on a course.
Daisy used emotional control breathing to ensure that she stays calm when horse riding, which in turn keeps the horse calm.
Jayden talked about how he would be using the mental toughness skills to help him in a job interview.

All of the pupils' answers are great examples of how the skills being learned through Unleash Your Drive are transferrable to other sports as well as areas of life.

The Head Teacher, Mr Cradigan, took time out of his busy schedule to visit the session and thanked the Golf Foundation for the opportunity. With both of his sons playing golf as junior members at a local club, he totally understood both the playing and mental wellbeing benefits of golf for young people, and was delighted to see it on his PE curriculum.

In talking to the Golf Foundation, Mr Pyle added:

"My students have loved taking part in Unleash Your Drive and have really embraced the mental toughness tools. This programme is unique in that as a teacher it really helps you focus on teaching the wider mental wellbeing tools using golf as the platform. The Golfway equipment is brilliant and the resources really helpful.
I’ve seen evidence of the students applying the mental toughness skills to their examination subject, BTEC PE, that I also teach, and across other areas of their school life, which is so powerful."

This group of students have also felt very special in being the first to play golf at Poltair during curriculum time. Our aim is to now expand the programme to other year groups and to take the Peake Group to Wentworth and the BMW PGA Championship in September, thanks to the Golf Foundation.

"We are from a disadvantaged part of Cornwall, so to have these opportunities for our students is fantastic."

Want your school to get involved with Unleash Your Drive?

👉 Click here to register today!

Focus on… Freya Allen: A Young Ambassador Making A Big Difference

Golf Foundation — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:36:01 +0000

Back in 2024, at Elsham Golf Club, a group of young golfers gathered for a fun, fast-paced challenge inspired by the The Masters and the Grand National. There was laughter, encouragement, and energy throughout the session — and at the heart of it was Freya Allen.

Even then, Freya was already making a significant impact.

Having started her journey through Girls Golf Rocks in 2019, she had grown into a key part of the junior programme at her home club, volunteering regularly and supporting coaching sessions for nearly two years. She didn’t just help deliver activities — she led them, encouraged younger players, and created an environment where every child felt welcome.

“I volunteer in golf because I like giving back to the kids,” Freya explained. “I really like seeing all the kids come back every week, giving it their best and being proud of themselves.”

That commitment to others has been a constant in Freya’s journey. Week in, week out, she continues to support junior sessions at Elsham, working alongside coaches to inspire the next generation. Whether it’s recognising effort, building confidence, or simply making sessions fun, her presence makes a difference.

In 2024, her impact was recognised nationally when she was named Young Volunteer of the Year at the England Golf Awards.

Now, Freya is building on that momentum. She has recently joined the Young Ambassador programme, delivered by the Golf Foundation and England Golf, where she will continue to develop as a young leader and role model within the game.

At her core, Freya is driven by connection.

“I always try my best to make sure everyone feels engaged and included,” she says. “My favourite part of golf is the social side — meeting new people and making new friends.”

Still volunteering every weekend and continuing her work with juniors at Elsham, Freya represents everything that makes the game stronger — passion, positivity, and a genuine desire to give back.

And as she looks ahead, with ambitions to work with young people in golf, her journey is only just getting started.

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How Unleash Your Drive Helped One Young Pupil Find Her Voice

Golf Foundation — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:37:52 +0000

“At the start, she would get frustrated and doubt herself quite quickly, but as the sessions went on, she showed a much stronger mindset and was far more willing to keep trying and support others around her”

— BRYCE NESS

At Friockheim Primary School, one young girl’s journey through the Unleash Your Drive programme shows how confidence can be quietly unlocked—and how the right environment can change everything.

When she first joined the sessions, she stayed firmly in the background.

Quiet and hesitant, she avoided speaking in groups and often needed encouragement just to take part. When things didn’t go right first time, she would quickly put herself down. Her lack of confidence made it difficult to engage, limiting both her learning and her ability to build friendships.

Delivered by coach Bryce Ness alongside her class teacher, the programme created a supportive space where trying, failing and improving were all part of the process. Over time, small changes began to appear.

She started to contribute more.

At first, it was simple engagement in activities. Then came a breakthrough moment during a team task, when she independently initiated conversations and began encouraging others. What had once been hesitation turned into participation—and then into leadership within the group.

This progress was closely linked to the mental toughness tools introduced throughout the programme.

In particular, positive self-talk proved to be a turning point. Earlier in the programme, she had a tendency to be overly critical of herself when things didn’t go right. Learning how to reframe those thoughts helped her approach challenges differently—sticking with tasks rather than stepping away from them.

Bryce Ness saw that shift clearly across the weeks. “It was great to see her improve,” he said. “At the start, she would get frustrated and doubt herself quite quickly, but as the sessions went on, she showed a much stronger mindset and was far more willing to keep trying and support others around her.”

Alongside this, she developed stronger habits of positive self-reflection and goal setting, building the resilience to keep going even when things felt difficult.

The impact didn’t stop within the sessions.

Conversations with her teacher highlighted a wider shift across the group. Relationships between the girls improved noticeably, both in the classroom and out in the playground. They were communicating more, supporting each other more, and creating a more positive class dynamic overall.

For this pupil, the change was clear.

She became more confident, more resilient, and more willing to try new things—even without prior experience. By the end of the programme, she was not only participating, but actively engaging with others and embracing challenges she would previously have avoided.

She also showed interest in continuing her golf journey beyond school, exploring opportunities at Carnoustie Golf Links.

While her next steps are unknown, her journey reflects something bigger.

Through a supportive environment and the right tools, she moved from standing on the sidelines to stepping forward—building confidence, forming friendships, and developing the resilience to handle challenges both in sport and in everyday life.

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How a friendly club helped Theo find his confidence - and his place

Golf Foundation — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:23:40 +0000

“It was so good that Aaron took Theo on for one-to-one and then group coaching. If it wasn’t for him, Theo probably wouldn’t be the person he is today!”

— ELIZABETH HANCOCK

Theo, who is neurodiverse, has had the best possible golf caddie and mentor in his Mum Elizabeth. She says golf has been “absolutely brilliant” for Theo’s ability to mix with others, for developing his own patience, confidence and discipline and also, importantly, his mobility skills and balance as he grows up in the busy and challenging world around him.

And Theo, now aged 15, is in no doubt about the game himself, saying: “Golf has changed my life because it has helped me make new friends and build my confidence. I love golf because it’s fun and I just enjoy it all the time!”

When Theo was about four-years-old his parents Elizabeth and Jamie Hancock were concerned that he was non-verbal; he experienced epilepsy and had mobility issues. “It was a very uncertain time, but a great thing happened when he discovered golf,” says Elizabeth.

That first experience aged four was Crazy Golf – they bought him a Disney set of little plastic clubs which he took everywhere, including to bed!

Before finally being diagnosed as autistic aged around eight, Theo’s passion for golf was a constant blessing, with Mum making indoor nets and targets and an outside net for the garden as he learned to hit the ball in fun games with his Dad.

Being new to golf, his parents did worry that he would not be accepted at a club for coaching but Aaron Holtom, PGA Professional at Morley Hayes Golf, was happy to help.

“It was so good that Aaron took Theo on for one-to-one and then group coaching,” says Elizabeth. “If it wasn’t for him, Theo probably wouldn’t be the person he is today. Despite Theo having epilepsy Aaron was so keen to help from the start, which was fantastic.”

After the Covid period, Theo was desperate to play again and Elizabeth was delighted he was welcomed at Alfreton Golf Club in Derbyshire, under the guidance of enthusiastic and experienced Junior Organiser Diana Riley, who says: “Theo’s progress has been remarkable, which is thanks to many of our young members for their welcome and the respect they show, but also to Theo himself, who works so hard on his golf. He has really enjoyed the Derbyshire Futures Tour and more lately the Golf Foundation’s GolfSixes League, where he excelled in a winning team this winter.”

Theo says: “I love GolfSixes because I meet new people from other clubs and I really enjoy it. It’s brilliant.”

Mum Elizabeth adds: “I do think golf has changed Theo’s life in many ways. He struggled with people accepting him but golf has helped people to see him differently.

“In GolfSixes League he plays with different team mates and they work together as a team. The Junior Captain [Marcus] has been so helpful. The other young players don’t see Theo as neurodiverse, they see him as a person and a golfer who they are happy to include. No one is left out. I love seeing him getting on well with the other children.

“I can go along and have a coffee and watch him go off with the other youngsters, he is safe as one of the group. When we went to the prize-giving we were delighted that he didn’t want to sit with us but joined the others at their table.

“Theo hits the ball his own way and he can take his time, and Diana and everyone in the GolfSixes and Derbyshire Futures has helped him to succeed.”

Elizabeth explains: “Theo does come across a lot of challenges with being autistic but when he has a golf club in his hand he is a different boy, it’s helped with his confidence, eye co-ordination and balance, and discipline. This is the only sport that he has tried and that he still loves to this day.”

Diana adds: “We are all looking forward to the GolfSixes League in the summer with the Golf Foundation. We will also help Theo get his first golf handicap in a relaxed way to avoid putting him under too much pressure.”

Elizabeth says Theo still loves playing Crazy Golf with her and Dad Jamie, only today he is not only trying to beat his first caddie, Mum, but also carefully practising his putting for the exciting golf ahead in his future.

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How one coach reached 20,000 young people in Scotland

Golf Foundation — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:20:19 +0000

“It’s about giving kids the gift of golf and helping them belong to clubs. If we don’t grow the game, we don’t have golf’s future”

— JAMES ERSKINE

PGA professional James Erskine was recognised at the 2025 President’s Awards with the prestigious Sir Henry Cotton Award for outstanding service to junior golf.

Based at Dumfries & County, James has devoted two decades to growing the game across southwest Scotland, coaching more than 10,000 children and creating a new academy facility with a 4-bay range and 4-hole short course.

Reflecting on his journey, James told Golf Foundation President Nick Dougherty: “I grew up in a sparse area with poor facilities and little coaching. I made it my mission to change that. Over the last 20 years, I’ve delivered coaching at 23 of 24 local clubs, and seeing kids now play the game – that’s the greatest reward.”

James’ efforts have helped produce national champions and more than 20 PGA professionals, but his philosophy remains rooted in grassroots growth.

“It’s not about the tour players,” he explains. “It’s about giving kids the gift of golf and helping them belong to clubs. If we don’t grow the game, we don’t have golf’s future.” His award cements his reputation as one of the UK’s most passionate advocates for grassroots development.

Tim Morrison, who nominated James for the Golf Foundation’s award in 2025, has known him for more than 15 years, and picks up the story with more detail on his background.

“I first met James Erskine when I was chairman of the Stanley Morrison Charitable Trust, and we arranged a meeting to discuss the opportunities that might exist by establishing a junior golf tournament at Portpatrick Dunskey, whereJames was currently the resident professional. As a result, the Stanley Morrison Charitable Trust Team Championship was established, and with James’ dynamism, personality and determination, juniors were attracted from the south, west and central belt of Scotland. Over the years the tournament has attracted more than 1,000 juniors, becoming an essential fixture in the development pathway for young golfers in southwest Scotland.

“In 2014, James transitioned to a new role at Dumfries & County, the club that he had joined recently. However, this new challenge presented significant obstacles, including poor facilities, limited connections with local schools and a general lack of support for junior development. Undeterred, James employed some creative solutions. These innovative efforts helped generate momentum and sustain the growth of junior golf in the area, with 115 juniors attending indoor coaching funded through the Stanley Morrison Trust.

“A major challenge in junior golf development has been the lack of investment from Scottish Golf in regional pathways. Between 2020-24, James’ continued efforts led to the delivery of coaching to over 3,500 children in schools via the Children’s Golf Trust. This increased exposure translated into a surge in junior membership and the creation of an affordable coaching model that made golf more accessible to young people across the region.

“In late 2023, James made a presentation to the trustees promoting the creation of a state-of-the-art academy at Dumfries & County, with advanced facilities for young golfers, and providing a long-term base for developing top talent. The trust was pleased to support the concept financially. What impressed the trustees was that James strongly believed that a strong engagement with schools was key to overcoming historical challenges hindering the growth of junior golf. By embedding golf coaching into the school curriculum and partnering with local schools, he emphasised that golf in schools is essential for the sport’s survival and long-term growth.

“It was therefore with great delight that in March 2025 the newly opened facility at Dumfries and Galloway, which includes a 4-bay range, 4-hole academy course and short game area, was officially opened by Stephen Gallagher and myself as chairman of the Stanley Morrison Trust.

“The event was covered by the Scotsman, and I quote their coverage – ‘with James Erskine, the club professional as its driving force, this exciting project had been in the pipeline for a few years and has been made possible by private investment and sponsorship’. This development has been a long time coming, over the past seven years, his staff has delivered free coaching to over 4,000 juniors in the region.

The concept of this facility will help nurture young golfers and potential future members.”

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