“Partnerships like this help us reach more young people with the skills, confidence and mental resilience they need both on and off the golf course. The club’s energy, creativity and commitment to junior golf perfectly reflect what the game can achieve at its best.”

The Golf Foundation is delighted to celebrate the incredible support of Bury St Edmunds Golf Club, whose Captain’s Charity efforts have raised a fantastic £6,202 to help introduce more young people to golf and support their wellbeing through the game.

Captain Garry Clark and the team selected the Golf Foundation because of a shared belief in giving back to the sport while creating meaningful opportunities for the next generation. With an already thriving junior section of around 150 young people in the academy and long-standing involvement in Golf Sixes League across Suffolk, the club’s commitment to youth development runs deep.

Throughout the year, members rallied behind a packed calendar of creative fundraising activities. Highlights included the Captain’s Drive-In challenge, the ever-popular charity car park draw, a mid-summer putting competition, quiz and comedy raffles, and the flagship Captain’s Charity Day and auction, which generated the largest share of funds. The club also introduced thoughtful touches such as Pilates donations, table decoration auctions, and the Captain/Pro challenge to keep momentum high without overburdening members.

Reflecting on the year, Garry said the chipping and putting competition was particularly special to organise, demonstrating the club’s hands-on enthusiasm for fun, inclusive fundraising.

“We are hugely grateful to Garry, Wendy and everyone at Bury St Edmunds Golf Club for this outstanding support,” said Brendon Pyle, CEO of the Golf Foundation. “Partnerships like this help us reach more young people with the skills, confidence and mental resilience they need both on and off the golf course. The club’s energy, creativity and commitment to junior golf perfectly reflect what the game can achieve at its best.”

The Golf Foundation extends sincere thanks to everyone at Bury St Edmunds Golf Club for an exceptional Captain’s Charity year – a brilliant example of a club community coming together to help young people thrive through golf.

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There’s a buzz in the playground every Tuesday at Wodensfield Primary — and it’s all thanks to our incredible Year 6 Playleaders who are leading the way in the Unleash Your Drive sessions as part of Tee-Off Tuesday.

“These sessions are more than just fun and games,” the school explain. “They’re a brilliant opportunity for children across the school to learn new skills, take part in exciting challenges, and build their confidence. With golf-inspired activities designed to be inclusive and engaging, pupils are swinging into action with smiles on their faces and a real sense of achievement.

“Children are loving the chance to try something new, compete in friendly games, and discover how to stay focused and resilient – even when things don’t go perfectly the first time. That’s the heart of Unleash Your Drive: helping children develop not just physical skills, but the mindset to keep going, keep growing, and keep smiling.

“This isn’t just led by the teacher, we have a team of Playleader Golf coaches. Our Year 6 Playleaders have stepped up with pride, showing fantastic leadership as they guide younger pupils through each activity. From setting up stations to cheering on participants, they’re modelling teamwork, patience, and positivity – and it’s making a huge difference.”

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Only six of those members were girls, and many weren’t actively playing. Junior Organiser Russ Groombridge and the team set out to change that, focusing on social connection and fun to make the club a destination for girls.

The results have been transformative. By inviting existing members to bring friends and hosting high-energy games on the putting green, the club made golf a social event. After signing up for Girls Golf Rocks, almost 20 girls have progressed through the coaching programme. Today, the number of girl members has jumped from six to nearly 30—a 400% increase.

WHAT THEY DID DIFFERENTLY
Fulwell broke down the social and physical barriers that often stop girls from staying in the sport. They introduced “Girls & Ladies Get Togethers,” where teams of two girls and two lady members play a 9-hole scramble. To build independence and social confidence, parents are encouraged to leave their daughters with the lady members during play.

Recognising that 18 holes can be intimidating, the club installed specific forward tees for juniors and focused on shorter, faster formats. The “social” doesn’t end on the 9th green; everyone heads to the clubhouse for tea and cakes (and a G&T for the ladies!), fostering a mentorship culture where the adult members are now the biggest advocates for the junior girls.

THE IMPACT

• Dramatic Growth: Girl membership increased from 6 to nearly 30 in just 18 months.

• Intergenerational Mentoring: Built strong, supportive bonds between the ladies’ and juniors’ sections.

• Accessibility: Created a permanent forward-tee system and shorter formats to suit all abilities.

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Inspired to golf by her father and grandparents, she shows unwavering dedication – playing regularly, attending county junior training, and practicing at the driving range with focus and determination. Despite being dyslexic and awaiting diagnosis for ADHD, Jessica never lets her challenges or gender hold her back. Her ability to concentrate under pressure is remarkable, and she shows outstanding perseverance, confidence, and responsibility in everything she does.

Jessica champions female participation in golf and uplifts younger and less experienced players with encouragement, patience, and respect. Through her TikTok channel, she promotes golf’s values—honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, courtesy, and good judgment—making the sport more welcoming for all. She takes great pride in learning and practising golf etiquette and is a true role model on and off the course. Jessica’s spirit truly inspires those around her.

Jessica is lucky enough to play at Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club and is inspired by her coach, Sam Forgan, he is an amazing coach how truly values and champions young females on the sport.

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By harnessing the global excitement of one of golf’s greatest spectacles, Community Golf Instructor Andy Leigh transformed a standard training session into a high-stakes, high-energy team battle.

Young golfers were split into “Europe” and “USA” teams, complete with waving flags and team colours. The atmosphere was electric, with the spirit of international competition fuelling every swing. By channelling this energy, the session showed young players that golf is about far more than just technique—it’s about teamwork, passion, and belonging to something bigger.

WHAT THEY DID DIFFERENTLY

Euxton Park uses the power of major international golf events—including the Solheim Cup and the Majors—to create immersive themed lessons.

Instead of traditional drills, the juniors competed across a series of “Ryder Cup” skill stations designed to build pressure and excitement:

• Precision Putting & Creative Chipping

• Long Iron Accuracy & Driver Power

• Bunker Escapes

The focus shifted from individual practice to team success, with chants of “Allez, Allez, Allez!” and “USA! USA!” echoing across the range. This “miniature” version of the pro game keeps the focus on fun while introducing the fundamentals of competitive play in a supportive environment.

THE IMPACT

• High Engagement: The themed format led to 100% participation and high energy levels.

• Skill Building: Juniors practiced high-pressure shots under the guise of “team points,” building resilience.

• Community Spirit: The event created a memorable, shared experience for both the children and the coaching staff.

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We caught up with Annabel Denyer at the BMW PGA Championship, where she handed over a cheque for an incredible £3,373 – an amount she managed to raise during her Captain’s Golf Day when she was junior captain at Woburn Golf Club.

“We decided to use the items donated from the Golf Foundation to help raise funds from our raffle on the day, as well as a few other bits that have been donated by members and some signed merch from Ian Poulter,” she explained.

“For the golf, we played teams of 4 playing Texas scramble, all doing a shotgun start on the Marquess course. We had over 90 people attending and a BBQ afterwards.

“In terms of the activities on the course, we had various activities which people had to pay to enter – longest drive, closest to the pin, beat the pro and a Captains Charity water hole where if you hit your ball into the water, you had to donate.

“After the event, I gave a speech about the Golf Foundation and thanked everyone for their donations and help, plus we had a heads and tails game to raise extra funds. It went really well, and I’m very happy to have raised so much money to support your cause!”

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“We’ve got a challenging 9-hole, 18-tee course in the heart of the Peak District,” they explain. “We have been successful in growing our junior membership base from approximately 10 in 2022 to over 50 by 2025. This has been achieved by offering ‘Girls Golf Rocks’ and ‘Get into Golf Rookies’ sessions in conjunction with England Golf, as well as piloting a new ‘Unleash Your Drive’ initiative in conjunction with the Golf Foundation.

“This is our third year of submitting a team into the ‘Golf Sixes League’ and this year we were able to enter a team for the Derbyshire County Junior League. We have re-introduced our own WHS Handicap Junior Competitions and, in conjunction with our local secondary school, hosted our first School Competition which will become an annual event.

“In addition to our junior members, we also have a substantial cohort of very young golfers who attend regular coaching sessions on a Saturday.”

What they did differently: 

“It was decided that more golfing opportunities needed to be provided both for our existing junior members and also to attract potential new members,” the club explain. “We entered the ‘GolfSixes league’ with our existing beginner golfers and also actively engaged with local schools to promote new opportunities for young golfers to try out golf, providing ‘Girls Golf Rocks’ and ‘Get into Golf Rookies’ sessions.

“We introduced a club night dedicated to our junior members, along with a loyalty card scheme and home baked cakes each week, supported by a group of DBS volunteers. We also started to provide the juniors with the opportunity to take part in non-handicap/fun competitions throughout the year. We provided free team shirts for our junior players and rewarded those who achieved a WHS handicap.

“Through the provision of wider golfing opportunities, continual progression and enjoyment of the game, parental support, word of mouth and a much more visible social media presence, our junior section has grown from strength to strength.

Here’s what the parents and young people had to say:

“We have two boys who joined Bakewell juniors as beginners. It’s such a welcoming club and the focus is on making it fun. Michelle is so enthusiastic and always offers cake (!) and Ricky is a brilliant coach. Getting involved in the Sixes has been a great experience too. Three years later and they are both obsessed. Thank you so much for creating such a lovely atmosphere. It’s been great to watch the juniors section grow so quickly and to see so many young people enjoying the course.” Cath and Jonny Davey (parents)

“I am a parent of a junior member of Bakewell Golf Club and have been amazed by their commitment to the juniors. In addition to regular group lessons, they provide lots of encouragement to juniors of all ages to get involved in golf. The Club’s participation in the Golf Sixes initiative is a wonderful way of allowing the juniors to play at other courses and gain confidence on the golf course. What I really valued here was that there was no pressure placed on the kids and it was all about making sure that they enjoyed themselves. However, what really stood out for me was Bakewell’s Junior Club Night, where the club closes the course for 2 hours on a Monday afternoon after school to allow juniors the space to go out and play a few holes together in a scramble format. It showed a real commitment from Bakewell Golf Club to their juniors and has resulted in both my son (and me) becoming members of the club.” Feargal Cochrane (Parent)

“I never thought I would say this but I now love golf more than football. It is so much fun.” Eddie Davey (Junior)

“I love learning golf because it’s fun and I get to play with my friends. I’ve really improved my putting and it makes me proud to see how much better I get each week. Golf has taught me to keep practising and never give up — and I always feel happy when we’re out playing together.” Margo Carr (Junior)

“My daughter has thoroughly enjoyed attending the course and can’t wait for her next coaching sessions. I’d also like to say that Michelle made the process of signing up incredibly easy and greeted us so warmly at each session. Ricky is so engaging with the kids and creates each session to be fun and full of encouragement and praise.” Tina Anderson (Parent)

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More than 150 children from across Knowsley took part in a free day of golf, fun, and community connection at Bowring Park & Golf Course, joined by former Liverpool FC players Stephen Warnock and Chris Kirkland – and marking the launch of the Golf Foundation’s ‘Unleash Your Drive’ programme.

Held during the Easter holidays, the Get In Golf Day gave local children the chance to try golf in a relaxed, inclusive environment – many for the first time – with coaching stations, educational activities, nature traills refreshments and inspiring guests.

“It was one of those days the kids will remember for a long time,” said Helen Paton, Head of Fundraising and Partnerships at Oneday, the organisation managing Bowring Park.

“To see over 100 children taking part in sport for free during the holidays is amazing. The Unleash Your Drive programme is all about building mental resilience in young people, and the skills they’re learning at events like this, in such a fun and welcoming environment, are things they can carry into everyday life.”

Unleash Your Drive, led by the Golf Foundation, is a nationwide campaign that uses golf to help young people develop life skills like confidence, focus, and emotional regulation – all while having fun in green spaces close to home.

The event was delivered in collaboration with Apollo Active, England Golf, The Golf Foundation, and Evolving Mindset, all working to break down traditional barriers to the sport and promote physical and mental wellbeing in children.

“Knowsley is one of the most deprived areas in the UK,” said Joey Stocks, Director of Apollo Active. “So we know that for many kids, turning up at a golf course and paying to play simply isn’t an option. That’s why these free Get Into Golf events are so important,  they’re about opening the door to every child.

“It’s not just about golf either, it’s about showing how sport builds friendships, social skills, and real confidence.”

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, who grew up nearby, praised the transformation of Bowring Park and shared his own connection to it:

“The change at Bowring Park over the last few years has been brilliant. The new Coach House has brought in so many new people from the local community – and that’s half the battle when it comes to getting more people into golf.

“I actually used to bunk on at Bowring during Covid – which you can’t do anymore of course! But that’s where it all started for me after I’d retired from football. I was playing with a few mates, caught the golf bug, and I’ve played regularly ever since.

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With dark nights, cold weather, and junior drop-out risk rising in winter, we wanted to extend the GolfSixes League season for young players and keep that team spirit alive. VGSL wasn’t just about keeping the game going - it was about reimagining how golf can be played, bringing clubs and simulator venues together to create a new pathway into the sport.

Two venues took part in the pilot scheme over winter:

• Bunker (Heanor, Derbyshire) - a 5-bay Trackman venue

• Outtabounds (Chilwell, Nottinghamshire) - a cosy single-bay simulator

Each hosted 3 junior teams - one from the venue and two from local clubs. That’s 6 teams across 6 fixtures, with rounds played on virtual versions of real and fictional courses. In total, 58 players registered.

Matches lasted around 1 hour per team, with host venues setting the challenges and inputting scores via Golf Genius. Entry was affordable at £6 per player per round, with no cost to the Golf Foundation - a model suggested by the venues themselves.

KEY AIMS & OBJECTIVES

1. To provide an extended playing season for juniors, to help keep them engaged with golf and reduce the risk of losing them to other traditional winter sports etc - i.e. increase retention of golfers by extending the activity period of the sport.

2. To create partnership links between golf clubs and indoor golf studios which may aid in the recruitment of new juniors that come into the sport through this more digital pathway. Once these links are established the indoor golf studios will be able to signpost juniors interested in continuing their golfing journey to local golf clubs, such as yourselves.

3. Increase the number of players/teams in outdoor GolfSixes League

THE IMPACT

At Outtabounds

• Friendships formed between players who hadn’t met before

• A brand new player now playing regularly

• Parents from different teams mingled and stayed to cheer

• Birthday party bookings came in off the back of the league!

• Improved relationship with nearby Beeston GC, who are now building their own simulator

“The setup and the team worked brilliantly… all the players watched and cheered each other’s shots!”

At Bunker:

• Amber Valley Golfers (Bunker’s junior team) are now joining the outdoor GSL

• Link with Alfreton GC formed – the club are now entering GolfSixes League this year

• A flexible format: Sunday mornings worked well, but some rounds shifted to afternoons to accommodate busy family calendars

“It’s been really good. The hardest part is juggling timings around parents, but otherwise we’re really happy. If Trackman created a sixes course and player sign-in, it would run even smoother.” - Adam Grace, Co-owner, Bunker

LOOKING AHEAD

VGSL could be just the beginning.

We’re thrilled with what VGSL has already achieved - not just numbers, but real stories of connection, progress, and joy. Huge thanks to our fantastic host venues, team managers, junior golfers, and families who made this pilot soar.

If you’re a golf club or simulator venue interested in joining the VGSL journey in 2026 - get in touch. Together, we’re making golf accessible, exciting, and a sport for all year round.

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