Young Ambassadors Blog - The Golf Foundation

Leadership, on and off the course: Young Ambassadors at the first UK LPGA Academy

Golf Foundation — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:40:25 +0000

Written by Thilanya R and Sienna E

On 16th–17th June, four of the Young Ambassadors travelled to The Belfry to participate in the first LPGA Leadership Academy outside the USA. The two-day programme focused on developing leadership skills, building confidence and learning how to manage emotions both on and off the golf course.

One of the techniques we were introduced to was “BLAB”, which stands for Body, Language, Appreciation and Breathe. This provided us with a simple method for recognising and managing our emotions, demonstrating how changes in our breathing, body language and mindset can influence our approach to different situations. We also explored how we respond to negative emotions through an activity where we wrote down three negative feelings, tore up the paper and threw the pieces into the air. This provided a practical way of showing how you can change how you feel in an instant by recognising and letting go of negative thoughts.

The programme also included a variety of practical golf activities. In one putting challenge, we were blindfolded and had to rely on a partner to direct us towards the hole, testing communication and trust while aiming to complete the putt in as few shots as possible. We also attempted flop shots over a tall wall, focusing on encouraging our peers and persevering when shots did not go to plan.

Another activity involved creating our own vision boards using a range of craft materials. These collages represented our future goals and ambitions, as well as the steps and people that could help us achieve them. This encouraged us to think about our aspirations and how we could work towards them.

A particular highlight was a surprise visit from LPGA Tour player Charley Hull. She spoke about her journey into professional golf, the challenges she has faced and her experiences throughout her career. We were also given the opportunity to ask questions and speak with her afterwards, providing valuable insight into life as a professional golfer.

To conclude the programme, we explored different leadership styles and personality types. By identifying our own ‘bird’ personality type, we gained a better understanding of our individual strengths, communication styles and how these can contribute to effective leadership. The LPGA Leadership Academy team was consistently supportive throughout the two days and provided us with personalised gifts, including ball markers representing our bird types.

Overall, the LPGA Leadership Academy was a valuable opportunity to develop practical leadership and communication skills alongside other young female golfers. We gained techniques that can be applied both on and off the course, while building connections within the Young Ambassadors community and gaining a greater understanding of what effective leadership involves.

Closing the Gender Media Gap: The Future of Women’s Golf and the Path to Equality

Golf Foundation — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:09:58 +0000

Written by Charlotte Denyer

On the morning of Thursday 31st July, as the sun rose, there was a buzz of excitement as crowds gathered around the practice range at the number one golf course in Wales: Royal Porthcawl. The flags of the represented countries waved in the breeze which was making its way across the golf course from the Bristol Channel. The swings were pure, and the shots were flush, struck by 144 of the world’s best female golfers.

Among those warming up was England’s Charley Hull, two-time winner on the LPGA Tour and fashion trailblazer, looking for her first major victory after three runner-up finishes. Her tee time was 8:31 am alongside the World number two, Jeeno Titikul and three-time major champion, Minjee Lee. This star-studded tee time promised to bring the audience and showcase the highest quality of women’s golf.

Also in the field was England’s Lottie Woad, the bookmaker’s favourite after her win at the Women’s Scottish Open in her maiden tournament as a professional. She was playing alongside the 2024 champion, Lydia Ko and the 2023 champion, Lilia Vu. Then there was Nelly Korda—the world number one, classy and effortless -determined to capture her first victory of 2025.

However, here’s the issue: TV coverage of the Women’s Open did not begin until 12 noon on any of the four days. Consequently, viewers at home were unable to watch the majority of Charley Hull and her playing partners’ impressive early-round performances. What’s more frustrating is that by the time television coverage began on Friday, high-profile players such as Lottie Woad and Nelly Korda had already completed their rounds and signed their scorecards.

In comparison, coverage for the Men’s Open begins at 6:30 am and finishes at 7:30 pm, meaning every single group is covered and is available to watch. This year, the women’s open only received 54% of the airtime the men’s open received. This disparity demonstrates how, in 2025, there is still a massive divide between male and female golf coverage.

This limited coverage of women’s golf creates a visibility gap, making it harder for young girls to see women playing golf. Without having these role models, it is difficult for girls to see professional golf as a possible career. Ultimately, this results in fewer girls taking up the sport, as they perceive golf to be a ‘man’s game’. This perception is further reinforced by the media who portray men’s golf as the norm and treat women’s golf as a by-product.

Furthermore, the less coverage Women’s golf gets, the less it appeals to sponsors, creating a cycle of disproportionately lower prize funds, reduced investment, and fewer opportunities for players. This financial disparity makes it increasingly difficult for professional golfers – particularly those not at the very top of the game – to earn a sustainable living or cover the substantial costs associated with competing at the highest level.

After winning the Chevron Championship in 2024, Nelly Korda said, “We need a stage. We need to be on primetime TV, and we need to showcase the talent we have out here, which is a lot. We need the support from not just the crowds but the television networks.”

Despite this lack of media coverage, women’s golf is an exciting and growing industry. In fact, brands are missing out on reaching valuable new audiences by shying away from sponsoring and covering women’s sports. According to a Deloitte report, women’s sport is ‘on track’ to be worth over a billion dollars; however, it will need massive investment to reach this milestone.

Moreover, research by The Space Between indicates that fans of women’s sports are 25% more likely to purchase sponsor products than fans of men’s sports, while female fans demonstrate twice the brand recall of their male counterparts. This insight represents a compelling opportunity for companies to amplify brand growth while championing the advancement of women’s sport. Adverts celebrating sportswomen are also seen as 148% more rewarding than adverts featuring sportsmen, showing how female athletes act as great role models and are ambassadors for their sport.

In conclusion, imagine a future in golf where the gender media gap has been bridged. The sport would thrive as a truly equitable arena, encouraging participation from all genders and celebrating the rich diversity of its players. Through innovative broadcasting and strategic sponsorship, golf has the potential to evolve into a truly level playing field—one where talent reigns supreme, gender holds no barriers, and every golfer has an equal platform to excel.

Teeing up Change: The Next Generation of Girls in Golf

Golf Foundation — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 07:05:46 +0000

Written by Ruby Baxter

Not long ago it was rare to see a young girl stood confidently on a tee box. Surrounded by boys and the strong traditional values of golf, it can be a daunting thing to feel you have to try and prove yourself as a young girl golfer. Luckily, the support and promotion that girls are now receiving from initiatives like England Golf’s “Girls Golf Rocks” encourages them to pick up their clubs and make their way onto the course. This has resulted a rise in participation for girls in golf, and the numbers are always increasing.

However, the journey to a more gender-inclusive game has not been easy: since the emergence of golf, the sport has been seen as a ‘gentlemen’s game’, and this out-dated stereotype has even crept its way into junior golf. As of 2024, only 11% of junior golfers who are members of golf clubs in England are girls. This is a clear reminder that progress is still needed, and that the game still has barriers that need to be overcome to create a more inclusive and inspiring environment. Aligning with the key values of Young Ambassadors, who work to promote Inspiration, Innovation, and Inclusivity in golf, there are clear examples of clubs across England working to make golf more accessible for young girls, and helping them by facing the challenge of barriers in golf, but more importantly, the challenge of confidently playing the course itself!

In recent years, England Golf’s programme “Girls Golf Rocks” has become increasingly popular among golf clubs that are pushing for inclusivity in golf and being able to play for the love of it, no matter your age, gender or golfing ability. Girls Golf Rocks is a national programme that invites girls ages 5-18 to take part in sessions learning the key skills of golf, and is mainly aimed at beginners. Through Girls Golf Rocks, England Golf are eager to introduce girls to golf in a way that is fun, sociable, relaxed, and allows them to make new connections with people who have similar interests, growing the community of golf for girls and making them feel more welcome. It lets girls try something new, even if it is something that they, or people around them, may perceive to be a male dominated sport; Girls Golf Rocks proves to girls that they can try anything they want to, without fear of being judged, and allows them to overcome than initial hesitation which normally stems from other people’s opinions. Having the friendly group environment can be really rewarding for girls trying out golf for the first time, because the support given and the friendships made in these sessions can really encourage girls to take their golf game a step further. This can be majorly beneficial for not just the competitive side of golf, but also the social benefits such as meeting new people, mental health benefits of being outside and exercising whilst reaching personal goals, and communication skills as you never know who you will meet out on the golf course!

While progress for the participation of girls in golf may be slow, we can confidently say that it is definitely there. Through Girls Golf Rocks, so many girls are getting to experience the wonderful game of golf, and are being inspired to learn and grow their skills and reach new goals in their game, no matter their background, age, and especially gender.

Golf clubs can still sign up and get involved this season and booking for participants is now open! Find out more about Girls Golf Rocks and Get into Golf Rookies on the England Golf website: www.englandgolf.org/rocks-and-rookies

Young Ambassadors Easter Egg Hunt

Golf Foundation — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:01:21 +0000

Written by Matthew Lister

As promised in our previous article, we have a national Easter Egg hunt running over the next few weeks! One of our Young Ambassadors, Matthew Lister (Fulford GC, Yorkshire) explains further:

Myself, and the other England Golf and Golf Foundation Young Ambassadors have been up to a couple of projects recently, with an Easter theme behind them. The first project was to hide Easter Eggs full of goodies at golf venues all over the country, diversifying from golf courses, crazy golf courses, indoor simulators and driving ranges. In the belief that… juniors will find them, become aware of the Young Ambassador programme (if they were not aware already) and how we are trying to make golf more enjoyable and accessible to a younger audience. Also, for whoever finds the Easter Eggs there will be some small golf related prizes waiting at the venue for them to collect and take home. The eggs will be findable right across the Easter bank holiday weekend. Videos on our Instagram page will give you clues on where to look, so stay tuned.

The second project, which we developed at our latest in person meeting, was to design some new Golfway games, one of which had an Easter theme to it (see photo). This was made up of a large Easter Egg with four different sections, designed to practice distance control and you scored points depending on which section of the target you hit, the further away the target, the more points scored. We also designed some other Golfway games around other holiday times of the year too, and all the Young Ambassadors had some really great and engaging ideas. Hopefully these will be turned into real Golfway games and used in schools and at golf clubs around the country! What activities are your club running this Easter for children and young people? We hope our ideas have inspired you to be creative and fun this holiday!

Finally, a huge congratulations to Megan Grimwood (Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire), one of our Young Ambassadors who won the England Golf Young Person of the Year Award, Sponsored by the Golf Foundation. A further congratulations to Ruby Fox (Kenwick Park, Lincolnshire), another fantastic member of the group who was Runner – up, alongside George Cornall (Kenilworth and The Warwickshire, Warwickshire).

Introducing the 2025 Young Ambassadors!

Golf Foundation — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 07:57:42 +0000

Written by Zara Wartnaby and Henry Price

The England Golf and Golf Foundation Young Ambassador Programme continues for another exciting year; with new faces and new plans aimed at changing perceptions and inspiring young people to take up golf. The group of 21 young people spent their first weekend together at Staverton Park at the beginning of February.

Henry Price, who is in his third and final year on the programme said, “We enjoyed getting to know one another and sharing and planning the amazing things we will be doing this year. We also shared the journeys we have taken to get to this point of our lives. It was a great experience for the new recruits as well as the Young Ambassadors who have been involved for one or two years already. I am really looking forward to working with them this year to influence change in golf.”

Looking ahead, we have an exciting lineup of events and activities. The Hero’s Handshake award will continue to celebrate young people making a difference in golf, with nominations opening 1st May. We warmly welcome nominations from anyone who would like to nominate a deserving young golfer for the first time. We are also hoping that anyone who had nominated last year would do so again this year for their friends, family or someone else they feel deserves the award.

There are big plans to ramp up our social media presence to showcase our initiatives, share inspiring stories, and keep everyone updated on what’s happening. As we get closer to Easter, keep an eye out for our special Young Ambassador Egg Hunt – each of us will be hiding an egg filled with goodies at a golf club near us, so stay tuned!

It’s shaping up to be a fantastic year, and we can’t wait to get started. Follow us on our journey as we continue to grow the game and create opportunities for more young people to get involved in golf!

A huge welcome to the new recruits for 2025:

Matthew Lister (Yorkshire) Scarlett Newing (Kent) Jake Taylor (Hertfordshire) Charlotte Denyer (Buckinghamshire) Ruby Baxter (Yorkshire) Evie Sanderson (Yorkshire) James Lloyd (Staffordshire) Sienna Elliott (Somerset)

Why golf is good for young people

Golf Foundation — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 07:54:38 +0000

Written by Charlie Gordon

Golf is often seen as a leisurely sport associated with older generations, in some cases frowned upon by some, calling it ‘not a sport’ and boring. Yet, there are so many benefits that golf holds for young people. In an age of technology and social media, getting out in the fresh air can feel like a chore for many. The time spent whether out on the golf course, driving range, adventure golf or practice area offers crucial physical, mental and social development for youngsters. Nevertheless, perceived high prices for equipment, high membership costs and green fees and prejudicial attitudes towards young people in Golf can sometimes prevent young people from taking up golf on a more serious basis. In spite of this golf clubs, governing bodies and manufacturers are doing all they can to aid golf’s quest to enfranchise young people in golf. I will delve more deeply into the many reasons why golf is positive for young people and how those who run the sport can help.

Benefits:

Social skills and networking

Golf is intrinsically a social sport. Young people learn how to interact with one another in a respectful and courteous manner which is key to improving people’s characters as well as preparing young people for the world of work. As a university student myself, involving myself with the university’s golf society has been an incredibly sociable experience whereby keen young golfers, such as myself, can connect with like-minded individuals.

Character building and goal setting

While Golf is a sport of continuous improvement, it also requires a high level of mental focus and discipline. This in turn contributes to the building of one’s character. Golf teaches those playing to take each shot at a time and accept that both good and bad luck can occur at any time which indirectly translates to life’s journey itself. Golf also offers the chance for anyone of any level to play competitively with the use of the handicap system. This gives youngsters the opportunity to play with adults who can offer crucial advice and mentorship.

Physical fitness

In an age where child obesity is steadily rising, golf can lay the foundations for a healthy lifestyle. Walking several miles around a golf course can be physically demanding, and on a regular basis the benefits can quickly be seen in improving fitness and stamina. This in turn contributes positively to young people’s mental health which is seeing a crisis currently. A healthy lifestyle according to the University of Cambridge can help prevent depression as new research suggests.

Solutions:

Affordable access

In line with policies that many golf clubs use, offering discounted junior and student rates help to reduce financial barriers to the game.

Social media engagement

Using platforms popular with young people is just one way of promoting golf as positive and fun which is something that the young ambassadors aim to do.

Youth programmes

Developing engaging programmes such as camps, masterclasses and group sessions enable young people to learn the etiquette and mechanics of the game in a fun and sociable way.

While we are on the right track to improving youth engagement in golf, there is always more that can be done to provide the opportunity for kids of all backgrounds to play a sport that is incredibly positive for everyone that has the pleasure of participating.

They chipped, they drove, they putted, they SMASHED it!

Golf Foundation — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 06:51:23 +0000

Written by Millie Greenhalgh

The Junior Golf Challenge event. The potential beginning for lots of new juniors in this exhilarating game we call golf.

It was a cold, wet, windy summer’s day at the oldest club in the renowned north west golfing town of Southport – Hesketh Golf Club. Five teams of six budding young golfers, up to the age of 14, came to represent their local clubs – Fairhaven, Hillside, Hesketh and Formby Hall. Each team worked together with the support of their Junior Organiser as well as their family and friends who were present at the event.

The day kicked off with a warm and enthusiastic welcome from England Golf’s Laura Yapp and the Junior Challenge Team – Lucy, Helen, Lauren, Ben, Zara and Millie. Laura explained the three tasks ahead of them, a mix of challenges testing their long, short and putting game.

After a short and energetic warm-up, the smiles started to appear and the fun began. Each team had a structured timetable guiding them from one station to the next.

The long game challenge, which consisted of a 50-yard closest to the pin and a longest drive, was a strong favourite of the children, putting all their strength and power into hitting that drive to earn as many points as possible for their team.

The second favourite must have been the putting challenges. The children were faced with two different tasks testing their ability to read the green and measure the pace of the putt. The cheers were deafening when the putts were sinking!

Lastly, the chipping challenge, probably the most difficult of the day, was hard but the children gave it their very best. With some encouraging enthusiasm from the helpers and the team, success was still achieved and some amazing points were taken.

After being out in the wet and cold weather, it was time for the excitement of the results and presentation.

After a closing speech, the results were in, with Fairhaven 2 winning the gold medal and taking 1st place with a grand total of 462 points, followed very closely by Hillside Golf Club who picked up the silver medal. Formby Hall took bronze with Fairhaven 1 and Hesketh just behind.

A challenging yet fun day was had by everyone with every junior leaving with a smile on their face. Many thanks to Hesketh Golf Club for hosting this brilliant day and hopefully we will be back soon, to continue and encourage the young golfers of the future.

From the UK to the US – My Story

Golf Foundation — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 06:48:38 +0000

Written by Olivia Whittle

My name is Olivia Whittle, 18 years old from Staffordshire. I found the love for golf as a child being brought up living on a golf course. When I was 6 years old Katrina White, the Professional at the time, introduced me to the game and from that moment on I loved it. I went to the kid camps through the school holidays and, Katrina also hosted weekly sessions that I was always welcome to join, and 12 years down the line I haven’t stopped playing!

From the day I started playing golf as a 6-year-old I remember my first club being a blue 7 iron and from this moment on I have just progressed from there; the golf club made me feel welcome every way possible from weekly lessons to club competitions and getting me involved in club matches. The sessions are arranged into ability so when you went to the session you felt like you weren’t the odd one out. The next stage of my golfing journey was when I joined Staffordshire County ladies golf association, which involved many matches against various counties. Here I met a great bunch of girls in the team that I became close friends with, and this not only improved my golf, but I also made some great friends from all over the country. This benefited my social life outside of golf as well!

The confidence and social skills golf taught me at a young age was amazing. I never thought at the age of 10 I’d play with new people each time, and love It. I have been part of the county for 10 years now, when I was younger, I always looked up at the older girls and though I want to become the captain and become the role model you are to me one day. I made this happen in 2024 when I was announced Junior County Captain, after winning the Ladies and Junior County Championships 2023. I also am a 2-time Runner-Up for the Ladies County Championships just narrowly missing out on the 18th hole to become defending champion. Without the support from my home club this would never have happened.

Leading on from county golf I have been able to fulfil my chances in applying for the England regional squad and getting accepted into the team at the age of 13. I have been in the squad 5 years now, becoming captain of the squad in 2022 and I was also able to complete a 2-year course with England golf as they work with Loughborough College. Therefore, it hasn’t just benefited my golfing ability it has also helped me academically.

All these experiences made me realise my talent for the game and now I am about to reach my goal of obtaining a scholarship at the University of North Alabama in the NCAA D1 league which is amazing! I have been able to do this because of the support I have had from the people around me; my friends and family, and my golf clubs. The motivation and the kindness from all the members are awesome.

I am a keen sports person who is always wanting to get involved. Therefore, I joined the Young Ambassadors Programme which is a 2-year voluntary programme that enables me to share my experiences within the game but also help the game grow and get more people playing. Being involved within this programme has allowed me to volunteer at the Open in Liverpool, British Masters, join live podcasts with amazing people such as Charley Hull. You can follow our progress as Young Ambassadors via our Instagram page @golfambassadors.

I have also been a Girls Golf rocks Ambassador at The Chase Golf and Country Club, a programme that helps introduce golf to more girls. For me to be a part of this was great as I got to share my experiences which inspired the girls to give it a go. My involved in these programmes led a nomination for the Hero’s Handshake award, I was happy to have won this trophy and be appreciated for all my hard work.

All of this has provided me with motivation and inspiration to keep going and become the best version of myself, despite any setbacks. I hope that my story will help inspire more people to follow their dreams and think about how they are going to achieve them.

My Top Tips for player progression are:

1. Be determined – golf isn’t an easy sport but with determination you can be the best version of yourself.

2. Be confident – this is important because you won’t perform as well as you can if you don’t give your all.

3. Practice like you mean it! – always make sure you are putting 100% effort in but also have fun while doing this!

4. Don’t stop believing – never think that you can’t do something, the people around you will help guide and support you. Anything is possible!

5. Have Fun! – always play with a smile on your face, then the work will never seem that hard.

The New Season Starts Now!

Golf Foundation — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:45:30 +0000

Written by Henry Price

Welcome to the New Year ready for some golf fun and enjoyment where you can play in the nice sun or in the choppy rain with wind blowing everywhere on the Golf Course!

Equipment needed!

On the golf course there are going to be a couple of changes compared to the winter season, for example you won’t be needing to use those winter mats as much, unless it is really wet and the course is dripping wet. Also you won’t be needing all those warm layers to put on! To help get started, here is a little guide of the essentials that you will need for your golfing fun this summer:

Tee pegs, pitch mark repairer, glove, ball marker, golf balls, clubs, snacks, and water as the musts
Either shorts or trousers depending on comfort or weather, and a thin jumper or thick one if it gets cold
Finally, a hat if it gets sunny and sun cream with sunglasses if needed.

These will help you with your golfing needs for the new golfing season and will help you get on the course without the worry of the conditions.

Make your last big swing changes!

Winter is undoubtedly the best time to make all the big swing changes that you feel are going to best improve your golf moving into the oncoming season. One tip is, make your last big changes now! Of course, small tweaks and revisits will be required all throughout the season to keep you in top form, however, making the last big changes now will allow you to have enough time to perfect them before getting 2024 started off with a bang!

Get out on the course!

This may seem obvious, however, it truly cannot be stressed enough. Out on the course, you will never play the same round twice, the abundance of experience you can get from going out and playing will be invaluable to your golf career. Even if the weather is not sunshine and perfect, challenge yourself to get out on the course and tackle any conditions. It will help your golf game more than you can imagine! Drag your golfing buddies along, it does not have to be a competition, it is all about getting out there and giving it a go; have a laugh with your friends and just enjoy it!

Ultimately, everyone will prepare for their season in a different way, it is all about doing what is best for you and your golf game. No matter what you do, enjoy it, even if you have a bad round or a bad session, getting out there in the summer will make all the work you have put into your game worth it!

Introduction to Young Ambassadors 2024

Golf Foundation — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 07:37:23 +0000

Written by Zara Wartnaby And Millie Greenhalgh

Who are we?

We are excited to introduce the 2024 Young Ambassador team, a partnership programme between England Golf and The Golf Foundation. During our first weekend together we came up with new exciting plans, goals and lots of new friendships made. Over the coming year we will work together to create a strong bond to allow us to make changes, improvements, and create new opportunities for lots of young eager golfers out there.

Our new team is a group of individuals of a variety of ages and from locations all around England, each with different experiences and achievements. We are all eager to learn from and support each other throughout the year.

INCLUSIVE – The more the merrier

INNOVATIVE – You will never know unless you try

INSPIRING – Believe, succeed, achieve

What you can expect from us in 2024:

As many of you know we have our Young Ambassador projects such as the ‘Heroes Handshake’ programme, which celebrates successes in junior golf, no matter how big or small. This year’s awards will be themed with our core values; Inclusive, Innovative, and Inspiring. We are opening applications on the 6th of March, and they will close on the 3rd of April, so be sure to send in your golfing community’s achievements and successes before it’s too late! You can find out more about the Heroes Handshake and make your nominations by scanning the QR code.

This year we will be continuing our print media team, who will be commenting on the latest and most relevant topics within our sport, so make sure you are up to date with the ‘Midland golfer’, where we will be publishing our Young Ambassador articles.

Finally, our social media team will be keeping you informed of all our exciting plans and activities in the future. We are all eager to share and explore this journey with you, so find us on our platforms: Instagram (@GolfAmbassadors) and Twitter (x) (@GolfAmbassadors)