Take up a new hobby - Golf
26th January 2012

Cheshire County Golf Partnership

THE new year is the perfect time to take up a new hobby - especially if it helps lead to a healthier lifestyle.

Now golf clubs across Cheshire are making it even easier to give the sport a go - and enjoy the health and social benefits linked to playing.

PGA professionals from 15 different clubs have come together under the umbrella of the Cheshire County Golf Partnership to form a development group aimed at driving up the number of people playing golf from the 16plus age range.

They will be staging a series of free taster sessions and bargain-price group coaching programmes over the next few months. The Cheshire CGP is hoping to have introduced up to 500 people into the sport by the summer.

Golf facilities involved in the project include Tytherington GC, Alvaston Hall, Mottram Hall, Mere Golf and County Club, Eaton, Carden Park, Disley, Drivetime Warrington, Vale Royal Abbey, Aldersey Green, High Legh, Crewe and Bramhall. Further details on the courses available at each venue can be obtained from the individual clubs.

Eaton professional Bill Tye is launching his first sessions on Sunday, March 4, and they will continue every Saturday and Sunday (11am-12noon).

Matthew Turnock from Mottram Hall will be running mixed sessions in April on Saturdays and Sundays starting on April 7, between 11am and noon. Golf 4 Women sessions will be held on Tuesdays (10am-11am) and Wednesday evenings (6.30pm-7.30pm).

Anthony Haste from Tytherington is hosting Golf 4 All sessions from Monday February 20 (10.30am) and Golf 4 Women (11.30am). Further courses will start on Saturday, February 25 (9am, Golf 4 All) and 10am (Golf 4 Women). Sunday, March 4, sees Golf 4 All coaching available at 12 noon and Golf 4 Women at 1pm.

Steve Priest from Carden Park is running a ladies session on Sunday, February 5 (3.30pm) and Golf 4 All on Sunday, February 12 (3.30pm). Further details from Steve on 07743 641902.

Piers Stockton, from Alvaston Hall, will host weekly sessions from January 30-April 6.

Disley pro Jamie Goodall starts his Golf 4 All on Saturday, April 7 (2pm-3pm)

Vale Royal Abbey will be running a Golf 4 Women and Golf 4 All project starting on March 10 (1pm and 2.30pm) with further details from head professional David Ingman on 01606 301291.

Aldersley Green GC, near Chester, will be running a Golf 4 All programme in March with further details from head pro Stuart Hurstfield by emailing   Stuarthurstfield@aol.com

Says Craig Thomas, county development officer for the Cheshire County Golf Partnership: "The support from the PGA pros has been fantastic and the enthusiasm they are showing to bring more people into golf throughout Cheshire will no doubt shine through at their coaching sessions.

"These schemes give anyone interested in trying golf the ideal opportunity to give it a go alongside people in a similar situation.

"It is a sport that offers a healthier lifestyle and, with the potential for club membership in the future, an enjoyable social life, too."

The England Golf Partnership is a collaboration of the major stakeholders in golf, including England Golf - the organisation formed by the merger of The English Golf Union and The English Women's Golf Association - the PGA, the Golf Foundation and Sport England.

In Cheshire the partnership is supported by the Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs, the Cheshire County Ladies Golf Association and the Cheshire and North Wales PGA.

For more details of the activities in Cheshire visit www.cheshiregolfpartnership.com

For more information on the work of the Cheshire Golf Partnership contact Craig Thomas, County Development Officer, Cheshire County Golf Partnership.

Website: http://www.cheshiregolfpartnership.com/

Mobile: 07973 798483

Email: cheshirecdo@googlemail.com