MARK KING TEES UP FOR
LOTTERY-FUNDED SCHOOL GOLF

The Isle of Wight leads the way in using lottery cash to finance a unique partnership aimed at taking golf into schools.

The pioneering Lessons in Golf scheme, which it is hoped will be emulated across the country, will be launched on Tuesday 3 May at Godshill Primary School by the Island-born lead singer of Level 42, Mark King - who’s hoping it will achieve as much success as his 80's pop hit, Lessons in Love.

Intended to provide free golf coaching in Island schools, the scheme will be launched with Mark demonstrating his golfing skills by using the new Tri-Golf equipment from the Golf Foundation, specially adapted for young people to use.

Mark, a keen golfer, said, "My five year old daughter has just taken up golf using Tri-Golf, and she loves the fun clubs and activities. It provides a great introduction to the game."

The project is the result of the formation of an Island junior development group and a successful application for just under £4,000 to the National Lottery’s Awards for All scheme. The funding will be used to send PGA professional coaches and the equipment into 24 schools on the Island, and also to provide training for teachers and a junior organiser. In addition, there will be money for a fun tournament on a golf course for all the participants at the end of the scheme.

Key partners in the scheme include the Isle of Wight Council, the Golf Foundation, the PGA, and Island golf clubs and schools.

Golf Foundation Regional Development Officer, Brendon Pyle said, "The junior golf partnership on the Island is a model for the whole country for showing what can be achieved if schools, local clubs, local authorities and governing bodies work together to target young people and attract external funding sources. This is one of the best projects I am working on, and the hope is that there will be many more such initiatives."

Expressing delight about the Island scheme, Chris Boulter, junior organiser at Freshwater Bay Golf Club, said, "It comes after a period of planning and consultation with all schools on the Island and strong support from the Isle of Wight Sports Development department. Through representation of the golf clubs on the partnership we intend to feed the pupils into further coaching schemes and, ultimately, membership of clubs on the Island."

Tri-Golf, schools coaching and leadership training are all included in the England Junior Golf Development Plan being implement by the England Junior Golf Partnership.