Introducing Youngsters to Golf Through the Power of Football

Tapping into the excitement of Euro 2016, the Golf Foundation has put together its StreetGolf Championship this summer, with youngsters from community golf programmes across 16 Premier League and Championship football clubs will be wearing their favourite club's strips to compete for the title of National StreetGolf Champions.

The event will take place at the 3 Hammers Golf Complex near Wolverhampton on Wednesday 15th June 2016.

Thanks to a partnership with Premier League 4 Sport (PL4S), Sport England and Get into Golf, the Golf Foundation, the sport’s leading charity for young people, has developed StreetGolf as an exciting new initiative for teenagers which introduces them to golf in their own community before providing the opportunity to play at the local golf club with help from the resident and junior-friendly PGA Professional Coach.

The Golf Foundation’s national StreetGolf Club Championship Final is expected to be a vibrant and exciting event at the excellent facility at 3 Hammers Golf Complex. The finalists will have been introduced to golf through StreetGolf activities at a variety of local facilities including events at the actual football grounds of Crystal Palace and Derby County.  At the national final, they will take the next step and play adapted formats on the par-3 golf course such as ‘Super Sixes’ and ‘Flag Golf’, all designed to ensure that the young people have a great experience playing in a big competition on a real golf course.

Teams present will be from the following football club projects: Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Cardiff City, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Everton, Hull City, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Stoke City, and Sunderland.  The team from Cardiff City FC will be defending their title that they won at the inaugural StreetGolf Final in 2015, adding to the Anglo/Welsh rivalry that we will see in the football in France at Euro 2016.

Golf Foundation National Development Manager Martin Crowder says: “The aim has been to connect all the benefits of playing golf, including the ‘Skills for Life’ learning associated with the game, with the wider audience in major footballing communities, using the ‘Power of Football’ thanks to PL4S.

“Under its headline HSBC Golf Roots programme, the Golf Foundation, supporting England Golf and Golf Development Wales, aims to provide all the youngsters involved with a pathway into golf clubs and potential membership, helping boys and girls to enjoy a golf club environment for the first time.”

StreetGolf Grand Final

Sixteen or more teams of four youngsters will play a 9-hole tournament at 3 Hammers Golf Complex. Boys and girls will take part in team scoring in the morning on the course before playing an individual flag competition in the afternoon, after enjoying a unique ‘trick shot’ presentation by the internationally renowned Geoff Swain.

Who will beat last year’s winners from Cardiff City? As well as the football club teams taking part there are a number of invited teams, including Sunnydown School from Surrey who performed so well at the Crystal Palace final, one of a number of schools involved in the national project which cater for students with Special Educational Needs.

Date, times and venue

Wednesday 15 June, 3 Hammers Golf Complex, Old Stafford Road, Coven,  Wolverhampton,  West Midlands WV10 7PP.  Phone: 01902 790428

Opening ceremony – 9.30am. Morning golf session from 10am-12noon. Afternoon session from 1-3pm. Prize-giving at 3pm.