Midland Golf Week backed by Olympic legend

MIDLANDS Golf Week is getting bigger and better for 2013.

The annual week-long festival of golf will – for the first time – include clubs from across eight counties.

More than 4,750 would-be golfers have seized the opportunity to give the sport a go during the first two years of the event.

Now the 2013 festival will cover the Northamptonshire area as well as Shropshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Rutland – putting golf at the heart of the local community.

Midlands Golf Week is also being endorsed by Olympian Steve Backley, he offered his opinion on the sport:

"I started playing golf 20 years ago and always enjoyed it. I have found it to be the perfect post-athletics career activity to keep me sane."

The British Olympian has offered his support for Midlands Golf Week links to golf's return to the Olympic Games as well as the increased interest in sport and enjoying a healthier lifestyle as part of the legacy from the 2012 London Olympics. He is also a keen golfer himself.

The dates for this year’s wide range of activities - from free taster sessions and roadshows to coaching programmes and open days – has been extended to include two weekends, making it even easier to get involved.

Midlands Golf Week will take place from April 12-21, following on from the US Masters, when interest in golf is on the upswing ahead of the English summer.

Says Sharon Heeley, regional development officer for England Golf: “By including two weekends in this year’s festival, Midlands Golf Week and the events being staged by the clubs will be accessible to even more people with activities to suit all ages and abilities at a time to suit them.

“We are also delighted to have Northamptonshire on board this year which means would-be golfers across the Midlands should be able to find a venue to give the sport a try to suit them, too.

“Playing golf can bring impressive health and wellbeing benefits and there’s no better sport for bringing people together – whatever their age, gender, background or ability.

“Midlands Golf Week is the ideal time for people to give golf a go, with plenty of follow up offers on coaching and potential club membership available, too.”

Midlands Golf Week forms part of a national Get into golf campaign and full details of all activities across the eight counties can be found by visiting the activity map at getintogolf.org

A total of 122 clubs signed up to support Midlands Golf Week in 2012, with 576 different activities available.

These included Golf and Zumba, Fairways and Fodder, fashion shows and £20.12 offers in Olympic year. Last year’s event was also endorsed by golfing celebrity Jasper Carrot and 2012 Dubai Desert Classic winner Robert Rock.

Midlands Golf Week is run under the umbrella of the county golf partnerships, which bring together the development officers, PGA professionals, county men’s union and ladies association and the clubs themselves to develop a pathway into golf.

Get into golf is a national campaign to inspire new golfers run by the England Golf Partnership through its network of County Golf Partnerships, which work to grow the game.

Get into golf opportunities include free or low-cost beginner courses with PGA professionals. They are a fun and sociable way to start golf – and a great way to make new friends.

Discounted lessons can cost as little as £25 for a five-week course.

To find your nearest centre visit getintogolf.org and look at the activity map or call 0800 118 2766