The players from Team Faldo joined forces with PGA Professionals Neil Matthews (Talywain and Pontypool Golf Clubs) and Lee-Jay Barnes (Celtic Manor Resort) to provide a demonstration of their golfing skills and then to coach the youngsters in the basics of golf.

Golf Development Wales, the organisation set up as a direct result of the successful 2010 Ryder Cup bid, has been running, in conjunction with Neil Matthews, a series of ‘Tri-Golf’ sessions at Primary schools in the Talywain area of Torfaen.

‘Tri-Golf’ is a mini version of golf designed specifically for young children at infant, primary and junior school levels – it consists of plastic clubs, foam balls, sticky targets and fun games to introduce golf to children.

Taking children from these ‘Tri-Golf’ sessions to The Celtic Manor Resort was the next step in introducing them to the game properly.

Brian Davies of Golf Development Wales, said: “As part of the successful 2010 Ryder Cup bid, there are commitments to create a greater interest in the game of golf in Wales. Having elite junior tournaments such as the Faldo Series in Wales and linking them with beginner golf activities such as our ‘Tri-Golf’ schemes is a great way of introducing more children to this great sport of golf. Who knows – we might even unearth the next Nick Faldo or Ian Woosnam!”

There are a number of other Faldo Series events scheduled in Wales and similar beginner’s activity will be taking place at them all.

Nick Faldo is a patron of the ‘Tri-Golf’ initiative and he praised this initiative saying: “The promotion of junior golf is a passion for me and I hope that we can introduce many more children to the sport via schemes such as this.”

The next events in the Faldo Series are at the De Vere Carden Park (Cheshire) on 5th May, followed by Royal St. David’s (Harlech) on 7th July and then at Royal Porthcawl on 12th July. For further details of the Faldo Series log on to the website at www.nickfaldo.com

Neil Matthews (PGA Professional) and eager to learn beginners from Talywain

The dates, venues and the entry form are now available for the 2005 event.

Wee Wonders is a cometition for beginner juniors aged from 5 - 12 years old. It's an excellent starting point for junior golfers and there are 7 qualifying competitions around Wales, with a Welsh Final at The Celtic Manor Resort on 11th July 2005 and the Grand Final at St. Andrews in Scotland on 10th and 11th September 2005.

For an entry form, or more information, go to the Wee Wonders website at www.hsbcweewonders.com for more information

The Sports Council for Wales is seeking to appoint volunteers to the committees of its highly successful lottery funded Community Chest scheme.

SCW is searching for dynamic, forward-thinking men and women from all sections of the community to fill vountary positions on the committees in all 22 Local Authorities.

Each county committee has the responsibility for distributing grants for sport & physical activity projects at a local level which means you can make a difference in your own community.

If you think you are up to the challenge, get in touch immediately via www.sports-council-wales.co.uk or
e-mail angela.holloman-coombes@scw.co.uk.
Appointments will be voluntary and will initially be for a 3 year term.

The WSA is the umbrella body for the national governing bodies of sport and physical recreation in Wales, providing an advocacy, advisory, consultancy and training role for its constituent members. It is the voice of voluntary sector sport in Wales and strives to promote the excellent work undertaken on a daily basis by the thousands of volunteers who give up their time so freely for the furtherance of sport across the principality.

Many of those individuals involved, have dedicated a lifetime of service to their chosen sport, and beyond their local club set-up, their outstanding efforts can go largely unnoticed.

The Association’s Unsung Hero Award presents an opportunity to reward the efforts of one such volunteer as part of one of Wales’s most glittering sporting occasions.

Nominations are open to all national governing bodies of sport and physical recreation and their member clubs and associations and the closing date for applications is April 4, 2005. Application forms are available from the Welsh Sports Association (029) 2064 9861 and nominations from bone fide sporting organisations based within Wales, are most welcome.

Further details:
Gillian Henry – Welsh Sports Association
Tel: 029 2064 9861

The Faldo series qualifiers comes to the Celtic Manor Resort on Thursday 7th April.

Top level juniors (boys and girls) will compete at the Resort in an attempt to qualify for the Faldo Series Grand Final.

For further details, check out the Faldo Series website at www.nickfaldo.com/series.

Junior Open Fixtures for 2005

Please continue to send us details of your clubs Junior Open fixtures for 2005.

We can them publish them on our Competitions page.

You can e-mail them to us via the Contact Us page

or send them by post to

Golf Development Wales, WGU Offices,
Catsash Rd, Newport, NP18 1JQ