Golf for a pound brings rich reward
Learning to play golf for a pound a time has earned a group of employees the opportunity to enjoy corporate hospitality at a top golf event as well as the chance to go to next year’s Ryder Cup in Wales.
The ‘Golf for Gold’ initiative has attracted several businesses across South Wales to join the beginner golf scheme aimed at getting employees in the workplace to become more active, more often.
Golf Development Wales, the Newport Local Health Board, Newport City Council, Ryder Cup Wales and Asbri Golf have all joined forces with a PGA Professional to promote the plan, which began in early June with a taster event at Llanwern golf club for businesses across Newport.
Participants were invited to sign up for a series of six group lessons for a cost of just £1 per hour-long lesson. Subsidised by Golf Development Wales, the lessons were delivered by the scheme’s initiator, PGA Professional, Leanne Cooper.
The scheme has been extremely well received, with around 40 employees attending lessons and a number signing up for further coaching.
After finishing the lessons, the participants were invited to play in the inaugural “Golf for Gold Business Challenge” - a nine-hole foursomes competition on the Llanwern Academy Course, with the top three pairs winning some superb golf equipment from the Challenge’s main sponsor, Asbri Golf.
“I have always wanted to try my hand at golf - this was a perfect opportunity and I really loved it,” said Charlotte Edwards, who won the event along with her playing partner and Corus colleague Rob Vaughan.
A superb bonus prize of corporate hospitality for four people at next year’s Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open was presented to employers of the winning team, Corus. With The Ryder Cup to be held in Newport in just over a year’s time, Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Limited saw the scheme as a great opportunity to raise the profile of golf at grass roots level in the business community.
Hannah James, Director of Golf Development Wales, has been delighted by the response to the pilot scheme and plans to run further schemes in Newport.
“Not only is it a great way to get more people playing golf, but enables companies to encourage their workforce to keep healthy and active, whilst taking up a fun new activity,” said James.
“Golf is a ‘game for all’ – everyone can achieve and participate fairly, regardless of age or ability, due to its unique handicap system. It is a game for life which can be as social or as competitive as you want, as demonstrated by Tom Watson in this year’s Open Championship.”
The Scheme has provided additional benefits with each participant receiving a Newport City Council “Going for Gold” Card which enables them to play the Llanwern Academy Course for a minimal green fee and to collect valuable points which count towards the “Golf for Gold” Active Workplace Award.
The Award, with a prize of six Ryder Cup 2010 practice day tickets, sponsored by Golf Development Wales will be presented in October to the business which has earned the most “Going for Gold” points.
Unique to Newport, the “Going for Gold” programme rewards the public for being more active, more often. Going for Gold members who present their card at least once a week at a participating leisure venue, are entered into a quarterly prize draw with a chance to win some great prizes including the new Wii Fit, iPod Shuffles and Premier Leisure Card memberships. To date, over 40,000 people have signed up to the “Going for Gold” Programme.
If you would like information regarding the next scheme or enrolling your business for the Going for Gold Active Workplace Project, please contact:
Kristin Andersson
Workplace Activator
Newport Local Health Board
Ph: 01633 261447
Email: Kristin.Andersson@newportlhb.wales.nhs.uk