GGG Training News

Our programme offers a pathway to the girls to progress and improve their golf. Girls can move between their club coaching programmes and the county squads as their needs, skills and aspirations change.

The best golfers amongst them can hope to reach the county ladies’ team and even the EWGA national squads. Most recently our Hannah Barwood of Knowle Golf Club has done just that. At the age of 18 she is the English Women’s Golf Champion and a member of the Elite National Training Squad. Other girls will become good players in their club or college teams and, hopefully, enjoy playing golf into adulthood.

Our funding for coaching is necessarily limited, but we are grateful for grants from the English Golf Union / English Womens’ Golf Association, and from the Gloucestershire County Golf Partnership. We also ask from a contribution from the girls themselves when they join a squad.

Girls are invited to join a squad when they are seen to be ready to progress, not just in terms of their golfing ability but also their mental maturity and their determination. The selection is done by members of the GGG committee who see the girls at golfing events, in consultation with our county coach, Sarah Claridge,. We also rely on information passed on to us from the clubs in the county.

The Gloucestershire County Golf Partnership is setting up a more formalised coaching structure in the county in 2009. They plan one or more assessment days open to boys and girls in the county, at which the youngsters will be assessed and selected for coaching as appropriate (this may be operating by the autumn).

The programme from January to May 2009 is :

County Eagle Squad

7 girls aged 13+

Coach Sarah Claridge, The Kendleshire GC

EWGA/County Birdie Squad

6 girls aged 9 – 14

Coach Sarah Claridge, The Kendleshire GC

Robins

up to 3 groups of 4 girls aged 10 – 14; details to be arranged

Cygnets

2 groups of up to 6 girls aged 7 – 12; details to be arranged

Area Junior Groups

where groups of neighbouring clubs offer coaching and playing sessions for girls of 7+ years of age who are just ready to play on the course.

GGG’s coaching programme is designed to identify and help girls who are making good progress with their golf to fulfil their potential. We also offer support to clubs who are running a junior programme and encouraging girls to try golf, and we welcome beginners to many of our events.