Durham County Golf Partnership
YOUNG golfers at the Durham County Academy aren't doing things by halves - their handicaps are falling quicker than that!
The coaching scheme, run by the Durham County Golf Partnership, seeks to help promising players develop their skills in a bid to become the best players they can.
The programme is linked to two further junior golf initiatives - the Race 2 Rockliffe and the Junior Golf Tour - to give the players competition experience and the chance to test their new-found skills on a variety of courses against players of similar ability.
Players do not need to be a club member or even have a handicap, but at six centres across the county they have been soaking up the expert advice available from PGA qualified coaches.
So much so that some of the youngsters have enjoyed a season of spectacular success.
Tom Skelton, for example, has seen his handicap drop from 24.8 to just 10.6 and did not finish outside the top six on any of his Race 2 Rockliffe appearances.
He is a member of both Beamish Park GC and Chester-le-Street GC, where he has figured prominently in club competitions, and won the nett order of merit in the Race 2 Rockliffe before finishing second at the grand final.
The 14 years-old Park View Senior School pupil from Chester-le-Street won both the Captain's Day competition and October Medal at Beamish Park.
Says dad Nick: "The link between the Academy sessions, the Race 2 Rockliffe competition, and the player/pro relationship - coupled with the individual's own desire and character - is a very powerful one and provides almost everything that a young and keen golfer needs to develop."
Alexandra Stevenson is another player who has achieved great things this year and has seen her handicap come tumbling down since she started playing 18 hole golf in April 2010. Starting out at 54, the 10 years-old is down to just 15!
Now she has an impressive list of successes under her belt. She won the under-14 nett prize at the Northern Championships held at Durham City GC, even though she was the youngest player in the 36-holes competition.
She became the first girl to win the Durham County Junior Golf Society's Euro Cup, held at South Moor GC, as well as winning the Jack Golightly Cup and also winning the girls order of merit in the Race 2 Rockliffe.
Says dad Mark: "She got into golf after watching me play and saying 'I can do better than that.' She gave it a go - and now can play better than her dad!"
Both players, who were coached by Brian Ridley at Beamish Park Hotel and Golf Centre, were members of the victorious Durham team in the Inter County Academy Cup match against Northumberland at Bishop Auckland in August.
The six Academy venues are Chester-le-Street GC, Knotty Hill Golf Centre, Sharpley Springs GC, Headlam Hall GC, Ramside Hall GC and Beamish Park Hotel and Golf Centre.
The programme was launched in 2009 and more than 200 youngsters have now received coaching.
The first steps towards getting involved in the 2012 County Academy programme take place in March next year when a series of free talent assessment days will be held. These are aimed at youngsters aged 7 to 15 (on Jan 1, 2012).
Registration forms and more information on the 2012 programme will be posted in the new year on the Durham County Golf Partnership website (www.durhamgolfpartnership.com).
The County Academy programme is one of a number of projects aimed at increasing participation in golf run under the umbrella of the Durham County Golf Partnership. This is a collaboration of a number of stakeholders in the sport including the English Golf Union, The English Women's Golf Association, the PGA, the Golf Foundation and Sport England.
In Durham the partnership is supported by the Durham Ladies County Golf Association, the Durham Union of Golf Clubs and the Durham PGA.
For more details of the activities in Durham visit www.durhamgolfpartnership.com
Picture - Brian Ridley, PGA professional at Beamish Park Hotel and Golf Centre, with successful Durham County Golf Partnership County Academy players Alexandra Stevenson (left) and Tom Skelton.
For more information on the work of the Durham County Golf Partnership contact Jonathan Ward, County Development Officer, Durham County Golf Partnership.
Website: www.durhamgolfpartnership.com
Mobile: 077758 48602
Email: cdo@durhamgolfpartnership.com
