Luck of the draw for Etchinghill

A Kent club with a thriving junior section has won an Explanar training aid in a prize draw.

Folkestone’s Etchinghill Golf Club won the prize as a result of being deemed a go-ahead club with 10 or more youngsters registered for the charity’s Junior Golf Passport.

The Foundation has teamed up with Explanar to highlight Junior Golf Passport coaching activity and Etchinghill was an early adopter of the PGA-endorsed scheme which offers a national learning programme that PGA Coaches and boys and girls can work through together to take them from complete novices to regular junior golfers.

Etchinghill head PGA Professional Steve Mitchell said: “We are thrilled to win this Explanar, which will be a great addition to our coaching here of course.

“This was a very nice surprise after we’ve enjoyed working with the Junior Golf Passport, which is a great resource for helping juniors to progress here at the club.”

Etchinghill is an HSBC Golf Roots Centre and is committed to bringing on new players from the local community with the support of the Foundation, many from initial coaching sessions at primary and secondary school.

The club’s PGA assistant professional Sophie Daws said: “Coaching of a wide cross-section of ages is going very well as there is lots of opportunity to learn all aspects of the game here.

“The younger children can find their feet with the Junior Golf Passport and on our academy course, and when ready can make the step up to the full course. Age group roll-ups at weekends and junior competitions are also a successful feature.”

Luther Blacklock, PGA Master Professional and inventor of the Explanar, made a personal visit to the Kent club to present the prize.

He added: “Major congratulations to Etchinghill for winning our Explanar Junior Golf Training Aid.

“The coaching team there is clearly passionate about helping youngsters, as we are here at Explanar, so we are very pleased that the first of three of our prizes has gone to such a good home.

“I cut my teaching teeth working with the Golf Foundation in the mid-1970s and we’re delighted and privileged to be now partnering the Foundation, using Explanars to help them grow the game.”

At the time of the next prize draw in February 2015, all golf clubs who have 10 or more children registered on the Junior Golf Passport will be automatically entered to win the second Explanar prize.