Wolverhampton PGA pros hammer home grow the game message

Wolverhampton-based 3 Hammers Golf Complex is flying high as a result of winning a prestigious national award for taking the game into the local community and making it more accessible to youngsters.

The Complex has been awarded the Golf Foundation’s Critchley Award and its team of PGA Professionals, owner Ian Bonser plus two of its teenage members flew to Wentworth by chartered helicopter to receive it. 

There, on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship, they were presented with the award by Golf Foundation president Sandy Jones.

The Golf Foundation is a national charity that aims to help young people enjoy the benefits the game offers and make it more accessible to them.

To that end 3 Hammers ticks all the boxes and the Foundation’s chief executive Brendon Pyle said: “Using a team of PGA coaches, a par-3 course, driving range and ‘learn to play zone’ for children, this facility has given more than 4,000 local youngsters a chance to try golf in the past two years.

“In addition, 400 youngsters have completed the club’s six-week after school programme . The facility also acts as a successful feeder for the junior sections of local golf clubs and 20 of its members have gone on to become PGA Professionals. 

“It also utilises all of the Golf Foundation’s development initiatives and in June 2015 hosted the first ever National StreetGolf final in partnership with Sport England and Premier League 4 Sport.”

The Complex, supported by England Golf and the Golf Foundation, employs five PGA Professionals and four level 1 coaches to run Tri-Golf and Junior Golf Passport sessions in local primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and groups across the region such as girl guides and scouts.

As well as getting young people interested in golf, 3 Hammers encourage women to play the game via its Ladies Love Golf initiative.

Commenting on the award, Rob Bluck, 3 Hammers golf academy director, said:

“We’re delighted that our passion, commitment and hard work inspiring young golfers and growing the game of golf has been recognised nationally with this coveted award.

“The secret of our success is passion and communication. The team is like a family and we all get on. The guys don’t need pushing and we’re constantly hitting targets and setting ourselves goals to achieve.

“We get great support from the Golf Foundation and England Golf and have a great relationship with The PGA.

“I’ve worked with the Golf Foundation for 20 years and without their support and funding  for our schools project this would never have happened.”

 Two of the young golfers who have got in to golf as a result of joining 3 Hammers – 17-year-old Will Dunn and Harrison Worley, 14, attended the presentation at Wentworth and typify what the Complex is trying to achieve.

 “Both lads have been with us since they were six years old and have become accomplished golfers,” said Bonser. “And it’s been a very special day for Will, our junior captain.  He had to take his Maths A’ level exam this morning and then had half-an-hour to get from school to catch the helicopter.

“In fact, it’s been a special day for all of us. The award recognises us on a national scale as the best in the UK for our hugely successful junior golf coaching programmes.

“The award also represents 30 years of hard work in attracting new people to the sport and our success proves golf is not in decline as is often reported, especially within the junior sector.”