Stonham Barns Golf Park aims to teach new sports skills to children from Suffolk
Stonham Barns Golf Park – at Stonham Barns Park at Stonham Aspal – is introducing a new initiative from The Suffolk Golf Academy on 23 April to introduce more children to the game of golf through affordable and fun golf skills tuition.
The recently created Suffolk Golf Academy has launched a new junior golfing academy at Stonham Barns Golf Park that is suitable for children aged from 4 – 12. The sessions divided into three age bands – Tiny Putters (aged 4-5), Fairway Explorers (aged 6-8) and Junior Aces (9-12) will be delivered by full time PGA coach Rob Pritchard who specialises in individual performance coaching. The sessions will take place over term time with the intention of adding future holiday camps as the academy develops.
Rob, who is passionate about golf, started his golfing career with a weekend job at Stonham Barns Golf Park aged just 13. He has been involved with the sport for nearly 30 years now most notably with Stonham Barns Golf Park. He explains the idea behind the introduction of the coaching programme.
‘Playing golf provides an excellent opportunity to learn an individual sport while making friends. Some children will enjoy it and take some new sporting skills through life with them while others might go all the way through PGA training to one day become a pro golfer themselves. The coaching is for boys, girls and all abilities. Everyone between the ages of 4-12 is welcome. It’s the chance for children to take some time off their devices, learn a few golfing techniques and develop their social skills with other like-minded children. We are hoping that the sessions will be popular with both the children and their parents, who will be interested in initiatives to help with their child’s ongoing personal development.’
‘Learning sports skills can often be a life-shaping experience.’
‘Each session will be based on a different skill, featuring games and challenges while developing the co-ordination and ability to thrive in all sports.’
The ethos of the golf academy is to create an accessible avenue for everyone to try the game, develop confidence and learn in a safe environment. Equipment is provided and coaching can be indoor and outdoor based – depending on the weather. Golf simulators are hugely popular at the venue, with new bays currently being constructed to meet increasing demand.
Stonham Barns Park’s Paul Dobson adds, ‘We offer multiple golfing options for people of all ages including a 9-hole course, fun adventure and themed golf facilities – and this is one more offering to make golf accessible to all including young children. The Suffolk Golf Academy will allow children to try something different in the summer evenings and at the weekend. It will be simply fun for some but ultimately the beginning of a lifelong golfing journey for others.’
‘We are delighted to be introducing this for the children of Suffolk. It might extend into the summer holidays – and who knows an adult programme might follow in the near future!’
For more information about Junior Golf Academy Sessions, contact 07356 221224 or visit info@suffolkgolfacademy.co.uk or www.suffolkgolfacademy.co.uk
