Golf Ireland and The R and A launch "The Road to The Open" programme
Pictured from (L to R) are Andy Leigh (The Golf Foundation), Ian Kerr (Royal Portrush), Minister Gordon Lyons MLA, Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly and pupils from Portrush Primary School. Photo: Laszlo Geczo / Inpho.
Golf Ireland and The R&A began their countdown to The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush by launching “The Road to The Open” programme they hope will encourage more youngsters to take up the game.
Designed to harness the legacy of The Open’s return to Northern Ireland, the initiative forms part of Golf Ireland’s Major Events Legacy Programme, which aims to capitalise on Ireland’s staging of major events such as The Open and the 2027 Ryder Cup.
Northern Ireland Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons MLA and Golf Ireland CEO, Mark Kennelly. Photo: Laszlo Geczo / Inpho.
As part of “The Road to The Open”, Golf Ireland will introduce golf taster sessions to 75 schools across Ulster, while rolling out “Unleash Your Drive”, a new six-week primary school programme in 20 schools.
The programme, which includes a commitment to training 40 teachers to incorporate golf into the school day and which was developed by the Golf Foundation and The R&A, will be managed and delivered across the island by Golf Ireland staff.
Golf Ireland and The R&A will also take the Claret Jug on a tour of clubs and communities across Ireland in the lead-up to the final Major of the season in July.
On the club side, Golf Ireland will launch GolfNines throughout Ulster and connect the established GolfSixes format to The Open, with girls attending Girls Festivals and Girls’ golf programmes invited to watch The Open live. This follows on from Golf Ireland’s commitment to reach over 500 schools, train 1,000 new coaches and volunteers, and introduce 200,000 participants to golf over a five-year period.
“We are committed to building upon the excitement generated by The Open’s return to Royal Portrush, to strengthen grassroots golf on the island,” said Golf Ireland CEO, Mark Kennelly
Ian Kerr, chairman of the Open Championship committee at Royal Portrush said the club was delighted to embrace this new Golf Ireland initiative.
"We already invest heavily in the development of junior golf,” he said. “Up to 30 cadets can be found on the practice range every Saturday morning, and there are regular visits to neighbouring primary schools in our efforts to encourage children to take up the game.
"One local pupil had his first lesson in the immediate aftermath of the Open at Royal Portrush in 2019, and within four years was playing off scratch. That is why initiatives like this one are so important.”