Earlier this year, the Young Ambassadors – a group of 20 golfers supported by the Golf Foundation and England Golf with leadership and personal development opportunities while they support the two organisations’ programmes and drive positive change in golf – met up in person for the first time in 2026.
The group, who are aged 14-22, met at Eastwood Hall for a two-day workshop, bringing together both new and returning ambassadors. The event was an opportunity to connect as a team, outline plans for the year, and reaffirm their mission – to break down barriers in golf and create a more welcoming, inclusive environment for young people.
Guided by the group’s core values – inclusive, inspiring and innovative – they explored how they can continue to positively influence the game.
Across the weekend, the group focused on several major projects for 2026. One of the priorities is raising awareness of the Hero’s Handshake Award, which recognises young people who demonstrate the core values in their clubs or communities.
They also developed ideas for the upcoming Dress to Play campaign. The initiative will encourage clubs to adopt more relaxed dress codes, helping newcomers and existing young golfers feel comfortable wearing items like leggings and trainers. Alongside this, the Young Ambassadors will all be taking part in a leadership programme throughout 2026 to help strengthen their skills and support the clubs they represent.
Content creation was another key part of the weekend. The group filmed introductions for the new ambassadors, promotional videos for the Hero’s Handshake, and fun clips for their social media channel – @golfambassadors.
The next in-person meeting will be on May 23 at Bromsgrove Golf Centre, where the group will continue developing Dress to Play, progress the Hero’s Handshake, and work on other ongoing initiatives. Later in the year, ambassadors will also support major events such as the British Masters, BMW PGA Championship, and junior competitions including Road to the Open and the Faldo Futures Tour Final.
For more information, visit www.englandgolf.org/young-ambassadors and www.golf-foundation.org/young-ambassadors/
