Sunderland Golf Centre’s Junior Academy is up and running with youngsters taking part in weekly sessions at the driving range.
Run by assistant professional Steven McDonnell, academy sessions take place every Sunday at 10am-11am and 11am-noon with sessions covering the basics through to playing competitive games. Sessions are £8 per child.
Steven, who is in his second year of PGA training, said: “We’ve got a great facility at the golf centre and we’re hoping to get as many kids as possible involved in golf.
“I joined the PGA to introduce golf to people and through the academy and the work I’m doing in local schools and with Get into Golf – we’ll hopefully reach a lot of kids and adults who haven’t thought about picking up a golf club before.”
As well as running the junior academy, Steven delivers coaching sessions to local schools and at Ravensworth Golf Club. The seventh and eighth schools to take part in the programme begin their sessions this month and Steven is hoping to reach kids in 30 schools in the next five years.
“We have to reach out and engage with young people. If we make the game fun they’ll stick with it and hopefully become good players in the future,” added Steven.
For more information and to sign up for the academy sessions go to www.sunderlandgolfcentre.com
