Junior Fun Festival 2009
2 Part Fun Day Festival Proves to be a Success!
Competing with the Men's final at Wimbledon proved no match as a unique situation occurred with a golf tournament finishing an hour ahead of schedule - and yes we had a significantly increased number of entries who did turn up! 30 junior girls attended the Fun Day held aft Stockwood Park, which seemed like trying to park near Wembley on Cup Final day as the ‘Run for Life' event was taking place around the corner at the same time! Most of the parents must have thought that they had entered that event by the time they had dropped of the players as all roads seemed blocked with parked cars.
Nonetheless the event was split into those girls who had a high handicap or were already a club member and any girls who had been introduced to golf in school either in lessons or as an after school activity. The schools event was organised at late notice following discussion on the mushrooming number of young girls and boys experiencing the skills of golf in classes or as an after school activity. The BIG QUESTION now is, are the CLUBS willing, and able, to take on this opportunity as that gap needs to be addressed urgently?
The ages playing in the club competition ranged from 7 - 15. The seven year old will be 8 this week but has been playing golf since she was 5 and wants to be a professional when she grows up. She certainly showed a lot of potential. All the girls that played were very keen and serious about the game, which was extremely encouraging.
Proceedings started after registration with a warm up and clinic held by visiting Lady Professional, Zoe Humphris, from Northampton. She held 3 clinics for the different age groups and supported practice time. All groups were supervised by County Officials, Under 18 County girls Players and parents which helped move the pace of play and scoring along significantly. Each category or age group had a 9 Hole Par 3 competition and an 8 hole putting event to complete.
At the conclusion there were 2 presentations and all competitors went away winners with a goody bag from the Golf Foundation of golf balls, Denis the Menace rules booklet, a pen and a document advertising where all the summer clinics are being staged and highlighting where beginners could continue their interest and think about joining a club. Everyone had a chance to choose and take away something.
The event was supported by the Golf Foundation and also by a cluster of Bedfordshire Club Professionals who donated a range of prizes including individual and group lessons, playing holes with the voucher winner and complimentary tickets for an adult and girl to play various short courses across the County. Several putters and other clubs were also offered as prizes.
Club Event Winners:
1st: Annabel Pitts from Beadlow Manor
Putting Competition Joint Winners: Julie Shackleton from John O'Gaunt and Louis Eddy from Leighton Buzzard.
Schools Event Winners:
U/14 Danielle Smith (Priory Middle) 43 won the Par 3 and Ellie Scheimann (Priory Middle) won the putting with 24 putts
U/12 Lauren Webb (Emerson Valley MK) 38 was the Par 3 winner with the lowest total for the day and Chloe Perkins (Edward Peake Middle) and Katrina Kettle (Priory Middle) tied on 23 putts.
U/10 Amy Dewar (Priory Middle) won the Par 3 on 49 and Nadine Lewis (Priory Middle) had the lowest number of strokes for the day with just 21 putts.
U/8 Freya Daniels (Totternhoe Lower) won the Par 3 on 46 with Olivia Darling (Church End Lower) had 24 putts to win.