City sports chiefs encouraging more people to tee up for golf

Sheffield International Venues (SIV), which operates three golf courses in Sheffield, has teamed up with Sheffield Council's Activity Sheffield team in a bid to encourage potential players.

The plans will include the creation of the Sheffield and District Golf Development Partnership, which hopes to bring SIV and Sheffield Council together with ladies and men's golf unions, local golf professional associations and local schools.

SIV's strategy has included the expansion of the Activity Sheffield golf development sessions from the short course at Birley Wood golf course to other courses in the city, enabling people to have access to coaching at a course more local to them.

The changes mean that the short course at Birley Wood has been removed and the long course, which offers an extra 753 yards of length, will now be available seven days a week.

Andy Carnall, SIV's golf manager, said: "The changes to Birley Wood provided us with an excellent opportunity to look at golf development across the whole city and we are very excited about our plans.

"SIV already has a portfolio of successful golf courses in Sheffield and these plans for the next three years will build on our achievements and, in partnership with Sheffield Council and Activity Sheffield, enable us to expand and improve on what we already offer to reach a wider range of people."

SIV operates four golf courses in Sheffield and Chesterfield: Tapton Park, Beauchief, Birley Wood and Tinsley Park.

More information on golf in the city is available at www.sheffieldgolf.co.uk< http://www.sheffieldgolf.co.uk> or by calling 0114 223 3815.