Yorkshire golf: Sheffield duo working with juniors to show golf is fun

TWO of Sheffield's leading professionals have joined forces to help introduce more youngsters to the game.
Lee Owen, left, and Peter Ball.Lee Owen, left, and Peter Ball.
Lee Owen, left, and Peter Ball.

At a time when interest in golf is declining nationally, Lee Owen and Peter Ball have come up with a scheme that allows children as young as four to hit balls at Hallowes GC, at Dronfield, in an attempt to develop their appetite for the sport.

At the same time the youngsters are being introduced to the clubhouse so they can learn all about the social side of golf.

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The idea to bring an element of “real” golf stemmed from the junior coaching sessions the pair run at the Moorview Golf Centre, in Bradway.

Owen, who has worked as teaching professional at the centre since 1986, said: “The kids love whacking balls here, but it doesn’t take long before they want to play on a real course. Until now that’s not been possible, but thanks to the board and members at Hallowes we have been welcomed with open arms.”

Each Sunday afternoon eight youngsters from the Moorview Junior Academy, and their parents, accompany Owen and Ball to the club - which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year - where they play a few holes from junior tees.

“They make up their own rules and the idea is for them to have fun. But we think it is important that they learn about the social side of club membership so we always take them into the clubhouse afterwards for a cup of tea,” said Ball.

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“We are getting them used to playing on a golf course and it’s fun and sociable.

“Hallowes has given us the best welcome we could have wished for. They are thrilled to bits with what we have done. The exercise is a success both on the course and in the clubhouse and it’s good for the family not just the kids. Family involvement is the future of the game and we hope to see the scheme taken up elsewhere.”

Club secretary and board member Jacqui Lomas said Hallowes were pleased to be helping develop junior golf.

“It's great to see juniors and their parents enjoying themselves on the course and in the clubhouse,” she said.

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Owen and Ball have a long history in teaching and have introduced many people to golf in the region. Ball, who gave Danny Willett his first golf lessons when the Masters champion was aged 12, at Birley, was the city council’s Golf Development Officer in the Nineties.

They have been running junior coaching sessions at Moorview Golf Centre for the past two years.

For further information contact Lee Owen on 0795 7870843 or [email protected].