The 2015 KLM Open is the venue for the launch of an ambitious project to unite the golf industry in its quest to increase participation in golf across the EU and promote golf to the next generation of young players.

The GoGolf Europe project will support five European countries – the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France and Portugal – in a three year initiative designed to test innovative new access pathways to golf for European youth while also documenting the unique health benefits which the sport can provide to all.

The new GoGolf Europe project has successfully secured co-funding from the European Commission under Erasmus+, the EU programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for 2014-2020.

Led by the European Golf Association (EGA), the project will unite the National Golf Governing Bodies of the five participating countries alongside the Confederation of Professional Golf, the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment and the University of St Andrews as the official research partner. Alongside the funding support from the European Union, co-financing will also be provided by the European Tour and the EGA.

The GoGolf Europe launch event at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club on Wednesday 9^th September will use the prestigious setting of the KLM Open to showcase the project. As the project aims to increase youth participation in golf, the launch will actively involve local children who will get a behind–the-scenes view of the European Tour championship venue and the chance to play golf and receive coaching with local professionals.

Richard Heath, General Secretary of the European Golf Association (EGA), the organisation leading the project, commented: “Europe has excellent capacity for golf with over 6,700 courses and some 7.9 million citizens already playing the sport. Nonetheless, we are facing significant challenges in effectively engaging young people to take up the sport and we are actively seeking innovative new solutions for growing youth participation”.

Florence Brugmans, youth coordinator of the Netherlands Golf Federation, stated: “We are delighted to host the launch of the GoGolf Europe project – increasing youth participation in golf is high on our agenda in the Netherlands. We think the GoGolf project can make a difference in enthusing youth for the sport. We are pleased to be part of a project that unites the entire golf sector in pursuit of this goal.”

Fredrik Lindgren, Head of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at the European Tour said: “The European Tour players were all inspired to start playing in their youth, and the European Ryder Cup team’s successes have led to innovative legacy programmes in the countries hosting The Ryder Cup, so we are proud to stand alongside our Golf Europe partners and further support the structured development of the sport in Europe with GoGolf.”

For more information, please contact the Golf Europe office: info@gogolfeurope.eu.

IMAGE CREDITS – Getty: Youngsters at the launch of GoGolf Europe at the KLM Open on Wednesday

The European Week of Sport (EWoS) aims to promote sport and physical activity across Europe. The Week is for everyone, regardless of age, background or fitness level. With a focus on grassroots initiatives, it will inspire Europeans to #BeActive on a regular basis and create opportunities in peoples’ everyday lives to exercise more.

Golf Europe is coordinating a variety of activities related to EWoS and the #BeActive campaign, including free lessons from PGA of Belgium Professionals in nets and on synthetic greens at The Square in Brussels as part of the European Commission’s multi-sport exhibition.

Along with this activity each of the days has a theme relating to the overall message of the week:

• Monday 7th – The week will be officially opened by the Commissioner for Sport, Tibor Navrascs, and EWoS ambassadors.
• Tuesday 8th – FOCUS DAY: Education.
• Wednesday 9th – FOCUS DAY: Social inclusion, and Flagship event.
• Thursday 10th – FOCUS DAY: Workplaces– inviting businesses to take part in a team putting competition.
• Friday 11th – FOCUS DAY: Outdoors.
• Saturday 12th – Club & fitness centre focus and the opportunity to communicate the benefits of joining a club such as members becoming more active, creating a social network, healthy living, and promoting an active and outdoor lifestyle.

There are a wide range of activities for various sports and activities taking place across Europe not just for the week but until the end of September 2015. EWoS will also return during September each year ensuring the message of promoting participation in sport and physical activity and the benefits of both continues in years to come.

For more information on the European Week of Sport and to find an event near you visit http://eur.pe/EuropeanWeekofSport

Golf Europe, a group of European golf’s major stakeholders, will aim to progress golf’s contribution to European society and the focus it receives within the community. The Europe 2020 strategy, which outlines the European Union’s vision for the 21st century, included sustainability as a key driver for economic growth and resource efficiency.

In this context, Golf Europe’s activities of growing the sport of golf in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable way are in line and contribute to realising Europe’s 2020 vision.

Golf Commits to European Week of Sport – September 7-13

The stakeholders of Golf Europe united at the Annual European Union Sports Forum to sign a letter of intent with the European Commission committing their support for the 2015 European Week of Sport.

Golf Europe will promote the #BeActive campaign and participate by collectively mobilising the golf community network (governing bodies, national federations, clubs, coaches, sponsors, professional players and media) to raise awareness of the societal benefits of golf participation through a range of activities including:

• Implementing golf development initiatives across several Member States with structured coaching being delivered by PGA Professionals;
• Showcasing golf’s European youth engagement strategy while simultaneously promoting sport’s value for health and wellbeing;
• Utilising the inspirational role of professional golfers – notably the team captains of both the Solheim Cup and the Ryder Cup – to communicate to young people and to support the delivery of the European Week of Sport objectives; and
• Developing and implementing legacy and outreach programmes, aligned with social and environmental policy agendas, enabled by the success of major golf events in Europe.

GoGolf!

A Collaborative Project on Sport, Health & Participation Achieves European Commission Erasmus+ Award.

Under Erasmus+, the EU programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport for 2014-2020, the European Commission has awarded funding to the GoGolf! project, which be focused on sport, health and participation with transnational collaboration and two high-level aims:

• Increasing the evidence base for the health benefits of golf for the European citizen
• Driving increased participation in the sport at a pan- European level

In the context of EU policy, the project aims to target the recently published Eurobarometer report on Sport and Physical Activity, which found that:

• 59% of EU citizens never or seldom exercise or play sport at least once a week
• Almost three-quarters of EU citizens (74%) say that they are not members of any sports club, a 67% increase since 2009.

With golf functioning as a major participation sport across Europe, the GoGolf! project will seek to identify how the European golf community can come together to address some of these impending health challenges for the European Community.

A key aim of GoGolf! is to compose a multi-national, multi- stakeholder planning and delivery team which can bring a diverse set of skills, perspectives and resources to the work being undertaken.

GoGolf! Project Hosts First Expert Advisory Board Meeting in Paris

The first Expert Advisory Board (EAB) meeting of the GoGolf Europe project was hosted by the French Golf Federation on 13th of May 2015 at Le Golf National in Paris, venue of the 2018 Ryder Cup.

The meeting gathered a broad group of representatives from the golf sector, with the project lead, the European Golf Association (EGA), being joined by The R&A, the French Golf Federation, the European Tour and the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA). Expert contributors from outside the golf sector were also present, including the Gender Hub, Think Young, The Association For International Sport for All (TAFISA) and the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE).

Following a welcoming message given by the EAB Chairman, Antti Peltoniemi, Past President of the EGA, clarifying the objectives of the meeting and the role of the EAB, an introduction was given to all of the participating organisations and their specific areas of contribution to the project.

A detailed presentation of the GoGolf Europe initiative, along with its objectives and planned outcomes, was subsequently delivered.  The discussions emphasised the importance of working towards making golf an enjoyable, accessible, inclusive and beneficial sport for youth across Europe.