{{ubiquityData.prevArticle.description}}
{{ubiquityData.nextArticle.description}}
Golf in Wales is set for a boost thanks to the 2021 AIG Women’s British Open Legacy Fund, which aims to introduce more women and girls to the sport.
The world’s leading professional golfers will inspire the next generation of Welsh golfers when they tee it up at Royal Porthcawl for the 2021 AIG Women’s British Open with the country also hosting the 2020 Curtis Cup at Conwy Golf Club.
To ensure a positive and long-term impact of hosting these prestigious events, The R&A has set-up the Legacy Fund which Golf Wales will use to introduce an estimated 4,800 young people to golf and encourage them within the sport.
“The R&A has a long and proud history of staging events in Wales with the Curtis Cup at Conwy in 2020 and the AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Porthcawl continuing our connection to the country,” said Duncan Weir, executive director of golf development and amateur championships for The R&A. “These are world-class events which will shine a light on the quality of courses available in Wales but The R&A is also aiming to leave a long-term footprint in the country using the Legacy Fund.
“Working alongside Wales Golf this funding will help introduce more women and girls to the game and help foster their journey as golfers.”
With this funding Wales Golf will develop clinics hosted by world-class players during the AIG Women’s British Open and the Curtis Cup with participants offered free transportation and entry to the events.
Working with local golf clubs and schools, Wales Golf aims to embed Tri-Golf courses into school facilities throughout 2022 to ensure golf is a long-term element of young people’s physical activity.
Wales Golf also will deliver an annual Legacy Championship, the first of its type in Wales, as a competitive event which integrates all genders to inspire golf clubs to foster the culture of golf being a game for everyone.
Wales Golf chief executive, Richard Dixon, added, “Hosting world-class golf events has had a huge, ongoing impact on the development of golf in Wales.
“As part of the Ryder Cup bid for example, the Men’s and Ladies Unions became the first in the UK to merge fully into what is now Wales Golf.
“Golf Development Wales was set up, which is now the development arm of Wales Golf. The work they have done with clubs has seen an increase in club membership across Wales in the last year for the first time in many years.
“Hundreds of thousands of people have been through Wales Golf schemes since the Ryder Cup. Last year saw a 14 percent increase in the number of New2Golf participants, more than half female and with record numbers converting to club membership.
“It is safe to say that Wales’ continuing ambition to host world-class golf has made a lasting impression, but now the task is to achieve more thanks to hosting the AIG Women’s British Open.
“We have set ambitious targets over the next two years and beyond. Now we have to meet them, but there are some fantastic opportunities to help inspire women and girls in Welsh golf.”
Conwy Golf Club, the 2020 Curtis Cup host, was the first in the world to sign The R&A Women in Golf Charter. Following in their footsteps Royal Porthcawl, host of the 2021 AIG Women’s British Open, last week showed their support and became the latest club to sign up the Charter.
Commenting on the extensive work being done on the development of women’s golf in Wales through the hosting of two world-class events, Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, Deputy Minister for culture, sport and tourism, said, “The benefits of hosting such major events will be felt throughout Wales before, during and after the events themselves. I am delighted this work is now underway with our partners.”
Follow The R&A on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
The R&A