The PGA of South Africa has piloted a radical new youth golf coaching programme that is sweeping across Europe with great success.
The goGolf programme aims to get children hooked on golf and keep them there by using inclusive learning techniques and embracing the use of technology such as smartphones and Apps.
‘goGolf really encourages the social aspect of golf and is based on group interaction,’ says Andrew Gunn, the PGA of South Africa’s Education and Training Manager.
‘The methodology empowers the coach to be a facilitator to learning rather than a dictator of technique.
‘Many young children start golf and are keen but then life gets in the way and they lose interest as they get older. This is a common problem across all sports, which goGolf addresses.’
According to Gunn, goGolf takes young aspirant golfers onto the course in their first session so that they are immersed in the game straightaway.
‘Then from here on they can choose how they want to progress,’ says Gunn.
The programme was presented at the PGA of South Africa’s Coaching Conference by Tony Bennett, the Training and Membership Director of the PGAs of Europe.
A total of 17 PGA of South Africa professionals have signed up for the goGolf pilot programme in South Africa, and are already seeing the benefits.
‘The course was inspiring and gave me a new appreciation of the learning process whereby learning golf becomes a marvelous act of self discovery,’ said PGA Head Coach Martin Briede.
‘I have been applying the philosophy with my students and have had a very enthusiastic response.’
