Caerphilly youths can be among the first to learn golf with Skratch

Children as young as two in the Caerphilly area can learn to play golf with Skratch after the town’s leisure centre was chosen to host sessions as part of a nationwide scheme.

With the sport gaining Olympic status as of 2016, the drive has started to increase participation at all levels. Skratch Golf aims at the youngest section of society, and has been created by a group of award-winning coaches to teach youngsters basic life skills as well as giving them a grounding in sport.

Six-week programmes have been devised for two-four-year-olds and four-to-six-year-olds, to take place in term time and with parent participation.

Each session is 30 minutes long, with the younger age groups incorporating core movements such as crawling, walking, running, climbing, jumping and galloping, as well as golfing skills including putting and swing.

The older group’s cover a range of balance and ball skills such as squatting, weaving, kicking, patting, pushing, handling, holding, throwing and catching. Golfing skills include putting, chipping and swing.

The first of these begin at Caerphilly Leisure Centre on Sunday, April 21, as well as in Devon, Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey. The scope then is to expand it further around the country later in 2013.

Experienced coach and director of Skratch Golf, Sam Stephens, says that youngsters can use the scheme to learn basic life skills, while at the same time having fun with their parents.

“Skratch will help very young children to develop movement, life and play skills,” he said. “We’re not trying to turn toddlers in to expert golfers; it’s more about making golf part of growing up.”

The scheme is backed by charity The Golf Foundation, and uses an adapted version of Tri-Golf equipment, approved by the charity as making golf easier for young children.

“In terms of a very young child’s first striking activity, golf is perfect as everything stays still, unlike other sports where the ball and player are moving,” added Golf Foundation chief executive Mike Round.

Another Skratch Golf founder, PGA-qualified professional coach Gavin Grenville-Wood, won the Golf Foundation Mackenzie Award in 2010 for promoting ‘skills for life’ while coaching youngsters.

He said of the course: “We’ve created a cartoon character called Skratch who will be an inspirational little buddy for the children and parents who come along.

“There will be nothing intimidating about Skratch Golf. We’ll have music playing, and the games we play will be as much about co-ordination, balance and locomotive skills as they are about golf and ball skills.”

To find out more information on the courses, coaches and venues, or to book a place on a course, visit: www.golfwithskratch.com.