The latest series of the Get into Golf (GIG) programme began in Muskerry in 2015, following an initiative by Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI) aimed at encouraging new membership to golf clubs throughout the country.
The then president, Seamus O’Brien, professional Fred Twomey and interested club player Katy Keohane attended a meeting and training session in Mallow G C, run by C.G.I., which outlined the principles of the programme.
The emphasis was on making learning golf fun, especially as part of a group and socially enjoyable.
Lady Captain Maryll McCarthy and her committee also got behind the programme run for ladies that year with Katy compiling lists of participants to partake and volunteers to help run the programme.
In all 21 ladies signed up for the programme which ran from May-July 2015. Katy remembers that the sun shone every Thursday, and she says that, thanks to an enthusiastic group of volunteer helpers, the two hour sessions ran without a hitch.
The ‘old fourth’ practice area was used for pitching, putting and longer shots, taking groups of seven at a time. ‘Games’ were devised to encourage the competitive instinct and teamwork.
Fred Twomey gave a lesson for an hour on alternative weeks and the volunteers took the groups for the remainder of the time. After each session, everyone involved returned to the clubhouse for refreshments provided by Lucy and her team, and to have an all-important ‘chat’.
Jennifer Hickey of Confederation of Golf in Ireland also shared her expertise and attended one of the sessions.
At the end of eight weeks, 12 of the participants joined as members, and 10 continued membership. There was a ‘graduation ceremony’ complete with certificates and goodie bags!
‘Buddies’ were appointed to the new members to aid achieving handicaps and to facilitate integrating into the club.
The programme was run again in 2017, 2018 and 2019 with the support of lady captains Ger Dennehy, Louise Murray and Maeve Burke.
In total, 49 ladies joined the club and 44 still remain as members.
Katy Keohane, who has supplied all the above information, also lists what she sees as the key elements to the success of the programme:
1 Selecting participants who were friends or relatives of current or past Muskerry members.
2 The enthusiasm of both the participants and the volunteers who gave selflessly of their time.
3 The excellent lessons and encouragement by Fred.
4 The ‘bonding’ of friendships over a cuppa after the sessions.
I think we can add to the list of ‘key elements for success’ that of having someone to take responsibility for the overall running of the programmes and we have Katy to thank for that. Well done all!