Torquay United endorse 'Kick 'n' Swing' initiative
Charitable organisation the Golf Foundation teams up with Torquay United Football Club to bring two sports to local disabled children
The Golf Foundation, in conjunction with Torquay United and Torbay Sports, have created a 'Kick 'n' Swing' project aimed at bringing sport to disabled and special education needs (SEN) youngsters in the area.
The six-week course - supported by the Football Association - provides a weekly, duel-coaching day where disabled and SEN children learn the basics of golf under PGA supervision, and receive football coaching from a UEFA qualified coach.
Churston Golf Club professional Dan Leins and football coach Matthew Scholes took the recent sessions with youngsters from three local schools, which included a special golf and football session at Plainmoor, Torquay United's football ground.
Torquay United Managing Director, Bill Philips, said: "All the participation children had a great day and we were proud to host such a worthwhile event."
Sue Earnes, Special Educational Needs Sports Coordinator for Torbay, echoed Phillips' sentiments: "Dual-sport coaching is really effective because children who are familiar with one sport then gain confidence in the second spot more easily."
Sam Stephens, Regional Development Officer for the Golf Foundation, added: "From the outset, this has been a really enterprising way of engaging with local disabled and special educational needs youngsters.
"I'd really like to thank Bill Phillips and the team and staff at Torquay United, coaches Dan Leins an Matthew Scholes, and particularly Sue Earnes, who has been brilliant as the driving force to make all this happen."
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'Kick 'n' Swing' forms part of the Golf Foundation's national programme, 'HCBC Golf Roots', supported by the European Tour and the Professional Golfers Association, amongst others.
Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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