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Councillor Judith Cochrane, Chair of Castlereagh Hills Golf Club Board and Alderman Jim White alongside pupils from Forge Integrated Primary School and Sullivan Upper Preparatory School enjoy the Primary Schools Golf Day at Castlereagh Hills Golf Club
Eighty four primary school children were learning outdoors on Friday 18th June when they enjoyed a day out from the classroom to take part in a unique golfing day at Castlereagh Hills Golf Club.
Sponsored by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Michael Copeland and Decathlon Sports Store, the event aimed to introduce children to golf through a series of fun workshops which promoted exercise, healthy eating and the basics of golf.
Deputy Mayor of Castlereagh, Councillor Michael Copeland and Alderman Jim White help keep scores for Holly Devine from Rosetta Primary School and Adam Kennedy from Leadhill Primary School
The Deputy Mayor was delighted to be sponsoring the event. He said, “With growing cases of obesity amongst children in the UK, the golf day provides a fantastic forum for young people to enjoy a new sport while learning more about fitness and healthy eating. The children take part in a number of fun workshops on and off the course, which will hopefully inspire many to take up a new sport or engage in other forms of physical activity.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alderman Jim White for championing the event since its inception last year and also Decathlon Sports Store for kindly sponsoring the event.”
The event commenced with a massive fitness class on the 18th green, where all eighty four children got their hearts pumping during an energetic aerobics session by Breathe Fitness. The children then participated in a healthy eating workshop to encourage them to lead a healthier lifestyle through fun games and play.
The Golfing Union of Ireland also held introductory workshops on golfing rules and etiquette and there were also golfing lessons from the resident PGA Golf Professional, with the assistance of a team of dedicated Club Members, to help the young golfers take their first step into the world of golf.
Finally the event culminated in the afternoon with a schools’ golfing competition, where the children put their newly developed skills to the test as they competed in the ‘Castlereagh Challenge Cup’, which was kindly donated by Alderman Jim White.
Deputy Mayor of Castlereagh, Councillor Michael Copeland, Alderman Jim White and Decathlon Sports Store’s Golf Manager congratulate St Ita’s Primary School on winning the Castlereagh Challenge Cup.
Speaking prior to the event Alderman Jim White, who has been instrumental in the championing of junior golf said, “I am hugely interested in any initiative, which encourages young people to play more golf. The Council, through the Golf Professional, has been actively promoting golf to young people for some time as it’s a great sport for keeping fit and helps develop a completely different set of skills compared to other sports.”
Alderman White added, “There may be some young people who come along to the event who will never play again, but on the other hand, the Rory McIlroys of this world all started the sport when they were young and I am glad the same opportunity is now being offered to more of our young people.”
Prizes were presented to the winning school and all participants received a range of golfing merchandise from Decathlon Sports Store to celebrate their efforts during the day.
Decathlon Belfast Store Manager Rob Allan said, “Decathlon is pleased to be supporting such a great event. Being new to Belfast means it is a perfect way for us to start integrating with local sporting circles.”
For details on further juvenile development programmes at Castlereagh Hills Golf Club, please call the clubhouse on 9044 8477.
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