By Howard Swan, Swan Golf Designs

SGD has long been a keen supporter of all initiatives aimed at increasing the number of beginners taking up golf, with Howard Swan being a leading advocate of providing simple golf facilities which are made available to those who are new to the game. SGD has been able to turn this rhetoric into reality over the past few years through their work on short courses in Wales, Northern Ireland and India.

June 2010 saw the opening of two such facilities, with the launch days being organised as festivals of golf.

Rhondda Golf Club, with the support of the Golf Union of Wales and the Ryder Cup Wales Legacy Fund, opened their new short course for play on the 9th June. SGD’s Nigel Henbury attended the inauguration, having acted as project architect for this and similar projects in south Wales, and enjoyed a day of fine weather and improving golf. Wales’ Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, joined with club members and children from nearby Tylorstown Junior School to make the most of the early summer sunshine and to test the new course.

Later in the month the newly completed versatile practice facility at Donaghadee Golf Club in Northern Ireland opened. SGD’s innovative design has transformed the old practice fairway into a multi-functional training facility, which includes a practice range, short-game academy and 9-hole short course. Funded by Sport Northern Ireland, the new facility will be used by Donaghadee’s members as well as youngsters from local schools and youth groups.

SGD are immensely proud of their involvement in both projects, which dovetail with the FIRSTGOLF initiative aiming to improve access to the game in emerging golfing markets. Of particular note are FIRSTGOLF’s achievements in India, Mongolia and southern Africa.