Former Ryder Cup player and multiple European Tour winner David Howell welcomed 60 youngsters to The Grove’s inaugural Junior Open.
Howell, The Grove’s first golf ambassador, chatted with all the kids and gave a putting clinic to impart some tips and advice on how to putt like a European Tour pro.
Underlining The Grove’s commitment to attracting more children to take up golf, the amateur competition, sponsored by Cobra Golf and Max Golf Protein, was staged on the Kyle Phillips-designed championship course and was open to all juniors with an official handicap under the age of 18.
I am passionate about getting children excited about golf and the fun, family-friendly environment at The Grove is ideally suited to help stimulate a young golfer’s appetite for the game,” said Howell.
“It is great to see so many juniors taking part in this competition and enjoying the experience of playing one of England’s finest courses under tournament condition.”
The Grove, despite its lofty status, is one of England’s most progressive courses, where there is no formal dress code and no requirement for a handicap certificate to play the course.
The Junior Open attracted a high-calibre field, with Jack Kelly coming out on top with a two-under 70 to win the scratch competition and Sam Hadley, playing off nine, claiming the handicap prize, with a nett eight-under 64.
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